Birthday Weekend

It was a great weekend (besides the 4 inches of snow that we got on Friday night). We went to Manny's for drinks after work on Friday (we cut out of work at 3:00 p.m.). We went to Room and Board to get some new outdoor furniture for Nicole's birthday and then dinner at Muffaletta's, which is one of our favorite restaurants. We had such a great meal there on Valentines Day that Nicole picked it again for her birthday. Their menu changes often so you never know exactly what you are going to get and it wasn't quite as good as Valentines, but we still had a great meal. We were home and in bed pretty early as we usually are on Friday's (just can't go very late on Friday's after working). We got up on Saturday and cleaned around the house and then we headed to St. Paul. Nicole had some clothes to return at JCrew so we went to Grand. We then went to lunch at Cafe Latte, still just love that place from our college days. That used to be a great spot for a date in college and we still love going there. We had a champagne lunch along with some great food. We came home and took a little afternoon rest because we knew we had a late night ahead of us.
Our neighborhood friends (the gang) as we call it had a big night planned. It was the River Falls Youth Hockey Association Fundraiser and it is held at a golf club in River Falls. It is dinner, silent auction, and a band. Our friends Brian and Shelly Thompson have 3 boys and 2 of them are old enough to play hockey and I'm sure their youngest son will soon start playing as well. We had a limo pick everyone in the neighborhood up so we didn't have to worry about drinking and driving. It was Brian and Shelly Thompson (Shelly is the on the board for the hockey association) and she is also on the fundraising committee. They have raised $30,000 so far for the hockey program and last night they were able to raise around $8,000. The Gagnes' (Brian and Dina), The Quinn's (Matt and Lindsay), the Nelson's (Scott and Jeri), the Wilson's (Jeb and Kaylan), and then of course the Ward's. It was good to see everyone again after a long winter. It was good to get the Wilson's out as they don't get out much with the new baby (he's 8 months old already) but has definitely slowed their social agenda. I think it is safe to say we "let er rip" last night, especially the guys, but it looked liked the girls were having their share of fun.
I wanted one of the silent auction items and kept bidding on it all night, but it went for more than I was willing to spend. It was 4 hours of fishing on the St. Croix with a guide and it was for 2 people so I was thinking for George. Well, the guys knew I wanted to get it for George and they kept pushing the price up because they knew I wanted it so I would go $75, then one of the guys would push it and I would go up and they would push it and this kept going on an on until I decided I could get it cheaper just hiring a guide and taking 4 people out so I let this other guy have it. I definitely want to try this so George if you are reading, hold me to this.
We had a great night with our friends and it was a fun event.
Sunday we got a new grill which we were really in need of. Our old one had seen better days so we got a new Weber and it is very nice. We went to Lowe's in Stillwater to pick it up this morning and then this afternoon we hosted the Troy Burne Annual Easter Egg Hunt. We had over 40 kids show up and Nicole and I stuffed 700 eggs with candy. Nicole and a high school volunteer hid the eggs in the park at Troy Burne and the adults had cookies/brownies and coffee from Starbucks. It was a great way to kick off the spring and get everyone together (not everyone), but a good turnout. The weather cooperated today with sunshine, it was cool, but not too bad. We are tired tonight, using the new grill for some hamburgers and then going to take it easy.
Looking forward to seeing everyone a week from today at Easter.