Last Friday night the Grunst Cousins got together at Jakes Stadium Pizza in Mankato. The reunion of sorts came about because our cousin Dan (who has not seen many of us in 30-35 years) and wife Cindy were on their way to Sturgis via Curt and Kathy Krohn's for an overnite pit stop.
The tall fella would be Dan. In high school I remember bragging about my 6'11" cousin who was also a very good friend. He now tells me that he is only 6'10" and has always been 6'10". I am convinced that he has either shrunk an inch or he lied to me years ago...after all it could not have been I embellishing the truth!
His wife Cindy is to the left with cousin Jane Grunst Gappa and Barry Gappa center. Roger and Mary Etta are seated.
Etta sitting with our cousins Sharon and Kenny and their mom Aunt Arlene. Arlene was married to my uncle Bobby who passed at a young age, however I have some great memories of me sitting on his lap playing with the long beard that he had. Uncle Bobby (like most of us who have Grunst blood running on our veins) was one of the biggest BS-ers around and lots of fun with a little girl who loved to sit on his lap. This part of the family live in Shakope and we dont get to see them as often as I would like.
Cousin Kathy on the left and Curt on the right (who looks like he may be socking Kim in the nose) were the organizers of the night. These two pretty much rock in my opinion and do their share to keep us cousins connected.
We do know how to fill a room, not only with people but with a whole lotta laughter
Dan working the crowed. Cousin Sharon and Kelly and yep there he is again Curt. I believe that is Cousin Cindy's purple Vikes shirt ducking out of the photo.
No worries Cindy, I gotchya anyway
Our two miracles of the year. Above are Cousin Kim and Scott. Scott was as near death (due to alcohol) that one can get. With the help of Kim, and his family, he is now clean, sober and pretty much physically healthy! I have always had a soft spot in my heart for Scott and am so very proud of him.
And then there's Cousin Jane and Barry's girl Cady who found herself smucking into a deer while on a snowmobile and being airlifted to the cities. Because she has Grunst blood running in her veins-this stubborn and determined young lady pushed herself to not only survive the near fatal crash but she has come out of it with very few of the brain injury problems that many with like head traumas tend to suffer.
Yep true miracles.....
Cousins Randy and Steve. I still cant decide if Randy is politely covering his mouth with a burp or what it is that he is doing. If he is being polite it HAS to be the Biehn side in him ;)
Speaking of Steve, lookie here. Methinks we have the long and the short of the Grunst Cousins perhaps
I couldn't resist this shot of Cousin Deb with her two brothers behind her
Yep that's our cousin Joy (on the left) the organizer. Here she is putting pictures of years past get togethers. We sure had some who's who guessing going on with these oldie but goodies
I so hope this doesn't lose something in the translation so stick with me...to the left is cousin Larry and to the right is Dan's brother in law (his wife Cindy's brother). Now Larry is our cousin who has been around forever and Cindy's brother is not related to us in any way shape or form (sheesh I cant even remember the poor guy's name). When Kathy first arrived the only people at Jakes were David, myself, Larry his wife, Dan and his wife Cindy. Kathy looked down the table seeing Larry and said to Cindy, "Is that your brother Cindy"? Ummm no Kathy that would be your cousin Larry. I had to put these two together for a shot and no they do not look anything alike to me...what say you? Needless to say Kathy was appropriately embarrassed and probably is now again, which is totally my intent...HA
David and I were the first to arrive-as we walked into the reserved room there were two other familiar fellas sitting in a booth. Nope not cousins but one was Jared Allen! Now I wanted to go over and say hi but David wouldn't let me (I'm glad because seriously I didn't want to interrupt them sounding like a total groupie) The wait person eventually told him that there would be a large group in the same room and wondered if they were OK with that-she then looked at us and asked David and I if we thought the group would mind. For goodness sake, are you kidding me, mind, hell no. A few minutes later however a team mate came in and told Jared that they were all sitting outside. When he got up to leave I promptly spouted, "Oh dont leave" and over he came with his hand out asking if it was someone's birthday since we were having so many people come and if it was he just wanted to say happy birthday. He shook my hand then and explained that his team mates were all outside and he was going to join them. He is seriously very handsome with a great voice and a seemingly nice man. I guess I blithered all over FB and poor Lenny let me know that he was embarrassed for me...I don't know why, I am not embarrassed for myself but perhaps I should be???
Anyway here they are all sitting outside.
That was then-can you pick cute little me out? I am on the left in the front row.
And this is now-with a few missing of course.
The glue that holds us together-Etta and Uncle Ed with one piece of glue missing-Uncle Dood
Roger, Etta, Arlene, Ed and Sandy
On Saturday afternoon it was a Lost Dogs volunteer and doggie day.
Kari was kind enough to have us all at her place in Minneapolis.
With a fenced in yard and a grill it worked out nicely. Here she is the hostess with the mostess
Erin and Mandy saying something to each other that is vitally important I am sure. And then we have Sandy (the ball of fluff at Erin's feet) Max and Willie.
I think Sandy is our most senior dog at 10 although you would never know it. She runs and plays with the best of them and loves her water obviously. That's Max peeking under the garden hose. He's a major photo bomber.
No matter what the get together occasion may be, there is always good food:)
Julie with the hat and Kelly with her back to us.
The boys stayed home with David and our foster, Peanut, came with me. Here are Peanut, and Mandy's dog, Bella. Peanut is the new girl on the block and Bella seems to be saying, 'Hello and who are you'?
Bella decided that she really liked Peanut and wasnt sure if she cared for her little Peanut getting 'beat up' by the great dane and the little cocker. There was no beating up going on just lots of zoomies and playing. If you have those silly preconceived notions about Pit Bulls, you really need to meet Bella, she will chase those ideas right out of your head as she is one of the most gentle dogs that I have ever met.
Peanut did have fun wrestling with Kari's day care dog
And then there was Macy, Lindsay gorgeous GSD. The two legged ones in the shot are; Corey, Erin's husband and Erin. Lindsay is behind Erin and then Jessica who is likely taking a picture as well.
Here we are, not quite half of the volunteers but a good portion. Julie, Jessica, Me, Mandy, Kelly, Erin, Kari and Lindsay.
It's a good group with a great cause- check it out-like the page and become a fan we can always use more eyes in helping bring lost doggies home to their families.
At this very moment we are on the road to Canada to visit friends. More from Canuck land later.
