Groom's Dinner

On Friday morning after the bachelorette party, I helped my sister get ready to go up north to prepare for the big event. We stopped at the Duluth mall to purchase a few odds and ends, like a purse, shoes and a garter belt for her. Yikes, nothing like waiting til the day before the wedding! ;) It was a little bit stressful so thankfully we had manicures and massages waiting for us in Virginia (MN). I got Laura this package for a shower gift and she insisted on getting me the same for being her maid of honor. So, we treated each other and it was fabulous!

Laura and Ethan had their groom's dinner at the Whistling Bird--a Jamaican restaurant in the middle of Gilbert, MN a town of only about 3,000 people. We all really love the place. They have excellent food and a wonderful owner who always comes around to make sure everyone is having a good experience.

Troy and I shared the coconut shrimp and the jerked pork tenderloin which was wrapped in bacon. Yum. There were plenty of sweet potato fries to go around too. What a treat it was! Many thanks to Ethan's parents--the Coles!

Me and Troy

My brother Patrick and his girlfriend Sam

The Coles

Laura and Ethan

My mom and stepdad with Troy, Patrick and Sam.

It was a wonderful time but a little bit of an interesting negotiation. My mom and dad have hardly spoken in the last 27 + years that they have been divorced so I was worried about how things would go. I was pretty nervous and tense. At one point when Troy was taking a picture of me, Laura and our dad, my mom popped her head into the frame at the very last moment (we all had no idea until everyone started laughing hysterically behind us). Thanks for breaking the ice mom! We all had a really good laugh about this one and this is a priceless photo.

Later that evening my aunt and godmother Barb and her husband Hank joined us at the bar for a drink. They are really a lot of fun to hang out with. Do you see a slight resemblance between my mom and her sister?