The blog has been quiet for sometime now. The Anseth family could not agree on an epic summer vacation. Between college kids with summer jobs, AAU basketball and travel soccer with a little dash of actual work it was not possible to find an adventure for all. This continues to trouble me as it may signal the end of an era for the Anseth Family and how our adventures are constructed. It has taken me most of the summer to organize my thoughts about the summer of 2023 and as I sit on my deck enjoying a cold and frosty beverage, I think we did alright this summer. You don’t get a refund on your summer so you better make the best of it and the Anseth Family didn’t waste much during the summer of 2023. There were a lot of side quest this summer made by the different members of the Anseth’s, but I am only including content that I have recorded because the pictures are at least 1/2 the fun. The biggest questions is when do we think summer started……….
Did summer start in April when Grace and her AAU team went to Dallas…
Grace and her AAU teammates
Probably not but the photos is pretty great. Kari with the credit for this gem.
For me the summer started on the weekend of May 11/12/13 when Kari, Ashley, Katie and I traveled to the DMV. No, not the place where you wait in line for hours to have a bad picture taken. The DMV, District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia for the wedding of Charlie Berno to Leah Saris. Charlie is the oldest son of Mark and Bobette and for easy of discussion is very much like a nephew to our family. The wedding was the a great opportunity to celebrate this amazing couple and spend time with our extended family.
We arrived in the DMV on Thursday, May 11th. Our accommodations were at the Landowner Resort, a beautiful hotel with 2 beautiful golf courses associated with the facility. Since the only research I did for this trip was to find great shoes for my tuxedo, I was unprepared to make a tee time or play golf. In the end it worked out well because I was overserved in the Landsdowne bar on Friday night and used my time on Friday think about my life choice, drinking water and eating salads. I did recover in time to take and afternoon walk with my wife which was surprisingly fun. Eventually we cleaned up and headed to the reception following the groom’s dinner. The reception was a this winery in rural Virginia, it was a beautiful location on a beautiful night.
They will let anyone in this Uber.
Family photo at the reception. #bootsversusflipflops
One more for good measure. I wish this Nation Golf shirt was more slenderizing. 😢
Ashley and Katie. Grace is somewhere in a hot gym putting on the press.
The look you give your sister after she has spent all day complaining about your choices but now you are besties.
The girls and the Virginia backdrop
Family photos with everyone dressed to the 9s!!!!!
When one of the beffiles has time for a self.
Everyone wanted to get a good nights sleep because on May 13th it was game time for Charlie and Leah. TB and I were disciplined enough not to allow the Landsdowne to try and overserve us on back to back nights.
May 13th, started out sunny but there was a chance of rain hanging over the outdoor wedding. I continue to look worrisome all afternoon but I just couldn’t muster enough energy to rain on Charlie and Leah’s parade (Wedding). The service was beautiful in the outdoor garden after you pass through a hedge maze. I sat next to the Jeff T., who has delivered 2 epic toast. We discussed our semi-obstructed view and how it reminded us of Williams Arena. In the immortal words of Clem “Good seat still available”. Some one managed to secure enough clear umbrellas for the entire crowd if necessary. The umbrellas were not necessary except for the on lady by me who collected as much rain water as possible and then rapidly opened and closed her umbrella to shake it on me. I thought I had cleaned up well enough to avoid such treatment. Leah’s aunt, who is a Federal Judge, presided over the ceremony. The setting, the couple, the vows, the weather it really could not have been any better.
Finally she is smiling in a photo with her dad. She is smart and funny so I was nice to have some fun with our first daughter.
The Torrisons and the Anseths on the tour bus
Torrisons at the wedding
The family is dressed up and ready to go. Check out the shoe game!! I knew it was on point when one of the guys working at the resort told me I was changing the game.
Clear umbrellas to ward off the rain.
The family are in their seats for the ceremony. Notice the partially obstructed view. Luckily I have seen a couple of games at Williams Arena so I knew exactly how to handle this situation.
Making our way through the maze.
It was a beautiful ceremony for a beautiful couple. No rain of any significance and a jazz band for the walk to the reception.
The reception was fantastic. Great music, great food and good drinks. Lots of laughs and even a few booties getting shaken.
The bride and the groom
Mother of the groom, dominating the scene.
Cousins
The head table representing
Panic on the dance floor
I found the groom.
Cousin time
The crew shutting down the party.
After the dancing, we enjoyed some pizza and finally made it to bed. Unfortunately the time from bed to getting up was pretty short and we had to make our way to the airport and back home to MSP.
We had a special guest appearance by Nana and Papa who watched Molly and Grace while we went to the wedding.
Nana and Papa with the girls
After a short recovery it was time for some golf. A long discussed and hastily planned guys weekend up to the Brainard area for a little golf.
One of these guys has a chance to shoot par, the other two will be lucky to break 100
The boys by Gull Lake
After our round at Madden’s Classic.
Carrying Concordia with me along with about 48 Taylor Made golf balls.
Not much time to rest after the golf trip cause we are now firmly into birthday season. Ashley turned 21 and we had a little party for her at Billy’s Sushi, one of her favorite places to eat when she is back home.
Ashley and her friends at Billy’s
Enjoying her “first” alcoholic drink
Happy Birthday Ashley!!!
Billy and the girls
One more time
Billy and the Birthday girl.
One more birthday photo from Billy’s After Dark
Next was Gracie’s birthday and finally Katie.
Gracie’s Birthday Crew
Happy Birthday Grace
The girls dominated the escape room.
Katie’s backyard Bbq birthday bash.
With birthday season out of the way. We moved into the heart of the summer. First up was a Bachelor party for CB. Who may or may not have been a bachelor at the time of the party. TB and I pushed the median age up significantly but were lucky enough to spend time with CB friends, family and his guards. We spent the weekend in Bozeman, MT sharing stories, eating steaks, tipping a few 🍻, chasing trout and avoiding Geoff’s hot dish.
MAP brewing in Bozeman
One of these thing is not like the other, he can’t grow a beard. Waiting for pizza in Bozeman
A map of the Madison
TB, JG and me
TB hammering the trout. Our guide loved him so much that he actually rowed up river so we could fish the same hole twice.
Catching trout with Tim.
Hopefully he knows what the state capital of Montana is?
Afternoon trout in the sun. No worries about the rain now.
JG and and Geoff after the trip
The boys and their guide
TB, Tim (our guide) and me. We represented Montana boys well on this trip.
Days don’t get much better
Running the long road
A Montana sunset
Coors lights and philosophers on the deck
The next 2 photos are PB creations.
Probably haven’t looked this good in a photo since 1994. Feel free to screenshot it and send it to my wife
I love this photo so much. Great guys having great fun in a great place. Also if you make it B&W it looks like it could go on a wanted poster for the Berno gang.
This trip had to be kept double secret because if Grandma Eva knew I was in Montana and didn’t visit her I was going to be in big trouble.
The 2023 Summer Hard Magical Mystery tour nested head to Charleston, SC. Apparently, we were required to continue to celebrate Ashley’s 21st birthday and now it was time to combine it with Sophie’s 21st birthday.
The French Quarter Inn was headquarters for the shenanigans.
Kari and Ashley getting lunch
On the streets of Charleston.
The girls out by the fountain and the harbor.
An old church
Oysters!!!! Unfortunately, local oysters are only best in months that end in -er
Riding bikes through the streets of Charleston
Down by Battery Park
The square at the College of Charleston
College of Charleston has been around for awhile.
HALLs Steakhouse. This place was 🔥 and the Tomahawk was spot on for the table.
Biffles
A random lady who was supposed to take a picture of us. Charleston has a sense of humor.
Outside the concert
Watching Eric “F-ing” Church in Charleston. There is a “Drink in my Hand”
Out at Prohibition the next night.
Looking good Mrs. Anseth
Awwwww. So cute
TB, the sommelier went 3 for 3 on the mystery wine tasting. Nothing is better than free drinks.
Celebrity sighting in Charleston!!!
One more celebrity photo.
10 fireball shots later it was time for bed and a plane back home to MSP.
The traveling road shows next stop was Louisville, Kentucky for Gracie’s AAU tournament
G and I flying the friendly skies
The girls getting ready to dominate
Walking around Louisville.
The Cardinal on Campus
At Churchill Downs, this is where Barbara is buried
The entrance and the super horse
An Old Fashioned at Churchill Downs
The girls relaxing at Top Golf between games
Walking out after the last session. The girls played well against some tough competition.
The next stop on the Summer Hard Tour was back to Montana to celebrate Grandma Eva’s 29 again, again birthday. We were blessed to be joined by our extended family to celebrate this milestone.
Back in Choteau, hanging with mom and Wendy. Still grabbing a pizza and a Willis burger at John Henry’s
Out for a morning run in Big Sky country
The train tracks passing into the west
Family, pizza and a pitcher of beer
Mom and the Barretts
Playing a little Blank Space. Marissa couldn’t handle my matching abilities
Grandma Eva and the family
Becky, Mom and Sharon, are they ready to party??
Out and about in Augusta, Montana
Mom insisted we stop at this bar in the middle of the day for burgers and beers.
Everyone who came out to celebrate Grandma Eva’s birthday.
Wendy, Mom and me, Happy Birthday Grandma Eva. What a great way to spend the weekend!!!
Just like that the Summer Hard Tour comes to an end because August means Ashley and Katie go back to college. Gracie starts soccer practice and school. Kari manages all and I am left to ponder just how great this summer was. More soon until then, get out and chase down some more adventures in great places with great people.
