Since our wedding was in Virginia and a lot of Alex’s family couldn’t make the long trip, Alex’s parents threw us a reception in Minnesota. It was awesome, because I got to meet more of Alex’s extended family and friends. My mother-in-law, Jana, made tons of delicious food and decorated the whole yard. She even incorporated little details from our wedding.

Minnesota Reception (2 of 15)

Minnesota Reception (4 of 15) Minnesota Reception (3 of 15)

Jana made tons of food including a delicious baked spaghetti. (You can find the recipe here.)  She also made little veggie cups that had dip in the bottom of each cup, so you could just grab one and go! All of the veggies came from Alex’s Aunt Holly who has a massive garden. These were literally just picked from the ground! These were genius and I’m stealing this idea for my next party! (This helped balance out all of the homemade cookies & cupcakes I ate…)

mixed veggie cups

Honestly though, the best part really was just spending time with family and friends. We played lawn games, a few card games, and spent the evening chatting while the sun went down. Minnesota Reception (1 of 1)

Minnesota Reception (13 of 15)

Minnesota Reception (12 of 15) Minnesota Reception (10 of 15) Minnesota Reception (9 of 15)

Jana and her sisters threw me a surprise wedding shower which was so sweet and thoughtful. It really made me feel like one of the family. I received lots of lovely gifts, including a cookbook from Alex’s grandma. I can’t wait to make some of the recipes!

me and jana

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I’m so thankful to be a part of such a wonderful, loving family. The Thomsons are a fun bunch and I’m so blessed to be one of them!

Does your family have any fun traditions?

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