Graduation was a success!
The seminary graduation ceremony was held in an enormous, expansive hall on Bethel’s campus, that highlighted an impressive and awe-inspiring organ.
Look at the size of this place!
Ben and I were impressed. 
The ceremony was typical of most graduation ceremonies. Some people find them boring, but I find them inspiring. Hearing the guest speakers talk about the graduate’s possibilities for the future reminded me of how I felt when I graduated college. It was a great pep talk.
There’s my bro – the tall one.
Just like that – 4.5 years of toiling, studying and dedication, culminated into one moment. Masters of Divinity = EARNED!
He was quite ecstatic. 
The whole fam was!
We all met up after the ceremony for pictures and a nice reception that featured…
CAKE! Oh yeah…
Afterwards we all headed to downtown Minneapolis for a celebratory dinner at Ike’s Food & Cocktails!
I had been to Ike’s several times when I lived in Minneapolis, and thought the restaurant would be perfect for the fam.
The restaurant has a 40′s supper-club kind of feel,
with warm lights, long booths,
and a full bar running right down the middle of the place.
We were all ready to dig in by the time we got there!
First, some congratulatory bevs. I got a Blue Moon, which I actually got hooked on while living in Minni!
Ike’s is known for their hand-crafted, juicy burgers, which you just have to get when you come. I had a tough time deciding between all the different combos, but ultimately went with the Serious Patty Melt.
Serious indeed!!!!
My patty melt had a thick, medium rare burger topped with cheddar cheese and caramelized onions, which was smushed between two slices of parmesan garlic bread.
O.M.G. BEST BURGER EVER!!!! Perfectly seasoned, indulgent and juuuuust right. Every single person loved what they ordered. Ike’s rocks!
The homemade shoestring fries took my meal over the top.
No, the warm chocolate chip cookies they give you at the end of your meal took it over the top…
No, the FOUR LAYER CHOCOLATE CAKE they gave us for free took it over the top!!!!!!!!!!
Pictures cannot do this thing justice – it was literally the size of my head and one of the best chocolate cakes I’ve ever had. Fudgy, sweet and decadent.
It was so big that the SIX of us couldn’t even finish it! Whew!
What a fun, FUN day we all had together. Congrats again to my bro – what an inspiration!
The next morning, even though the majority of us were still full from dinner, we met up at our spot for breakfast – the Uptown Diner!
No matter what, we must always have breakfast at the Uptown Diner before leaving Minneapolis/St. Paul.
The funky, homey, kick back and relax, Uptown Diner.
Where the meals are as big as a boat,
and the best in town. I got my fave, French Toast!
Cinnamony-sweet, thick and chewy.
Drizzled with maple syrup = pure perfection!!
I had half and gave the rest to my Dad. Like I said, I wasn’t hungry, but had to have a taste!!
I’m so glad we could all be together as a family this weekend (minus my little bro.)
It’s so rare these days, and I treasure every moment together!
The drive home was uneventful, but beautiful.
There’s something so calm and serene about the Midwest.
I just love it…and need to remember these moments when it’s -10 degrees and I’m miserable in February!!
On the way home I finished The Perfect Wife and was itching to get started on Laura Bush’s memoirs, Spoken from the Heart. The Perfect Wife was good, although I prefer memoirs and autobiographies to biographies. You just never know what gets lost in translation, know what I mean?
I’m 39th on the waiting list at the library for her memoirs, and decided that I just couldn’t wait to get it, so Ben and I drove to Costco where I picked it up for almost 50% less than it costs at major bookstores – boo yah!
After we finally got home, I went for a nice long bike ride. It felt amazing to stretch my legs after two days of driving…ahhhhh.
I’m going to get cleaned up, prepare for the rest of the week, and dig into my new book. Don’t you just love getting new stuff?
Have a good night!
Uptown Diner is WHERE IT’S AT! I used to literally live 2 blocks away and nothing beats a 2 am strawberry milkshake on the way home from a night out!!
Congratulations to your brother; he must be thrilled to have finished after 4.5yrs!! I’ve only done 2 and I already want it to be over
LOVE the look of that mammoth cake – no wonder the 6 of you couldn’t finish it!
Have an awesome evening
Dontcha just love the black bathroom at Ike’s? I’m a Saint Paul girl but Mpls is also super duper.
Congrats to your brother! Such an accomplishment! Looks like you had a blast in MN too
Oh wow… what a meal!!! And that cake… OMG. Congrats to your brother!
What a great weekend!
Congrats to your brother!
Wow! Congratulations to your brother! How awesome!
I’m glad you picked up Spoken from the Heart. I ended up with two copies and just gave one away to someone that won it on my blog! Hope you enjoy! I just love that lady.
Congratulations to your brother!
I loveeee the dress you wore to his graduation, where did you get it?!
I love family time as well. It looks like a great weekend, full of some delicious food!
OMG!! I adore Ike’s! The company I used to work for loved taking clients there, and when it wasn’t packed, doing company lunches there, too. Haven’t been there in awhile – thanks for reminding me about it!
And congratulations to your brother. What an amazing accomplishment!
Have you read The Help yet? I just finished that a few weeks ago. So good! I definitely would recommend you reading that when you finish Laura’s book!
I’ve been wanting to read Laura Bush’s book as well…..hope it’s good!
I SAW YOU AT UPTOWN DINER!!!!!! I was in Minneapolis this weekend, and my friend and I were walking by Uptown Diner on our way to Lake of the Isles this morning. I saw a girl that looked like you, but didn’t think it could be, but it was! OMG…this is too weird.
And the french toast is TDF – next time, I recommend getting it Kamikaze-Style
whoa- small world. Im getting my masters from Bethel right now! and I live down the street from the uptown diner
looks awesome!
Glad you had fun in the Minnieapple.
Molly
http://www.givinganythingbutup.wordpress.com
Sounds like you had a great time. My 2 sisters and I were up in Minneapolis/St. Paul this weekend as well!! Love those cities, so much to do and see.
I don’t know which one I want to leave my husband for more; the burger, the 4 layer cake, or the French toast! LOL YUMMY!
Jenn
It looks like your whole family had a wonderful time and I cannot wait to visit the midwest someday!
Love the big fluffy clouds, the kind you make animal shapes out of if you are a big kid!
I may have to read Laura Bush’s book too, she is such a classy lady!
Happy family moments! God bless you all!
….Laura Bush’s biography?????????
gorgeous pics of your senic drive.
Oh man, I’ve never commented before, but I just had to say that your pictures make me soooo homesick for the Midwest. I’m currently transplanted on the East Coast and I really miss long, scenic drives through farm country.
^ I’m the same. I’m in Los Angeles and from Iowa. That’s mostly why I visit.
AWESOOOOOME! You’re going to love The Help… I just know it!
And enjoyed your photos. How is it possible for so many people to have gorgeous smiles???
I much prefer fiction to memoirs, biographies, etc… to each her own!
Uptown is the cutest neighborhood. It’s got a small town feel in the middle of a big city, perfect!
Your bro and your dad looks so much alike. They even tilt their head back the same way in the pictures, lol, cute!
oooh love the uptown diner’s MALTS. so good.!!
My bro is going to Bethel next year…so I’m sure I’ll be visiting. I’ll have to check Ike’s and the diner out!
[...] I love seeing & eating colorful things like this, after a weekend of burgers and chocolate cake! [...]
[...] Laura Bush Memoirs: I adore getting lost in a fictional mystery thriller, or period piece – full of exciting and wildly descriptive text. Laura’s memoirs, however, are different. It’s simply a woman telling the story of her life, in a way that makes you feel like she’s talking to you as a friend. Regardless of your political views, this is a fantastic read. [...]