End of Summer Happenings

Jacob's birthday at Minnehaha Falls.


We meant to go to the Great Minnesota Get Together (aka State Fair) but it was waaaay too busy by 10:30am when we made it over there. So we saved it. The falls were beautiful.


Boys:
#1

#2

#3


We went to the Minnesota State Fair. Very early on Saturday morning. It was awesome, as usual.

We checked out some new vehicles. The new Mazda2 is VERY cool!


The kids rode a ton of rides, including the sky ride, which Sammy has been looking forward to since last year.





The kids each picked out a souvenir. The both choose toy guns. It was a Yes Day [morning] of sorts for them.



The best part was heading to the Peace Tent after purchasing the guns. We saw the irony and humor, but the Peace workers didn't. Too bad for them.

We didn't eat much. We bought a bucket of cookies (because there was no line) and two huge root beers. We may need to go back to see the animals and eat more fair food. :)

Nana and Ba came for a visit right after the fair and as our basement was coming together. Ba hung ceiling tiles in our basement! He assembled furniture. Fixed assorted household items. And entertained children with YouTube. See below for two of their favorites.

and


Ba took the boys to the park. And made the PowerWheel into a hauling vehicle.


Nana entertained the baby.

Helped us choose a couch for the basement. And went with us to pick up stuff for the basement. And cooked meals. And cleaned up after meals. And held the baby some more.

Thanks, Mom and James! It was a great visit!

Holly and kids stop in to say hi!

Last week Holly, Kennedy and Gage drove through Minneapolis to spend the morning with us. It was great to see them, and I have to say Holly's timing is perfect - she was here and able to watch Freddie for me while I ran Sammy back to the ENT doc for another hearing test (he "failed" again but passed kind of too, so instead of surgery he'll go back and retest in November!). Thanks, Holly! As always, we love having you here. Isn't it time you guys moved back?? :)

Here are some pictures from the morning. That Holly took. And sent. Hooray for good friends, good times and good pictures. :)

Kennedy met Jack (she was in Minneapolis in early April but Jack refused to be born at that time, so only Holly'd met him until now!)

Oh, Kennedy had that hot pink full-arm cast put on while in Iowa. Broken arm. I'm sure it's not the first full-arm cast we'll see in this house! Hope you are healing up a-okay, KP!

Tiny Zsa Zsa picking up where Emma left off. Emma, who is at my parents' house in the country and living it up! SO sorry Kim, that you thought she was dead. She's not. Unless she died and went to country heaven!

Every family with small children really should have a dog to handle clean up under the table after meals. Holly very nearly left Zsa Zsa with us.

Freddie. He is 100 percent male. Even at the age of three. I swear, it's in the chromosome.

He's never seen this at home! He just knew how to do it! And he'd drink like this all the time if left unsupervised.

Four Month Old Happy Fatty

We love this guy...


Just like with Freddie we have to push, shove and squeeze his legs and thighs down to get him into the Bumbo.

That's a snug fit, right there.

I want to eat the BehBeh. nom nom

Enchanted Forest

aka "Fairy Camp"

I registered Sammy for a week camp at a local recreation center for the last week of July without reading the class description. I registered him while in the hospital after birthing JD. I registered him based on the the instructor (his *favorite*) and the timing of the camp.

So it was a little surprising the first day to see that Sammy was the only boy in Enchanted Forest. Then I went home and read the description:

A magical week is in store for those who wish to spread their wings and fly. This camp will include flower crafts, animals and insects that live in the forest, games and enchanted snacks! Expect to find fairy wands and pixie dust as we trael through the enchanted forest of imagination, adventure and fun.

Here is some art work from that week of camp.


I did not take a picture of Sammy in the green fairy wings, flowered headband and wand he made over the week. Jacob about died when he saw his boy enter the house wearing that get-up after the last day of camp.

Laugh if you must. But Sammy really enjoyed it. And I applaud him for already figuring out how to get all the girls to himself.

Sammy followed up Enchanted Forest with Rodeo Roundup, which he enjoyed equally much. Maybe more.

Weird weehuggers.

Watch this. Freddie and I were kind of amused, kind of weirded out. What do you think?



I just want to say that this arrived in my email in box this morning. I love cloth diapers and all, but I don't go searching for videos on youtube.

Grandma and Papa visit... and Happy Birthday to Grandma!

Grandma and Papa (aka Jacob's parents) drove up from Texas to spend the first part of August with us and to meet their newest grandson, Baby Jack. Thanks to the timing we were lucky enough to spend Grandma's birthday with her.

Here is Grandma receiving her hat and birthday serenade at Chevy's Cantina.











Thanks to my in-laws for making the long drive, and for being such great company over coffee, going on early morning donut runs :), rocking the baby to sleep, holding the baby constantly, entertaining the big kids by playing endless games of stinky feet, doing the laundry and dishes, and for helping me put up and hem the new curtains in our front room!

A few of our Jack Jack.

Our baby boy is growing so quickly! Here are a couple of pictures of him from the past week or so so you can see how much he's changing! All pics from my phone. Really using an actual camera is so one child ago ;)




He is a constant delight. He has sweet smiles, great belly laughs and yummy chubby thighs to squish.



Jacob bought the baby this outfit one night while grocery shopping at Target - by himself. The first item of clothing he's ever purchased for any of the kids on his own. He thought it was way too cool to pass up. And Jacob initially bought the 6-month size but I had to exchange it for the 9-month because that's how our big 3-month-old is sized!

Aha! Two !! recent pics not from my phone! Mr Chunk,,,

Henry's Birthday Party!

Our neighbor and friend, Henry, had a super fun pirate party at Lake Hiwatha Park last weekend. The kids had a blast, and loved the pirate theme. Here is Freddie rockin his party hat.


There were also eye patches and earrings in the treasure chest goodie boxes, all of which the boys are still playing with!

To top it off, and outdo every party from here on out, another neighbor who happens to be a firefighter, recognized some of the cars at the park and stopped by - in the freakin' fire truck! - to say hello to the birthday goers.





Such a great pirate-y party for a sweet four-year-old boy! Happy Birthday, Henry!

PS All these pics were taken on my phone. Because I forgot my camera.D'oh.

Our trip to Duluth.

Three weeks ago we were in Duluth visiting Cody and Ashley for the air show.
There was a parade that went right in front of their house to kick off the weekend. The boys loved this.


They especially loved the candy. See the giant bowl??


Then Cody and Ashley and Jacob and the big boys checked out a carnival just down the road.


It was a great visit! Thanks, guys! (sorry I am just now blogging this!) Many more pictures (taken by Cody because I am *such* a slacker) up at Flickr.