Science Exploration Center...

While in MN, I took Hayden and his cousin Noah to the Science Center. It was the perfect thing for these two guys.
Budding paleontologists...



Aeronautical engineers in training...


You have to know how to climb mountains to make discoveries...
Athletes and musicians, too...


You boys can be anything that you want to be!

It was so fun hanging out with you two for the day!

Pretty Amazing...

The real reason for our trip home to MN, was to celebrate my Dad's retirement. I just thought I'd share some stats about my fantastic father...

11 children that love him...

28 grandchildren that adore him...

42 years of devoted service as the Special Education Director for SW Minnesota...

43 years of marriage to his sweetheart...

Congratulations, Dad! On a successful, wonderful life thus far. We're looking forward to seeing you more now, and enjoying your retirement with you!

S'mores and Lawn Mowers...

Campfires at Grandpa's house are an annual tradition...
This year, Nana surprised the grandkids with super-sized marshmallows. And we all know what that equates to... super-sized mess... The other favorite pastime at Grandpa's is riding on (and dragging behind) the lawn mower. I think that Hayden got grass stains on every shirt that we brought with us. Oh well, all in the name of fun! My siblings and I used to do this when we were kids (yes, I have redneck roots), it's so fun to watch our kids enjoy it now...

Falls Park...

We packed so much into our trip to MN, that I decided to post it in segments - one post would probably be overkill. So, one of the first things that we did when we arrived was take a trip to Falls Park with some of the cousins. It is such beautiful place and the kids love that they can get right up next to the water...Ana loves her cousin Garrett so much, he's a few years older than her, but he always plays so sweet with her. I heard her run crying to him at one time while we were there and he said to her "What happened to my princess?" - Now that boy is going to make one heck of a husband...Ana and Autumn, we had several people ask us if they were twins... "No, just cousins"...That's not a bag lady... just Ana pushing all of the water-logged shoes...I love group shots like this, they are so great to look back at in 20 years and see how young and goofy everyone was... Hayden's best-friends in the world are his cousins... "Cousins are the best", I heard him say on more than one occasion.

Minnesota, Here We Come...

11 hours... that's how long it takes to drive to my parents house in MN. This is what I saw in the rearview mirror as I was driving... at about hour number 7...

 

All I can say is... you get creative when you're strapped into a seat all day long driving mostly across Nebraska.

PS. I'm trying to organize all of my pictures from our trip, we packed a lot into 2 weeks. So stay tuned for MN 2010...

Field Day Fun...

Field Day, the day that you go to school for all year long!

Kindergarten Round-up, Yeehaw!

Ana has been ready for and awaiting Kindergarten since Hayden went to Kindergarten last year... seriously. Her moment is almost here and we are on the count-down! She is able to handle the anticipation due to events like the famous "Round-Up". What a cute little cowgirl we have...

 

 

 

We are so excited for you to start Kindergarten, Ana... maybe even more than you are! Just kidding, I will miss having my sweet Ana-Girl around to help me cook, and take care of Sophie - she is such a great helper. And I'm sure that she is going to be a great Kindergartener!

That Girl...

My little Sophie is something else... sometimes that something is so stinkin sweet, other times its extremely stubborn. But in this instance it's nothing but heaven...

 

 

 

How to Build a Bench 101...

Hayden and I made a bench awhile ago and I finally finished painting it. Wahoo! I love finished projects. It turned out great and the kids have really been enjoying their new "shoe seat". Want to build something, but don't know how? Go to the Knock-Off Wood blog - she pretty much rocks.

It went something like this:










I even tried my hand at the "distressed" look, which is harder than it seemed to be in the tutorial.
But all-in-all... success!

The Gifts of Motherhood...

What more could you ask for on Mother's Day, than to wake up to dozens of pictures drawn with love, carrots and grapes wrapped in aluminum foil, and a chocolate covered graham cracker stuffed in an envelope? I love being a Mom.

 

Maiden Voyage...

Our family has taken up a new hobby and I think that it is my favorite one yet. Mountain Biking. Rob and I went on our first ride up in the mountains on our new bikes for a date on Saturday evening. It was so FUN! I love to hike... mountain biking is like hiking in fast forward. You get to go so much faster and see so much more. It's so great! Going up the steep inclines is pretty grueling (but great exercise) I must say, but it is so worth it on the way down. Rob was meant for sports like this, the faster and more perilous the better for him. I, on the other hand, took it a bit slower, but enjoyed every minute. So if anyone ever wants biking buddies, you know who to call...