4th of July 2012

With the 4th of July falling mid-week this year, we were able to spend almost an entire week at the cabin and mother nature provided unbelievable weather.  The days were spent with a ton of activity and we thoroughly enjoyed the company of family.  We share only a few of the highlights!

 



Showing our festive side...

Attempt at a family pic...

Time for fireworks...

Pontoon rides...

 

Plenty of fun in the water...

 

 

 

 

 

A chance to celebrate some other important milestones...



Great Grandma Ollie's 98th Birthday!



 

Papa and Mama's 10th Anniversary!

(Thanks G&G for watching the kiddos overnight so we could have a quick get away to Duluth)

 

Lastly, our individual pics to commemorate the holiday this year...

Madelaine ~ 3 1/2





 

Eleanor ~ 3 1/2

 

Theodore ~ 15 mo

Love from us all!

 



Vacation Bible School 2012

ME attended their first week of VBS at our local church.  They were extremely lucky to have the company of their cousin Leela in their group and even more lucky to have Grandma Linda as their leader...so the transition of being dropped off/picked up by Mama really was not difficult at all.  Mama usually heard "you can leave now" as soon as we arrived...

 

Our first morning, wearing our VBS t-shirts...

Though we didn't interact much with other kids and usually chose not to share a lot about what we learned, the week brought obvious lessons surrounding the theme.  Then and still to this day, we can be heard belting out the songs and often request to listen to the music CD in the car (fairly close in popularity to Justin Bieber).  We also at times can be heard to randomly tell each other "it's okay, you can trust God" if having difficulty doing something, etc. which is really quite sweet.

Looks like we have a new annual event to kick-off our summers for awhile.  Thanks Grandma Linda for making the week so much fun!  Love, ME

(Note: get pics from Mom's camera)

Happy Father's Day!

Father's Day brought us up to the cabin for some "okay" weather, but as always we still had plenty of fun going on 4-wheeler rides and playing in the sandbox (sorry, no pics of these fun times this round...next time).  Though the picture is missing a certain someone who was having some attitude at the moment, we guarantee you we love, love our Papa!

In fact much of the refusing to pose in a picture was because we were so very sad Papa had to leave...displaying our tears of love...

Another sad goodbye with tears of love...

Thanks Papa for being so special to all of us...we love, love, love you!! XOXOXO

We were able to spend a couple of extra days at the cabin with Mama and thank heavens one of those days allowed for some fun in the sun, complete with swimming and jet ski rides by all (compliments of Grandpa and Grandma's driving help, thank you, thank you).  Here are a few favorite pics from the day...

We are excited for more summer fun at the cabin!

Love, M, E and T

Happy 14-months to Teddy!

The biggest and best news of this month...I am now moving upright!  I hadn't walked more than 4-5 steps and out of the blue one night while playing in the living room after dinner with everyone present, I decided to strut my stuff.  I walked from one side of the room to the other and obviously was applauded, so kept on doing it over and over.  

I felt sharing a few video clips was the best way to display this accomplishment.  The first clip is the following day after my "Big Show" the night before, while at Oxbow Park for a picnic with my sisters and Mama...

The second clip is another fun pastime I have in the kitchen, reminiscent of what my sisters did but they usually needed each other to do this and didn't complete this alone...must be a girl thing...

This last clip is my favorite...it is me playing "Monster", which I love to do to anyone who will entertain my scariness...

Watch out world, here I come!
Love, Theodore

And the score is even...

It is another BOY...we are very excited.  The naming game has begun being Papa and Mama are having a bit more difficulty this time around.

Happy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day 2012 maybe wasn't as planned with breakfast served in bed (right dear?), and time with Grandma Dee Dee and Grandma Linda, but instead it was waking up to a leaking refrigerator/freezer which was on its way out the door.  After saving and throwing what was necessary, we headed into Rochester for some fun appliance shopping.  Some might call this crazy with 3 small children but somehow you children were wonderful and had fun running around various appliances.  Papa and Mama rocked too considering we were able to pick out a new refigerator and dishwasher (this had been acting funny lately as well) in a very short amount of time.  Mama decided to let you girls pick where we ate lunch and to no surprise you chose your favorite...WB for nothing other than chicken fingers and french fries.  By no means was the day a wash, being we still were able to do the most important thing of all which is spend time together as a family.

Thanks to the 3 of you for bringing blessings to each day.  Mama cannot imagine life without you nor can I wait for the addition of another one to the bunch!

Love you always! XOXOXO

Happy 13-months to Teddy!

A month has already passed since my first birthday and everyone thinks I just keep changing/growing by the day.  I am very much into using a spoon (preferring non other than those that belong to my sister's such as a Dora or Princess one) and am also working on using a fork.  With my hair a bit longer these days, cleaning me up after mealtime is a treat!  My two bottom teeth are through and I have front top tooth working its way in at the moment.  

I still find moving on my hands and knees to be more efficient and safe but have taken 3-4 steps on numerous occasions, thinking I am pretty big stuff, and then lower myself to the ground to go on my merry way.  Overall my balance is great, and I can frequently be found standing without arm support and bouncing away to music with my sisters. 

I love, love the outdoors.  In fact coming in from outside or not being able to go outside when someone else does causes a bit of a problem in my book.  Thank heavens we have had some very nice weather which has allowed fun outdoor activities such as enjoying my first popsicle and going on a pontoon ride at the cabin. 

Though one would think loving the outdoors would involve not minding rides in a stroller, I am not a fan of long walks while positioned in one.  I prefer either a wagon or my red car at Grandpa and Grandma's, maybe because I don't feel as confined and can better see all the action going on around me.  I also am not a huge fan of this life jacket thing I have to wear while on the lake, but am tolerating it and usually end up falling asleep anyhow.

I am looking forward to a lot of exciting activities this summer!

Much love, Theodore