July Update in August!

We kept busy this summer with a variety of fun things to do.  We share season tickets for the Twins with people from school, so we went to three different games over the course of the summer. 

 Unfortunately, the team is in a building year, and didn't win, but we had fun anyways. The Target dog lights up and wags his tail when it gets dark!

 TC Bear always has fun - this was a game with Pittsburg, I think.

 I finally found the big glove and had to get in line for a picture.  The folks behind us used my camera.  Maybe this one will make it on the Christmas card this year???

 Rally caps did NOT help the team get some runs - oh well.

 We went up north with our friends Joan and Tim to spend some time on Big Stony Lake near Hackensack at their cabin.  We had a great time and enjoyed the peaceful beauty of nature. 

 Ahhh...

 There were several egles hanging out in their favorite tree.  They come back every year.  This year there were young ones, too.

 I can't resist the beautiful sunsets - be prepared for more!

 Of course, we spent some time on the golf course.  This bunch of birch trees was just begging for a Christmas card shot.  Hmmm - how to choose?

 Jump in the lake to clean up after the golf - so much more refreshing than a shower!

 Yeah - me, too!

T his year we bought a fishing liscense and headed out to catch our supper...

 I got the first catch of the day ... and practically the last one, too.  We didn't get many, but it was fun.

 More sunsets ...

 ... beautiful!

 We always spend our pontoon rides watching for the loon family.  They have two babies - well, maybe they are teenagers here.

 The young ones are getting braver, but don't stray TOO far from mom or dad.

 One more sunset...

 We woke up Sunday morning and our hosts were gone!  Joan and Tim left in the middle of the night because their daughter Adria went into labor a couple of weeks early - welcome, Rawley!

 We took time on the way home to play another round of golf on a fun links course - it looks like moguls with no snow!

 Jane and I went with Jenna and the kids to the Minnesota Zoo on a beautiful Thursday in July.  It was a perfect ratio - one adult to one child, since Jane brought Maddox, too.

 Charlie was interested in everything.

 Maddox climbs on top, inside, and all over.

 Mabel enjoyed the day, too.

 Time for sunscreen!

 The petting zoo was a big hit with Charlie.

 Maddox loved the dinosaurs the best, I think.

 This was a cool interactive dino - some big kids put it together, but let Charlie help.

 Love the reflection.

Let's come back tomorrow, OK mom?

I've got more pics to post from Wacky Wednesday and VBS and then a few things from August, too. My plan is to get it done BEFORE school starts.  Since tomorrow is the last workshop day, I guess that means SOON!

May Doings

May was a busy month!  First we helped celebrate Charlie's second birthday at Jenna and Andy's house on Saturday, May 5.  Charlie's favorite movie is "Up" so, of course, he had an "Up" party.

He discovered a house in his front yard and had to explore.

Balloons were also a theme of this party.  the little kids he invited had a great time in the basement with loads of balloons.

Cousin Maddox taught Charlie the best way to go in and out of the house.  It took him a while to figure it out, but once he did it, there was no stopping him.

I made balloon animal hats for all the kids at the party.  This is Maddox modeling his hat.

 The next weekend was Mother's Day weekend, and Callen was graduating from college in River Falls, Wisconsin.  We went to the ceremony to help cheer for Cals when her name was called!  Then we went out for a great lunch with Phil, Leslie, Cory and Mark. Yum.

 On the way back from Callen's graduation we stopped at Ted and Pat's to see Tom, Kim, Amariah and Eli who came up from Illinois for Mother's Day and to celebrate Amariah's 3rd birthday with Grandma and Grandpa.  Of course, all the pictures I took were of the kids. Eli is seven months old now.

 Here's Amariah filling the tank on the motorized car.  Ted and Pat have LOTS of fun things to do!

 Griffin showed off his skateboarding skills going down the driveway ramp.  I remember trying that back when Tom and Teddy had boards, but never again!  Too scary!

 Jane, Jenna and Charlie stopped by, also.  Amariah said "I like my quiet cousin."  Charlie didn't say much in the crowd but had a great time in the sand box in the back yard.

Of course, Ted, Angie and Matthew came, too, so there was a houseful of kids!  They had a blast.

 I was hoping Jenna would have her baby on my birthday - just 4 days after the Mother's Day spontaneous party at Ted and Pat's, but Mabel Elizabeth Held arrived one day earlier - on May 15!  We went over to the house on Saturday to see her when she was just 5 days old. 

What a sweetie!

 It was a beautiful day so we sat out in the back yard and Andy grilled hamburgers.  Jane, Pat,  and I brought all the food and we had ANOTHER family party!

 Charlie had a blast in the pool - he would sit at the top of the slide and we'd all count 1, 2, 3 and down he would fly.  Another favorite pastime is squishing ants on the patio - eww!

We DID celebrate my birthday on Sunday the 18 by going out to eat at Island View.  Paul told me we were meeting Alison and Elaine, but Phil, Leslee, Callen, Mark, Karena and Anna joined us!  Surprise! 

I got a lovely money tree from Paul on the day, and folks added more to it that night!

 Memorial Day is celebrated in Cannon Falls with a patriotic parade and service in the community cemetery conveniently located just a few houses away from Jane and Chuck's. We have joined the Bracken's many times for a beautiful day outdoors with plenty to eat, of course!

Andy's folks, Angela and Greg, were here from Pittsburgh, so it was fun to see them again.  Here comes the parade, Charlie!

The parade consists of the police leading the way, veterans with the flags, the marching band from Cannon Falls High School, and the local boy scouts and girl scouts - that's it.

Andy and Jenna marched proudly with this band for many years!

The parade and all the watchers head up to the top of the hill in the cemetery where "Big Man"stands. This

is really Colonel Colville, a famous Civil War hero from the First Minnesota. 



There are kids from the high school who recite poems and the Gettysburg Address, the band plays, and someone from the National Guard speaks.  A local pastor gives an invocation and bendiction, and then there are taps at the end.

Oh yes, I can't forget the 21 gun salute - Mabel didn't even flinch!

Charlie was very well occupied collecting sticks the whole time.

We headed to Orono after snacks at Jane's for a barbecue for Phil's birthday at Mark and Karena's. 

He had TWO cakes, because  Leslee brought one and Elaine made one, too.  Time to get back on the diet!

Only 4 more days of school, and I then can relax in June - I need the rest!

Signs of Spring

Gee, I forgot to blog about a few things from the annals of the family get-togethers!  I'll reverse time and go back to a big event - Teddy's 10th birthday party!  Yep - I said tenth.  He is a Leap Day baby, so he was really celebrating his 40th:)

Angie had a great party in their party room with yummy food, and friends. The boys - Ted's son Matthew and Corey's son Maddox, had the run of the party.

Ted's going to be grilling salmon soon - yum!

Griffin organized a game of war with Paul, and Matthew had to join in to learn how to play.  The rest of the grown-ups had the option to eat or play Texas Hold-em or both.

Guess who won?

You know it's spring when mommies are beautifying their nest!  Jane and I helped Jenna paint the guest room for the new baby back in February or March - I can't remember when!

Hmmmm - how do you like this color?  Not so much?  So ... while Paul and I were on our vacation over spring break, they re-did the color to a much paler version.  New baby coming sono - maybe on my birthday?  Due date is May 18 I think, but two days early would be special.

Charlie and I had to spend a little time playing - army guys - yeah, my favorite:)

We had Easter at Ted and Pat's on the Saturday night before in hopes that Tom, Kim and the kids could come up from Illinois to celebrate Griffin's birthday (Tom's son) and Easter all at once.  Then it turned out that Griffin wouldn't be there (spring break with mom) so we postponed the Illinois connection.  We got to Skype with them, which was fun.

 The little boys had an indoor Easter egg hunt since it rained all morning.  They didn't care!

 Charlie had a little help from mom and dad.  Gee, next year there will be a little girl toddling around with a basket, too!  Wish we could get Phebe up from florida to join in the fun some year.

 Things were getting a little wild, so Ted and Angie took the big boys out for a little soccer and exercise.

 The rain had stopped, the yard dried up, and a fun time was had by all!

 I stayed on the deck for good photo ops:)

 Go, Matthew, score!

 Ok, Angie - who had the most exercise?  Mom, dad, or kids?  It was a good idea to wear off the appetizers and make room for a great ham dinner!  Yum!

My next post will probably include pictures of new baby Held ... coming soon ...