Summer 2011 In Review (in reverse order...oops)

So...this blogging thing isn't really my forte. But I do like having a place where some of our life is documented, just in case I would ever lose the 5 years of digital pictures I have yet to print. I know. That's pathetic. It has become such a project that I'm pretty scared to even start...but anyway. Here is a reverse order of some of our summer fun from 2011! Enjoy.

In Detroit Lakes, we rented a pontoon boat for an afternoon of fun on the water!

Gavin really took to the water on this trip as we got him water wings which seemed to be much better than a life jacket. He totally turned into a little fish!

The dock on our beach at the Holiday Inn on the Lake

The Minnesota Children's Museum is AMAZING. So many fun, interactive exhibits of real life stuff like this kids' sized restaurant.

Operating a crane...

Building with giant foam blocks!

Lots of fun rides at the Mall of America's Nickelodeon Universe.

Exploring a little beach near Apple Valley, MN

At Como Zoo, in the botanical garden.

Sunflower Festival queen contestant fashion show...G was so tired after a morning and afternoon of fun!

Jenna,and Dayna admiring the girls in their beautiful gowns. This was Dayna's favourite dress, and this was her swim instructor too...later to be crowned 2nd Princess.

Watching the acrobatic ATV's

Always a tradition to watch the parade with the whole family!

Borrowed Dennis' Harley for a fun date night

Watch out Gavin...Dayna is very good and dressing you up in just about anything...but you don't really object, as long as you get to play with your cool big sister :)

In June, we went to see the new movie, Cars 2. It was Gavin's first time at a real movie theatre and he did great!

Picnic in the back yard

Happy 3rd Birthday Gavin

Three years ago today, we were blessed to become to parents to this amazing little guy. At 6:20 p.m., he joined our family...all 7 lbs 12 oz of adorable-ness. What a sweet heart you have turned into little G-man. You are truly a mama's boy and are always ready with a hug for your mommy. You love to jabber away in bed, telling stories to yourself waaaaaaaaaaay past your bedtime. Lately, your favourite thing is to yell at the top of your lungs "I'm the king of the castle and you're the dirty rascal!"...it really doesn't matter where we are, grocery store, mall, playground, in the bathtub...wherever. You are also able to recognize all the letters of the alphabet, in any order. You know tons and tons of stuff, and are frequently "correcting" me when you feel I am mistaken on something. You and your sister are awesome playmates (most of the time) and you love to play together on the front pad, drawing with chalk or driving your trike around. Oh yeah - and you still LOVE tractors, as you have from a wee-baby. Recently you were playing outside while I was washing dishes. I didn't see you right in the back yard so I asked Daddy to go and see where you were. He calls to me,"Rache...come look where your son is". And where were you? Sitting on the tractor, "driving" away. And this is not a small tractor so you had mustered all the strength in your little body to climb up there, over gears and pedals right up onto the yellow seat. I went out to take a picture and asked you how you got up there , to which you replied,"I hopped on there and I hopped on there and I hopped up here!"

Gavin - you are such a sweet, gentle, soft-spoken, loving, smart and silly little boy and we love you to the moon. Oh yeah - when I ask you how much you love me, you say,"I love you to the moon, and the rainbows and the flowerbeds!"...

Happy 3rd Birthday little man :)

Today - July 5, 2011 - Three years old!

March, 2011 - 2.5 yrs

July 2010 - 2 yrs

January 2010 - 18 mths

October 2009 - 15 mths

And for a reminder of what a sweet little newborn he was, click here

Busy, busy, busy

Wow...it has been ages since I came here. Sorry bout that. I doubt if anyone is still checking this site but anyway, here's a picture (one of very few) that has been taken in the last while.

Since Ryan is so busy with his work in spring, there aren't many opportunities for him to spend time with the kids. Soooo, sometimes he has to improvise. One saturday morning, it worked out for G to go along in the water truck with daddy. Wow - was he ever excited! Here's a pic of the little man riding in the semi.

Ballet Recital March 20, 2011

Weekend trip to California

Who wants to go to California for the weekend? I do, I do... So when great Grandpa has his 90th birthday, we go to California for the weekend, literally. We left at 2 pm on thursday, drove to Fargo, got on the plane at 8 ish, got to LA at 9:30, rented minivans, drove an hour to Lake Elsinore and packed it in by around 1 a.m. Spent all day Friday at Grandma and Grandpa's house, spent Saturday at their house in the morning and then onto cousin Jennifer and Rachel's house for the birthday bash for the afternoon and evening. Thanks to an awesome connection (cousin Lisa), we were treated with a meal by In N Out Burger on wheels. Add a bouncy castle for the littles, and some drinks for the older crowd, plus some fine fixin's such as macaroni salad, chips, and veggies, and you have the makings for the best 90th birthday party ever. Heck, I'd say it was the best any-age birthday party ever. Now, after we're all bushed tired, hit the sack, get up at 7 am to pack, say our good byes and be back at LAX for our return flight by noon. Fly to Fargo, get in the cars by 7:30 pm and drive 3 hours back home. If that isn't a whirlwind trip, I don't know what is. But fun and great memories were had by all. Happy 90th Birthday Papa...we wish you many more.

Fargo Family Fun

Right after Christmas was done, we packed in the cars and headed to Fargo for a few nights. We had lots of fun in adjoining suites at the Ramada, fun shopping, fun riding the ferris wheel at Scheels and fun eating out at yummy restaurants, like Ruby Tuesday (in pics below):