Duluth Evening 1

We headed out Friday afternoon for Duluth. The boys were super excited, as was I. We got there about 5ish and checked into our hotel. We stay at The Inn on Lake Superior. A little on the spendy side, but definitely worth it for our first time there as a family. After we got things unpacked a little we headed out to walk on the lake walk around Canal Park. We were on the first floor of our hotel and could walk out of our patio and see this. The boys enjoyed people watching from our patio.

Everyone was getting hungry so we headed to eat at Grandma's. Mattey was going fishing in Canada with Kristin's brother and dad (his brother-in-law and father-in-law) and we had it made off to meet up with them for dinner. Worked out nice.

After dinner we headed back out to walk around.

This was our hotel looking from the lighthouse.

There was a patio where we could eat breakfast (which was yummy both mornings), sit and relax anytime, and at nighttime they had two fires for making S'mores. They supplied all the fixings.

I would not have had to plan anything this whole weekend because we found out the boys would have been happy just playing in the rocks and water. They LOVED finding rocks and throwing them in the lake. ALL of my boys! ;)

We called it a night after we got some yummy ice cream and headed back to the hotel for a swim in the pool.

Lemonade Stand, Garage Sale, Moving Classrooms, Big Ben, Dancing with the Stars

It's been busy around here to say the least. Matt was gone for a week in England came home for about 36 hours and was able to go to a golf fundraiser/outing and the wedding, and then headed to Milwaukee for a few days.

I (with the help of my family) moved completely out of a classroom and into another. One never realizes how much "STUFF" is accumulated. Wow.

The boys and I prepared for a garage sale. It was pretty successful. We got rid of a ton of stuff and made some money at the same time. The boys were rock stars about it. They helped bring a ton of stuff up from downstairs, went through rooms with me and decided what we could sell, and Connor sat at the money table for some of the morning. Thanks to everyone who helped out.

The boys had a lemonade stand one day. They had three customers - two police officers and a city worker. They were pretty bummed., but had fun doing it. I now vow to stop at any lemonade stand I see because I know how much it means to those kids. ;)

Matt brought the boys home a 3-D puzzle of Big Ben. Connor and I worked on that

Last week the boys and I went to the Dancing with the Steele County Stars. Diane was in it and raised money for the Healthy Seniors. There were 8 couples from the community and they had to learn a different type of ballroom dance (most with no or little dance experience - or at least no experience with ballroom). Diane and her partner danced to the waltz. They were great. Diane - you are a beautiful dancer. The boys loved it and we thought she was the best (maybe a little biased!) ;)

And we just got home from a weekend in Duluth. I am trying to catch my breath, clean house, do laundry, and unpack....and stay cool. Holy smokes it's hot out there. ;)

Staci and Tyler’s Wedding

The following weekend, Saturday the 9th, we had my cousin's wedding (we had a garage sale in the morning). It was at the Grand in Northfield. I had never been there. It is an old theater and very unique.

Here is our ticket telling us where our table is.

The lady cousins (missing a few) and cousin- in- laws with the lovely bride.

When people clinked their glasses the newly married couple had to repeat what another couple did for a kiss. Mom and dad's name was called. They also were the 2nd to last couple out on the dance floor for years married.

Connor and Staci dancing - He was pretty pumped she picked him first after snowball. Connor becomes a dancing machine, a maniac, when the music comes on. It's so much fun to watch. He was having a great time. In fact, he almost stayed and got a ride home from grandpa and grandma because Matt and the boys and I were pretty tired. ;)

The most fun of the night was that Nolan and Jacob (mostly Nolan) took the camera around and took pictures. Like I mentioned earlier Nolan is extremely interested in taking pictures right now. He loves it and gets in a groove. Everyone was such great sports about it. He got some really great candids. Notice he got his feet a few times accidentally. ;) I had to put most of them on here because they make me smile. I also had to laugh as I was going through them because this is the most pictures I have ever been in because I didn't have the camera for once. ;) He seiously took all of these. Pretty darn good huh?

It is always such a great time seeing everyone.

Fourth of July

We celebrated the 4th by heading to the Blooming Prairie parade like we have been doing for awhile now. We have quite the crew when we are all there. The rest of my family (except for Matt) were back and able to celebrate with us.

After the parade everyuone came to our house and filled our bellies and relaxed. The boys went swimming and Uncle Mattey and Uncle Natey were good sports and jumped in with them.

Then we went to watch the fireworks. They were great as usual. Another super day...though we sure were missing daddy.

Major Updates going all the way back to July 3rd…

I am so far behind on things that have been going on here. I will try my best to be short, quick, and to the point (I truly don't think that is possible!).

Matt was in England for a week for work over the 4th of July. The past few years my cousin has had her family and my family over for the 4th. However, this year because the 4th was on a Monday she had people over on the 3rd. My parents, Mattey and K, Natey and D, and Matt were all gone on the 3rd so the boys and I went out there. They are all always so generous and thoughtful in including us and are so good to the boys. There was swimming, playing, swinging, golf cart racing, eating, and visiting. There was cake for a couple of birthdays, a fire and s'mores, and fireworks. Thank you so much for including us again this year - it was a great way to start off the fourth!