Rock Is done!

8.31.14

I finally figured out the colors for the "rock"! I think it turned out really good! Now we can go and just relax... all the big projects are done... for now ;) Ha!

I need to stain the cedar posts under the porch yet but I have to wait until spring. 

Microstar Camp

6.26.14

The girls had fun playing t-ball at camp tonight.

Kaelyn running the bases

Ashlyn running the bases

Cheering section

Sleepy Bear

8.24.14

Sweet little Claire Bear snoozing in the car :)

Cabin update

8.21.14

Joe and I took the girls out for supper at Bugaboo Bay in Alexandria.

Ashlyn is eating an Alligator Egg Roll. They were a little greasy but tasted really good! Kaelyn liked them too! The girls had so much fun looking at all the tropical fish tanks, watching the people play volleyball and going in the bounce house before we left.  What a fun place! We will defiantly going back there :)

Collecting worms for fishing after Joe and I did some landscaping :)

We removed a "decorative" retaining wall - it was rotten and UGLY!

The yard is getting whipped into shape. The siding is done too,  it turned out great! It was an amazing transformation for sure! I'm still working on painting the 'rock'. It's a stamped cement that looks like rock. I've been struggling finding the right color combination that I like. I will update when I figure that out!

Crazy skies on our way home

Sleepy Claire bear all snuggled in :)

Girls weekend!

8.18.14

Another gorgeous day at the cabin! 

The girls and I went up for the week and Joe joined us for the weekend. The girls got to play and go swimming while I got to do some painting and some yard work done.  The long list of things "to do" is getting shorter... things are really starting to come together and the place is starting to look pretty good!      

Claire and her favorite toy at the cabin! 

She pushes her tractor around all the time.

Taking in the view of the lake from the porch in her pajamas!

Silly Claire Bear!

6.25.14

Claire likes to take selfies!

Happy Claire Bear!

7.16.14

 She loves to be held upside down!

This girl eats anything and everything!

art is elementary

5.11.14

Ashlyn's painting was chosen to be a part of the 

South Central Regional Elementary Art Show at Gustavus Adolphus College.  

What an honor! 

I think there were only 6 kids chosen from her K-2 school (approx 500 kids). 

We are so proud of her!

The invite to come see her art at the Schaefer Fine Arts Gallery.

It was on display May 7th to May 30th.

Happy 6th Birthday Ashlyn!

7.9.14

Happy 6th birthday to our kind, sweet, funny and awesome Ashlyn! 

She said that she feels like a six year old today, a little older, a little smarter and even a little taller! She is so proud to be six! 

Mom and dad got her a Nerf bow, a pink camo zip up sweatshirt, and zebra Hello Kitty socks.  She said that the bow was the "coolest present EVER!"  She has spent most of the morning shooting it.  Tonight she requested to go out to Pizza Ranch for her birthday supper. Our little girl is growing up!!!

Ashlyn's last day of Kindergarten!

6.5.14

Ashlyn was so excited for her last day of Kindergarten. 

They had Field Day and she said it was awesome!

 This picture just doesn't do her justice. Poor girl got knocked over by the dog and landed on the cement steps on her back. Big serape over half her back :( She smiled through the tears. She is so excited to be an official First Grader!

First and Last day of Kindergarten

I like to feed myself!

6.3.14

Claire has really started to like feeding herself. 

It can be messy, but she loves it!

 Avocado - her favorite!

Mallard downtown Alex

6.14.14

Grandma Deb and I took the girls to town on a rainy morning at the cabin to get a few donuts and this mallard was hanging out in the street... 

the girls thought it was so cute!

Silly Kaelyn

6.2.14
Kaelyn made this "tiger" mask.  "Take my picture mom!"

Claire 6 Month Pictures

2.13.14

Our sweet little Claire had her 6 month picture with her auntie Christy.  They turned out amazing as always! :)

Check out her site:

http://christybode.com/claire-mankato-baby-photographer/

Pool time!

5.30.14

First time in the pool for the year :)

Mushroom Hunting

5.31.14

While Joe was busy with field work, the girls and I went morel mushroom hunting down by the Minnesota river on what we call "Riverland".  We'd already found around 150 mushrooms the week before and this trip we found a bunch more.

We used grandpa Tim's ranger so we could strap Claire's seat in and have enough room for everyone. Claire loved getting a front row seat and faced forward! She was all smiles.

Loula Ladies

 This is just one of many we found. Picture perfect!
While I was climbing on a steep hillside the girls decided to share their pouch of apple sauce with Claire and let her try to feed it to herself. She was covered in applesauce! This picture doesn't do justice to how messy she was.   She didn't mind obviously!

Daddy & Kaelyn lunch date

6.4.14

Joe took Kaelyn on a lunch date to Arby's.  Kaelyn has been asking to do things with "just her" so it was perfect!

Mya swimming

6.3.14

After the 3" of rain we got, Mya had fun playing in the water of our neighbors field down the gravel road on our walk. 

C&K

6.2.14

These two have enjoyed hanging out together while Ashlyn is at school.