Nickelodeon Land

When I was flipping through my pictures I found this self portrait of Jillian.  She must have snapped it on the way to nickelodeon land.  I laughed so hard I cried.  She is so funny in her own way. 
Nickelodeon land was great.  Colton was tall enough to go on all the rides... and that is what he did.  He is a thrill seeker.  Jace and Jillian were a little more limited so they stayed with me and hit all the rides we could.  They are so fun and I loved watching them giggle and interact and talk about how fast or scary a ride was.  We also got to see Dora, Diego, and Sponge Bob.  Jace was star struck when he got to see Diego.  After checking out all the rides a few times... We met up with Daddy and Colton at Lego land.  We found something there for all the kids... (really.. its all for my big kid but you know how that goes)  I still wish we had his old Lego collection. 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the drive home... they were passed out.  Only the big guy left.

The Minnesota Twins Game

The Minnesota Twins Game.  I am not a fan of watching baseball on TV but if we had a pro team in Boise I would be a baseball junky.  I love going to the stadium.  All the people. The seventh inning stretch.  All of it.  I was excited to take the kids and see what they thought of it all.  We got in our gear so we looked official (Thanks Grandma and Grandpa) and then we were off to the ball park.  We rode into the city and then found our seats. 

The boys are already busy watching the game.

 

 

 Colton LOVES cotton candy.

 Jillian and I doing a little exploring.  We found her a purse in the gift shop!  I was so surprised and she was in heaven having a matching accessory.

 Colton and Jace exploring. 

 

 I think we tried out everything in the gift shop and I don't remember what we ended up with...

 

 

After filling ourselves with hot dogs, popcorn, ice cream, cotton candy and a soda we were ready to go.  I love the ball park!! 

Camping on Little Johnson Lake, Minnesota.

After a wonderful party and getting to meet the important people in Grandma and Grandpa's life we were off  to Northern Minnesota.  There is a cute little Cabin on Lake Johnson that Grandpa had done some work on so we were able to hang out there for a few days.  So the real intent behind the trip to the Cabin was to get the boys fishing in the lakes of northern Minnesota.  On the drive up we stopped at a hardware store for some bug spray and random things.  The had three rows of fishing lures.  I tried to talk Brian into getting some there because I knew they would be cheaper then the convenient store by the cabin.  He insisted that he had to wait until he researched what the fish were biting and apparently the man at the ma and pa store would know.  So he didn't get anything but I had promised Colton he could pick a lure so I found a rack of spoons for 2 dollars and told him he could pick one.  There were all sorts of bright colors but he picked a black and white one because it was like "sonic the hedge hog."  I tried to persuade him to get a bright colored one but in the end he stuck with the boring one.
  
As soon as we pulled in everyone piled out and went exploring.  I loved this field of daisies and started taking pictures like the crazy mother I am.  You will also see a theme with this beautiful pink dress Jillian has on.  Grandma made her three dresses and Jillian fell in love with this pink one.  You will see it a lot through the week.  It was washed about four times.

 

I love these two pictures because it is so Jace... there he goes.  Also Colton looks so sincere next to his sister.  He is such a good brother!

 

 This picture of Jace I love too because it reminds me so much of Brian.  In our early married years I would always ask Louise about raising Brian because I could only imagine my big guy as a boy finding trouble and charming his way out it.  Now I have Jace and I get to experience raising a little boy that is just like his Dad.  I totally see Brian out in the woods in his jammies with a gun as a boy and now here is Jacer.  Out in his jammies in the woods with a gun trying to shoot bad guys.  So fun!!  We played in the woods until it got dark and then we started the campfire.

 

 

 

 All the kids were helping me take a picture so I could be in one so just embrace the fingerprints and pretend my head isn't cut off :)

 

 The next morning Brian got up and headed out on the lake.  (Just as a side note.. He had went to the shop and you will never guess what the fish were biting... a black and white spoon, so Brian paid 7 dollars for a red and white one because Colton already had his 2 dollar black and white spoon.) 
Daddy was up and gone when we sauntered out of bed.  After breakfast Grandma and my three amigos headed into town to check it out.  We found a small discovery center and a second hand store.  When we got back Brian was home and didn't have much luck on the lake.  I told him to zip it because little ears could hear and they were excited to go. 

 

 

 Daddy didn't say another word and got us all packed up and ready to go, he could have spent all week on the lake, he loved it.  Grandma had a fancy cooler she let us borrow for sodas and grapes and all the things you need on a fishing trip. (you can see it by Brian, there is a story about it later so take a look at it real quick) We were off to land the lunker, or at least go through the motions for the little guys because according to Brian there were "no fish in this lake."  He took us to a floating doc and we unloaded.  It was beautiful and I was surrounded by handsome boys.  I LOVE fishing.

So Brian put Colton's luer on and Colton casted.  It wasn't long after that I heard Dad... I caught a fish.  Brian was working on Jace's line.  Oh Buddy, it is probably a snag, just keep reeling.
 Dad it's a fish.
Let me see bud..
What... you caught a fish!
I had to jump in the boat and grab the net.  Colton and Brian netted a 20" northern pike.  Well we didn't really expect to catch much so we didn't have pliers or a chain to hold the fish in the water.  Brian wrestled the pike to get the lure  (they have a lot of sharp teeth) their was blood from the fish and from Brian.  He won though and put the lure on Jaces line.  I helped get Jace in the water.  Brian was looking for something to put the fish in and thought of Grandma's cooler.  He looked at me and said "Do you think she would mind?" and I said "from you, I think she expects stuff like that now, I am surprised you are thinking about it"  So out went the snacks and in went the bloody fish (Sorry Grandma).
 In the mean time.  Jace had a fish on and I was wanting to help but I didn't want to rip the rod out of his hands so I was trying to reel and keep the line tight but we weren't successful... The fish jumped out of the water and snapped our line.  Colton felt bad for Jace but when we explained that the fish had his lure he went from Jubilation to complete sorrow.  We tried for about 50 more minutes with the red and white spoon and had no bites.  I convinced Brian to pack up. Go back to the tackle shop, get the correct lures and a chain for the fish and then get back in the water.  So that is what we did. 
We got back to the cabin and the boys jumped out of the boat to meet Jillian and Grandma.  Jace ran up the hill yelling
 "Grandma!! We caught and fish and we put it in your PURSE" 
I laughed so hard I may have tinkled a little.  Grandma was not surprised at all to find a bloody fish in her "purse" and was excited for the boys. 
I went with everyone to the tackle shop.  After seeing the look on Colton's face when I lost his lucky lure I was sure to replace it times three!!
 We headed back to the boat minus Jace and Jillian, they fell asleep in the car ride on the way back, however plus a pair of pliers and a chain for the fish.  We couldn't get the motor running so Brian rowed and rowed.  Back to the floating doc with the correct lure and still no bites.  We tried for another hour before we decided to head back and I told Brian I would row so he could fish.  He gave Colton some pointers about "trolling" and then Brian headed to the front of the boat and Colton stayed off the back of the boat.  First cast we heard.  Dad.. I got a fish on....  Brian tossed me his line, I reeled his line in and Brian proceeded to grab the net.  Colton reeled in his line to find no fish.. Colton wasn't used to the pull of the current on the spoon so this happened about five times.  Pretty soon Colton got impatient and set his rod down.  He was just gazing out the water and watching me row when his line went zzzzz and the rod almost jumped out of the boat.  DAD... I GOT A FISH.. REALLY DAD... Brian reeled in his line and jumped back there.  Colton landed a 30 inch northern pike this time. 
After this Colton referred to himself as "The Master Fisherman" and we all had to Thank him at dinner time for catching our dinner. The Pike did taste amazing... it was so fun. 

 

 

 

 

We had a blast and made so many good memories.  The memories we made at this cabin are going to be the stories my kids have to hear over and over each time I tell them... those kind of memories

A visit to Grandma's House 7.15.2012

When we were a family of three we made regular trips out to Papa and Grandma's house.  When we became a family of five it was easier to pay them to come see us (or bribe them with unlimited cuddles from grand kids).  So needless to say it had been a while since we had been to Minnesota, so we decided to make the trek and go see our Minnesota Grandma and Grandpa.  I had stocked back packs full of every trick I could think of because the plane ride is three hours.  Brian sat with the boys and I sat by the stranger and then Jillian on the other side me.  The kids were great.  Jillian colored and checked out every snack I had packed and Colton and Jace put their headphones on and played games with Daddy.  After a bit Jillian climbed in my lap and took a nap (I even got to dose for a minute.)  Troopers.  I was so proud.
We were so excited to arrive and hang out at Grandma's and Grandpa's house.  When we got to Grandma's house we discovered that she had acquired enough Nerf/laser guns for an army.  She had darts and laser beams flying through the house.  We quickly settled in and the kids made themselves right at home.  It was so worth the long day of travel to hang out with Grandpa and Grandma.
We got a good night sleep... at least I did.  Little did I know that Jace had already figured out where Grandma and Grandpa were sleeping and he had made several visits through the night.  First thing in the morning he woke them up too and again quickly figured out Grandma would make him eggs for breakfast or whatever he requested.  By the time I made it upstairs Jace had his chocolate milk and eggs and Grandma was in her apron with a full breakfast on the table!! It was amazing.  We got our bellies full and were ready for a day of adventures.

 

 

When Colton was 18 months we took him to the Minnesota Children's Museum and I loved it!  It is so awesome in there.  That is the first place I wanted to go so we took off and left Grandma and Grandpa home to get ready for a party later with the neighbors.  This museum has four floors with different theme rooms.  The first one we checked out was Curious George.  We love curious George so it was fun to see some of the things we had read about.  We got to make our own Whirli gig (wind mill) and go in the same space ship George was in.

 

 

 

 

The next floor we went to was on the top of the building.  There was a tree house thing and an observation deck where you could look at the clouds and then draw some.

 

The next room was a bugs life kind of thing.  There were stairs to reach the clouds and they moved so you could make rain clouds and thunder.  They have a man made little river ecosystem with frogs and snakes.  You can be a turtle or an ant in the ant farm.  It is so cool and the kids loved it.

 

  Jillian needs this shell in real life.

 

The next room we checked out was the "water works" room which is full of industrial things.  There is a crane and blocks to make buildings.  A paper making station and a network of PVC pipes with water and ping pong balls.  So fun!!