Monday, June 15, 2009
A birthday party...
We celebrated Grandpa Joel's 68th birthday. Jackson was lucky enough to be able to help Papa Joel blow out his candles. I think Joel enjoyed having his family all around and we really enjoyed watching the special moments he shared with Jackson after everyone left.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Summer Fun List
I needed to keep track of the list in my head of all the things I want to do with Jackson or maybe both kids this summer. It's possible that this list is ambitious considering we are expecting the baby in middle August, so some things may need to wait until next summer. Here is our "Summer Fun" list:
1. Pick strawberries
2. Run through the sprinkler
3. Battle Creek Waterpark
4. Horse Races
5. Paddleboat ride
6. Fishing
7. Sleep in a tent
8. Roast marshmallows at home
9. A water balloon toss
10. The Arboretum
11. Nature walk in Lake Elmo
12. The train museum
13. Go to a drive in movie
14. Pick our raspberries
15. Harvest the garden
And to show progess we can check these off the list
16. May Day Parade
17. Grand Old Day Parade
18. Nature Valley Bike Racing
19. Take in a Twins Game
20. Plant a vegetable garden
1. Pick strawberries
2. Run through the sprinkler
3. Battle Creek Waterpark
4. Horse Races
5. Paddleboat ride
6. Fishing
7. Sleep in a tent
8. Roast marshmallows at home
9. A water balloon toss
10. The Arboretum
11. Nature walk in Lake Elmo
12. The train museum
13. Go to a drive in movie
14. Pick our raspberries
15. Harvest the garden
And to show progess we can check these off the list
16. May Day Parade
17. Grand Old Day Parade
18. Nature Valley Bike Racing
19. Take in a Twins Game
20. Plant a vegetable garden
Thursday, June 11, 2009
8 things...
8 Things. Just a fun meme that I copied from another site.
8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Scrapbooking my SD photos
2. Meeting Addie
3. A date night with my husband that isn't planned
4. Hugs from my boy
5. Fresh veggies from my garden
6. A run through the sprinkler
7. The Sun
8. Apple crisp
8 things I did yesterday:
1. Finished my Marketing simulation project.
2. Ate a gyro
3. Watched a parade with my family
4. Had an M&M cookie
5. Scrapbooked some wedding photos
6. Read stories to my boy
7. Wrote in my journal
8. Watered my poor upstairs often forgotten about plant
8 things I wish I could do:
1. Color my hair
2. Eat sushi
3. Cook dinner more
4. Make apple crisp
5. Keep the boy at age two
6. Stay home with my boy
7. Take cooking classes
8. Read for enjoyment more
8 shows I watch:
1. MN Twins
2. Chopped
3. Ace of Cakes
4. The Fashion Show
5. Project Runway
6. Top Chef
7. Jeopardy
8. Scrubs
8 favorite fruits:
1. Bananas
2. Pineapple
3. Apples
4. Blueberries
5. Strawberries
6. Cantaloupe
7. Kiwi
8. Oranges
8 places I’d like to travel:
1. London
2. Austrailia
3. Wyoming
4. Spain
5. Italy
6. Savannah
7. Ireland
8. Texas
8 places I’ve lived:
1. Shoreview, Minnesota
2. Maplewood, Minnesota
3. St. Paul, Minnesota
4. River Falls, Wisconsin
5.
6.
7.
8.
8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Scrapbooking my SD photos
2. Meeting Addie
3. A date night with my husband that isn't planned
4. Hugs from my boy
5. Fresh veggies from my garden
6. A run through the sprinkler
7. The Sun
8. Apple crisp
8 things I did yesterday:
1. Finished my Marketing simulation project.
2. Ate a gyro
3. Watched a parade with my family
4. Had an M&M cookie
5. Scrapbooked some wedding photos
6. Read stories to my boy
7. Wrote in my journal
8. Watered my poor upstairs often forgotten about plant
8 things I wish I could do:
1. Color my hair
2. Eat sushi
3. Cook dinner more
4. Make apple crisp
5. Keep the boy at age two
6. Stay home with my boy
7. Take cooking classes
8. Read for enjoyment more
8 shows I watch:
1. MN Twins
2. Chopped
3. Ace of Cakes
4. The Fashion Show
5. Project Runway
6. Top Chef
7. Jeopardy
8. Scrubs
8 favorite fruits:
1. Bananas
2. Pineapple
3. Apples
4. Blueberries
5. Strawberries
6. Cantaloupe
7. Kiwi
8. Oranges
8 places I’d like to travel:
1. London
2. Austrailia
3. Wyoming
4. Spain
5. Italy
6. Savannah
7. Ireland
8. Texas
8 places I’ve lived:
1. Shoreview, Minnesota
2. Maplewood, Minnesota
3. St. Paul, Minnesota
4. River Falls, Wisconsin
5.
6.
7.
8.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
And another thing...
We also learned on vacation that Jackson is going to be a great big brother, at least until the novelty wears off. We visited Katie and Jesse and baby Liam on our way back out of South Dakota and had such a nice time. Jackson helped me to feed baby Liam and even patted him on the back when it was time to burp. He sang him songs, a couple loud rounds of the Alphabet Song and Twinkle Twinkle. He even took his turn at holding Liam and did a pretty darn good job at it. I hope he will be as helpful with his baby sister as he was at the Heller's.
Monday, June 8, 2009
What we learned from Jackson while on vacation...
- He is VERY afraid of adults dressed in costume at amusement parks or The Corn Palace.
- He will take his shoes and socks off every time he gets in the car.
- Excitedly screaches when he can see snakes
- Will pay attention to an entire Alligator show.
- Thinks Crazy Horse should really have been a bunch of crazy horses.
- Likes going on "adventures."
- Thinks hotel pools rock.
- Can't get his fill of corndogs and fries.
- Will entertain babies with songs.
- Will tell you he has to poop when he doesn't have to all to get out of seeing the Mt. Rushmore lighting ceremony.
- Eats spears of pickles from the side instead of the end.
- Loves licorice.
- Thinks wearing headphones to watch a DVD is the coolest.
- Thinks desserts should be call pah-zerts.
- He will take his shoes and socks off every time he gets in the car.
- Excitedly screaches when he can see snakes
- Will pay attention to an entire Alligator show.
- Thinks Crazy Horse should really have been a bunch of crazy horses.
- Likes going on "adventures."
- Thinks hotel pools rock.
- Can't get his fill of corndogs and fries.
- Will entertain babies with songs.
- Will tell you he has to poop when he doesn't have to all to get out of seeing the Mt. Rushmore lighting ceremony.
- Eats spears of pickles from the side instead of the end.
- Loves licorice.
- Thinks wearing headphones to watch a DVD is the coolest.
- Thinks desserts should be call pah-zerts.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
South Dakota
Friday: We had a wonderful trip to South Dakota this last week. We left Friday afternoon when Ron got off work and headed for Mitchell, SD making a stop in Sioux Falls for a quick dinner at McDonalds. We arrived at the AmericInn in Mitchell just in time for Jackson's bed time. He was a great little traveler that first night.
Saturday: Ron and Jackson checked out the pool in the morning and then we headed out to see the Corn Palace, which was not all that exciting. But we did end up at the Perhistoric Indian Village in Mitchell, and thought that was well worth the stop. They are uncovering an old Indian Village, underground. Then we headed for Wall Drug where we had an overpriced lunch, but enjoyed the time running around the store. In the backyard at Wall Drug there is a dinosaur that wakes up every 12 minutes and makes quite the ruckus... scared Jackson to death! He rode on wagon trains, mechanical donkeys, drank some free water and burned off some energy before we headed to Rapid City. In Rapid City we found Bear Country USA. We had so much fun driving through the campus to see buffalo, elk and bear. After the short drive we walked through the baby animals display. Jackson could have spent an hour in front of the bear cubs, watching them play.
Sunday: After spending bit of time at the pool we headed to The Reptile Gardens where Jackson was thrilled to see snakes, and alligator show, giant tortoise and prairie dogs. After that we headed out to see Mt. Rushmore. While there it started to rain a bit, but it was just a quickly passing storm. We ate lunch in Keystone at a cute little deli. We got back in the car for the meandering trip through Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park. Jackson fell asleep shortly into the trip, but Ron and I enjoyed the beautiful drive finding donkeys, buffalo, antelope and prairie dogs on the way. Jackson woke up just in time to see the donkey that came right up to our window hoping for food. After checking in to our hotel in Hot Springs, we ate dinner in town and heading back north to see the lighting ceremony of Mt. Rushmore. The drive back to the hotel in the dark was a bit scary, hundreds of dear lined the dark winding roads, but thanks to Ron we made it home safely.
Monday: We stated our day at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, an archeological site of a mammoth dig. Then went to Custer to the National Woodcarving Museum, which wasn't really national. Some of the woodcarving exhibits talked back to you when you put in the wooden nickel, but these were pretty scary for the boy, so he spent a lot of time in Mom's arms. Then we headed out to see Crazy Horse, though Jackson thought we were heading to see "crazy horses". We took a bus ride up to the mountain, which Jackson just loved doing. He was a good little boy on the bus and sat still, looking out the window. We were able to take a rock from the mountain in which Crazy Horse is being carved. Then we went to Hill City for lunch at a cute 50s dinner. It began to rain during our late lunch, so after we piled in the car and headed south again to our hotel in Hot Springs. After a few packed days we were mighty tired and napped in our hotel room. We decided to have a mellow night, since it was raining anyway, we spent some time swimming in the pool. After drying off, we stopped at the local Pamida so Ron could get more socks, and we bought a barrel of monkeys to play in our room. We spent the last hours of the evening in our room eating dinner and playing games.
Tuesday: It was off to The Badlands! We headed back east through the badlands, taking the scenic route there. We saw loads of wildlife again and when we hit the badlands, we were thrilled. We got out at a few scenic overlooks and took pictures. We had lunch at Cedar Pass Lodge and checked into our hotel, a great little cabin IN the badlands! After a nap in the cabin we headed out for some hikes in the badlands, keeping our eyes out for rattlesnakes.
Wednesday: We got up early in the morning to begin making the long drive to Milbank, SD to see our friends the Hellers. Our first stop was for gas, after a somewhat hectic search for a gas station. Then for a Dairy Queen lunch. And other than that we spent much of the day in the car making our way to Milbank. Where we were met with a wonderful dinner and great friends, and the cutest little baby!
Thursday: Another morning of getting on the road, but this time to head to our home.
Saturday: Ron and Jackson checked out the pool in the morning and then we headed out to see the Corn Palace, which was not all that exciting. But we did end up at the Perhistoric Indian Village in Mitchell, and thought that was well worth the stop. They are uncovering an old Indian Village, underground. Then we headed for Wall Drug where we had an overpriced lunch, but enjoyed the time running around the store. In the backyard at Wall Drug there is a dinosaur that wakes up every 12 minutes and makes quite the ruckus... scared Jackson to death! He rode on wagon trains, mechanical donkeys, drank some free water and burned off some energy before we headed to Rapid City. In Rapid City we found Bear Country USA. We had so much fun driving through the campus to see buffalo, elk and bear. After the short drive we walked through the baby animals display. Jackson could have spent an hour in front of the bear cubs, watching them play.
Sunday: After spending bit of time at the pool we headed to The Reptile Gardens where Jackson was thrilled to see snakes, and alligator show, giant tortoise and prairie dogs. After that we headed out to see Mt. Rushmore. While there it started to rain a bit, but it was just a quickly passing storm. We ate lunch in Keystone at a cute little deli. We got back in the car for the meandering trip through Custer State Park and Wind Cave National Park. Jackson fell asleep shortly into the trip, but Ron and I enjoyed the beautiful drive finding donkeys, buffalo, antelope and prairie dogs on the way. Jackson woke up just in time to see the donkey that came right up to our window hoping for food. After checking in to our hotel in Hot Springs, we ate dinner in town and heading back north to see the lighting ceremony of Mt. Rushmore. The drive back to the hotel in the dark was a bit scary, hundreds of dear lined the dark winding roads, but thanks to Ron we made it home safely.
Monday: We stated our day at the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs, an archeological site of a mammoth dig. Then went to Custer to the National Woodcarving Museum, which wasn't really national. Some of the woodcarving exhibits talked back to you when you put in the wooden nickel, but these were pretty scary for the boy, so he spent a lot of time in Mom's arms. Then we headed out to see Crazy Horse, though Jackson thought we were heading to see "crazy horses". We took a bus ride up to the mountain, which Jackson just loved doing. He was a good little boy on the bus and sat still, looking out the window. We were able to take a rock from the mountain in which Crazy Horse is being carved. Then we went to Hill City for lunch at a cute 50s dinner. It began to rain during our late lunch, so after we piled in the car and headed south again to our hotel in Hot Springs. After a few packed days we were mighty tired and napped in our hotel room. We decided to have a mellow night, since it was raining anyway, we spent some time swimming in the pool. After drying off, we stopped at the local Pamida so Ron could get more socks, and we bought a barrel of monkeys to play in our room. We spent the last hours of the evening in our room eating dinner and playing games.
Tuesday: It was off to The Badlands! We headed back east through the badlands, taking the scenic route there. We saw loads of wildlife again and when we hit the badlands, we were thrilled. We got out at a few scenic overlooks and took pictures. We had lunch at Cedar Pass Lodge and checked into our hotel, a great little cabin IN the badlands! After a nap in the cabin we headed out for some hikes in the badlands, keeping our eyes out for rattlesnakes.
Wednesday: We got up early in the morning to begin making the long drive to Milbank, SD to see our friends the Hellers. Our first stop was for gas, after a somewhat hectic search for a gas station. Then for a Dairy Queen lunch. And other than that we spent much of the day in the car making our way to Milbank. Where we were met with a wonderful dinner and great friends, and the cutest little baby!
Thursday: Another morning of getting on the road, but this time to head to our home.
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