New Posts Below

Slowly getting through summer posts...4 new ones below!  More to come hopefully this week to get me caught up through Labor Day! 

4th of July Swimming Party

This 4th of July, since it was a Wednesday we did not travel anywhere, because we both had to work before and after it.  It was very HOT, so we tried to make the most of it!

We called the Scheel's to see if they wanted to meet us at an indoor pool after naps.  There is a hotel in town that you can pay to swim at.  It is a very nice set up, it has a kiddy pool that was only to Blake's thighs - with a mini slide and such.  And in the main pool, there is a bigger water slide. 

We decided to go to the indoor pool to avoid the heat -- and mainly the sun.  It was actually really warm and muggy in there - so HOT, but we didn't have to worry about sunscreen and I can guarantee it wasn't as packed as the pools outside!

 Just like each time this summer, Blake wanted nothing to do with playing in the water at first. He was VERY VERY sad and clinging to me for a while. I finally just sat down with him in the kiddy pool - and he slowly got brave. 

I might be standing by myself, but I'm not so sure about this...

Going down the slide was fun - but I'm TOTALLY not going to show that I'm enjoying myself...not for at least the first half of our swimming adventure :)

Addy was loving the pool.  She would run around in the kiddy one.  Her and Ella kept wanting to go to the big pool, which they couldn't stand in so we would go for a bit, then try and convince them to come back to the kid one.  So, it was a day full of "back and forth" between the pools!

Loving this one of Addy & Ella - getting way too big!

The dads typically give in to these little ladies and ended up with them in the bigger pool!

Aaron took Addy down the big slide quite a few times, and she was loving it.  At one point, he didnt' want to go anymore so I took her.  Rachel got this shot on her camera - shows how much Addy was loving it!

After that we headed to the Scheels' house for a mid-week grill out.  I would say it was a nice 4th.  Relaxing, not stressful, and a good break up of the week.  We sure did miss being at our cabin/camps.  We are usually at one or the other for this holiday (cabin in WI with the Tarara side; camp in MI with the Anderson side). 

...gotta love summer days when you can!

Swimmin' at Grandma's

Jean and Paul just moved into a new home --- one that has a pool in the backyard.  On one of Aaron's Sundays off during our extreme heat spell around the 4th we headed up there to see his mom and cool down by the pool.  Of course, I didn't get a picture of Jean or Paul with the kids - bummer!

...to Grandmother's house we go.  Heading there in style!



My cool dude! 
(side note: Michigan fam - do you have these glasses?  I haven't been able to find them!)

Posing by the pool --- I love this pic for some reason!  Addy cracks me up.  Putting her arms around her 'boys'.  She definitely has quite the love for these guys in that sweet little heart of hers!

Blakers was not really fond of swimming.  He shocks me, because this kid LOVES his bath.  But in the past, and for the first few times this summer, the water really scared him.  Even when it was warm water, he would cry, even being held in the water.  I finally got him settled and relaxed in this floaty on the day at Jean's.  Throughout the summer it took some warming up to, but this last weekend, he was ALL ABOUT the water at the cabin!


Mama's Boy - I HEART him!

Addalyn really enjoys swimming - and for the most part - she wants to be a big girl in the water, which can make me NERVOUS!  By the end of the day on this particular day she told me "Mom, you can let go of me." I couldn't though - because it wasn't shallow enough for her to be able to touch! Goof!


Learning to Doggy Paddle!

This was one of the few days we made it to the pool this summer.  I had high hopes of swimming more often to keep the kids exposed to the water.  But, with Aaron's hours - on Sundays when he's been off, it's hard to cram in all that needs to be done and that we want to do.  My kids aren't at the age that I could take them anywhere but a kiddy pool by myself since they both need to be watched and held depending on the depth.

We did go a hand full of times (more blogging on summer adventures to come!) but I wish they could've been exposed more consistently! I'm thinking of putting them in lessons (or Addy at least) this fall/winter in Rochester to keep swimming 'alive'!

Random summer cuteness:


Her hair is finally getting long (and curly)

Just monitoring the local pool, making sure all stays under control :) 

Daddy's Day 2012

With Aaron only having Sundays off, we decided to go out and do something for Father's day this year and spend some family time together.  We went to Oxbow park for the morning - which is a free park about 15 minutes away that also has a zoo in it.  The animals there all have some injury so they are not able to go back into the wild - so they are taken care of here.  It is a free zoo, run by donations --- so very impressive considering :) 

 

There were bears, wolves, eagles, porcupines, some farm animals, buffalo, other birds and animals you'd find in MN...

 

 After the zoo we had lunch and then headed back home for naps...I think Aaron even snuck one in that day!  It was a nice morning.  I have taken the kids back to the zoo on a Saturday while Aaron worked.  If you are in the area --- I'd recommend it.  Quiet enough and not busy, so having little ones there on my own was not at all stressful!

 

Addy, Blake, and Daddy  --- humoring me with a picture on Father's day!

 



Addy took one look at this red fox and said "Swiper no swiping, Swiper no swiping!!!" Gotta love Dora



Giggling at the Turkey...she thought he was pretty funny.  The "Tom" turkey was being all protective, making noises and sticking his chest out!



Waving at the animals :)

 

A little late but I still want to wish a Happy Father's day to Aaron, and of course all of the special dad's in our lives ---- you all know who you are. I am extremely lucky to have had great men placed in my life - and so are Addalyn and Blake.

A dad is.. someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.

A dad is... someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.

A dad is... someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail.
-Unknown

Aaron ~ you are a WONDERFUL father! It is so awesome to watch you interact with our kids. I see the love that you have for them just by the way you look at them sometimes. Miss Addy Jane & Blaker Boy have been blessed by God choosing you for them. They definitely love you to the moon and back, and so do I! xoxox ~Ris
 

'Lil Runners

This June the kids competed in a children's track meet hosted by the local Lion's club.  Addy was allllll excited to go run races - but she got very shy and nervous once we got there, and wouldn't do anything unless we were by her side.  Sooo - we (mainly Aaron) ended up running and competing with 2, 3, and 4 year olds as well :)

 

Blake competed in the long jump and the 50 meter hurdles.  For the hurdles, he wanted to be held by the end so we didn't put him in anymore races.  During his long jump - he started running down for his jump, and then he just stopped - and would

 

not...

 

move...

 

any further....!

 

Stopped! (he's the little guy in the red!)

Addy's "jump"!

Next Up: 50 m Hurdles!  (See Aaron right there with the kiddos at the start?!)

Almost to the finish!

50 meter dash...still not wanting to go alone!

3rd place on the 100 meter dash!  (this one mom ran with her and there were fewer kids so she finally placed!)

There were only 2 meets this summer - and the first one was the day after her birthday when she was sick.  I had plans on going to the meet prior to her getting sick.  I wish we could've gone - I think that she would have been independent at another meet, because she still talks about it!  We have to drive by the track when we head towards main street from my parents - and she'll randomly yell out "I ran there at the track!" when we are driving.  :)
 Who knows - maybe we have some future runners on our hands --- they definitely have it in them from both sides of the fam!