Trees

We had the 3 trees in our front yard cut down earlier this week.  One of the trees split in the storm a couple years ago.  It had been hanging on but with the high winds we've had this summer it was started to tilt and we were afraid it might fall over (into our neighbors tree).  One of the other trees split during one of the storms this summer so we knew we would lose part of that tree.  We were hoping to salvage 1 or 2 of the trees but after talking to the experts they recommended cutting them all down and planting a new one.....so that's what we are doing.

Here are the before & after pictures......these pictures don't do it justice as we have the big tree close to our house that you can't see in the "before" picture but it still covers part of the house.  It is definitely different but not as bare as we thought it would be.

Before

After

4 Years!

Today we celebrated our 4 year anniversary!  These last four years have been amazing and it is so fun to look back on all the memories we have made!

This year we celebrated by going to dinner at Bella Sera in Champlin.  It was delicious!  So fun to go out to eat and be able to have an uninterrupted conversation, not have to answer the "why" "what happened" "what's that" questions and not have to worry about hurrying since we didn't know how long the kids would last before a melt down.  Of course, in the same breath, it wasn't the same without the kids and the normal craziness but it was a treat and we definitely enjoyed it!

Thank you mom & dad for taking the kids to Owatonna so we could go out for dinner and sleep all night long!  I never knew how much of a treat that would be :)

I am truly blessed to have Ryan as my husband and father to our children!  He is amazing and there are so many times when I think back to how lucky I was to have found him.  I'm so thankful we are going down this road together!  This is the life I always dreamed of living!  I love you Ryan!  and as Madelyn says "Love you Daddy!"

It was a perfect day!

July 25, 2009 - just the two of us

July 2013 - our family of 4

Jack's 6 Month Appointment

Jack had his 6 month appointment today.  He's doing great!  He has come so far since his 4 month appointment.  His reflux is gone, his belly button hernia is shrinking, he is nursing better, sleeping better at night and just overall such a happy, smiley little guy!

He weighs 18 lbs 7 oz (75%) and is 27.75 in long (85%).

He is eating oatmeal and fruits & veggie baby food.  He loves holding onto his toys, grabbing his toes and watching his sister.  Madelyn is so sweet to Jack; she loves laying by him, "helping" him and kissing his forehead.  Jack's favorite thing to do is jump in the jumperoo!  He could do that for hours and many times falls asleep while jumping :)

As far as sleeping, he goes to bed around 7:30 and typically gets up somewhere between 1-4 am and then again around 5:30-6 if he was up closer to 1.  Such an improvement from a month ago!

The only bummer part from his appointment was he has an ear infection in his right ear.  I guess that explains why he didn't sleep all that well when we were at Sugar Lake Lodge last weekend.  He is on amoxicillin so hopefully that works and this is a one time deal!

Amazing how quickly these little babies grow up!  So blessed and thankful to have happy and healthy kiddos!

Sugar Lake Lodge

Bishop Family Getaway

This year we took our annual Bishop trip in the summer.  We wanted to be able to be outside and have options of things to do.  We went to Sugar Lake Lodge by Grand Rapids.  We had a great weekend!  It was so much fun!

We drove up on Friday, met everyone for lunch along the way and we were up at the Lodge by 2:30.  We couldn't check in so we went to the pool.  Madelyn was pretty reserved and didn't want to swim.  I was thinking she might be sick but I think it just took her a little to adjust to the new surroundings.  Jack, on the other hand,  loved the water!  He started dozing off as we were bouncing in the water.  Later that night we made smores which was new for Madelyn.  She loved them!

We all slept in the same room which made me a little nervous, since our kids don't sleep that well on the road.  We bought a blow up mattress for Madelyn and she thought that was pretty cool.  It didn't take her long to realize she could get in & out so that was a little bit of a struggle to get her to go to sleep.  Jack did pretty well the first night but the second night he wouldn't go back to sleep in the pack & play after 3:00.....so he & I rocked until everyone else woke up.

The cabin was awesome!  It had 2 levels and a main area with a walk out to the backyard.  The kids could come in and out and run around.  It was perfect!

Madelyn & Bishop dumping water into the truck
This kept them happy & busy for quite awhile!

Saturday the guys played golf in the morning and we went to a nearby park.  Madelyn loves going to the park.  Jack even got to swing and go down the slide!

The local 4H chapter was hosting a service event for kids.  The kids really enjoyed it.  There was a ring toss, mini golf, bean bag toss, drawing with chalk, dress up and of course candy!

Nora, Bishop, all dressed up, Madelyn

Madelyn & Mommy

Later in the day we went to the beach and back to the pool.  We went to the restaurant at the resort for dinner.  We ate outside and it was really low key, which is a necessity when there are 4 kids under 4!  The highlight of the day might have been getting a ride back to our cabin on the golf cart!

Madelyn on the beach

All smiles when Baby Jack & Papa are together!

Riding the golf cart is so fun!

Madelyn & Nora loved riding in the double stroller with Nana

It was a fabulous weekend and so fun to be together and make memories!  Already excited thinking about next years trip!

Papa & his girls

Madelyn, Ryan & Nora

Jack with his Nana

Madelyn & Papa
Madelyn really did have a fun time even though we didn't get many smiles for pictures!

Papa & Jack

Maple Grove Days

On Saturday we went to Maple Grove Days with the McCormicks.  As always, we had so much fun!  We met up after naps and the girls had a blast.  They did the petting zoo, there was an area for toddlers to play & ride tricycles, we ate dinner, played on the playground, listened to music and loved time on a summer Saturday night with great friends!  So thankful we have become such good family friends!

T, E & M riding in the wagon!

Froehle Fun

Yesterday Carla & the kids came over after work.  We hadn't seen them for quite awhile as they were in Colorado for 10 days over the 4th of July.  We had a great time!  The kids play so well together and now Nora is right there with Bishop & Madelyn!  Soon it will be Jack's turn.  Always a fun time with family!

My sweet niece Nora

Madelyn & Auntie
Madelyn never wants to look at the camera.....silly girl

Baby Jack loving his oatmeal

Nora in the chariot

So much more fun to ride together!
Madelyn & Nora

Bishop strolling around

Love these smiles!

Bath time!

Let's go to the park!

Madelyn adores Jack!
She laid right down next to Jack,
grabbed his hand and started smiling & laughing!
Melts my heart to see the bond they are already forming!

Friday morning Jack & I went to visit my college friend, Lisa, and her newborn baby boy, Levi.  He is such a little peanut.....so cute and just snuggles right in!  So hard to remember Jack being that little and it was only a couple months ago!  Crazy how fast these babies grow up.......Jack looked like he should just get up & run around because he was so much bigger than Levi :)  It was Jack's lucky day as they had the jumperoo so Jack jumped and jumped and jumped!!

While Jack & I were gone, Ryan & Madelyn went on a walk to the park.  Madelyn had a great time!  She loved it so much that this afternoon she asked to go back to the park......so we went back but this time we drove.  Jack had a blast too!  He laid on the ground and didn't stop smiling.  He loved the new surroundings!  Madelyn is able so so many more things this summer.  It's so fun to watch her!  She goes down the slide by herself and climbs all over.  She loves swinging!  Another fun day at our house!

Ready to play at the park!

Happy Jack!

Madelyn swinging

Jack & Mommy swinging

Love this picture of our sweet kids!

4th of July!

Nana & Papa with the kids
Jack was happy all day, just not for pictures!

Happy 4th of July!  We had a great day!  We went swimming in the morning which was really fun.  We have been so busy on the weekends that we haven't been able to go swimming lately.  It took Madelyn a little bit to enjoy being in the water but by the end we were all going under water, including Jack!  This was Jack's first official time swimming.  He was along when we went in March/April but only dipped his toes - today he went under water and didn't seem to mind it.

My parents came up in the afternoon.  My mom bought an outdoor kitchen for Madelyn so they brought it up and my dad & Ryan put together.  It's on our deck.  Madelyn wanted to be out there all afternoon.  The only problem is that the sun beats down on the deck in the afternoon so we were all roasting but Madelyn was content inside her kitchen as there is a roof over the top of it.  She loved eating her grapes in the kitchen.  This morning she ate her breakfast out there!  She loves being on the deck when Ryan is grilling so this is going to be perfect!

Ryan grilled pork chops, potatoes and vegetables for dinner.  It was a perfect meal to end a great holiday!  The best part is that both Ryan & I have Friday off so it's a long 4 day weekend at our house!

Madelyn loves the slide!

Jack loved the water!

Eating breakfast in the outdoor kitchen

Our happy family!

Nana & Jack

Mommy & Jack

Papa & Madelyn

Vacation at Grandma & Grandpa's!

Madelyn's 1st 4 wheeler ride - she loved it!

Madelyn spent a few days on the farm with Grandpa and Grandma.  She had a blast!!  We met in Albert Lea (as the kids & I were in Owatonna as Ryan was on his annual golf outing).  Madelyn is always a little shy at first, no matter where we are going, but as soon as she realized she was finally going to go to Grandpa & Grandma's house and that Grandpa was going to sit in the back seat with her, she quickly waved at me and said "bye bye mommy!".  I took that as my cue to leave!

We have been talking about going to Grandma & Grandpa's and Madelyn would say "mama & gampa's house, couple weeks!".  It's the cutest thing!   She also knew she was going all by herself so she was excited about that.

She was busy the whole time she was down there!  She loves seeing the cows, pigs and Milton.  They rode the 4 wheeler.  Madelyn kept saying "one more time" so finally grandpa bribed her with ice cream so they could be done!  She took a nap every day and slept well.  From all the fun activities, I know she was exhausted.  They met Uncle Marc & Uncle Chris for lunch one day, Aunt Jody stopped by and Grandma Emily took Madelyn to visit her co-workers.

I dropped Madelyn off on Sunday morning and we picked her up on Wednesday afternoon.  She did great!  I wasn't sure if she would start missing us but sounds like she was having too much fun! :)  We of course missed her so much!  Our house was so quiet - no one asking questions, wanting to play outside, singing, going upstairs/going downstairs.  Thankfully Jack kept us busy & distracted!

I just love how much Madelyn loves spending time on the farm!  She is one lucky girl as Grandpa & Grandma are always so good to her & love her so much!  Jack can't wait until he can go spend a few days on the farm!!

Looking at Milton

Grandpa helping Madelyn pet Milton

Petting Milton all by herself!

Looking at the cows

Standing on the bridge

Eating ice cream!  Yummy!

Grandma makes the best peanut butter toast!

Rehydrating

Putting the big wheels together

So fun to help Grandma clean!

Love this picture!  Madelyn's so happy with Grandpa!