Fun with Friends

On Friday night Shari & Max came over.  We hadn't seen them in a long time and it was such a fun night!  Max is sooooo good with the kids!  He is just a sweetheart and you can tell he just loves Madelyn & Jack.  We all love Max so it works out great :)  I can't believe Max is 11 already!  When I met him he was 3…..just like Madelyn.  Time seriously flies!

On Saturday morning we met Melissa, Annika and Malin at the Edinbourgh play center in Edina.  It was perfect!  The kids had a blast.  There are so many different activities and of course Jack thinks he's a big kid so he was following right along.  After playing we went to Chick Fil A for lunch.  Madelyn loved sitting at her own table with the big girls!  I wish we saw Melissa and her family more but we make the most of the time when we are together and pick up right where we left off!

Madelyn, Jack, Malin, Annika

Dance

So excited for dance class!

We signed Madelyn up for dance classes this fall.  Last night was her 1st night.  She was so excited - she has been counting down "sleeps" until dance and she was telling her teachers at school all about it.

Madelyn really enjoyed it and had a lot of fun.  They taught some ballet moves, positions as well as having fun.  They did different activities up and down the floor - bunny hops. twirling, bear walk - even though most of the kids just ran!  Good way to exert some of their energy!  Most of the kids wore a tutu or leotard.  I gave Madelyn the option of a skirt or leggings and she chose leggings so she was happy :)  Parents are only allowed at the 1st and last classes so I snagged a few pictures while we were allowed in.

Ryan and Jack spent most of the 45 minutes out on the playground.  Jack didn't want to leave and then Madelyn was sad when she found out that Jack got to play on the playground and she didn't.  Oh well, such are the lives of a 3.5 year old and 20 month old!

Jack wanted to be in the picture too :)

Hall of Fame 2014

Last Friday was the 2014 Owatonna Hall of Fame induction.  One of my classmates, teammates, neighbor - Kam Hyland - was being inducted this year so we went to Owatonna to celebrate with him.  We didn't make it down in time for the speeches but we got in just at the end so we were able to congratulate and talk to Kam.  One of my other teammates, Jason, was there with his wife so we all had dinner together.  It was fun to catch up.

We went back to my parents house to get the kids and head out to the football game.  It ended up being a great night for a football game.  It was a little cooler but the kids had a blast and enjoyed all the action!

The kids stayed in Owatonna because on Saturday Ryan & I had to clear brush from the back of our lot.  We are getting solar panels in a couple weeks so we had to make way.  I knew it was going to take awhile but didn't realize we would take 11 loads to the composite site.  Needless to say it was a very productive day…..and the kids of course loved their time in Owatonna.  They are always so busy - getting donuts, going to the library, going to the park (3x!), visiting Great Gma Marlys and just spending time at Nana & Papa's.  

We had family pictures taken on Sunday by a very good family friend, Matt Addington.  We all met at Carla's and headed over to the Peace Gardens by Lake Harriet.  I can't wait to see the rest of the pictures because the one picture that Matt posted was awesome!  Everyone was looking and everyone but Jack was smiling.  Pictures went so much better than I thought so I'm excited to see the rest.

On our way back to the car and we still got smiles!
Nora and Madelyn are so sweet together - like sisters! :)

To wrap up the weekend we went back to Carla's and celebrated Uncle Luke's birthday with lunch and dessert!  Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures with Luke and the kids.  We are always having so much fun that I forget to take pictures.  Looking back at pictures, I definitely need to do a better job of getting pictures with Uncle Luke with our kids!  Happy Early Birthday Luke!!  Thanks for being such an awesome, fun loving Uncle!  The kids love you and it was so cute to watch both Madelyn & Jack run up to you on Sunday and give you a big hug! :)  We love you!!

Corn on the Cob

It is prime corn on the cob season and someone in our house loves it!  Such a big boy!

Labor Day Weekend/A visit to the farm

Madelyn and Jack spent a long weekend on the farm.  Ryan met his parents on Friday morning and the kids went to the farm by themselves for a couple days.  Then Ryan and I went down to Iowa on Sunday as Ryan's fantasy football draft is on Sunday evening.  It was the perfect long weekend…..the kids had a great time on the farm (they always do!) and Ryan and I had a great time at home getting things done and seeing friends.

On Sunday morning, on our way to the farm, we stopped in Owatonna to see my Grandma.  She has been failing but recently she was not eating or getting out of bed.  She was in bed and wouldn't even roll over to see us.  She talked to us and understood what we were saying but she just laid on her side, facing the wall.  My mom said she did end up getting out of bed and eating later in the day but it sounds like she is most content when she is in bed.  It is hard to see her in this state as this isn't the Grandma I knew but thankfully she is in good hands and is still plugging away!

The kids were so excited to see us and Madelyn told us everything they had done on the farm!  It's always so fun because they are surrounded by things that they don't see everyday.  Madelyn rode in the tractor with Grandpa.  She has been scared in the past but this time she was brave enough to get in!  Jack didn't get in the tractor this time but one of his new favorite words is "tractor".

We came back home on Monday and enjoyed our day at home.  It was a great weekend for everyone!

Grandpa made these cool building blocks!

Grandpa put Madelyn to work :)

All smiles!

Our brave little girl!