Going shopping for groceries

Mini had to come with me grocery shopping. Mom can not go alone you know.

She had to wear her flip flops like mine.

She would only put in her cart the food she liked. And she was showing off how she can drive while eatign her cookie. Little smarty pants that she is.

Mini's first boyfriend

I do not know if Mitchell knows what to think of all this.

But Mini sure did. just climb on up and settle in

And then lay back and hang out. I think I am in trouble with mittle miss flirt.

My boys

While Stephen was at camp for a week all I had were these boys. I gave Twitch a bath and Matthew climbed up on Dennis to be with the puppy. I was busy watching little girls. And sewing. I need to get started on getting ready for my craft shows this fall. If you know of any around me let me know. I want to sign up for a few more.

I was missing my Stephen though. Not being able to call or him call us was hard. A whole weekw ith no contact is hard to do. It got us ready for this fall though when they do this for school. they leave for a week. We will miss him then too.

Girls just wanna have fun

The girls watched a movie at bedtime. they were tired

So was Mini

They sang, they ran in the sprinklers twice. They ate a lot of fruit and chips and veggies. carrots with peanut butter was a hit. Yuck is all I can say on that one. But they played hard and slept in the next morning. Before resuming their singing career's. And if it works there is a sample below for you to listen to.

Surprise Samantha!

Opening gifts from friends

She got another webkinz she loves those things.

Checking out the candles

Julie made cookie cakes for me

Thank you Julie! It helped me a lot!

Tia kept Samantha away for a few hours and brought her home at 3:15pm. I hade 4 little girls here. And they played really well together. Loud but I laughed a lot.

A shopping we will go

Matthew pushed the cart for us.

Mini rode in my cart and drove the car.

We went shopping for a surprise party I was having for Samantha. Yes I know her birthday was months ago. But her birthday had a lot to be desired for a little girl who turned 10. Matthew had just got out form Children's. Matthew also had his tonsils out on her birthday. When she got up for the day Dennis and I were not there to say happy birthday. She could not have even one friend over because Matthew was having a hard time.

No this is nto the end of the world. And really one bad birthday in the mix of things is not the end of my world either. But for 10 year old little girls it is almost the end of said world. Did it teach her anything that sometimes life sucks. No but I wanted her to know her birthday is special to me no matter what. And really the boys partys are being delayed htis year too. Stephen was at camp. And Samantha's was the day before Matthew's birthday. I will get them all caught up. Just give me time.

Happy Belated birthday Stephen

Stephen you turned 12 years old Sat. How did it happen? You have grown from this tiny little baby into this young man. Each year I expect you not to like me anymore. But you do. You hang out with me and you laugh with me. You make me laugh and you make me cry. I will never forget how small you were. And now...

Now you have grown oh so much! You are in boy scouts and loving it, You seem so grown up when you go off and camp. Yet you are my little boy no matter what. You stand at 5 feet 3 inches and are 115 pounds. You wear a size 12 mens shoe. You will pass me up anytime in height. You passed Dad up years ago with your shoe size.

What am I to do with you? I will just keep loving you. And hope you never hit the teen years where you do not like me so very much. Because I know it will break my heart. Love you baby!

time for catch up

We have been running as always here. I am going to play catch up today and tomorrow. And then we are off to the cabin for 4 day with Mom and Dad and family. Dennis has time off and we plan on spending it all together. I need to get groceries yet. I need to get things done. Like laundry and all that fun stuff. Packing is on my list of honey dos. My list is getting longer by the minute, but I know with 2 days I can do it.

Yesterday was shot with a trip to get my tire fixed as I hit a nail. it took 2 hours. The a trip to St Cloud to get my machine looked at. It is working great and is running already this morning. Then back home for dinner with Dennis last night for our Anniversery. So today is catch up on the blog and catch up here at home.

Getting ready to leave

This group of young boys went off to Many point for 1 week, Sunday to Saturday

Trying to get them to stand still for a picture?

Almost impossible

But after people just kept taking them to get a good one. they stopped moving a bit.

Stephen headed off. I hope he is this happy when he returns. We miss him around here. Samantha even asked for him tonight. Mini asks al the time. Matthew wants his home yesterday. And Mom and Dad we hope he is having fun but we too want him home. I am interested to hear how his night in the woods went. He had to build a shelter and sleep in it one night. I know 2 of the boys got caught in a thunder storm. I am hoping that was not his night. Tomorrow at 2pm I will know. I am sure he will be doing some sleeping to catch up.

Off to Many Point

Does he look as nervous to you as he does to me? I think it had a lot to do with he was tired. I had let him stay up till 10:30pm the night before to play with cousins. But then 6am comes early!

Yea he was that tired. he slept the whole way back to Elk River. Hand in by Twitch and sound asleep. Yes I am that talented to take pictures while driving. he looked so grown up in his uniform but so much a boy sleeping.

But I have to pee!

I have another picture after she tried to pee by a woodpile but it has a bear butt. So it will not be posted here. Needless to say she can not pee outside. LOL Poor thing had to get all new pants on. But we were sleeping in a tent and the house was not an option by this point!

what is going on?

I asked got no answer. Dennis is not sure how it started but boys rough housing is all fun and

games until one of you falls into a fire. Notice on the top shot ow close they are to the dirt that is around the fire ring.

They laughed the whole time and they laughed afterward so it was fine but strange people!

Kristie and Mini

Sitting so nice with Kristie. (yes she makes the rounds)

Hey she is my Godmother stay away Mom!

oh love on her!

So sweet

oh the love is given back! Lucky girl!

Peter and Mini

Mini is a giver of love. Anyone who will hold her and cuddle with her is soon a receipient of her love. Peter got in on the action at the fire to. Well that and he made her a hot dog. Really who can blame a girl when he made her food!

So she filled him in on life. I am sure he learned a great many things from my Mini

Dennis and I

Notice the bug trying to eat me?

We had a lot of fun at the farm last weekend. And we are headed back again this weekend for Becky's grad party so I figure I best get caught up here on pictures.

water spots?

Notice how clear the picture is?

Later I took a shot and I thought how did I get water spots on my camera? Those are not water spots.

They are bugs falling from the sky.

Because the boys had the fire hot enough it was burning off their wings. Best bug repellant I have seen. Though sitting down you had bug raining onto you and into your drink. You had to guard the top.

Family shots

I took some shots of Mom and Dad and Nancy and Larry. And then Shelly took some of all us kids who were home to.

Happy day late Birthday Matthew!

Yesterday Matthew turned *gasp* 6 years old. Can you imagine my son is 6 years old. The tiny little thing we brought home is 6 years old. He is getting big on us that is for sure. He rides bike with no training wheels. He is writing his own name. He is getting ready for kindergarten in the fall.

He is in love with lizards and asks to go to the lizard farm almost daily. Which by the way is Grandpa Alexander's place. Yea he wants to go out catching more of the lizards we chased there. Though they only caught one. He loves bugs and crickets and you know anything that would make a Mom squirm. Like he loves when papa catches a mouse so he can have a pet. Thanks papa love you to!

He likes building things. He chalks my driveway uo and down. He also has figured out if you get it wet you can make a bigger mess. Or if you color over and over in the same spot you can get a lot of dust and the pick thatup and rub it all over yourself. He can beat me at games. Without even trying any more.

He has had a year of hospital stays. Has had his tonsils out and really just had a rough winter. but you know what? You would never know it. He is a kid that does not let anything hold him back. Happy birthday my son. Mommy loves you!

I am nuts

I have 3 little girls here right now with Samantha to celebrate her birthday from back in April. And they are singing into microphones loud! And I have no clue what they are supposed to be singing. But I laugh as they are so funny but OMG they sing bad!

Funny People

So Larry posed with his second favorite girl. Look at that wink! Nancy you best watch out!

Nancy thought she best seal it with a kiss quick. Before Mini moved in.

Hand Check! Nancy!

And the real cake topper!