The Third Time is a Charm

Sam was dropped off at Northfield Gymnastics for Trevor Preston's birthday party.

Nick, Seth and myself went to a spa so I could get a pedicure.

Seth's intent was to play Angry Birds on my cell phone,

but instead he was caught up with the massaging chair.

We then went to Menards to look for parts to fix our central air unit.

I became side-tracked with large area rugs and before we knew it,

it was time to leave to pick Sam up from her party.

We ran to AppleBees for a bite to eat and then back to Menards we went.

This time we were going to look for that part!

Then, I got a glimps of a sign on the door.

Fifty percent off all shrubs and plants.

Three plants later, we realized that we needed to get the kids to Dave.

We quickly drove home, kissed the kids goodbye and drove back to Menards

for a THIRD time in a matter of five hours.

While Nick was scouring the store for the part, I decided to just stop an employee and ask.

Sorry, we don't carry those here.

Great! Now what...

On our way out Nick was browsing the ad and saw that there is a big sale on recliners.

Menards carries recliners?!

He sat in the recliner and told me to pick him up in the morning.

SOLD!

Plus we need something to rock the baby in.

No picture for the day, so here is a replacement that I love!

August 2007 @ Southview Gables
National Night Out.
Sam (2yrs 1 mo); Seth (3yrs 7 mo)

Funday Sunday

Today we gathered with some of my co-workers/friends

at my manager's house for a barbeque.

The kids and I drove from Nisswa to Amy's house in Champlin.

Nick came from home and met us there.

Sam, Hannah, Marlee, Sirr, Hannah and Talon at the chair behind.
Seth was sitting at the other end of the garage with the adults.

The kids played with Talon, Marlee, Hailey, Hannah and Sirr.

Nick and I visited with Patty & Garry, Amy & Brian, Loriann, Jessica, Joanne, Linda & TK.

It was a VERY hot day! Even with fans roaring in the garage, it was beyond Toasty! I felt bad for Nick because since he rode the motorcycle he was wearing jeans, boots and a thick t-shirt. I guess it is all in the choices we make when we wake up each morning.

I had fully intended to take a picture but I have no excuse as to why I didn't.

Regardless of the heat, it was a day well spent!

Just Fishin'

While in Nisswa visiting Grandma & Grandpa Loken,

Seth took advantage of his fishing time with Grandpa.

Thursday and Friday they took off in the morning with the fishing boat to head to other lakes.

They were gone for four to five hours each day.

When they returned we heard all about the fish they caught.

How Grandpa dropped some minnows and they got away.

How Seth tangled his line (using his new open-face reel Gpa bought him).

How Grandpa would get tangled on Seth's line.

Both days required some efforts to fix Seth's line and clean out all of the kinks.

Unfortunately, Grandpa isn't the best at capturing moments on his camera phone.

 

Watch the Crack

I just couldn't help myself!

Everytime I looked at Seth while he is swimming, I would see the same thing, just different versions.

It reminded me of his cousin Colton.

Where there is no shirt, there is a crack!



Tube Wars

Grandma Loken pulled out her classic black inner tube for the kids to play with at the beach.

She had Seth on one side, and Sam on the other.

The two of them had so much fun trying to tip the other off of the tube.

I do have to say... Sam was the winner on most counts!

A Day on the Water

Today Seth went out fishing with Grandpa Loken all day and Sam stayed back with Grandma and myself.

After the boys got back we took the pontoon out.

Seth was jumping off in the middle without a problem.

Sam would jump only if Seth jumped right before her,

and she was able to touch/land near him.

Seth humored us all with his jumps.

Grandpa: walking right off the pontoon

Grandma: slow jump

Indy: On all four, crawled off

Squirt: He couldn't master bouncing off the surface of the water (as a cat does).

Book: spinning in circles (turning of pages) as he walks off

Nick: Full blown run and jump

Knife: (aka Pencil) toes first

Timber: Standing with side to the edge and tipping over.

I'm sure there were more!

  

 



Let me help you brother...
Let me pull you in sister!



 



One of Sam's few jumps. I had to pay her $5 to get her to
jump in and overcome her fear of being in the middle.







Let's Float

More Nisswa Fun

Sam and Grandma floating at the beach.

 My new floatie was stolen.

Seth making waves and trying to stand up.

Don't forget Momma!



I did it!

A weekly struggle

Hanging a towel on the hook

it isn't easy as it looks

Here is how you do it

Grab the middle and scrunch it up.

Set the scrunched part above the hook and let it go

After practicing for two weeks

I hear from across the house

I did it! I did it!

Momma, Nick, come and look!

Here is proof that Sam sneaks Seth's Spiderman towel when he isn't looking.
And that mom doesn't pay attention to her camera being on "sunset" while taking indoor pictures.

Water and Heat

Momma, Do you know what happens to water when it get's hot out?

The water disappears into a cloud then it starts to rain.

It evaporates!

How old are you?

Six

And here you sit reading a book that is a much higher reading level than Kindergarten.

You amaze me little girl!

Pickle Roll-Ups?

Pregnant Version of Pickle Roll-ups

It's our favorite!

Sam and I are pickle addicts.
Since I've become pregnant we now have a two gallon jar of jumbo pickles in the house.
There was about a month where we had two of those jars in the fridge.
Who needs room for milk!
We were leaving Sam's Club and I couldn't resist the urge to pop the top and have a pickle on the way home. Once we got home to put the jar in the fridge, I remembered that I was only a 1/4 of the way through the previous jar. Whoops!

Our Brains Are Pink

I was asked to settle a debate.

Sam told Seth that our brains are pink

Seth didn't agree because he is a boy and boys don't have pink brains.

Sorry buddy - You got a little pink in you too.

Cape Canaveral, FL 2011

Watching the cruise ships leave port.

Pah-Tooshey

It's what we sit on Momma!

A Hotter Fire

How do you make a camp fire hotter?

That's easy...

Shining a flashlight on it!

Sam Brunner July 16, 2011

Camp Akela

to come once pictures arrive

Ya but...

It was a hot and humid day in Nisswa

The sky was over-casted and the breeze felt nice moving on the lake.

The moment we stopped, so did the air!

Unfortunately since the sun wasn't beating down the water seemed colder than I had hoped.

I am all about swimming in the middle of the lake where I can dive, tread water and just float. I'm not one to hang on the beach and tan. I want to be in the water and float.

I slowly sat down on Sam's boogie board to avoid the chilly shock and began floating. Usually I dive in off of the boat, but since I am pregnant, I just don't feel the same about diving or treading water in case I cramp up.

The next challenge was getting Sam into the water. Since I was just sitting and her brother and Nick weren't here to join us, she was a little scared to hop in the middle of the lake.

When I asked her why she was scared to get in the water she said...

"I haven't swam in the middle for a whole year"

"There are big fish out here"

"I might get bit by a snapping turtle"

"There are piranhas in there with red eyes and sharp teeth"

I convinced her to sit on my lap and just float with me. Nothing is going to bite you - I promise!

After a quick dip in the middle of the lake I bundled Sam up in Grandma Loken's towel



Snug as a Bug in a Rug

The next day, Sam even got Grandma Loken in the water. Although we weren't very happy with Sam since she promised she would go swimming if Grandma would go swimming too. She got both of us in the water and wouldn't even get in herself. What a stinker!

One of Sam's excuses for not getting in the water this time was because she was worried that Grandma would float away so she ran to the front of the pontton to find her a rope.

Grandma made it back.
With a little help ; )

Girl Time

Three Generations

A mother, her daughter, and her daughter's daughter.

We rode our bikes into Nisswa to walk the shops and check out the arts and craft fair.

Sam had a surprise for me.

It was a trip to the "Fun Sisters" store to get me some earrings.

Well... I inherited my mothers sensitivity to earings and couldn't get any that Sam pointed out.

Instead, we made it all about Sam.

First - a new sparkly patriotic headband to match her patriotic dress

Then - a little pampering with some shimmery eye shadow

Finally - some Randolph pride hair extensions; Orange, Blue and White

 



Chipotle Anyone?

Sam and I are heading North to Nisswa

Nick and Seth are heading South to Camp Akela

But first, it's Chipotle time!

This is our first attempt to sit down as a family and eat Chipotle.

They each got two tacos (chicken/carnitas), tasty rice, chips, and chocolate milk.

Seth devoured his and Sam said it was too spicy.

She tried to convince us that letting her eat her chips first helps cool her mouth down.

Or, in an adults eyes, it allows her to fill her tummy and say she is too full to eat the rest.

I think we'll have to do this again!

An Ultrasound it is...

Today marks 19 weeks into the pregnancy. My 20 week ultrasound was scheduled for July 25th but that changed this morning. Today I was supporting a nurse midwife at the Woodbury Clinic and a conversation started about doppler locations. "Speaking of dopplers... would you mind using yours on me?" I laid back and away she went trying to find a fetal heart tone...

...

still searching...

...

...

still searching...

...

...

ohh! There it is... awe... it's gone before we could hear three beats. So she continued to search...

...

...

...

...

and continued...

...

..

and continued...

...

She felt it was strange to not hear the heartbeat easier with the doppler at 19 weeks so she said I needed to go in for an ultrasound today. Twice during the search for the heart beat she heard what sounded like baby moving around. Maybe my placenta is towards the front acting as additional insulation between baby and the doppler.

Just to be safe, we scheduled one anyways.

...we're having a... really? It's not December yet!

A Boy and his Dog

Seth loves his Indy dog. Tonight we were hanging out on the patio and for about a half hour straight all I heard was "Come on Indy, come on." then an occassional "aahhhh!" marking when Indy caught up to Seth and nipped his butt.

Indy finally called it quits and sat by me panting away requesting water.

Every night the boy and his dog snuggle in bed together. Indy jumps up at the foot of his bed and proceeds to lick Seth's legs or whatever part of his body is the closest.

Last night I went up to check on the kids and Seth was crunched to the top of his bed. Why you ask... he didn't want to sleep in Indy slober from all the licking.



Soccer Night

Game 3 of Cannon Falls Soccer

Team Blue vs. Team Green

Sam is talking to Katelyn as they run off the field for water. Tommy is taking his time.

(Taking pics of her playing isn't easy when I'm on the field coaching)

Piper didn't want to play tonight so instead she picked me some flowers and came to watch the game and cheer on the team. Maybe next week she will be in the mood to play. If not, we'll be down from 11 players originally to 9 players.

The List

In a blink of an eye, we were out of milk, eggs, bread, cereal, sunscreen for RCC and toothpaste for the kids. We needed to make a list for our trip to the store and Sam offered to help write it.

Her last item "I Love you Mo"

She didn't know what to do when she ran out of room for the last 'm' in mom so she decided Mo would be good enough.

I Love You too Goose!



Surrounded by Smiles

Even when you're not with me, you're never far from my thoughts.

 My desk is filled with pictures of those I can't imagine life without.

Every picture holds a special place in my heart. I look at each of them and smile remembering the day!

Seth and Sam swinging on the ancient swing set at Great Gma & Gpa's cabin on Bone Lake

Seth & Sam being silly at Chuckie Cheese

Me getting kisses from my babies on our wedding day.

Nick and I standing on the frozen Lake Superior on our wedding day.

Sam sleeping from passing out on a snowmobile ride.

Sam's crazy hair morning

Seth sitting next to Sam in her Haloween angel costume from 2007

Nick, Seth and Sam sledding with Muska, Jake and Wiley

Seth and Sam sitting in a tire rim of a combine.

Sam napping on me at Aunt Sommer's wedding.

Sam playing with toys at swimming lessons

Nick and Seth fishing on the back of Grandpa Loken's pontoon.

Seth amazed with catching his Lake Edna fish with a hook through the fish's eye.

Me with my babies

Seth (18mo) and Sam (3.5wks) snuggling on the bed at Aunt Jeanie's cabin.

Nick resting his head on my shoulder after a long day.

My First Purchase

Today we took a trip to Target for a little birthday money spending. Samantha was given $20 from Grandpa Jim and $12 from Grandpa Russ. This combined with the 50 cents Daddy D gave to shop with, Sam had $32.50 to go shopping. Nick and I also had a mission to find a chair or stool to go with Sam's new vanity we got her for her birthday.

Sam found four books and an Our Generation Salon Chair for her "American Girl" doll. She carried her things and we continued to search for a chair of her own. She liked the one to the left for herself because it had the foot rest like the salon chair for her doll on the right. Sam carried her purse filled with her own money. She put her items on the belt and waited for the cashier to tell her how much she owed. $32.13 he said. She grabbed out all of her cash knowing it was $32 and then grabbed a handful of change. Nick helped by saying she needs a nickle and a dime.

She handed her money to the cashier, waited for her change and the receipt which went directly into her own purse. We paid for her new black chair and asked if she wanted to put her bags in our cart. Absolutely not! She insisted on carrying her own purchase. After all, she did it all on her own!

Smile :)

Taylor Mail

Yesterday I received a call from Grandma Brunner.

She needed to share a story with me.

Samantha was drawing at the kitchen table when she noticed the mail carrier pulling up to the neighbor's mailbox. She got up with her paper, ran outside, and handed her drawing to the mail carrier. "What is this?" she asked... "It's a letter to Taylor Swift!" Sam exclaimed. "I will be sure it gets to her for you." Sam thanked her and watched the mail carrier drive away.

Grandma Brunner didn't know what that was all about so Sam told her.

The letter had no address and no stamp.

The mail carrier could do one of three things. She will either hang on to that picture, throw it away

or find the address for Taylor Swift to make sure Taylor gets it as promised. Who knows, there are still good people out there.

A few days later Sam ran out to the mailbox in excitement.

No Taylor Mail.

Grandma Brunner brought Sam back into the house.

They went to the computer and signed Sam up for Fan Mail.

They also found the mailing address and sent another letter to Taylor Swift.

A Hard Day of Play

in Nisswa

When you

play hard

you

sleep hard

Big Bear wrapped underneath Sam

Sorry about the flash in your face Sam

His duct tape bracelet made by our neighbor girl Kayla.

She gave it to him three months ago. He love it!

Go Randolph Rockets!

When they sleep, I can just sit there for hours watching them breathe and fidget in their dreams.

These two are the reason for my existence. They make my world go round; sometimes a little too fast!



Love

Giggles stir from the backseat of the Neon.

Are their movies over?

I'm curious, so I peak over my shoulder

Seth was lying down while watching his movie.

Sam put her head on top of his

They were having a little war as to whose head got to be on top.



Seth's pillow and Sam's blanket.

(Well, my pillowcase from when I was a teenager)

It makes a parent proud when they see their kids loving each other rather than fighting each other.

Soon afterwards Sam noticed I was taking a picture so she started posing kiss shots on Seth's forehead.