A New Trend

Now that I am approaching the end of my pregnancy, I am lacking motivation to do much of anything that I don't need to do. Thank goodness there are restaurants that are willing to take my money!

Nothing like a little Country Kitchen!

A Pumpkin Play

Sam's First Grade class was practicing their performance before the big night.

I wasnt able to attend the play due to work so I went to the practice instead.

Sam did good at keeping a secret that she had a speaking part. She greeted the audience and thanked them for coming at the end.

We wish you a safe one,

a spooky but full of fun one,

Have a Happy Halloween

Workin' Out

Grandma and Grandpa Loken stay with u
 before heading off to Florida every winter.
 During this visit they brought presents.
Sam got a pair of rollerblades and she can't get enough of them.
Kayla, who lives across the street, helped Sam learn how to balance. I wasn't having much luck since I could just pull her around.

Today Sam and I headed up to the school to pick Seth up from his Elementary Choir practice.
She was showing off her skills.

Small Town Frills

What to do... What to do?

There are songs about watching airplanes, but none about watching trains...

I couldn't find Sam in the Fire Hall so I ventured outside.

There she stood on the bench off the sidewalk - watching the train.

It is a good thing that trains only creep while going through Randolph.

Baby Shower #1

I am lucky enough to have two baby showers this go-round. It has been six and a half years since I had a little baby at home. I did my best to keep what I could but time isn't always kind to baby items.

My first shower was put on my mother-in-law Linda, sister-in-law Becky, and help from my mom. We had the shower at the Randolph City Hall which worked out great! A lot of Nick's aunts and cousins came, which was great to see. What was even more of a surprise, was my aunt Joan was here for my shower. She has been living in Australia for the past few years so I haven't had much of a chance to see her.

Popcorn Sales

Seth has been wanting to go sell popcorn

to family and friends in the area.

Nick and Seth left in the morning

and didn't come back until after dark.

Seth decided he wanted to go to every house in Hampton.
Even after starting off with a lot of unsuccessful attempts,

he held strong and it paid off.

He wasn't one of the top sellers, but his motivation to keep selling was impressive.

He made us proud!



Cheer Clinic

Sam signed up for a one day cheer clinic

and the ability to cheer for the varsity football game that night.

It was a chilly night!

During half-time they put on a performance for us.

To the one and only Justin Bieber "Baby"

It was too bad that I couldn't get a better angle of her.

My Handsome Man

It isn't very often that I can grab

a good picture of Seth

without him making some odd kind of face

or crooked smile.

When I look at my baby boy in this picture,

I see a grown boy instead.

A boy who is full of affection,

who isn't afraid to give his mom hugs and kisses.

A boy who is full of wonder and inspiration.

When I look into those big eyes,

I remember back to when he was a little tike saying

things like "who dat" and "wha dat?"

My little Bugaboo!

Oh how I love you so!

Seriously!!! No... Seriously!!!

I can't count the times I have heard this out of Sam's mouth.

It has become her most common phrase.

Seriously Mom... No Seriously!

As if the first seriously is only legitimate if followed by a second one.

Hardun Too Day

Not much needs to be said... well besides Hardun meaning hair done.

Work Love

I was working from home the other night and left my notebook unattended. While sitting in the conference room at the Vadnais Heights Clinic, I came across this page...

They just wanted to show me that I was loved... It was a nice surprise. I'm glad they didn't draw over my notes at least.

Shoppin' like a Rockstar

Seth and Sam were invited to Maddie Janke's Rockstar themed 5th Birthday at Davanni's in Savage. I missed a few photo ops of her birthday celebration.

On our way home we stopped at Cub Foods in Lakeville for some milk, and a few other items.

What was to be a quick trip, turned not so quick. Sam was tired so she rode in the cart and Seth pushed. Sam neatly organized the items by grouping the dairy together, breakfast items together, snacks together and so forth. Soon, she was buried up to her chest. It's the risk you take when you ride in the cart.

A.Mazed

My girlfriends (Melanie and Keri) from high school and I have been trying to get together for years. We end up only seeing each other at weddings and reunions. Thanks to a random comment on a Facebook status, the three of us have finally scheduled a date.

We left the guys at home and loaded up the kids for a fun day at Sever's Corn Maze in Shakopee.

Sorry Maddie - Seth wasn't trying to say you'd be cuter with a cup for a head.

We bOuNcEd

 

We played in the Corn Pit (Liam behind Sam)

 

We traversed the Corn Maze

 Maddie and Sam leading the way - Melanie navigating - Seth kicking dirt up - Liam begging his Mom, Keri, to pick him up

We watched pigs named after celebrities race

Another First - Slumber Party

A Birthday Invite was sent home for Sam and she was excited to hear if she could go or not. This wasn't just any birthday party... it was a slumber party! Sam was ecstatic!

 We pulled out her pink camo sleeping bag, packed a little bag of jams, clothes and a toothbrush. I swear, she stood at the back door for a hour waiting to leave. Seth wasn't too happy about the situation but nothing a little DQ couldn't fix.

The invitation said Cannon Falls, so I was expecting this to be in town. Nothing is that simple with addresses out here. The GPS wove me through many dirt roads down into the valley south of Cannon Falls. Sam kept saying she lived on a farm (which made Seth even that much more unhappy.) When we made it up the mile long single car width driveway, Seth was relieved to see that it was just a house. No barn, no animals - not a farm.

Sam jumped out, grabbed her things and started to take off.

"Wait!!" I hollared through the wind. "I need a picture."

I said to her "You can't leave me!"

"It's okay Momma, you can sleep with Big Bear tonight so you don't get lonely."

The next morning I picked her up at 11am with crazy hair and unbrushed teeth. Silly me for thinking I should send the toothbrush and toothpaste with. Who has time for hygeine when there is a house full of girls having a fun time!

American Idol comes to Randolph

Sam: "Momma... sit here. Ok, pretend you can't see me"

Me: "Well then go sit behind the chair with your brother."

Seth: "She can't. I'm the producer."

Sam: "Just pretend Mom"

Sam: "Ok, now you can see me because I'm on TV."

Sam: "He's on the phone with his girlfriend she's upset. She's going off about something that he said...  no wait... no wait... I want a different song".

The next half hour went between Seth and Sam singing into their American Idol microphone. Some were songs they knew from the radio but most were improv songs. Those are my favorite. This is when their mind flows free with lyrics that often don't make sense. But that is what I love about their songs.

Sunset on Main

So the road isn't called Main,

but it is the main road through Randolph

It sounds much better than

"Sunset on 88" or "Sunset on 292nd".

My camera phone wouldn't capture the pretty sunset,

but it caught my eye with the sun going down over the road,

and the Randolph water tower standing tall on the horizon.

I love this town.

I Love you Mome Dady

"Here, I made you something"

With a kiss and a hug, Samwas gone - just like that.

"Love is all you need"

 is written on a wall plaque

hanging in our entry way

she's right...

Love is all that you need

We love you too Goose!

A 100% First

Spelling is not one of Seth's favorite things to work on each week. I think we found a new approach!

Write the word ten times each and say each letter as you write it, then finish with saying the word.

If you write the word sloppy, you write it ten more times. (He's not fond of that rule!)

I will quiz you randomly thoughout the day with how to spell the word.

Seth's next spelling test he only got two wrong!

brove for drove (darn dyslexia)

thoese for those (he had those and these for words and couldn't break apart the middle letter you hear)

Way to go little man!

2nd Best Get-a-way

Our annual get-a-way to the North Shore typically consists of a two night stay at Burlington Bay Townhomes in Two Harbors, dinner at BlackWoods Restaurant, and a trip to Gooseberry Falls among a few other outtings. With our baby arriving in December, we decided to take a different approach a few months earlier then our January weekend.

Livingsocial.com provided us yet another fantastic get-a-way to the North Shore. This time it was a 14 hour adventure where we could sit back and enjoy. No worries, except being left behind.

We met our other adventure seekers in Roseville where we settled in on the comfy coach bus for our ride to Duluth. Once we arrived in Duluth we were dropped off at our private train car (which was used in the movie Iron Will) for a hour and a half - Fall Folliage train ride to Two Harbors.

After a little lunch, we hopped back on the bus for a brief ride to Gooseberry Falls. Nick and I decided to pass on the mile hike and took in the breath-taking views at shoreline of Lake Superior and then through the Visitors Center to stand by the fireplace. Of course we had to make the short walk to see what the falls look like this time of year. This was our first trip back to the place that we united as one. I am so happy that we decided to get married up here. Not many people will take a trip to the church they were married in to look at the alter. We can always take a trip to Gooseberry Falls and look at the beauty around us. Knowing that there are people out there that share our connection to Gooseberry Falls, but that count is minimal compared to a church.

From Gooseberry Falls, we hopped the bus again to Canal Park in Duluth. Here we had one hour to venture about on our own before boarding the Vista Queen for a cruise on the lake. To bring the eventful day to a close, we enjoyed a pasta dinner at Grandma's. 

My lovely phone corrupted the pictures I had of the train ride and our coach bus.

Going Nuts

We have four walnut trees in our yard. At the time we bought the house I thought it was great to have such large sturdy trees in our yard to provide us shade and protection from the elements. It only took six months for my view of those trees to drastically change. Our entire yard succumbs to these fallen walnuts. Heads up! It is very likely you will fall victim to a walnut to the head. If watching your head isn't bad enough, use caution when you step. Some will be crushed by your weight, and others will roll you off of them as you walk. Last Fall was our second fall living here. We were delighted to see that the walnut trees spared us the mess, and didn't drop any. This Fall, we were saddened to see that the branches were looking tired and weak from carrying the thousand plus walnuts once again.

There are a few of us in our house that enjoy those walnuts - namely Muska, Indy and Chloe. With walnuts, come squirrels to chase up the trees.