Clearing the Stack

Here are some pictures that I took with my new camera. It is so fun!

This is me in my mom's room with my hair cut I got because I donated my hair.

I put a pick in my hair and put it in so it looks cute.

I like to take pictures of blocks so that I can remember how to make them.

Mom got a new car. We call it the Mom-o-sine. Hip-hip-hurray!!

At the library I found an American Girl magazine and I took pictures of some cute posters that were in it.

That's all for now. I'll take some more pictures to share with you soon!!

It's Christmas Eve, and our chores are done for the moment, so I figured I should clear the stack and get the fall photos up. It's been busy and fun for our family. We've had lots of snow up here - 4 more inches last night to put a fresh white coat on everything for Christmas.

Gotta clear out the Halloween photos - here is our friendly devil and Mr. Incredible.

Maddie's ghostly pumpkin.

Isaac's scary pumpkin.

Doubly scary at night.

Some of the Iowa cousins...

Maddie's 8th birthday pie.

Maddie and her Godparents.

Maddie got a camera for her birthday. Here are a few of her favorite photos. First cousin Ella.

Cousin Madison.

Grandma's pretty flowers.

Bailey.

And her doll Chrissa. But something tells me she didn't take this one...

Last week, we made gingerbread houses. Here is Madeline with hers.

Here is Isaac with his house.

The other side. Note the pumpkin patch. Unfortunately, Bailey pretended that she was the big bad wolf and ate Isaac's house the first night.

Before Isaac was born, my mother cross-stitched a personalized Christmas stocking ornament for each family member. Isaac has always been jealous that he didn't have one. So when a package arrived for him and he found this, he was in seventh heaven. Thanks so much, Grandma!

Merry Christmas, Madeline and Isaac. And Merry Christmas to all. May your celebrations be joyous and your travels safe.

I had a conference in Palm Springs, CA, so Lisa and I were able to get away for a few days to enjoy life in the desert.

We drove out to Joshua Tree National Park and did an 8 mile hike to the Lost Palms Oasis.

The rock formations were spectacular.

If only they served Mai Tais in the real desert...

Above the oasis.

Palm trees in the middle of the desert...

A good view of how the oasis springs out of nowhere.

Next we took the Palm Springs Aerial Tram high up into the mountains.

Hiking at the top in San Jacinto State Park

A good view of Palm Springs in the desert.

The view from our hotel room.

After Lisa returned home, I went back up into the mountains to climb Mt. San Jacinto.

A shelter house near the summit.

The final scramble to the summit.

The view from the summit.

Mt. San Jacinto. 10,834 feet.

The scramble back down.

A few final vistas.

We'll be back soon with Halloween photos and more fall fun!

If you missed Part 1, click here.

Isaac plays with Great Grandma Mary's color tiles.

Maddie is such a princess.

Madeline sells fresh produce from the garden. Or you can pay to see Bailey do a trick...

In August I celebrated my 40th birthday with a big bash at home. Here Gregg carves up the slow grilled pork loins.

The birthday boy with friends Tim and Wendy.

Gregg and Anna finally get a bite after all of their help.

Isaac and the boys.

Mom relaxes with a tasty morsel.

That is a lot of candles.

Madeline curls up with Bailey at the end of the evening.

There was a bouncy house and drink supply just for the kids. They should be coming off the sugar high pretty soon now.

Madeline's first day of second grade.

With her little brother.

Isaac shows off his charm.

Isaac turns five!

A parade in the garage.

Birthday cupcakes.

Madeline and Erika.

Lisa and Jason.

Isaac swings at his birthday pinata. Lefty, of course.

Watching football with Dad.

On a hike at the Coon Rapids Dam.

This one reminds me of Winnie the Pooh.

Friends forever.

Madeline found this turtle and took this picture.

That's it for now - have a great autumn! (If you didn't see part 1 of the pictures, click here.)

It has been a very busy summer for us. Here is a summary of our warm-weather exploits:

Isaac takes a ride in our neighbor's convertible!

Can we still mark this package Return to Sender?

Isaac played T-Ball this summer.

Fielding a grounder.

Hamming it up for the home crowd.

Madeline enjoyed watching the games as well.

He throws and bats lefty for some reason...

We took our annual weeklong trip up to Camper's Paradise in late July. Had much better weather, but the RainMaker still did its thing.

Boating on Lake Belle Taine

Charger is the navigator.

Lisa at the helm.

Madeline loves getting out on the lake, and even went tubing!

A view of our campsite.

A closer view. Don't miss the ferocious guard dog...

A shot at the Point.

Maddie and Isaac.

Family photo in Nevis in front of the world's largest Tiger Muskie.

Sunset with storm incoming.

A visit from Grandma and Grandpa. Yes, there was reading involved!

Click here to see Part 2 of the pictures.

June has been great so far. The kids are now out of school and getting into their summer routines.

Maddie and Cassie hanging out.

We went camping on the North Shore of Lake Superior at Lamb's Resort, a favorite camping stop.

Bailey is a great camper, when she doesn't drag her leash through the fire...

The kids hanging out.

On a rainy day, we visited Wolf Ridge learning center, which was having an open house. Maddie got to try rock climbing.

Going up.

Thumbs up, Madeline!

This is Thistle, their pet porcupine.

The girls find some more crazy animal hats...

Isaac couldn't bear to be left out...

Skipping stones on Lake Superior.

Let's see if we can skip Isaac!

Incoming!

Hanging by the fire.

Our camping set up.

Queen of the Mountain!

Hiking along a stream.

Father Baraga's cross.

Last bit of exploring before the long drive home.

Its been a busy few months for us.  Here's some of the recent excitement.




Madeline's dance company - Showbiz Kids had a contest.  Here are a few shots of the kids all dressed up.







They won an elite gold and a double gold medal.








We recently ordered a teardrop trailer from Camp-Inn.  They make great travel trailers that are light and comfortable.  It sleeps 2 adults plus bunks for 2 kids and and has a nice kitchen in the back.  We traveled to Necedah, Wisconsin to pick ours up.



The shop floor.




Some more that are ready to be picked up.




Showroom models




Our family with our teardrop.



Maddie and Isaac love it!




We camped over night and got rained on (this is quickly becoming a theme...)  So we stopped at the Crystal Caverns on our way home to explore a limestone cave.



A tiny bat.






Isaac leaves a penny for good luck.




They call him Batman.  They also had windchimes that were made with metal bats.  More properly, it probably should be called a "bat mobile."




Madeline's dance recital.




Planting flowers with Grandma Iowa.







Isaac did a skit of the Five Fishermen for his classmates' preschool graduation ceremony.  He has another year to go.




Camping at Sakatah Lake State Park.  It rained.  Here's a good look at our teardrop.




Maddie shows off the bunks.  They convert to a sofa during the day.




Maddie's thick long hair was getting to her, so she decided to cut it short for the summer.



Before...







Cutting...




She is donating her hair to Locks of Love.




Finished product!




Fresh flowers in the rainbow!  Have a great summer.

Here are some recent pictures from March as well as Easter.

Maddie shows off her fashion sense.

Isaac and his bunny.

Isaac's Easter haul.

Maddie has a nice haul as well.

Maddie hunts for eggs.

Our family on Easter.

We put up a new birdhouse this year. I think the neighbor's cat is ready to welcome the new occupants...

Hope you all had a blessed Easter!

Madeline and Isaac have had a good winter, but we are excited for some warmer weather.  Here are some of the latest updates.



Madeline got a bunk bed for her American Girl doll. Grandpa made the bed, and Grandma made the bedding.  Madeline loves it!










Lisa and Isaac share the love.




Sharing my first guitar with Madeline.




Isaac likes it, too.




Chrissa in her new soccer outfit.




As a Daisy Scout, Madeline got to sell cookies for the first time.  Isaac likes the empty boxes (as well as the process of emptying them!).


\

Charger at his sweetest.




For her science fair project, Madeline has been growing plants to see if they do better with or without a grow-light.  First, the plants that have no grow-light.




Second, the plants that have a grow-light!

Hope all is well, and we'll be back with more soon.

Madeline has had an exciting month - let's get to the pictures!

Yes, Madeline now has glasses! She picked these out herself and hasn't lost or broken them yet!

Fashionable, as always.

Maddie needs earrings for her dance pre-performance line costume. So she decided to get her ears pierced rather than wear clip-ons. Here she is at the Mall of America checking things out. (Yes, she forgot to wear her glasses today!)

Marking the spots...

Success in one ear...

And the other one, too! And she brought her doll Chrissa to the American Girl store to get her ears pierced, too.