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!!

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.

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!

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.)

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.

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.

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!

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.

Maddie in her Dancin' on Broadway warmup suit.

Christmas morning.

Polly Pockets!

Legos!

Isaac with Patin Erika.

Maddie with Patin Judy.

Cousin Clara with her new hat and scarf.

Naomi and her new blocks.

Maddie and Isaac stamping the Christmas cards.

She had a party at the Maple Grove Maple Maze.

Ready for the annual turkey hunt.

Maddie found the turkey!

Family photo.

The Roling cousins.

Attempting a family photo.

Lisa's sister Judy's dog Chloe stayed with us for a few days. Bailey had a blast!

Maddie & Isaac with their pumpkins.

Trick or treating.

I accompanied them as a Winkie guard.

I took a business trip to Tucson. Here are some photos from a hike in Ventana Canyon.

Isaac hangs out at his sister's Daisy Scout event.

Maddie experiments with worms.

Here's Isaac, but where's Maddie?

There she is!

Someone has been an eager beaver...

We made a quick trip to Wisconsin and did a quick leg on the Elroy-Sparta bike trail. Here we are at the end of the "mile tunnel."

Isaac and Maddie take a rest.

Maddie's first day of school - 1st grade!

Isaac turns 4! Happy birthday Charger!

Isaac's birthday with Madeline and Opa.

Isaac and Patin Erika

Birthday cake with Grandma Iowa.

One last hug with Grandpa Iowa before they head home,

Grandma and Bailey.

Pretty much an annual tradition - a visit to the apple orchard for fresh Honeycrisp apples.

For Lisa's birthday, I got her a rain barrel made from a used wine barrel. She uses the recaptured water to use on her garden and flowers.

Hope your fall is going well!