still out

Its been really nice being "out of the loop" as far as technology goes. We've been camping all week....very fun. :) Just had to make a trip in to town today to go to the dentist. Not fun, but oh well! And, on Tuesday I had to run Tim down to the ER. Crazy...we are all okay...nothing has happened to the kids...just us two! Now I'm at my sister's and Isabel is sleeping, so when she wakes up we'll head back to the park. I love camping...I told Tim I might go into a depression when we get back to IL! I'm liking the big, open spaces too much!! And, I do like seeing ALL the stars at night!

Its been an eventful 10 days, between big sand dunes, the Mackinac Bridge, a family reunion, swimming and more swimming, a visit to the ER & dentist, snapping turtle hunting, and lots of laughing at the kids (and with them!) I'll have lots of fun pictures and stories. :) But, that won't be until, at least, the 19th of August. I'll save you the hassle of checking in on us and there's nothing new!

Next week the big kids are going to VBS with their cousin, Ryan. That will be fun for them. They are going to be so worn out when we get home!! We'll have one week and then school starts. Where did the summer go?!! I'm glad its not over yet. :)

See ya in a couple weeks.

Big...Small

My sister came to town on Thursday with Caleb and Little V. Vincenzo is only 17 days older than Isabel, but Issy is way bigger! She is off the charts in height and weight and he just makes in on the 10-15th percentile. So, when they get together everyone gets a good laugh. :) He's so little and fast! He has been in every cupboard in my kitchen and even in the end table where I keep my Great Grandma's china! YIKES! Issy hasn't found any of those places yet. Even in a walker the kid goes 100 miles an hour!

First of all, here's Issy's 9 month diaper picture. I'm a bit late from being gone last week!


And, now the fun ones begin!!





Dude....you're biting my bum!!


Amy was joking before that if Little V didn't leave Issy alone she'd sit on him!! Did we laugh when she did!! :)




All day yesterday if they even got near each other they'd both start to cry. Last night in the tub they were a little too close!! They both know that they are the baby....and its not fun to have another one around! But, today they are much better.



They are here until Monday night, so we are having a good time. :) Caleb has been a little angel. He is so good and just plays! He likes to be outside.... but he thinks he's in the country b/c when he's outside he gets naked! And, pees, too!! Maybe he saw the neighbor kid do it and thinks its normal! *grin*

No Dak

What a big trip! We left here on Thursday around 2 and stayed overnight in Eau Claire, WI. Tim "worked" in the morning for a couple hours while we swam in the pool and then we were off to North Dakota. Well, actually Lis lives in Minnesota, but you have to go through Grand Forks to get there! We had a really good time. The weather was perfect and the kids loved just playing outside and riding their blow up sleeping bags down the stairs. I'm sure Lis and Brian do that now when they are home and have nothing else to do! On Saturday we went down to East Grand Forks b/c Tim had to find a WiFi connection to get some work done. So, while he was sipping Iced Tea and eating Nachos at Applebee's, the rest of us were livin' it up at Cabela's. Here's some fun shots. The kids found these "pop" guns.....I think that's what they are called. They just have a little cork in them and when you "cock" the gun it makes a loud "pop" sound and the cork comes out. Pretty exciting. But....Alaina wanted so terribly for me to take her picture with this horse. As you can see she is a little irritated by her younger brother and sister trying to shoot her horse!





This one is for Uncle Rick!


The three sportin' their new shades!


A fun thing about Grand Forks is that there are life size animals all over!


Auntie Lissy had a "Rhubar" patch in her back yard! So, we found out that the leaves make great hats! Alaina and Lis made some "Rhubar" sauce that was super yummy. Although, Alaina was too scared to try it and then she said she didn't like "rhubar". How many times did we tell her rhubarB??!! But, she prefers it without the b at the end!


One of the many sugar beet fields!


Issy just hanging out doing what she does best.....eating! :) She loved her little chair and high chair!

Its amazing how a few old, lace curtains can turn you into the most beautiful bride! These pictures look too real. Almost like an old black and white one! The girls had too much fun! Auntie Lissy even let them hold the bouquet of flowers that she held at our wedding almost 10 years ago!

I'm surprised they did get Erik to be a groom! And, they cannot get married for at least 20 years!




And last but not least.....

The kids in a wheat field! Too bad Annika is too short to see over the top! But, they thought it was so cool. Lis is holding up Issy if you are wondering! We took this on our way out of town.....the kids said "good-bye" to the millions of miles of fields! Thanks Lis and Brian for letting us move in for a few days! We had a great time!! :)

Five years...

We haven't seen our Minnesota friends in 5 years! When we moved Erik was only 3 months old. And, since then there's been 4 more children added!

Here we are with the Wilders. T (imothy)(10), Cammy (6), Emily (4), and then my four. It was so fun to hang out with them for the day and then have them over to the hotel in the evening for pizza and swimming!


Here are the Heahn kids! Abby(10), Andy(8), Bethany(6), Anna (4), and my crew. My kids didn't want to leave! It was sad to go. I really feel at home in Minnesota!

Konka!

Dana....I know you are reading this! I was laughing so hard last week when my nephew Caleb starting calling Annika Konka! We haven't heard that since she and sweet (??!) little Amelia were buddies!

Wonder

Sometimes (well, often) I wonder what Annika is thinking. Lately if you ask her what her whole name is she will tell you Annika James Nordin. We've talked about how she and Nana Bev have the same middle name and she used to know that it is Jane! But, somewhere in her busy brain it got mixed up. So, if you ask her what Nana's whole name is she will tell you Nana James. What just cracks me up is lately she has been referring to Chicken Pupsi (which its been for awhile) and Nana James.

Looking back...

I was looking back at old pictures on the computer and came across these two. They are at the top of the list of my all time favorites! Alaina was almost 3....I just love them. :)