Sadie Turns 6!

On Saturday, we hosted Sadie's 6th birthday party at our house. She wanted a rainbow/fairy theme so we invited a ton of girls and decided to do crafts. Sounded like a fun party to me!! Well, fun and maybe a little bit crazy. We invited 13 kids and some parents and grandparents too not to mention Eli and Sadie and me and Dennis! I was beginning to wonder what we were thinking, but it all turned out great. The kids were so sweet and I can see why Sadie just had to invite them all.

First, we made these rainbow ribbon wands!

Sweet Clara!



Auntie Talia and Anissa

Grandma made the cake once again. Sadie requested a rainbow with some pink somewhere so that is what she got (the cake was pink)! This one is the cake for her actual birthday on Sunday.

All of the girls!

And the boys too!

Sadie and her cousin Anissa!

Zoe enjoying cake!

Look! Dennis and I are in the same picture! That never happens.

We also made flower fairies!

The fairies! 

Opening the presents! She did not get one toy, only crafts and clothes! I think her friends know her well. Is she really already at the age where she's out-grown toys?!? I can't believe how fast the time goes and that my sweet Sadie-girl is six. It's been a great ride with this girl who makes me laugh. Here's to a life-time of laughs. Happy Birthday.



School Pictures 2012

School pictures arrived yesterday. They both turned out charming with their missing teeth and all. Love them.

 

Apparently all the classes got to do a funny face picture. I'm pretty sure they messed up and sent the funny face instead of the sweet, innocent one. I think this one is perfect though!

Take note of all those boys!!! See the little boy sitting in front of Sadie? Sadie came home from school one day and said that the little boy said "Ooolala" to her. Then she asked what "oolala" meant.

Enjoying Fall

Several weeks ago, fall was in full force in Northern Minnesota. We had to go out and enjoy the fall colors. We went to a place in the national forest called "the lost forty". It was beautiful. The reds, yellows, oranges and browns were other-worldly. It was a cool day, but the sun was shining so it felt good in the sun.

Collecting leaves

This tree has a nose.

Biking on the trail. In hind sight, this was a bad idea. It was really hilly and rooty.

Dennis riding Eli's bike.



This past weekend was even more colorful and the weather was in the 80s. We took our last canoe ride of the season on the Mississippi. Eli informed us that this was his last canoe ride ever. You see, we tipped the canoe in Lake Bemidji and the water was cold--really cold. We let the kids sit in their little lawn chairs in the canoe and that was the reason for the tipping. They both looked over the same side of the canoe at the same time and the lawn chairs slid, then came the big splash. Luckily, we were relatively close to shore and our car. We just had to take a brief stroll soaking wet through downtown Bemidji, but we are all laughing about it now!
And today, it's snowing (yesterday too)! Fall went too fast. I'm hoping for a brief warm-up because I'm not ready for winter yet. We did have a great before-school snowball fight. It was a blast.

Sadie's Missing Something!

Last Sunday, September 16, Sadie lost her first tooth. Actually, I pulled it, but only because she wanted me too. It was awesome!

The tooth fairy has been visiting our house a lot lately!

Also, Sadie got her ears repierced this weekend. Yes, last year Sadie got her ears pierced on her birthday, but they got really infected in December so the dr. made her take them out. They healed up nicely and she decided it was time once again to get them pierced. They look great!

Happy 7th Birthday Eli!

Somehow Eli managed to get 3 parties out of this birthday. You have to love a birthday that just keeps on giving!! The first, as pictured previously, was a mini-celebration at Grandma and Grandpa S's. The second was his actual birthday. The neighbor kids came over for cake and icecream.

Then we went to Putt-N-Go for a little mini-golf and go-kart action before heading to the mexican restaurant where, according to Eli, they serve the best chicken strips! Ha! Yes, that is my jumbo margarita and yes our server was nice on the eyes. The kids love being sung to almost as much as they love the icecream!

The last party was a pool party with friends. It was 10 days after his birthday, but better late than never!

Abby, Sadie and Zoe

Ryan, Abby, Will, Zoe, Ella, Sadie, Nile, Simon, Eli, Reid and Anissa

Presents!!

Abby, Nile, Sadie, Zoe, Ella, Eli, Will, Simon, Ryan, Reid, Darren, and Anissa

Yellowstone Vacation: Part 5--This is the end, I promise!

Day 11: We packed up very early, as in just-throw-the-kids-in-the-car-still-snuggled-in-their-sleeping bags early, and left Yellowstone behind. We didn't take take the shortest way, as that would be too easy, we took the "scenic route" which involved curvy mountain roads. We left through the northeast entrance of the park and headed to Cody, WY from there. There were lots of scenic stops along the way, but we were truly far too tired (or nauseous in my case) to enjoy them. We made it to Gillette, WY that night. The kids were excited for a hotel with a water park, more Olympics watching and the Chinese buffet across the street from the hotel.

Day 12: Another lllllloooooonnnnnggggg day in the car with a brief stop and picnic at Devils Tower National Monument. At this point, we were all kind of ready to be home. Thank goodness we made it to Grandma and Grandpas house that evening!

Day 13: Grandma and Grandpa S. in Napoleon always have special treats for Eli and Sadie. This time, the special treat was a birthday cake! We enjoyed going to Nita's attic, trying on Paula's hats, playing on the teeter-totters at the Napoleon City Park, watching the Olympics and not spending a single minute in the car!!

Day 14: We left one grandma and grandpa's for another. We stopped in Fargo for school shopping.It seems that Eli's shoes were 3 sizes too small. Yikes!! Then, Dennis and I went on a date-- dinner and a movie and shopping-- all while Sadie and Eli were being spoiled by grandma and grandpa!
Day 15: We made it make safe and sound to our house and our own beds... just in time to celebrate Eli's seventh birthday!

Yellowstone Vacation: Part 4

Day 7- Day 10: We finally made it to Yellowstone! We spent the first day hanging out at Old Faithful. We saw Old Faithful go off 3 times!! We spent a lot of time at the Visitor Center, we went on a boardwalk trail, and participated in the "Animal Olympics". We camped at Madison Campground which is centrally located to all areas of the park so we'd have easy access to all areas of the park. We spent one day in each area of the park.
There was still a lot of driving each day mixed in with sight seeing and animal watching. We brought along 2 pairs of binoculars which was a godsend and the kids took turns taking photos. I think "we" took over 350 pictures!
We saw lots of buffalo, elk and marmots. We woke up early 2 mornings to look for wildlife. We saw (with the help of a spotting scope) 2 grizzly bears one morning and a pack of wolves another morning.
I truly enjoyed visiting the Canyon area as a lot has changed in the 17 years since I worked there. It brought back a lot of memories.
The kids enjoyed the campground the best, imagine that, but they love meeting kids from all different parts of the country. Plus, we let them ride their bikes freely which they also enjoy.
We spent some time swimming in the Fire Hole. The water was swift and cool. We weren't very prepared for the depth of the water or the crowd but we made the best of it!
I know that if you haven't been to Yellowstone that I haven't described it's magic very well for you to truly understand it. It is like being on a whole different planet with many different ecosystems. It is one of the most spectacular places on earth.

The line to take a picture of the Yellowstone sign was very long!!

The kids watching Old Faithful.

Sadie got a little sunburnt!

This is what Eli thought of the sulfur smell of most of the pools.

Canyon!

I'm very proud of the kids for walking all 300+ stairs to get down Uncle Tom's Trail. They didn't whine too much!

Eli and Sadie both became junior rangers.

Petrified tree.