Labor Day

All the kids love the little green power wheel. They all take turns driving it around.  

 Who has time to change into their bathing suits? The boys just start playing until their clothes are wet and then they come off.

 Zola loves the sauna! In the morning she brought grandma down there and pointed to her bath on the wall. So, grandma filled it with the leftover warm water from the night before and Zola got an impromptu bath. After that she tried to get a couple of different people down there to do the same... but she only got success with grandma.

 For Dennis' birthday, I made some bow and arrows and targets. It was super fun and they really work! While we were making them Dennis was super excited and wanted to show grandpa, who was at the neighbors. So, he went running off bare foot into the woods with a bow and an arrow and his loin clothe (underwear). He really looked like a little indian boy.

 Chrissy jumped off the big tree. This might be the last time we get to do it since we heard a crack. They will probably take it down this winter.

 Grandma, Owen, and Grandma Thompson (Chrissy's mom)

 The boys were hard at work most of the weekend.

 Zola carried her baby everywhere.

 She loves to put things on her head. This time it was a little scary since she started walking towards me with her face completely covered on the dock.

 After readjusting...

 The kids loved Grandpa's birthday present!

 I love the interactions between Zola and Owen. They seriously do love each other and played the entire weekend. They communicate quite well with each other without words.

 Bovey farmer's day parade!

 Chrissy and James

 Here they are ready for some candy!

 Lucinda (a family friend), Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandma Thompson

 Here is my awesomely charming  70 year old dad. Zola LOVES him. She calls him "bumpa".

 And the race for candy begins...

 Zola was able to collect a few with Lucinda's help.

 The dogs were after a chipmunk that was hiding in the lumber. They stayed there most of the afternoon.

 cousin love!

 Happy Birthday Dennis! He had 5 candles and 5 pancakes at his birthday breakfast.

 What a handsome boy.

 Randy bought a new four wheeler for the cabin and it is super fun! We went out several times.

 ... and Dennis' birthday cake after lunch. What a cool birthday.

summer heat

We spent a lot of our summer at the pool. It was free for the kids and only $4 for me. Dennis learned to swim! Here they are warming up in the sun. 

 Clothing is always optional in the summer heat. We were dying this summer if it ever got into the 90's. Its funny how you adapt to where you are. Last July in Saint Louis it didn't ever cool off below 105 deg the whole month.

 Grandma and Grandpa got Dennis this awesome swing set for his birthday! We are in the process of staining it.

 Zola loves a thrill. She always wants to have the sinking feeling in her stomach.

from JULY??

Where does time go... man, I thought I posted these pictures but I guess not. 

Dennis and our neighbor friends got our fountain and waterfall working though it only worked for a couple of weeks until our duct tape gave way and it started leaking again. We will need to put a new rubber liner down next summer. 

 Dennis sure loves his comic books. He would rather page through it for an hour than eat breakfast! Now, that's sayin something. Dennis loves breakfast.

 One day Zola brought me my apron that I got at Zola's Grand Girl Gathering. It was super cute. She wore it all day.

 My breakfast was delicious. raspberries from the garden, blackberries from the douglas trail and blueberries. YUMMY.

 We went to the Olmstead County fair in mid July and it was raining and freezing. Lucky for us there weren't many people there.

 We were cold.

 Our daily raspberry picking until I found tiny worms... then I stopped picking. Anyone know how to get rid of worms in raspberry patches?

I have a picture of myself in this very spot when I was little. 

 Our jackpot blackberry find during our bike ride.

It has been so nice to be able to send the kids outside with sticky food to eat. They loved their mangos. 

 Zola was so cute and excited to watch a movie.

 Nobody loves avocado more than Zola.

 Dennis was dragging Zola around the floor by her feet and she was so happy about it. Here she is saying, "cheese".

 Getting ready for be. Zola and baby. Notice, they both have shoes on.

 There is nothing cuter than a babies bottom. The little stinker doesn't like letting me put a new diaper on her.

Hanging with the boys

Zola wants to do everything that the boys do. She copies them and follows them everywhere. Good thing they are so nice to her.

I love my kids

I overheard the kids eating breakfast this morning.

D: zola, you are dirty.
Z: no
D: dirty means you are messy all over.
Z: no
D:aha, yep, I'm right. Look that's messy.
Z: no.

Made me laugh.