A Perfect Mix.....Sunshine and Family!

Another beautiful fall day in Minnesota....finally! HA

We were so glad we could spend it with Randi, Nick and Eli!

(We just need to get Auntie Megan to join us!)

Their plans were to go to HAPP-E-HILL at Nesbitts Nursery by Prescott, Wisconsin! (About 45 minutes from their home!)

Nick's sister Kelly and her husband Derek had a surprise for them....

...they hired this photographer to take pictures of the three of them!

We went on a wagon ride into the orchard....

....where they picked out Eli's first pumpkin....29 lbs.....it weighed more than Eli!

And they had lots of pictures taken there...and other spots at the nursery!

Eli was a perfect subject!

Afterwards we checked out the 'petting zoo', had some cider and a bite to eat!

Also had a piece of fresh made apple pie with a scoop of Izzy's ice cream! Mmmmm...

(And I always have to check out the metal art! Might be something I could get my dad to make!)




Hope all of you had a sun shiny Sunday!!

Enjoy your week!

Fall in Minnesota!

Friday morning Tim and I headed to Marshall to celebrate the life of Fred Braakman. Fred passed away this past week at the age of 88 and his funeral was Friday morning. Fred's wife Vi asked Tim to be a pallbearer. They are good family friends and their son Barry, was a good friend of Tim's. (he was in our wedding 30 years ago) It's been 19 years since Barry was killed in a snowmobile accident. So hard to believe.....

On our way to Marshall be stopped in Green Valley at Tim's parents house.....when we pulled up their driveway was covered in green leaves....a tree had dropped it's leaves and with no wind they covered the ground like carpet!

Great fall photo op!! ;)




Today we are staying in!!




"cause we woke to this....!"




Arghhhhh!

Randi's old toys, The Nook, and Aamodt's Apple Farm!

We had a great weekend with

this cute little guy(and his parents)!

Our Minnesota weather has

been more than fabulous this fall!

I have been purging at home and

brought Randi her childhood toys.

Eli really enjoyed playing with them!

Saturday we headed to The Nook

in St. Paul for lunch!

Eli and I had never been there

before and I had been asking to go!

The Nook has been featured on

Diners, Drive-ins and Dives

on the food channel!

The Nook is so small that you

get your name on a waiting

list....the wait wasn't bad!

When we were done eating

Eli started flirting with this

cutie who was waiting for a table!

Already picking up chicks in a bar!

Sunday we headed to

Aamodt's Apple Farm

near Stillwater, MN.

They also had St. Croix wine and

these grapes were very tasty!

Eli also had a chance to see

and pet farm animals....

Took a chance for a few pics

in the orchard!

We thought Eli was giving

his mommy some love here!

Right after this picture he

decided to bite! HA

Teething babes!

I hope all of you had a beautiful

autumn weekend too!

Now....back to work!

Have a great week!

Labor Day Weekend!!

Dear, dear daughter's!!

Sign says: 'Swimsuits optional beyond this point'!!

Nicest dock on Norway Lake!

Autumn beauty in Minnesota!

(Sunset cruise on the pontoon!)

Beach Baby!!

Birthday Bras! (9.1.09)

Happy Birthday Dear Sister!
(The bras showed up again for Labor Day weekend!)

Grandma's joy!

Boy at play!

'Gpa, I don't like my hood up!'

'GPA.......

.......get me outta' here!'

Four Generations!

Labor Day weekend we spent the days out at my sister Julie's cabin on Norway Lake!(Only 15 minutes from our house!) Randi and Eli came home (Nick had a softball tournament in Rochester) for a couple of days!

What fun, family time we had!

NORTH WOODS OF MN, 4-WHEELIN' AND PIG RACES!!

The weekend of August 22nd we headed north for 4-wheeling and camped at a friends property east of the very small town of Leader! Pop. 7! Ha!

No 4-wheelin' pictures but here's a few of the pig races in Leader!

(What fun!)
The mayor of Leader is the 'M-C'! What energy he has, singing to country songs, dancing and throwing beads to the crowd!

Four pigs were brought out and if your name was drawn you could pick a number (which was painted on the pigs back),

if your pig won you would win a hat or t-shirt!

And in between races you could participate in other events! Like hopping rubber horses!! (NOT as easy as it looks!)
Long legged men did much better!

But, heck, why not give it a try!!

(Careful there, Mary!)

Yep, we lost!

But we had fun!

But Aaron and I did win a couple of races with our pigs!!!

Got us a couple of t-shirts!! Ha!

(Tim had the idea to have our picture taken with a pig!!)

So if you are ever in northern Minnesota between Memorial Day and Labor Day on Friday and Saturday nights, check out Leaders Pig Races!

Oh, 2 bucks to get in! Don't think I have ever had so much fun for $2.00!!

VACATION!!

For this summers vacation we were undecided on where we wanted to go! One idea was to go back to Sturgis for the 10th time. It's been 4 years since we had been there and a last minute conversation with friends helped us decide. Susan and Scott wanted to celebrate their 15th anniversary doing something they had never done before! So why not the historic Sturgis Motorcycle Rally? They borrowed a bike and got things ready in just a few days!

For Tim and I, our list consisted of:

Camping gear UPS'd out to Hans and Paula's! Check!

Maintenance on Road King! Check!

Clothes packed! Check!

Someone to water plants! Check!

Bills all paid! Check!

Ready to go! Check!

Here's a few of our highlights!

Bridal Veil Falls, Spearfish Canyon, South Dakota!

One Eyed Jack's balcony, Sturgis, South Dakota!

Our host and hostess, Hans and Paula at Bullwacker's in Whitewood, SD!





One day we headed to Wyoming......a few stops were the Stone House, Aladdin and Sundance!!

With fewer days and some threatening weather this trip, we only put on 1357 miles. All safe and enjoyable! And the scenery in the Black Hills is breathtaking!! The people watching always adds to the enjoyment! Amusing and sometimes shocking! And sometimes taking another groups picture you find out they know your North Dakota relatives! Small world!

Even though it's good to go on vacation, getting back home is even better!