Fawn Doe Rosa 9/17/11

This should link to a Shutterfly book with some of the fun pics we took when our friends the Beckers invited us all for a day of fun with the animals.  We had quite a large group this time, and everyone enjoyed feeding and interacting with the animals especially the deer that roam free in the park and are very tame.   Thanks to the B's for organizing us all to make for a fun day!!

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Lutsen Aug 2011 vacation

We got away for a little vacation this month since summer is winding down quickly. Originally we were planning on Duluth but since it is more prime season there and hotel rates were really high we were looking into other options.  I got an email from a resort up in Lutsen with end of summer half price specials. That was it!  So we stayed at Eagle Ridge at Lutsen Resort. We loved it.  We hadn't been up to Lutsen in 20 years (we honeymooned up there) so were excited to return.

We took our time driving up making some stops along the way to see things we wanted to see again, stopped at Leif Erickson park in Duluth to look at and take pictures of the beautiful flowers, then stopped at Agate Beach in Goosebury Falls Park, and Illgen Falls at Tettegouche State Park before getting to our resort. We got a 1 Bedroom condo for our half price rate- so it had lots of space and a full kitchen -bonus. Our deck looked over the valley and then we could also see Moose Mountain. 

While we were up there, we rode on the Gondola tram from Eagle Ridge over to the top of Moose Mountain to walk around and see the wonderful views of the mountains and Lake Superior. It was cool how the lake blended up to the sky almost seamlessly -truly God's creation is beautiful!!! We also had a wristband to ride the Alpine Slide that was across the street from our condos too. Noah was nervous at first, but after the first ride on the chair lift and then back down on the slide -he was hooked- he loved it. Wanted to race us down (there are 2 runs side by side) -because he is so much lighter he kicked our booty's but all in good fun. We ate dinners out each night (other meals in our condo) - ate at Papa Charlie's at our resort (not that great- but view was wonderful), Bluefin Grille and then at Cascade Restaurant.  We hiked at Cascade State Park one day too -totally photo picture spots everywhere with the lush green and lovely water falls.

Took a few stops on way home too since Brent had gotten Noah a State Park Passport kit while up there, so we decided to re-hit the state parks on the way back, just to get stamps at the check in buildings. I think he got 5 stamps to get him started on his adventures (you get patches for getting specific numbers of park stamps).  All in all a good trip even if it was short. Highly recommend!  Here is link to edited down version of pictures (still too long to post individually here on the blog- sorry -we are total photobugs). Longer version is housed at http://nelsonpix.shutterfly.com/3313

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MCC Fair 8-11-11

Our good family friend Jolene is in transitional care at MCC for a while, and while visiting her in service we found out that afternoon, they were putting on a fair with a petting zoo and everything. Noah wanted to go back really bad, so after lunch we returned for another visit with the various activities around the buildings.  It was lovely to spend the whole afternoon together, and to see all the creative things the staff had come up with for the fair.  There was the petting zoo in the driveway area, a 50's soda fountain in one building lounge - with retro ice cream sodas for treats plus fun props, they had set up a huge screen TV showing I Love Lucy shows and other period shows for their "drive in movie" set up, a craft room, a Root Beer garden outside at the gazebo with entertainment and a put-put golf game and a fishing pool game, mini-doughnuts, popcorn (or puffcorn for those that couldn't have popcorn- both Noah and Jolene loved that stand), a fishing pole game, a beanbag toss game (both with fun little prizes), face painting and I think there were a few other booths too.  It went on and on in the hallways.  Totally cute. Staff was encouraged to dress in 50's "retro" clothes. Families and friends were invited to share in the festivities, so there were crowds everywhere, but everyone had a good time!  Noah ended the afternoon with a heartfelt prayer for Jolene in her room...it was a good day! A few pics...

the funky chicken ;-)

 Jolene getting a closer look at that cute cow.

 A Llama even...

 the cow liked to be scratched

 There was a horse and goats and sheep (and yes even a huge sleeping dog)

 facepainting time

 put put golf

2011-07-30 Cascade & Stillwater

Noah's friends Lance & Bryce were spending the night, so we thought since it was a perfect summer day we could take a drive up to Cascade Falls in Osceola Wisconsin to hike around and play in the cold water. There was a wedding couple taking pics by the falls when we got there, so decided to leave them be with the pretty backdrop and decided to follow the stream under the falls to see how far it went. We've never taken the path all the way before, but found out last night the stream goes all the way out to the St Croix River.  The boys went by way of stream and I took the path out.  Since it was so hot, I decided to join them in the water on the way back up stream back to the falls (guessing close to a mile walk?).  Water was cold and refreshing and the stream isn't mega deep- about knee deep for me most of the way. Upstream though was a bit more of a hike with slippery rocks at the bed of the stream. This mom was the only casualty for taking a splash and getting skid marks and a bum knee out of the hike, but it was still fun - and I got much wetter than planned, but in the heat of the day, that felt ok too. Then the boys played in the waterfall for a while to finish cooling off. We all agreed it was a very fun adventure, especialy when topped off with Dairy Queen which was a block down the street. On the way home we stopped in Stillwater at a park the boys used to play at when they were younger - they had a fun time still - climbing around etc.  By the time we got home, all were ready for PJs and movies and supper.  Not that the boys fell asleep right away mind you...but a successful day!!

then a quick stop in Stillwater for a little more fun before heading home....

They were pretending to be on a roller coaster ride... ;-)

20110709 - Day at Valleyfair

Another Shutterfly album post to expedite pics making it to the blog. We spent a family day at Valleyfair earlier this month since we got season passes at the end of last year so we would be able to go when we wanted this summer. Noah is tall enough for pretty much everything now (well too tall for most of the new Planet Snoopy stuff - which was disappointing), so he can choose how brave he wants to be for the adventures. We didn't hit everything, but we were there a really long day (from open at 10:00 a.m. until about 10:30 p.m. after fireworks). It was crowded, but not impossible, and we had a really fun time as a family making our way through the rides and did the water park for the first time as a family. Lazy River is TOTALLY up my alley.. :) Wish the tubs had a beverage holder though -that would have made it perfect. LOL.  Fun times!!

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2011-07-01 through 7-3-District Convention in Rochester MN

Summer is flying by - I'm trying to catch up at posting the various events- trying something new in linking my shutterfly album on here for quicker posting...we'll see how this goes. Sorry for picture overload. These are pics of our good association during the 2011 District Convention in Rochester.  Wonderful spiritual food in the program and good times with our great friends during breaks and evenings.  What an awesome weekend!!

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Sophia's Summer Party - June 26th

On June 26th Noah's good friend Sophia had a summer party in her backyard for the kids around her age that have grown up together (plus a few younger sisters).  This party was extra special because Sophia's family was moving to North Carolina on July 9th, so this was the last party at their house in MN. Most of these kids have been friends since tiny tots, so it was extra fun, and fun to compare photos from a party when the kids were 3-4 in their yard with similar group. It turned into a perfect weather day despite forecasts for some rain. Many of the parents stayed to watch and chat as well as Soph's Grandparents and cousins. Thanks much to Bethany for putting this on despite all the craziness of moving. We will certainly miss your family here in MN!!!

Here are some shots of all the fun.

Sophia's fun cake

AJ, Soph and Noah chilling out

Free Play before the activities start

Musical Chairs

Musical chairs for the little girls too

Candy hunt in the yard - oh the sugar! ;-)

Time for yummy cake with blue frosting.

Water Balloon Toss...

water balloon fight ;-)

Max got to visit at the end of the party.

the Three Amigos - Sam, Soph and Noah - we have been taking group shots of these three since they were tiny.

Sam, Alyssa, Soph, Rose, Hannah, Gigi and Noah

Group shot!

Some of the same kids at the 3-4 year old party in 2005... Look how small they were! awww.... our babies are growing up!

More later!