TGIF......

Hello all- We have been really busy this week (as I am sure you can tell from lack of posts).

Maddie finished up summer camp. She had a great time and was really sad that she will not get to see her teacher until next summer.

We have been finalizing things on the house. The Radon test (Radon is naturally occurring in MN and can only cause problems if it is built up in a home) came back showing that was too high. We found out today that the sellers are going to fix the problem so everything is back on track. Thank the Lord.

The kids and I make at least one drive by a day. I am starting to wonder if the neighbors are catching on. Today two different people waved at me as I drove by.....hum.....hope they don't think we are stalking them.

These drive-bys started out as a way to see if there were kids out playing at different times of the day, now it is just a reassurance to the kids that we are on our way to moving in. Maddie has to see pictures of the house and her new room before bedtime so she can "dream about where her bed will be".

On another note, my parents and brother fly in today for the long Labor Day weekend. We are really excited about showing them around MN. Maddie really wants to take them to the Nature Center to see if they can catch as many frogs as Ms. Kim. Not sure if that is way Nate wants to spend his long weekend, but it should result in GREAT pictures :)

Frog Catch'n

Yesterday, we went with my friend Kim and her two boys to the Nature Center. Kim discovered that you can "check out" buckets complete with nets, bowls, magnifying glasses, and other creature catching necessities. The Nature Center is surrounded by several different ponds/lakes. Thus, it is a great place to creature catch.

All the kids had a great time using their little nets to catch stuff. We caught several snails shells (with and without the actual snail in them), a couple of leeches (yucky), lots of weeds, a red water mite, and several frogs. Kim is the master frog catcher. I can't even spot a frog in the mud before she has already gotten the net ready, called for someone to bring a bucket, and scooped it up.

We came home dirty and tired....but no one fell in (knock on wood). We are hoping to be able to do this again before the weather turns.

Boys will be boys....

I discovered, day 1, that boys are different than girls (changing that first baby boy diaper is MUCH different from a little girl diaper). The older Sam gets, the more apparent this is.

For instance, currently Maddie is happily coloring a wonderful "pitcher" (picture) and singing to herself. While Sam, is jumping off the couch. Maddie loves to play dolls and is content to sit and brush her My Little Ponies hair. Sam loves to play cars, but his cars have to get in "trouble" with another car to come and "hook" (tow) them out. This usually ends up with all the cars crashing together in a loud noise.

While Maddie will hold my leg and look shyly out at someone new, Sam enjoys asking questions. If the said person doesn't respond, he just asks them louder. Example, yesterday at the home inspection. The very nice man that did the inspection was wearing overalls. In Sam's mind, overalls makes you either a farmer or a train conductor. Yesterday being a farmer won out. While Maddie was sweetly smiling at the nice man, Sam walks up and asks, in his very two year old way, "You farmer?" (translation: Are you a farmer?). The nice man either couldn't understand Sam or chose to ignore him. Being the mom that I am, I tried to shush Sam without causing a scene. Sam, not one to be shushed, asked the man again and louder "You farmer". Again, the nice man chose to ignore Sam. While the inspector and relator's back were turned, I shot Sam one of those (every mom out there knows and has given this look...you know you have) don't you dare say that again. And whispered to Sam, "He isn't a farmer, he just wears overalls".

At this, my fashion expert decided to give her critique and said, "Well, dey wook dirty." (translation: well, they look dirty). Again out comes "the look" from me. I quietly explained that he had been crawling in the attic and things to make sure the house was safe for us. Wasn't that so nice of him.

After finally getting the kids minds off of the nice man's work attire, we went off to hear the results from the inspection. Maddie was quietly processing things like caulking. Sam was on my hip because it was after what should have been nap time and really tired. While listening to all that was going on, I was thankful that the kids were behaving (and yes I can listen and have other thoughts at the same time, isn't that the great thing about being a woman....multitasking, baby).

At that same exact second Sam lifts his head up and asks loudly "Where tak-tor" (translation: where is your tractor). Before I can answer, Maddie does so for me (with all the authority and know it all of a four year old), "Him not a farmer, him not have a tractor, him just dirty from crawling around."

Unfortunately, the nice man heard this and turned to look at us. What could I do? I tired to think of something fast and humorous, but alas my humor had taken that moment off. So, I pulled a Maddie and just smiled shyly and the nice man and said something to the effect of "The nice man has worked so hard making sure the house is really safe, we should tell him thank you" or something cheesy like that. Being well trained southern children, the kids followed with a chorus of thank yous. Since this is the mid-west and it isn't as common to hear that here, the nice man (in dirty overalls who isn't a farmer and doesn't own a tractor) just beamed when he heard this. When he turned to walk away, again I gave my kids "the look"....but it had the twinkle of humor in it this time.

Our New House

The kids and I are headed out to catch the "recap" of the inspection of our new house. We are really excited (and nervous). I have been on the phone trying to arrange the moving of our swingset (the one the pictures isn't staying at the house). Of course, these pictures are of the sellar's furniture and things. Much to Wade's dismay, the plasma TV doesn't stay with the house. Oh well, we can't have it all...can we :)!!

Update: The inspection went really well. Just a very few very minor things to be fixed..that actually Wade and I can fix (like caulking....just our luck since we had just caulked the whole entire house in GA before we left). The inspector man (I guess he is kind of like Inspector Gadget) was really impressed with how the house has been kept up. So, YEAH for us!!

The Great Minnesota Get Together.....

Or as well call it in the south, the state fair.

It is an incredibly large fair that boasts you can find anything and everything on a stick to eat. Seriously, I saw bacon on a stick, pork chops on a stick, cheese on a stick, and Swedish eggs on a stick (are you wondering what a Swedish egg is??? I did. It is a hard boiled egg wrapped in Swedish sausage...that makes my tummy hurt to just think about).

The number of farm animals it outrageous. The kids were able to see at least 10 of every kind of duck, goose, bunny, horse, pig, cow, sheep, goat, and chicken to just name a few. There is also a "birthing barn". This is where people "make sure" that the animals will give birth during the 2 weeks (yes, you read that right the fair goes for 2 weeks here) of the fair. You can watch it happen, if you are lucky. And you can hold the babies. There was a cow in labor while we were there, but we didn't stay.....no need to relive labor if you don't have too, right? Plus, let's be honest, while a cow having a calf is a beautiful thing to some (I personally found it a little icky).....it opens a world of questions for a four year old. And I for one, am not ready to answer those questions.

It would have been a perfect first "Get Together" had I remembered our coats. The high was 65 with a chilly wind blowing. Maddie kept saying, "Next year you will bring coats, right?" It is August, never crossed my mind that we would need jackets. Apparently I forget we aren't down south anymore.

Newborn Baby Pigs

Just born baby lambs

What's a fair without rides?

Maddie made me ride this with her. Those of you who know me well...know I hate heights. Add to the fact that this was the fastest Ferris wheel ever and you have me with knocking knees. Maddie loved it and kept saying she hoped it went faster (I was agreeing with her verbally but silently praying it wouldn't).

We discovered Sam needs some serious driving lessons before he gets his permit. He kept the wheel turned on his bumper boat so that he just went in circles the whole time. Everyone else kept bumping him and he stayed in one place going round and round.

What A Day!!!

It is late, I am tired....but I had to post.

We are on our way to becoming Minnesota homeowners. Yep, that's right. I guess we are here to stay (not that leaving was an actual option). As of 9:20pm we accepted the 2nd counter offer, from the homeowners, of the house that we (I) fell in love with.

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention the kids and I went house hunting yesterday? Did I also forget to mention that houses are moving at an unreal fast rate here? To give you an idea, the first house I liked (the whole saga before we went on our much needed trip to NC) sold in less than a week. Two of the houses that we were to see yesterday sold before we could see them....in less than a week. The house we offered on had been on the market 20 days, but only a week at the greatly reduced price. Seeing the whole week trend, we jumped and jumped fast. Tomorrow they were going to have an open house (flashes of what happened to the first house played through my mind when I heard this), but no need now.

You think that is fast, it gets faster. Inspection on Wednesday, fly to GA around Sept 11th, close the 15th, move in before our Disney trip the last week in September. Whew, I am pleasantly exhausted just thinking out it.

The best part.....getting to tell the kids when they wake up that we are REALLY moving to a house. Yes, Maddie dear you get your bed and yes Sam, you get your GeoTrax.

To top it off, we went to the Minnesota State Fair this morning. It was incredible. But, more to come on that when I have time to post all the pictures. Let's just say (for those of you in NC, the good ol' Dixie Classic doesn't hold a candle...no, scratch that, doesn't hold a match flame to this one).

So good night all those in the south, who are sleeping by now......I'll see you in ATL really really soon!!

In my element....

Today Maddie had a make up summer camp class (from the ones missed while we were trotting around the south). While she was there, Sam and I ventured to a consignment sale. It is the only one that I have found anywhere near us.

I was so excited to load up my double stroller full of snacks and hit the racks. It brought back so many memories of friends and places we used to consignment shop at in Georgia. I must say, it didn't come close to being as adventurous as Barbara and I loading up all five kids to shop. But, it felt like home. Sam really enjoys it...of course he knows that if he is really good he gets to choose a surprise. Nothing like bribery to keep your kid quiet so you can accomplish something, huh?

We found some good buys. I was able to get both Maddie and Sam snow pants. I found Sam some snow boots as well. I made him try them on..I wasn't going to pay $8 (I am spoiled for always consignment shopping, the boots I bought were L.L. Bean and probably cost more than $40 new) for boots that I wasn't sure fit. Sam tried to take one step with them on and fell flat on his face. It all happened in slow-mo. I was so shocked he fell, I didn't even have time to react to try and catch him. I am sure the people around were wondering what kind of mom I was....laughing at my child who is face down wearing snow boots. According to Sam, they were "heaby heaby" (heavy heavy). Oh dear, we have some practicing to do before the real snow comes.

Oh, how I have missed the "thrill of the hunt". I came home very excited about my purchases and all the money I saved. As tradition, I will make Wade sit down tonight while I show him all my purchases and explain how cheap they are and how much I saved. And in following tradition, he will sit and listen, with a half ear while watching T.V, uh-humming once in a while.

North Carolina Visit

A Visit to Grandma and Papa's

Maddie and Sam love going to Grandma and Papa's house. They get to play outside with their cousin Wi-Wee (Lily), ride the tractor, and play school in Papa's workshop. Not to mention the "secret hiding place" made out of pillows and in the woods. We were also able to meet the newest addition to the family, Zoe.

Of course, I love going because Mrs. Sheek makes the best sweet tea. She had some waiting for me when I arrived. One sip and I knew I was back in the south.

During this trip, the Sheeks gave me my birthday present early. I was able to get a massage while Mrs. Sheek kept the kids for me. What a perfect present! Just what I needed, a chance to relax, unwind and prepare my back for lugging all the luggage back home. Thank you so much!

Riding Horses

I know you aren't surprised to see pictures of my kids on horse back. If you follow my blog, you know that we can't go to NC and not ride horses.

Some things you may not know, Strawberry was my first horse. Never did I imagine, as a young child, that my children would one day ride her. I used to ride her bareback with only a lead rope tied to her halter. Would I let my kids do that? Never. Though you don't see pictures, I still ride Strawberry when I am home. Since Strawberry and I grew up together, we have a bond that lasts through distance and children.

You may be questioning why there is a towel on the saddle under the kids. You can blame that on me. In my packing frenzy, I forgot to throw in jeans for the kids. We were going south, you know! If you ride without jeans, the saddle pinches you (I have the bruises to prove it...since I rode without jeans). To solve this problem, Granddaddy threw an old towel on the saddle and wa-la...no more pinches.

I am very proud of both my children's horsemanship skills. Both have no fear of horses and love them. That, I believe, is genetic and they get it honest. Sam does really well to balance himself and doesn't need anyone to hold onto him anymore. Maddie was trotting by herself. Well, Granddaddy was running with Strawberry attached to a lead, but no one was holding her on. Those of you city slickers who may not know, trotting is a "jog" for a horse. It is between a walk and a canter. Needless to say, trotting is bouncy and Strawberry is known for her very bouncy trot. Maddie sat tall and deep in the saddle and rode like a pro....minus the squeals of delight. Well, you can't be perfect your first time :)

Beach Trip - Part 2

Day 3: More Pool Makin' and Skateboarding

Sam finally ventured back into the ocean...a little.

Day 4: Tunnel Building and Wave Riding

GaGa built this sand tunnel for Sam's trucks to drive through...a BIG hit!
Maddie learned the art of riding in waves on her boogie board. I even went out with her some and rode them in. I remember loving to do this as a kid and still find it fun as an adult.

Catch'n a "Big" one.


Day 5: Rain in the Morning, Pool in the evening

According to Granddaddy 4 inches of rain makes for a cold pool.

Sam washing Granddaddy's hair.

Granddaddy and Uncle Nate raced with Sam and Maddie as jockeys. It was a hoot to watch.
Sam and Maddie tuckered out by the evening at the pool.


Day 6: Sam rides on the Boogie Board




Granddaddy devised a way for Sam to ride the boogie board without going out too deep. It caught on and soon several granddaddies were out doing the same thing.

Day 7: Resting on the beach and the Pavillion

Last Night at the Beach: Sparklers