Sunday, August 12, 2018

Carter's 10th Birthday

It feels surreal to have a 10 year old. I've been a mom for a decade? Really?? I remember the day this kid was born like it was yesterday. The unimaginable joy, and then the tears of fear as we left the hospital and realized that we were fully responsible for this small human being! 
Carter MacLeod, we love you more than words can express! You've completely changed our lives in the best possible way. We love watching you experience life-so expressive, enthusiastic, adventurous and brave. You have a confidence and independence that are impressive to us. (When all your good friends picked football for a fall sport, you picked soccer because you thought you'd like that better). You make friends so easily-you are kind, inclusive and so fun to be around. You have amazing God-given gifts in sports and academics. You are growing in character and are trustworthy. 
Happy birthday buddy! xoxo
His excitement over my "yes" to getting cheese balls for his b-day party!
Most of his good buddies could make it!
 Landon Rinde, Tyson Vanyo, Sawyer Harlow, Brody Schneider, Cooper Barendt and Gabe Schauer (Easter Weisser couldn't make it). 
 Carter asked to have a pinada at his party! The guys loved it! 
 He picked a robot cake which surprised us but then he told us it had the most frosting! 
The guys spent the party time playing with nerf guns (like most days here)! 
Power clashing on his 10th birthday! I tried to help him change but he said he wanted to double up on plaid being that it was his big day!

Saturday, August 11, 2018

Anderson/Skalman Farm

We took yet ANOTHER road trip a couple of weeks ago as we need to give a ministry update at a partnering church in Minneapolis. We were long overdue for a stop at the Skalmans on the way and it worked out perfectly! Unfortunately we had some van problems that delayed up a couple of hours but we still had some good time roaming around the farm and catching up!
Our six boys!
We got to watch Steven feed the pigs!
 Chickens, pigs, acres to run, four wheelers, and great old friends!!

Time with the Grandparents

Mimi and Gramps offered to watch our boys while we traveled to Colorado!
 We drove down to the Cities and stayed the night before leaving. 
 The boys had a blast!!! They went to a carnival, parade, saw their cousins AND got to go to Ninja Camp!!! They had THE BEST TIME EVER!!! 

Red Rocks/TBT

I have always wanted to see Trampled By Turtles play at Red Rocks but the last three time haven't work with our schedule. So  when we saw that they were playing there in July this year we figured out a way to make it happen! We had planned to go with the Roordas but Luke was deployed so just Shawna joined us.
 We used our travel guide that Luke made for us! And it didn't take long to get into vacay mode!
I was blown away but how beautiful this amphitheater is! 
 We got to hang out with Dave a bit before the show. Shan, Christian and my cousins Clare and Jesse were there too!
 What an amazing show!!!
 The next day we drove down to Colorado Springs and visited a brewery before hiking.
 
 What a beautiful spot to hike!! 
 On our last day, Shawna and I walked around a lake outside of Denver and then we all went into the city and walked around, visited some breweries and took in the city!

Roorda Visit

Shortly after we returned from The Shore a huge storm came through Grand Forks and took town our neighbors tree. It tore our power and internet lines down and we had some water coming through our ceiling. Not the most fun thing to come home too!!
Our dear friends the Roordas had planned to come up and visit us before Luke deployed with the Air Force National Guard. Thankfully the power came back on before they arrived and Luke was helpful with some of the clean up/fix up projects!
 The first night we went downtown to one of our favorite spots, Rhombus Brewery. 
 Luke gave the boys ninja stars with a cool target to throw at! 
 We got our the slip-n-slide and water balloons, went to a park, played lots of lazer tag, and build PVC piping guns (Tim's fun project for the boys). What a great visit with some amazing people!!