Monday, October 28, 2013

Just For Fun!

My kids loving riding on the grocery cart.IMG_9051

IMG_9049

Bedtime StoryIMG_9036

Our blogs are as much for me as they are for you.  I love recording the moments in our life that make me smile.  I frequently go back and review it all.  My kids love looking at pictures of when they were in my tummy and when they were babies.  The blogs are my photo albums of our lives.  And so, they will often include the pictures that make up the miracles of ordinary days, including trips to the grocery store and bedtime stories.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Fall Frolics

My wonderful husband volunteered with Delta to build a Habitat for Humanity house this week.IMG_2634

My handsome hubbyIMG_2635

IMG_2638

Fall officially hit our house while we were in Washington last weekend.  This is how our yard looked when we got home – completely covered in leaves.IMG_8793

We moved the trampoline inside for the winter.  The kids are loving it!  Nothing like being able to jump in your jammies!IMG_8799

We raked up the leaves in the yard and took some fall pictures of the kids.IMG_8813

IMG_8820

IMG_8825

IMG_8837

IMG_8839

IMG_8851

IMG_8856

IMG_8860

IMG_8869

We made some homemade chocolate chip cookies!  Yummy!

Cale sneaking chocolate chipsIMG_8934

IMG_8950

IMG_8957

Today we took a road trip to Stillwater, MN and then crossed over into Wisconsin.  It was a beautiful drive!IMG_8966

IMG_8967

IMG_8989 

We drove up to see Afton Alps – the area ski resort.IMG_8978

IMG_8977

IMG_8970

The St. Croix River – in Minnesota looking over the river at WisconsinIMG_8997

The weather is changing here very quickly.  This highs this week are in the low 40s and upper 30s.  Fall is fading quickly, and winter is beginning to sneak in.  Loving this sweater weather!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Grandparents, Aunts and Cousins! Oh my!

(and a couple of uncles as well!)

Last weekend we flew to Washington to spend some time with family.  It was a very fast trip for us.  We flew in Friday night after Steve got off of work and flew out Sunday around lunchtime.  Due to the short time frame of our visit, we didn’t get to see everyone this time.  But we had a great visit while we were there.

The Dolans are moving to Haiti to be the Directors of Widow and Orphan Care in Fond Des Negres, Haiti.  (You can find out more on their blog.)  The family had a going-away party for them (which was the primary reason for our visit).

Claire and Cale (along with Valerie Bunny and Roar) on the flight to PDXIMG_2580

The Osterholm FamilyIMG_2602

Aunt Nicole, Grandpa, Uncle Tom, Aunt Emily, Aunt Tamara, Grandma, Tyger, Aunt Kalei, Uncle John (Osterholm), Grandpa O, Grandma O, Daddy, Cale, Claire, Mommy, Addison, Aunt Jill, Lucas, Keegan, Katie, Caleb, Sarah and Ellie (You can barely see the back of Ellie’s pink shirt.)  Kalei’s boyfriend, Aaron, took the picture.

Aunt Emily, Claire, Ellie and LucasIMG_2588

Sarah and CaleIMG_2589

Aunt Nicole and Aunt KaleiIMG_2592.2

Lucas and Claire – Lucas spent a lot of time teaching Claire how to use his Nintendo DS.IMG_2596

Back at Granny’s house…

Cale showing Aunt Lori his phoneIMG_8765

Aunt Lori brought supplies to make cards.  Claire and her Aunt Kasey and Aunt Dawn spent a few hours making cards.IMG_8766

IMG_8768

IMG_2620

Cale fell in love with Gramps’ camera.IMG_8772

Gramps took us out to breakfast and bought Aunt Kasey and Claire hot chocolate.  Yummy!IMG_8783

After breakfast, we stopped by Gramps’ house, and Claire got to climb up into Gramps’ truck.IMG_2611

We told her to climb up and pull the string.  She was surprised at what happened!    

Cale and Aunt KaseyIMG_2625

Claire and GrandpaIMG_8788

Claire and GrannyIMG_2615

Cale and Grandpa IMG_2621

Flying homeIMG_2627

Back home in MinneapolisIMG_2631

It was a fast trip, but it was so much fun!

Friday, October 18, 2013

September Celebrations

September was Steve’s birthday month.  It involved quite a bit of celebrating.  So much fun!

There were also a lot of fun ordinary days.

Claire spent some time looking through my bridal magazines that I kept from when Steve and I got married.  I knew that someday I would share them with my daughter.  I had no idea that she’d be the ripe old age of four when I did.  IMG_8204

She has picked out her dream wedding dress.  My girl has ESQUISITE taste!  (She loves the dress on the right.  GORGEOUS!)IMG_8218

MiMi and PopPop came to visit and stayed for week!  It was so much fun!

We took PopPop and MiMi to the Chutes and Ladders park to play.

Cale taking PopPop up the ladder to slide down the huge slideIMG_8221

Cale loves slides!

Claire has learned to climb rock walls – and in flip-flops no less!

Then we went out to dinner at Chevy’s.  Yummy!IMG_8237

IMG_8242

We took MiMi and PopPop to Minnehaha Falls.IMG_8258

IMG_8271

IMG_8288

IMG_8306

We celebrated Steve’s 34th birthday!

Claire and Cale made their daddy birthday cards.IMG_8339

Claire helped me make Daddy’s birthday cake – chocolate and peanut butter – YUMMY!!!IMG_8349

IMG_8353

IMG_8629

IMG_8362

Cale loves birthday cake!IMG_8374

And so does Claire!IMG_8376

My kids love playing “choo-choo,” especially with PopPop!IMG_8385

MiMi and PopPop also helped us celebrate an early birthday for Cale during their visit.  We started with a trip to Mall of America to ride some rides.  Such fun!IMG_8424

IMG_8395

IMG_8404

IMG_8412

IMG_8421

IMG_8423

Birthday BoysIMG_8433

My GirlIMG_8444

IMG_8452

IMG_8466

IMG_8463

IMG_8473

And the funniest ride of the nightIMG_8476

We thought this kiddie ride just went around in a circle.  Turns out it whips around the corners.  What a funny surprise!IMG_8482

And, of course, we rode the carousel.IMG_8496

IMG_8509

Back at home, Cale got to open presents, with the help of his sister, of course!IMG_8542

IMG_8550

IMG_8551

IMG_8564

IMG_8567

IMG_8633

IMG_8577

“Flying” his new airplaneIMG_8595

Thank you, PopPop!IMG_8580

Claire got a few prizes from MiMi and PopPop too!IMG_8586

IMG_8590

Reading with PopPopIMG_8607

Playing with his new airplaneIMG_8613

IMG_8617

IMG_8619

Cheese!IMG_8620

IMG_8644

Reading with MiMiIMG_8691

Giggling with MiMiIMG_8717

IMG_8729

IMG_8730

Ready for churchIMG_8742

Claire wearing the nails MiMi gave herIMG_8748

IMG_8750

And the “jigsore” that MiMi gave to Claire (I have no idea why she calls it a “jigsore.”  She can say jigsaw, but chooses not to.  My girl cracks me up!)IMG_8755

We also visited the Basilica of Saint Mary.  It is gorgeous!!IMG_2502

IMG_2491

IMG_2483

IMG_2484

IMG_2487

IMG_2477

IMG_2473

IMG_2470

We had a marvelous time with MiMi and PopPop!  Happy 34th Birthday, Steven Lee Norton!  What a great month we had in September!