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A Lifetime in a Weekend

Craig and I got to have a "Date" weekend!! Thanks to Nana & Bapa and Great Grandma Mozelle for sacrificing their weekend to watch Jacob & Sophia while Craig and I fit a lifetime into 2 days! We spent Friday afternoon on the boat on Lake Minnetonka, followed by dinner at Granite City and a movie...honestly couldn't remember the last time we did that!

We spent Saturday bumming around Rosedale Mall and attending our friends' wedding at The Basilica and St. Anthony Event Center. Because the Aquatennial was going on, we got to see the fireworks from the roof of the Event Center...GREAT SEATS! Then we joined some friends and family for drinks down at the W Bar and Prohibition before crashing in our suite at the W Hotel. We're exhausted but LOVED the time together.

Thanks again, Mom, Dad & Grandma, for watching the kids. We can't say THANK YOU enough!

Steve, Craig & Vandee outside the Basilica

The group shot on the Basilica steps

Hobo Joe taking a nap outside the wedding ceremony
Me & Genna enjoying a cocktail at the W Bar
Table 17 with the Groom, Jesse

The Lifetime Fitness Basketball Team

Jesse (Groom), Craig, Lindsey (bride), Vandee & Steve
Enjoying the Aquatennial fireworks on the roof of St. Anthony Event Center

I'm On A Boat

After a month of waiting for our boat to get fixed, we picked it up yesterday and headed out to Lake Minnetonka for some summer fun!

A Couple More Jacob-isms

In case you haven't had enough, here are a couple more:

* Chaffing does occur when a little boy has been in the water with mesh-lined swim trunks. But leave it to Jacob to announce this to a restaurant FULL of people. "Nana! My penis has a bad rash on it and it really hurts!"

* While putting Jacob to bed..."Mommy, I'll pretend to go to sleep in my bed now, but when you and Daddy are sleeping, I'm going to come in your room and sneak into bed with you."

* After several attempts to put Jacob to sleep, he emerged from his room. "I'm not prepared to go to sleep yet. I'm prepared to stay up for a little while longer."

California Dreamin'

We spent the past weekend up in Aitkin with my dad's family from California. Jacob was thrilled to reconnect with Grandma Mozelle, Bob, Juana, Ruth & Jody. And for all of them, it was their first time meeting Sophia. They were shocked at the temperature difference...coming from 102 to a shocking 66!! But we made the most of it and got to spend a lot of time catching up. Sophia's first feeding with Great Grandma Mozelle 3 Generations of Mozelle's!!!

Jacob enjoying the Nisswa toy store
Out for a ride in the wagon
Nana, Ellie, Jody, Sophia & Grandma

Bapa taking Jacob for a 4-wheeler ride
A little cruise around the lake

(Sophia wasn't impressed)
Bob & Jacob in for a swim
Sophia driving the boat with Daddy

The whole gang at Ruttger's for dinner

The Sparky Show

This week has seemed to last FOREVER! Maybe's the lack of planned activities, or my lack of motivation, but I think it's the much anticipated arrival of the Prentice family from CA. So, we jumped at the opportunity to visit Como Zoo with Kari, Connor & Ryan. The boys were ecstatic to ride on the rides in Como Town, watch the Sparky Show, and take a look at some of the wild animals...although, Kari & I would both agree that the boys were the most wild of all the animals at the zoo! :) But it was a great day!

Riding the train in Como Town

Taking it all in

That's one BIG Giraffe
Anxiously awaiting the Sparky Show
Sparky the Sea Lion

Life Lessons II

1. When your 3-year-old sneaks into the bathroom and locks the door, it doesn't mean he's going #2 on the pot, no matter what he claims.

2. *The cost of 4 summer sport activities for your son = $150
*The cost of a tball glove = $20
*The cost of soccer, tball & swimming clothes = $90
*The cost of bribing your son with a treat to participate in each activity = $53
*The cost of watching your son pick his nose, skip in the outfield, and throw dirt at the other kids = PRICELESS! (and NOT in a good way)

3. Just because it looks too big for your 1-year-old to swallow, doesn't mean she won't find a way to ingest it.

4. Despite what the experts say, sometimes having McDonalds 3 times a week can be a good thing.

5. When your son offers to wash the flowers with the gardening hose...TAKE COVER!

6. Sharing among siblings is a myth

7. No matter how polite your child may be at home, the social tact button mysteriously gets turned off in public.

More Jacob-isms

* Jacob: I like the Envoy, Mommy. But it's your job to drive it.
Mommy: What do you think my other jobs are?
Jacob: To make dinner, change Sophia's diapers, make sure I'm safe, and to give me hugs.
Mommy: Well, what are Daddy's jobs then?
Jacob: To lay on the couch.

* My dad, "Bapa", recently brought Jacob out to lunch at McDonalds. While they were there, Bapa had to go to the bathroom, and took Jacob with him. As Bapa was answering mother-nature, Jacob was too curious not to look on. Just as someone came walking through the door, Jacob looked up at my dad and said, "Gee, Bapa, yours sure holds a lot!"

* Mommy: Jacob, it's time to come inside now.
Jacob: But I can't, I have to practice riding my bike. And by "practice", I mean, wear my helmet.

* This was the conversation I overheard Jacob have with Sophia while driving out to Stillwater:

JACOB: Sophia, can you say "Jacob"? Say "Jacob", Sophia!
SOPHIA: AHHHHH!!!!
JACOB: Well, close enough.

Pre-Games

Jacob started his 4th activity of the summer tonight...Pre-Games. Another community sport that "teaches" kids to play various sports. Jacob has enjoyed his morning soccer & tball activities. The enjoyment, on his part, comes mostly because he throws dirt, gets a snack, and sits on cones...not because it fosters teamwork, athleticism and hand-eye coordination (which are all the reasons I signed him up for it). But he is on the same team with Dayna & Dylan (Craig's cousins' kids). And surprisingly, he did a really great job!! Keep up the good work, buddy! Dayna & Jacob playing soccer
Dayna & Dylan taking a breakSophia & Nana cheering Jacob on

Zsay-Zsub

Not sure if I'm even writing it was the way it sounds, but Sophia is obsessed with Zsay-Zsub (aka. Jacob). This afternoon, I caught her standing at the front door window, slamming her hands on the window and yelling "Zsay-Zsub"!! Jacob, of course, was completely oblivious to her, as he was more focused on his bike.

Bapa Day

This afternoon, my dad came up and took Jacob out to lunch...just the boys! Jacob was so excited to spend his lunch time at McDonalds with Bapa and as a special treat, Bapa took Jacob to Lowes, where they got to "ride" on the John Deere lawn mowers. WOW!! What a special day!

Born in the USA

Happy 4th of July!! What a beautiful weekend to celebrate our freedom. Our annual tradition is spent up in Grand Rapids at the Person cabin. We couldn't have asked for better weather.Jacob can play for hours with his trucks in the sand

Loving her first 4th of July

Grandma with Mariah & AndrewSophia with Auntie JessOn the morning of the 4th, we went over to Walker to participate in the Walker parade with the Stocke's & Mossengren's. The float had 11 of the 15 grandchildren on it. The kids all dressed in red, white and blue and threw candy to the crowd. The float got 1st place for "Best Tourism".

Waiting for the fireworks
Segl ponderingJess & Chad
Wow!