MN Get Together 2017

The girls and I met Denny and Judy out at the fair today.  I had gotten a free ticket from work and there were only a few specific days they could be used.  It was a beautiful day!

We started the morning with Fried Pickles and spent the rest of the day looking at the animals, take a ride on the Sky Ride, shopping in the Grandstand and eating all of the 'regulars': cheese curds, french fries, ice cream, mini donuts...

Judy and I had to try the cotton candy champagne!

Mom purchased a memorial brick for Tom since the State Fair was one of his favorite places.

It was pretty easy to find and the girls had brought some chalk along with us so that they could leave a little message- they are so sweet.

Pickle in the Middle

Today Judy came over and we canned pickles.  We had been talking all summer about wanting to do this so we finally took some time to make it happen.

The girls were VERY helpful and had fun stuffing jars.  Now the hardest part....waiting until we can eat them (around Thanksgiving).

The family came over this evening and we were able to hang out for a bit.

We finally got to spend some more time snuggling Charlie and Davis had a blast playing in the yard with the big kids and eating snacks.

So Talented!

Today at lunch Kari and family gave the girls some early Bday presents (they leave soon- sniff sniff).

The girls were so happy when they opened handmade blankets! 

Kari cracks me up with these blankets, she acts like they are so easy and there's nothing to them.  Do you see that pattern?!  Do you see the perfection and the symmetry?!  There is no way this is easy.

She makes them so fast, I have no idea how she finds time for this.

Mom-Daughter Date Night

When I saw that Tim McGraw and Faith Hill were going on tour together there was no doubt that I was going.  Usually when there is a concert coming that I want to go to I get super excited and then immediately start sending out the texts to see who wants to go. 

If you haven't noticed, I love going to concerts. I have friends that like to go to a concert here and there but not many that want to go to all of them like I do.  So, I get rejected a lot.

These tickets weren't expensive so I decided this time I was just going to get some upper deck seats and I would worry about who would join me as it got closer to the show.

I had mentioned to a few people that I was going but never really invited or asked anyone flat out if they wanted to go.  I knew that my mom would probably love this show and if nobody asked me if they could have my other ticket, I would gladly invite my mom to the concert.

When it got closer and I asked her about it, she was really excited!

Our seats weren't great but the show was really good so it made up for it.

Mom and I drove into the cities from the cabin and after the show headed back to the cabin- no sweat!  Mom sure is a great talker which helps to make the time fly by.

Another End

Today is the last day of A+ for the summer before 2nd and 4th grade start.

Shri and Emily are their favorite staff.  These girls are so sweet.  They show up to soccer and softball games.  They come to dance recitals.  They surprise the kids and make an appearance at Track n Field day.  I am sure it doesn't hurt that when they show up all of the kids are running to them like they are celebrities.  Everyone running to them, wrapping their arms around them...kinda makes me wanna show my face places too.

These kids are lucky to have so many people in their lives that care about them. I feel lucky as a parent to know that my girls get to go to a place everyday where there are good people taking care of them.  People that they feel so connected to.

These girls are off to college so they won't be around everyday this coming year.  Thankfully they will still pick up shifts and work when they are home but in the meantime, they will surely be missed.

Children of the Corn

We had a great time on the 4 wheeler today.

We have a few drive-routes that we always take.  I mean, there are only so many places you can go.

Out in the corn field is personally one of my favorites.  It's fun throughout the summer to see how the fields start bare and short and by the end of the summer, the corn is so tall you feel like it could just swallow you up.  The farm is so pretty and calm.  

I let the girls drive today.  They all started a little shaky, when their head turned to look, so did their steering- lol.  After a few minutes they all seemed to get the hang of it and I am surprised I ever got them back to the cabin. 

 


We even got in a pontoon ride.  It gets more and more difficult each year as the family grows to take family pontoon rides.  There are just too many of us.  Then add in the animals and any friends that the kids bring and it becomes very challenging.  Maybe we should be investing in a cruise ship. 

Sammy loves Reggie!  She loves the babies too but she can not walk past the bear without talking to him and giving him a pat on his head.

 

Sammy's Turn!

This weekend Samantha came to the cabin with us.

These two girls do such a great job entertaining themselves.

They spent most of the day at, well in, the lake.  Swimming, tubing and sand castles.

Told you ;-)

This little guy is the only thing anyone is thinking or talking about right now.   There was no chance we were going to be sitting at home knowing he was waiting for us to come hold him.

Can't wait to see who this little guys grows up to be.

And Charlie makes 6!

Charlie Joseph Hammond entered the world today!

Coming in at 7 lbs and 12 oz.

Kim had a rough day of being in labor but at the end of  it all her night ended in baby snuggles.

Hailey could not wait to get her hands on this little guy.  She is a natural.

The more kids we add to this family, the older Hannah starts to look to me.   The girls have loved having Davis around and now they have been talking about how there's a little one for each of them!

It was a late night tonight but we couldn't miss being there.  

I have a feeling we will be back here tomorrow :-)

24K Magic Day

Another season wrapped up today.   

Both of the girls had a great season. 

Hailey was more and more aggressive with each game and loves to play defense and goalie.

It's so much fun when we can be on a team with our bestie!

 

Hannah wasn't on a team with either of her friends that she requested.  She was really disappointed when the season started but after a few practices and games she had made peace with it and ended up having a great season.  She had multiple 2+ score games and definitely enjoyed playing forward over defense.

Katie and I went to the Bruno Mars concert tonight- It was so good!

Our seats weren't the best but it didn't matter. 

Bruno was full of energy and he put on such a good show!