UP NORTH PARTY!!!

the girls and I traveled "up north" for a party to celebrate the return of our long lost rellies. Troy and Leah and their brood of Veronica, Ben, and William returned to the states for a visit. We played at Uncle Gary's house. Check out the jumper courtesy of Angie.



Ethan and Cameron ruled the jumper. She had a total of 5 head bonks. Ethan had only one, but it drew a pin dot of blood and the party was over. EMC was called to place the neon green bandaid on the devastating wound.

Hayden and Cameron played with some of the toys at Aunt Toni and Uncle Gary's. We spent the night at the hotel and someone asked Jen if the girls were twins. Ahhh... so cute.

And the wanderer returns. The tall one is Troy, he's holding William. Angie and her girls Audrey and Cora. Dave oversees the group.

Aunt Delores and Uncle Allan chat mom up, while she gives me the hand. Nice ma.

I really only added this photo b/c of Brooke's body. She appears to be facing front, but what is up with her foot? Freaky!!!

Gotta luv it.

Cousin Sarah - who only lives a mile from me - and Auntie Janet, who will be having 3 grandkids by this spring...any guesses?

Cousin Tricia, Jordyn - who sadly informed us she is not going to be our famous cousin. I still have hopes for her to make it big in the movie business. And Dave, the overseer.

We love Grandma Tye.

Carson and Grandma. This lovely secluded spot is at Uncle Gary's. He made a cool fire pit in the woods.

Uncle Paul took the kiddies for a ride on the four wheeler. Cameron said she didn't like it, but Paul swears she was going "Wheeeeee," the whole time.

How cute it Carson???

The other favorite Uncle Paul.

Sally, Cameron, Ethan, Paul, and Paul.

Sally roasting marshmellows for C and E.

The best sand pile ever. Jared, Lydia, Audrey, Ethan, Cameron and the winner of the dirtiest girl ever, Veronica!!! She's the one who is sliding down the sand pile. Previous winner of the best sand burial ever!

It was a fun trip. We stayed at a hotel with Hayden and Ethan. We swam and had a blast. Tim couldn't go with us due to one of his MANY fantasy football drafts. Cousin Aaron graciously offered to ride with us. We made it twenty minutes and Cameron got car sick. Poor baby. We took care of it and we were off again. Aaron literally held the puke bucket. He was great.

All in all, a successful weekend!

Someone's Happy

Watch out for this one. She is wild!

Someone was so happy at the Children's Museum this week. She bounced and yelled, mostly BAAAH BAAAHHHH!!! for about a half hour. Cameron ran around in the background and had a blast too. This was after I toted Brooke around the museum so Cameron could play. We went on a rainy day - so it was super busy.

She hung on to that cloth flower for dear life.

She slapped this flower pad and yelled. I just smiled to reassure the other moms and dads and that this was not alarming and she was not in pain. Just happy.

This is Cameron driving the bus with her baby. HER baby by the way. Not the museum's and not to be shared that is for sure.

Brooke must have known that after snacktime is would be off to the Habitot room... She's ready to party.

This was our first stop. Clifford!

Brooke is tolerating the big kid rooms... She looks a little put out. Big sigh.

I'll have you know that we ran in to Belle. That is Belinda Jensen the weather/gardening guru. We chatted for a while. "Are you in line?" I think was the extent of it as there was a back up for the family bathrooms.

Peace out Homies!

I mean, bye.

J

The End of Summer

So August is here and moving quite fast. How can the second week in Aug be the 12th???? July moved at a snail's pace - thank goodness. Now Aug is cruising on past. A few of you know that I got laid off AGAIN this year and I haven't found a new job yet... Time is running out! Send good job thoughts my way :)

The girls are wonderful. Brooke is in serious teething mode. Poor baby. What a snotty, miserable child. She took a 4 1/2 hour afternoon nap yesterday. Brooke is climbing on her parents - soon to be furniture I am sure. She likes to get stuck on the rungs of the chairs in the kitchen. Cameron is well, still potty training. I think she has a bladder the size of a dime. We are still working on holding it. She is pretty good, but we have to tell her to go potty. Although yesterday she was making noise in the bathroom while I was giving Brookers a bottle and I said "What are you doing in the bathroom?" She replies, "Going potty." With a serious ARE YOU STUPID tone to her voice. Like what else would she be doing in the bathroom. Dumb mom.

Apparently is it too much to ask to get them both to look my way when taking a picture!

This is simply Cameron with pigtails. I love them.

We are at a park in South Mpls. We went swimming and then played at the park and had a picnic lunch. Very fun day.

Kristin came into town for a few days at the end of July. We called the troops for a college playdate. Berit and Sydney are in the wagon. Cameron, Gus, and Charlie are standing behind.

This is our new friend, Sophia. She is Kristin's daughter and they stayed with us for a few days. Cameron loved having someone new to play with all the time. "Where's Sophia?" she kept asking after they left.
Notice Sophia in jeans and a sweatshirt. Not used to the cool weather since they live in sweltering Puerto Vallarta. Downright chilly here.

This is cousin Madeline's second birthday! She looks so happy!!!! That is some serious "CHEESE!" We celebrated her birthday and Grandma Sue's also at the end of July. July was some major fun.

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Tim is good. He is working hard on de-shanking his golf swing. I am told HE IS BACK! Which is what he says when he comes home from golfing. Is a 130 really a decent score? Just kidding.

That is all here.

J and family