We've been back

I really don't feel like "blogging" tonight but I must since we have been back from vacation, for five days now. We, once again, had a fabulous time in Minnesota. The girls LOVE the boat rides and Dave and I love the peace and quiet of the Northwoods, good friends and great food. The girls both developed this really strange cough so we actually came back a day earlier than expected but that's ok. Of course the "Nickelodeon" rides at the Mall of America was a huge hit and of course the stay at the hotel broke up the 9 hour trip.

Here are just some of my favorites. Thanks again Rich and Karen for everything!!!!!

(Emma and Dave on her favorite ride....the log ride)

Lauren loved the tour bus ride that went "up in the sky"

it's not vacation unless you eat an ice cream cone at 8:30 at night. :)

The girls proudly sport their personalized luggage that they got from grandma and grandpa for Christmas.

our yearly stop in Akeley Minnesota (birthplace of Paul Bunyon) Lauren was not thrilled about "Paul Onion"

of course I must show you my 25" Walleye which was too big to keep and eat. (notice the "girl rag" that I am using to hold it with) YUCK!!

we bought this huge but cute hat for Lauren and didn't have to put sun lotion on her once. :)

Emma decided even though the water was very cold (the ice just went out 2 weeks ago) that she would swim in "the ocean"

Here was my biology lesson for the trip. :) The big one "on the bottom" is the female... :) and the little one is "the guy"

This happy and very busy couple were in Rich and Karen's pond and they "do it" like this for over 24 hrs. (how about that guys) ANYWAY, the line that comes from them are the eggs that she is laying. :)

Can you say "fish fry" YUM

bedtime stories...... the girls shared a room and the first night went really well, but the next two, they had to be separated for anyone to fall asleep. Then we put them together once they were asleep. :)

that's it for tonight.

Leech Lake or Bust

We are sort of ready to go on vacation tomorrow. I just can't get motivated for some reason to get everything totally ready. I am being lazy and of course both girls wanted to "help" me pack their suitcases. ;( Wow, is that challenging!!

Emma's last day of school is tomorrow and we will pick her up at 11:00 and head out as soon as possible. We plan to spend the night in Minneapolis after a visit to the Mall of America and the rollercoaster. We'll then finish the trip on Wednesday monring to relax and hopefully catch some fish.

The girls were thrilled to wear their life jackets today in the driveway and Emma even tried to test her's out by climbing in the bucket filled with water. :) (wierd)

Our neighbor came over tonight and removed Emma's stitches for us, otherwise we would have had to make a hopefully quick trip to urgent care on the way out of town tomorrow and that doesn't sound like fun.

I am going to continue to procrastinate a little longer and head to bed here in a few minutes. Dave offered to pack my things too but........"uh, no thanks!" :)

Hope everyone has a great week, not sure if I will have time to post up there or not!!

Yellow and Pink

Yellow and Pink seem to be the two favorites with the girls. Emma's room is pink and Lauren's is yellow. When I mention to Lauren that she will be sharing Emma's bedroom soon she says, "momma, I picked 'lellow'" I may have to paint a wall in the pink room 'lellow'.

They both wanted their respective colored flowers too so after a trip to Walmart we planted some more flowers. Then I attempted to mow but it was way too much work because we decided to bag it. ;(

Lauren was way more into this than Emma......imagine that!

Oh yea, don't forget to give them a drink.....

Anyway, I have much to get done in the next two days since we are leaving for Minnesota on Tuesday. Emma has her last soccer game tomorrow night and she won't be playing with these girls anymore after four seasons of being with them. :( She'll play with her schoolmates in the fall!

It was definitely warmer today and of course quite windy, but a great day nonetheless!

Flowers and "Firsts"

The weather here this week has been absolutely gorgeous and I was EASILY talked into taking some time off of work to do some landscaping. Thanks to aunt Stacy, the first "phase" of our projects was completed. Now to get the tree in the front yard etc. The twins and Lauren enjoyed their time together playing in the water and mud. Thanks aunt Stacy, Patrick and Cecilia!

Also, here is a picture of Dave's proud purchases. If you can't quite see 'them", dn't go running off to the eye doctor! :) Dave bought these seven "trees" from the Arbor Day Foundation (I think). Anyway, he has been bothering me as to where they will be planted in the yard. I told him that they will get trampled and mowed over if there are in the yard so I talked him into putting them into pots. These pots are not going to stay here though, who knows....

Anyway, as far as "firsts", Emma had another "first" last night. I was in my bathroom getting ready for bed and she was in hers, supposedly brushing her teeth and all of a sudden I heard this "wail." I found her hunched over and crying with blood on her hands. She had slipped off her stool and cracked her chin on the counter. ;( Anyway, there was a definite slit under there but since we have never done the stitches thing, I wasn't quite sure she needed them. I put Lauren in bed and Emma and I knocked on our neighbor's door. (She is a PA) I felt bad and promised her that we wouldn't be making these little reverse "house calls" a habit. :) She took a look and confirmed the need for stitches. Emma was freaked out upon hearing that and had to call "auntie" to help with the drama.

My awesome friend Tom and his wife came over to hang out while Lauren slept while Emma and I met aunt Stacy at our favorite urgent care.

Needless to say, Emma was incredible!!! No screaming, no yelling, no crying, and not even one tear ! She was way more brave than I ever could have expected from anyone. She certainly is a tough little one! She couldn't wait till today so she could change her bandaid to a Hannah Montana one and show all her friends. Today, on the way home from getting it "checked" she asked if she would get a sucker each time she got stitches. I said, "I guess so" and she said, "cool." The 6 stitches will come out Tuesday before we leave town for Minnesota. :)

Mother / Daughter discussions.

Oh my goodness. First of all Dave surprised me last night and took the night off. ( I must enjoy those rare occasions because he never just takes a day off without a "reason")
Anyway, we went to get some barbeque at a place he keeps saying he wants to try but it's usually too busy.

Well, in the middle of dinner, Emma leans over and quietly whispers to me, (Yes, believe it or not, she is actually capable of whispering): "mom, why do girls' boobs grow bigger but boys' don't?"
I quickly scrambled for an appropriate answer which went something like this,: "well, that's just how God made us different and that happens when you get to be 13 or so"

she wasn't satisfied with that. :)

Then she says, "but what are 'they' for?" :) :) :) (Don't answer that one daddy)

Well, I suppose it's time she knew a LITTLE about some things so I very quietly (obviously) say, "when moms have babies, their "boobs" get milk in them to feed the babies and that's why girls' grow and boys' don't".........that was followed by a louder...

"GROSS" (as she covered her face and leaned back into the booth)

yep, I knew it! I was proud of myself because I didn't laugh eventhough I wanted to and Dave couldn't handle not being "in the loop"

then she leans over again, obviously not too grossed out to learn more and she whispers, "where is the straw at?"

OK seriously now it took everything I had not to laugh.....BUT I didn't.
I explained what happens and we somehow finished our meal.

Then on the way to a nursery to look at trees she decided that she was brave enough to talk about this issue in front of Dave after I assured her that he "knows all about it." :)
This time Dave took the lead and explained it to her again. He did such a good job and I was very impressed with his proper use of terminology. :)

Whew, one issue down and several more to go. Good thing there's another girl on the way. :)
poor me