Catching up, what we have been up to!

Life is so busy, and I feel like I am just running behind always trying to catch up. I want to learn to slow down and, as the saying goes... "smell the roses." My kids are little yet, well the oldest will be 11 soon...so, he isn't so little anymore. I want to make it a personal goal to really play with them, individually...together, and down on the floor with them. Kids are so fun, and really funny! I love having conversations with my older 3 right now. I am home educating Nathaniel and Caleb this year. It is definitely a struggle to find consistent time to "do school," with having 3 under the age of 4. Nathaniel understands that we will have many interruptions, but he will have many breaks, too. I am going to try to come up with a better plan, and hopefully things will start to go smoother, and our days won't be so hectic,...ya' right! So far, we have been on 2 school field trips. We went to a Threshing show with the family and to an Indian Museum/Trading Post with the home school co-op that we belong to. Both trips were a lot of fun, and I am so glad that we are taking trips! I love the co-op that I am in this year, too! I will have to tell you more about that in another post.

Terry and I celebrated 5 years of marriage in August! I can't believe that we have been married for 5 years already! Seriously, the time has flown! In so many ways, I can see how God has blessed us. I am so thankful for Terry! He is a great husband, and a super father! In these 5 years we have lived in 3 homes, had 4 pregnancies, and Terry's changed jobs 5 times. He had his job, when we got married, for 10+ years, but he was very tired of it, and wanted change. I can understand that. He is working for a great company now, though, and he enjoys his work environment ~ which is a key factor in liking your job. Anyway...I am so glad he is happy where he is at. For our Anniversary, we drove up to Duluth. We love it up there. This time we took a different route, and we sure had some pretty views. We got out here, and we did some hiking on the trails and over the rocks.

It was a gorgeous day, and the sights were beautiful!

Cole was with us, and Terry carried him in the backpack carrier. Cole loved it, and didn't cry at all. He was a trooper, and loved being outdoors.

We saw kids jumping off this high bridge, and it freaked me out. I can't believe kids do that! So dangerous. I hope my kids will not make those choices.

Anyway, we did some walking, traveling over rocks, and there were cliffs and drop offs into the river. I had a really hard time with the rock climbing, and thinking of Cole in the carrier falling out. I had visions of Terry falling and him and Cole getting hurt. All in all...that experience was not very pleasant for me. I broke down emotionally.

Then, we went to Palisades Head way up North. It was pretty up there, but it sure confirmed my fear of high heights and water. I didn't walk around too much. Terry had climbed that a few years ago with rock climbing. When we were there, a few were climbing. I really don't see how people can do that.
We ended up having a late supper at a Lodge, and it was very tasty. It was a fun-filled day, and it was a great time with my husband (and our youngest).

We were fortunate to make it to both the MN Zoo and the Como Zoo this summer. We went to the Como Zoo with my sister-in-law, and her two kids. Her daughter is 3 (in between Caleb and Maddie in age) and her son is 1o days younger than Cole. We had a great day, but I think it was the hottest day this summer!

He is such a little cutie pie! He looks like his dad (my brother).

My little niece didn't feel very photogenic for this photo. BUT~ I did get my four and my nephew!

Here are the kids waiting for the Sparky (Sea Lion) show. We had a great day, and it was fun to spend the time with my niece, nephew and my sis-in-law.

We went to a local county fair this summer, too. Madelyn loved the animals! We had to take a picture of this goat, because Terry said it resembles his dad.

So funny! The goat is sporting a beard!
This was a ribbon-winning pumpkin! It was huge!
Madelyn and Caleb are saying howdy to the cowboy.
So happy together....
Caleb and Madelyn got the opportunity to plant a flower. It was a fun activity and they really enjoyed doing it!

We also learned a bit about bees, saw a hive, and had a honey sample. On Monday, we are going to a friend's house to see how they spin honey, and take honey off the comb. What a fun home school project and field trip!
After they potted their plants, they could take them home.


Another day this summer we went over to my brother/sister-n-law's house and spent the day together.
Here is my nephew eating a pretzel stick. He loves them!

Cole had his first pretzel stick, and he loved it, too!

Madelyn enjoyed the sand box. We don't have a sand box here, but it is on the "honey-do" list of things to do. :)
Caleb had a blast driving around in his cousin's dune buggy. That thing can move!

He is such a cute little guy! He is so happy, too! Don't you love his hat?
Cole loves swinging! He could swing all day if I let him.
Here are the three munchkins sitting on the ladder together. I was a chilly/wet day.
My brother is pretty crafty! He made/designed this whole play set! I think he did a fabulous job!

MN Zoo (June 2009)

We were able to go to the MN zoo in June~ I know, late posting, huh? Anyway, I just wanted to share the photos from our day. We were very sad that Nathaniel couldn't join us, but he was with his dad at the time. We had a great time at the zoo, and we even visited a "farm."
Here is a picture of (most) of our family. Terry, me, Caleb, Madelyn and Cole.

Terry, Caleb and Madelyn are enjoying the monkey showing off!

Yes, there is a tight rope walker up there...and it is a monkey!

Pink Flamingos. You only see those at the Zoo in Minnesota,

Caleb playing "Peek-A-Boo." He had a great time playing in the rocks.

Madelyn was a bit excited about the whole Zoo day. She had a blast!

I love the monkeys! I think they are so entertaining!

Caleb and Madelyn got a close-up view with the bear. Caleb was very unsure of it when I first walked up with them to get a better view.

Then the bear looked right at Caleb. I am thinking he thought it was better that the bear was on the other side of the glass!

Terry and I~ so happy and in love! WOW~ we have been married 5 years this month!

I love the wild cat kingdom! Here is a Cheetah enjoying the laziness of the day.

I had to zoom the lens to capture this picture of the Tiger so far away. He is beautiful!

Cole! He is such a happy baby! He had a great day looking at the animals. He did so good, too!

Caleb had fun surprising Cole and making him giggle. It was so precious.

I love our new stroller! It is great having a stroller to fit all three kiddos on it. Plus, Caleb and Madelyn can get off and on so easily.

Terry and I love watching the Prairie Dogs. They are so comical, and entertaining~ not to mention adorable! :)

Giraffes are such an amazing animal! I am fascinated by them all the time. There are some Zebras in this photo, too.

Ostrich strutting by...

Here are some camels all hanging out together.

Here is the "farm" at the MN Zoo. We had a great time walking around in here. It made Terry and I feel like we should be living on a farm. Caleb and Madelyn so much loved and enjoyed the animals. Maybe we will just have to move to a large lot of land someday...get some animals, and work around the farm idea. :)

Baby goats are so cute! The kids sure enjoyed these "kids."

Madelyn was hugging any animal that got close enough for her to hold onto. It was so cute!

Caleb was trying to hug this little goat, too.

More hugging...

So much love. Madelyn is our BIG-Time animal lover. Anytime she sees an animal, she comments on how cute it is, and just hugs it (animal-willing).

It was a great day at the MN Zoo. We highly recommend going to visit a Zoo. Our kids enjoy looking at all the animals, and learning about them. We hope to get to the Zoo a few more times before the snow starts falling, too.