Chanhassen Library & Puppet Show, Farmers Market and picnic fundraiser

We went to the library this morning and the kids BOTH loved it.  Nora found an Ariel picture book the moment we walked into the kids section.  Jackson loved playing with the trains and we found him a touch and feel book-which are his favorite.  We then got asked if we wanted to go to the puppet show by the librarian.  Matt and I though, 'why not?'  It was kind of creepy-glad the kids wanted to go after 20 minutes (side note that there WAS NO wrapping up of this puppet show story so the puppet show could still be going on NOW for all we know!)  The kids and Matt and I walked around the farmers market by the library and saw miniature horses, really cool wood carvings, awesome tasting salsa and some bbq sauce (the only thing we ended up buying!)
It was a fun day with the family.

Who knew making a mess could create so many giggles?

Throwing Jenga blocks at me and around the room.  Who knew it would be so funny and make Jackson giggle so much?!

Nora finger painting - mess free!

We have been trying to find activities to do to keep kids busy.  Here Nora is mess free finger painting.  Again, trying to do something from Pinterest each week.  Here is my attempt at that this week.  Nora loved drawing on the paint and couldn't figure out why she wasn't getting dirty.  The paint went in a ziploc bag and she could push paint over all over.  It was fun watching her play and examine the paint. 

Dog Days of Summer

Nora eating a homemade popsicle

Photo of Mommy and Jackson taken by Nora!!!!

Jackson in the lion Pool

It has been HOT here....hot hot hot.  We have been in the pool all week.  The kids love being in the pool and playing in the garage.  We have been eating popsicles every day and trying to stay cool.  These are the dog days of summer, hot, humid, hard to stay outside.  The kids are enjoying being outside and loving and thriving in the heat.

Erica's Wedding....Mommy seeing High School friends

Michelle Gail, Me, Amy Chute, Erica Vlasak, Karen Buckley, Andrea Nikolai

A wedding for a high school friend was so fun.  It was so fun seeing high school friends at my friend Erica's wedding.  I had a blast at her wedding and had so much fun catching up with friends. 

A Day off for Mommy.....spa day!

awwww....a day off for mommy!  Every year, Santa buys the ladies in my family a spa day.  We celebrated spa day with my aunt Connie and cousin Kelly.  It was so fun to relax and enjoy a day of rejuvenation.   My toes have not looked better!

Daddy Fixing our Fridge-Thanks for knowing about Motherboards!!!

Our fridge started clicking a week ago right before we went to the Twins game with my family.  We are not in the position to buy a nice new fridge so Matt took matters into his own hands and bought a motherboard on the internet.  Honestly, I was skeptical but Matt did it.  He fixed our fridge and saved us THOUSANDS.  thanks honey! 

Lunch with Daddy

We refinanced our home mortgage loan and since it was the end of the quarter we closed in Roseville so Daddy could sign papers over lunch.  We went to Olive Garden and had amazing lunch with Daddy.  THe kids enjoyed being with him and eating grapes at the lunch table at Olive Garden. 

Nora Gave up her Nuk

When we were at my parents house last week for Harpers baptism, my mom couldn't find Nora's nuk in her bag so she went to bed (with no fight) without a nuk.  We went with it.  We said to Nora "if you go to bed 1 week with NO nuks you can get a scooter".  She was excited.  Although I don't think she had ANY idea what 1 week was.  Sunday after 1 week came and she hadn't used a nuk all week.....yes, she had asked about it.  But she had NOT used a nuk to go to bed so we went to Target and bought her scooter with her nuk.  The Target saleslady was great.  I said "we are buying this scooter with this nuk....will that work" and she said "yes" and Nora was so excited to finally be a big girl!.  She picked a Disney Princess scooter and we(ok Matt) got her a helmet to wear.  She was so so so excited to do this.  She has not mentioned nuks since, which is good since Jackson still uses them. 

Nora loving her Daddy!

Nora loves being with her daddy.  Here she is hanging out with her daddy and he is playing with his IPad.  Love them BOTH!!!

Olafson Family Summer Twins Game

Tasting "Big Gingers"

Nora ....ready for Aunt Jenny's visit

Lincoln, Sullivan and Reese and Jackson at the Twins Game

Me with Jackson and Matt at Twins Game

Grandma Debbie and Jackson

Jackson wearing Reeses' baseball cap to not get burned on his new buzzcut noggin

quick cat nap on daddy's shoulder

Mommy and dadd didn't feed me at Twins game....guess I need to eat my feet!!!!

playing in the balls at my cousins house!

Jackson climbed into the carriage section in my cousin's stroller.  He was so funny because he got stuck in it.

My sister came on friday night to stay and visit before we had Olafson Family Summer Twins Game in the morning.  It was fun to have my sister stay with us. We spent the day at the Twins game with Jackson.....I forgot that Nora would need a ticket - oops!  Nora hung out with Uncle Kyle and cousin Landrey at their hotel.  Jackson was such a great boy for being in the sun all day and not getting a nap.  He did fall asleep on Matt shoulder for a half hour while watching the game.  It was so fun to see all my family.  After the game we went to my cousins house and had a bean bag tournament and a picnic.

Jackson's Monkey Crawl

 

Here is Jackson crawling.  He crawls on his feet and hands instead of his knees and hands.  He looks like a monkey when he crawls.  It is funny to see him crawl. 

Painting with Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Jackson standing (or squatting!)

Jackson standing

Nora looking at her painting job

Nora stirring our paint!!

I am really trying to make things and do things that I have pinned from Pinterest.   I made a lot of things I had 'pinned' for Jacksons 1st birthday party but decided I should really do something each week.  Well, this week it was sidewalk chalk paint.  I made the paint with corn starch, water and food color - how easy and the kids BOTH kids LOVEd it.  Nora loved mixing the concoction with a stir stick and then Jackson and her took turns painting the driveway. 

Harpers Baptism & Homemade Popsicle Day

We had my high school friends baptism this morning.  We are blessed to be Godparents for sweet Baby Harper and I feel so lucky to have such a sweet girl in our life.  We had such a great time at Kirsten and Ross' house celebrating Harper's baptism and can't wait for the kids to get bigger and enjoy each other's company.  Once we got home, we ate some popsicles....and yes I did make them myself.  I picked up some popsicle molds at a garage sale and made some smootie mix and froze it.  The kids (and matt) loved it. 

Night at Grandma and Papa's Farm

We spent the night at my parents house before my friends baby's baptism.  The kids loved playing in the water at great grandma Arlenes house and getting buzz cuts was fun for all.  Nora and Jackson loved being on the farm and chasing Lucy (the dog) and Wally (Daddy's cat).  We had fun breathing fresh air and playing in the water at grandmas house.  I love these photos from the weekend. 

Buzz cuts all around

Before Haircut

After Buzzcut

Papa Lee before his buzzcut and Jackson after his buzz

Butt Butt

Grandma Debbie buzzing Jackson's hair

now he is a little man

We were at my parents for Harpers, my HS friends baby's, baptism.  We spent the night at my parents house and the kids loved hanging out with grandma and Papa and Jakcson needed a haircut so my mom brought out the clippers and buzzed his hair off.  While we were buzzing, Matt got a cut and my dad got a cut.  It was a nice night where the wind blew the hair away so we didn't even need to clean up after our clips!