Video Games with Uncle Chad

Jaren sitting on Chad's lap looking at me.

Jaren and Uncle Chad

Get a load of Jaren in this picture... I love his arms while he's staring at Chad!

The kids have so much fun when Uncle Chad comes to play!!!

Some Days...

He's Just Not That Into You... He's Into Your SHOES!!!

These are ROBEEZ, a soft soled shoe for toddlers. I got them for 50 cents from my good friend's garage sale. They are usually around $30 brand spankin' new. And that's just too brand spankin' expensive for our small budget!

Let me just tell you... Jaren is in LOVE with these shoes! Almost every morning, he'll find one of his brown loafers and bring it to me, urging me with several of his baby noises and lifting them above his head, in my general direction... wanting me to put them on him! He wears them ALL OF THE TIME!

He just loves shoes... he tries on MY shoes, DADDY'S shoes, BROTHER and SISTERS shoes... GRANDMA'S shoes... if he sees a vacant shoe lying about... he will try his darndest to get his little manfeet into those shoes and try to walk around in them!! Sometimes he'll even try to walk about with them on his hands!

Mr. Busybody...

Okay... most of you know that Jaren was around 15 months when he started walking, so we had our share of him not getting into things, BUT... now that he's mobile... WATCH OUT! He's just getting into EVERYTHING!

He's in the FRIDGE...

He's on the DISHWASHER...

He's typing away at the COMPUTER... "Is anyone watching?!?"

AND... he's cruising the internet on my LAPTOP! With a smile like that... who could possibly get mad!? :o) He's such a funny guy!

"I've got my eye on you kid!"

Food, Flowers and Friends - October 15, 2008

Since I was in California for the big 3-0 birthday, two of my good friends, Meg and Mandy, surprised me with a card and a sample platter of delectable cheesecake slices!

We went to the East Bremer Diner and I was surprised to see Mandy there with flowers! I knew we were going out to eat, but didn't know what they had planned! So... here is the first arrangement, which is my computer background for the fall, with the gorgeous gerbera daisies that I love! I loved all the colors of autumn that were incorporated.

As the flowers died off, I got rid of the stems that were suffering and made a second arrangement to enjoy! This one felt more springlike and was equally as beautiful as the first!

THANKS AGAIN... LADIES...

"CALIFORNIA DREAMING" - Days 9 & 10

-FRIDAY, October 3, 2008-

~SAYING GOODBYE~

I really hate saying goodbye, especially when I know that I won't see them for a while. Aubrey was already at school that morning, but we said our goodbyes and of course... I cried... It was such a wonderful trip! Jared drove all of us to LAX for our flight back into Minneapolis. We all got out of the car, hugged him goodbye and headed toward the terminal. We miss you all!!!

This is a picture of LA. Look at all that smog! I couldn't handle it... I just couldn't!

LAX... I'll definitely miss those gorgeous palm trees!

Jaren peeking over Daddy's seat. I think he's trying to make new friends!

We got back to MN late and were waiting for the shuttle to pick us up and take us back to the hotel.

~HEADING BACK HOME~

I think this picture of Jaren sums it up for all of us! We were exhausted AND we were rushing home so Ed could get to work at his second job on time!

***SWEET VACATION MEMORIES***

"CALIFORNIA DREAMING" - Day 8

-THURSDAY, October 2, 2008-

~RELAXING~

She's even cute when she drools!

Jare Jare

Natalie

Jaren, Crazy Eddie, Addison

Addy and Jare

Jaren giving Addy kisses... too cute!

~THE BEACH~

Dana Point

I loved these trees, they remind me of Dr. Seuss trees!

View from the parking lot.

Oliver, Eden and Aubrey... blowing a bubble.

The kids on the run...

Jaren and Cousin Addy. This was Jaren's FIRST time at the beach!

Eden getting sprayed down with sunscreen.

Surfers! When we first got there, I saw a surfer coming down off a wave STANDING
ON HIS HEAD on the surfboard!

I love this picture of the girls practically tip toeing to the water.

Some natural goodies I found on the beach.

The guys with babes in arms...

Oliver doing what he loves best... throwing rocks into water!

Jaren in his OVERSIZED Gilligan hat!

Ed scaring the seagulls away from our little beach setup.

"THE BIRDS"

Oliver showing me a teeny tiny hermit crab!

Ollie showing Aubrey the crab.

Me and Ed at the beach.

The girls playing in the sand.

Oliver looking for crabs or any other sea creature.

Crabs amongst the seaweed.

I love this pic of Eden and Natalie!

Ollie and Natalie racing to the volleyball net.

Jaren
Happy boy!

Around 4 or 5 that afternoon the fog started rolling in really quickly and before we knew it, the water and the sky disappeared! Emily said that it is called the "June Gloom".

Emily and Addison

Jaren... notice the fog behind him.

You can see the kids a little bit through the thick fog!

~THE LAST NIGHT THERE~

Pajama Party

Playing charades.

Jaren eating his Mickey Mouse sucker.

After we put the kiddos to bed, we adults had pumpkin brownies and got out the WII. It was my first time EVER playing it! Emily and I played the bowling game for practice while the guys were out and about getting some ice cream. We all played and had so many laughs! I thought it was fun to create WII people that looked like us! What a fun night!