Priest Lake

Paradise...

We just spent a week at Priest Lake, Idaho with Grandma and Grandpa Barge. It was paradise. Truly bliss! We all had such a great time, filled with sun, sand, swimming and family. Jenn and Charlie made it (we missed you, Brian!), along with Eric and his girlfriend Megan. We had various overnight guests through out the week. Jack and Charlie had a great time together- helping Grandma in the kitchen (they only helped in there because she always had food!) digging in the sand for hours, eating, running down the dock to see who could catch them, snacking, drinking juice, the list goes on and on. Those two will be terrors before we know it! Jack showed Charlie how to climb, so that was fun. Annabelle was so happy just playing in the lake, digging in the sand, hanging out with Eric and Megan (mostly Megan, but Eric was always around too... :) ).
All in all, we had a wonderful week. It was hard coming back to reality.

Digging, digging, digging. Jack loved the sand! Not so much the water, though!

Jack and Charlie helping Grandma in the kitchen

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Family float time!

Driving the JetSki!

Jack and Cousin Charlie playing naked washers- they spent probably 45 minutes playing with those washers!

Annabelle LOVED hanging out with Eric and Megan!

This is the life.


Thanks again to Grandma and Grandpa Barge for the wonderful week, and for making it all happen. We love you so very much!

Future Mechanic?

Our neighbor, Joe, was laying under his truck yesterday fixing something, and Jack became obsessed with what he was doing. He was grabbing all sorts of wrenches, etc. and following Joe around. Later, when Joe was done working on his truck, Jack decided to double check his work. Future gearhead? Maybe.





And a quick photo of my pretty girl... hard to believe she's almost 5!

Ride, Annabelle, ride!

It's official. Annabelle can ride a two-wheeler! Well, stopping and turning aside, she's doing awesome! We've been practicing for several weeks off and on, and last night, she got on and off she went! She's still learning to brake (so lots of crashing into the curb is occurring!) and turning around proves to be a bit tricky. All in all, we're so proud of her for getting back on and going! The next step is to get her on her own bike. We've been borrowing the neighbor's little bike, because it's easier to learn on. Annabelle's freaked out to try her own without training wheels. But that will come. :)

Photos from our trip

Jack playing in the rocks at Como Zoo in Minneapolis

Grandma Carol and Jack

This is Ryan taking the kids on a boat ride through Grandma and Grandpa's front yard. Yes, that is supposed to be their yard. The water once covered the entire lawn. Mason City got major rain that flooded the pond several weeks ago. It has yet to recede all the way. You can see where the water line once was on the shed. It was wild!

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Jack and Eric hanging out

Happy Boy!

Jack playing with Great-Grandpa Horsfall's cane

Annabelle rode on the tube behind the boat!

Our trip to the Midwest

Ryan's fish

Canada lake sunset

Princess Leia was at the Science Museum in Minneapolis

The giant hand at the Science Museum, with Cousins Eric and Sierra

Annabelle driving a car at "driving school"

We made it home from our whirlwind trip to Minnesota and Iowa. Ryan had a great time fishing in Canada, and we all had fun hanging out with Grandma Carol and Papa Stan. We spent a weekend in Minneapolis, a couple of days in Mason City, IA, and then the rest of the week in Northern Minnesota at Great-Grandpa Jerry's lake cabin.