Anoka County Fair 2013

On Wednesday the 24th of July, Troy took Emily and Caleb to the Anoka County Fair.  They stayed all day and had lots of fun!  They ate good fair food, saw a talent show, and watched bull riding.  This was their reward for helping Troy load and unload river rock into our front yard.  Caleb in particular worked his butt off!  Troy did too of course, but I was referring to the kiddos....LOL  The weather was beautiful, and they had a great time.
:)

Who doesn't love cheese curds?

Milking a Cow??

Bull Races

Bull Races

Cute!!

I would be sick!!

Glass House

Huge Ice Cream Cone

Foot Long Corn Dogs

Following my heart~

Some people might say I am crazy.  Maybe I am?  :)
I've thought about it for some time, and I decided to take a couple of the things I love most and do something with it.  Troy and I purchased a female German Shepherd named Juno.  She was born May 10th, 2013.  I am going to train her to be a therapy dog.  We start our very first batch of training, puppy Kindergarten, this upcoming Thursday night.  I love dogs, and I love people who are special needs, elderly, or just less fortunate.  With this dog, I can take the things I love, and mesh them together, and I am so excited!  She is proving to be a very smart dog, who will train like a breeze.  We are going to bring love and affection to people lives during their darker hours, and I cannot wait. 
She is also our newest family pet of course, and I think the entire family has fallen in love.

Happy 21st Birthday, Michael~

On June 30th, my oldest boy turned 21.  Hard to believe.  When I got pregnant with Michael, I was still just a kid myself, complete with braces on my teeth.  I had big dreams for him, and I did the best I could with the tools I had at the time.  Raising children doesn't come with a manual, so you learn as you go, and you hope you don't fail your children too miserably.

      As a baby, Michael loved music, a love he still carries with him today.  I would sing lullaby's to him, and he would calm right down.  He always excelled at every single thing he attempted to do.  Was water skiing by age 3.  He always did great in school, even making the Dean's List for a semester of college.  I believe Michael will find his path, it may not be the path that you or I would take, or even want to take a peak at, but I do believe he'll find his way in his time.  I believe that no matter what God is still in control, and I believe He will protect my son, keeping him safe, and help him get healthy.
So Happy Birthday, my Miku Boyka, my Little Baby Bo Bo.
"Don't lose you way, with each passing day, you've come so far, don't throw it away.  Live believing, dreams are for weaving, wonders are waiting to start.  Live your story, faith, hope and glory, hold to the truth in your heart.  If we hold on together, I know our dreams will never die.  Dreams see us through to forever, as clouds roll by, for you and I.
Souls in the wind must learn how to bend, reach for a star hold on to the end!  Valley, mountain, there is a fountain, washes our tears all away.  Waves are swaying, someone is praying, please let him come home to stay.....
And when we're out there in the dark, we'll dream about the sun.....

I sang this to him as a child.  I do hope he comes out of the dark, and I hope he never stops dreaming about the sun.  I do know the one thing nobody can take from my son is his genuine love and concern for other people.  He feels the pain of the world.  Just like the woman in "The Secret Life of Bees".

I love you, Mike,

Mom

Turtle Racing in Nisswa!

So I went to my first ever turtle race...
Me, the kids, Lisa, her kids and my mom went to visit Sami and James and do turtle racing.  It was HOT!!!!  But it was fun to watch.
I was amazed at how many people show up to these things!!  Sami said up to 400 people show up A WEEK!!
It was nice seeing Sami and James, and meeting Sami's friend, Matt.  He seems like a genuinely nice man, and he is good to Sami and James which in turns makes me happy.

Silly Grandma!!

Pizza anyone?

Hot Grandma!

Are you read for some football??

Yep!  We got Caleb all signed up for football already!  He met a neat kid, Xavier, from baseball, and they have been spending some time together.  Its nice he found a friend.
They may play football together, too.  We shall see.  Caleb is looking forward to it as you can see!!

Happy 12th Birthday Miss Emmy Anne!

Hard to believe my Emily is going into 7th grade and only has one more year before officially being a teenager...
She is growing up so fast.  We got her a phone for her birthday, something I struggle with, but think is a good idea as it will give me a bit more freedom when dropping her off at practices and things like that.
She continues to be a sweet, hilarious, goofy gal.  She makes me laugh almost daily.  She is artistic, and sees things that other people don't.  She gives people the benefit of the doubt, and likes to help the "under dog"...just like her mom.  :)

I am excited and scared to see what the next few years will bring, but I know things will be just fine!  She has a strong sense of right and wrong, and as long as she keeps that song in heart, I know we'll be good.

I love you, Emily.