Fun in MN

Chillaxin' with Daddy on the patio The big blue ball...another favorite!

Oh, that and throwing rocks. I hope Grandpa K didn't pick up too many with the lawnmower after we left!

Should I eat it?

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was a good throw! (it goes farther if you shout when you throw it)

J's favorite toy at G&G K's house

This was J's favorite toy. It drove mommy bonkers when we took it with us on a car trip though! It was much better in an unconfined space! He especially liked dancing to the "radio"

From Desert Flowers to....

Catching up with friends Playing for a High School chapel in Mayer, MN

We got to visit the MN Arboretum. Truly beautiful. I was surprised at how many flowers were already in bloom! J loved the little train ride.

Isn't this just cute?

Seriously cool tulips!

J trying to decide if he was going to throw the rock into the fountain or not.

Seriously thinking.... (or maybe it was him telling us that he was hungry - you decide)

Playing the game he invented - "Tip Over Off Daddy's Shoulder's While Laughing Hysterically"

J's new favorite activity - climbing stairs

With Grandpa K

Helping Grandpa K out be rearranging the rocks in the yard

I have many more Nothern adventures to share....but you'll have to check back!

Desert Days

I have LOTS of catching up to do. We've been up north for 2 weeks now and I'm still starting with a blog about before we left! Whoops!

After growing up in the north I always thought the desert was a dry and boring place. Little did I know that there really are several plants that flower and do well in the dry climate.

Here is our pretty choya cactus with it's spring flowers. We hear that our prickly pears are ready to bloom. Hopefully we make it home before the flowers are done! Here is our newest plant - a lantana. This was 1 part of my mother's day present! It is so pretty! I can't wait for it to get HUGE and have LOTS of flowers!

Here is J having fun at the library on a day too hot to be outside!

We had an "end of the year" recital for the music classes at the mission and J really LOVED to clap at the end of each piece!

Que rico! A Sunday afternoon nap!

A flower for Mother's Day!

FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am officially DONE with my Masters!

Well, I still have to print the final copy, take it to be bound, convert the computer file to a PDF and burn 3 copies. But basically....

I'm DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Locks

Ummm....anyone know what you're supposed to do when you stick your key in the lock and this comes out?

Birthday Party Fun

On Sunday we went to a birthday party for an 8 year old friend. J was super excited to giver her a present. In fact, he carried (er...dragged) it around the house for about 30 minutes before we left.
At the party they had a jumping balloon (better known here as a "brinca brinca"). J had a GREAT time, even if he did keep falling on his face! There were several kids around but most of them were close to his size - so it wasn't too intimidating to be in the brinca brinca.

Camilla (J's friend from the office) was having fun too!

Here's a little video. Ken was helping J - being a step-in Grandpa for the day.

After a while J got a lot more confident and would make it a lot more steps before falling. Basically, he only got out for the brinca brinca for a cumulative total of 30 minutes during the whole 3 1/2 hours we were there. Boy did he sleep good that night!

Then, Chris helped J hit the pinata - his first time! He seemed really into it until everyone started singing, then he got a bit distracted!

After the pinata was broken Erin and Chris had to wear part of it!

Paulina blowing out the candles on her birthday cake.

And some more jumping action. This time with mommy too!