As Summer Fades...

There are those pointed times in life that when they come, you know that something else is about to draw near. Two of those things stick out at me, telling me that the end of summer is very, very close.

First, the Minnesota State Fair. When the fair comes, you know that summer is almost finished. The kids and I went, along with my mom, my sister and my aunt, who were amazing helpers to me! However, the next time I go to the fair with my kids, they better be old enough to pay for themselves! They broke the bank with all their, "I want a third corn dog Mom!" from Jonah and "Mo! Mo! Mo!" from Aphia when sharing mini donuts, cheese curds, roasted corn on the cob, a smoothie, nachos, a corn dog and more! The kids enjoyed the John Deere equipment and riding the big slide. Although I did enjoy the fair, I really enjoyed getting home, showering, and kicking back to watch a movie once the kids were in bed :)

The second is my brother Michael's birthday- August 24. This year was his Golden Birthday and so we celebrated with friends and family on a boat on the St. Croix. It was a surprise to him and Susie pulled it off remarkably!!

I just thought I'd thow this in... Where did my daughter get curls from?! Her mom and dad certainly don't have curly hair, or even wavy for that matter!! I'm just loving them!!

Webber's Cabin and Crazy Times

This past weekend we went up to Daddy's Uncle Wes and Auntie Colleen's cabin. We got up there late on Friday and spent most of the day there on Saturday. Daddy did some work for Uncle Wes on his ATV and lawn mower, but he also had a good time playing with us too.

Saturday morning we went out for a boat ride on the pontoon and I loved watching the motor and the wake it created. I also really loved to drive with Uncle Wes, although I wanted to do more donuts than him! Phia had a great time too, she was so relaxed just sitting on Mommy and Daddy's laps, watching the beautiful scenery. We got to see a big bird flying over head and some loons out, not too far from us. Daddy even got in some tubing time (not behind the pontoon!) with Ken and had a great ride! Although on Sunday he said that he must be getting to be an old man because he was sore!

Here are some pictures that Auntie Colleen took. She's a great photographer!

Mommy is wondering when life will slow down? We had a great time at the cabin, but had to leave not even 24 hours later to head down to Grandma Lollie and Grandpa Jeff's for Auntie Gina's Golden Sweet 16th Birthday! Then on Sunday Mommy went to the Twin's game with Michelle, Auntie Debbi and Uncle Ron. They got to sit in a suite, just up behind home plate, which was sweet (pun definitely intended!). Mommy says she feels like she spent half of the weekend driving! And life is so busy on the weekends. She always thinks that with the start of a new season that it's going to slow down a bit, but it never really does. Stuff just creeps up on the calendar and things get packed in! Whew... life is nuts. Michelle and Mommy in front of the window of the suite
Mommy and Auntie Debbi with their mits... they were ready to catch one from Joe Mauer!
Great seats for watching the exciting game!!

Video Games, Chocolate, and God

My sister and I went to Auntie Becca and Uncle Tim's one night while my mom and dad had a wedding to go to. It was such great fun because Uncle Tim bought a special new video game that he knew I would LOVE, it was a "Cars" game!! I was so excited, and I especially loved it when I'd ask Uncle Tim to smash the cars and he did!

I'm such a good eater that whenever we have dessert, I always get some, because I always finish my dinner! This night we each got some chocolate and it was so yummy! As you can see, I got it all over my face as I was devouring it! Jonah and I will be my mommy's treat buddies, since Daddy isn't too into them.

On another note, my mommy went on a weekend away with her MOPS Leadership Team. She came home a such a happy camper! I heard her telling Daddy a few of the things that she learned and experienced during the weekend. She talked about the friendships that continue to deepen with her friends. Being in the exact same place with so many people makes her feel so supported. She said that it's amazing to watch God do wonderful things. She learned more about prayer and depending on God, expecting the unexpected, and not limiting what God can do!

One of the biggest things that she took away from the weekend was that it is not her job, but the Holy Spirit's job, to convict me, Jonah, Daddy, and herself, of the things we should or should not be doing. She knows (but often times forgets) that God can do anything, and if she spent half as much time praying about situations as she does trying to correct them herself, then she could sit back and let God handle it... And I know too, that He can do a better job! God will work with all of us, I know that, to make us the best workers in His Kingdom that we can be. Mommy is working on holding her tongue in times when she should not talk, but instead talking silently to God about the situation. She's laying down her pride and laying down her requests to the Lord, instead of icky words or tones of voice she might have used before.

When she came home for the weekend, Daddy (along with Jonah and I) had cleaned up the whole house really well (he sorta owed it to Mommy, but that's for another time). It was so nice and clean and Mommy was SO happy to be home to us and a clean house. She was only gone from Friday afternoon until lunch time on Sunday, but she missed us so much and was anxious to get home to us!!

My daddy bought me a cabbage patch doll when I was born and up until now, she has just sat in her box on top of my dresser. The other day, after I woke up from my nap, I was reaching for her and wanted her out of the box. So Mommy and I took her down and opened her up! It was so much fun to play with my new Cabbage Patch Doll, Marlene Anastasia... we call her Anna for short. I'm a great Mommy to her!

The other day was SO hot, but I wanted to play outside. I had a grand time, playing by myself, which I haven't done in a very long time. It was nice to have some time to play while Mommy took some pictures of me. I just got to do my own thing, without having to answer to anyone! Every boy needs some time like this I tell ya!