Pictures from July, Part 1

After lots of searching, we got a new (to us) van!

First ride in the new van!

A few days after purchasing the van, the kids and I took it on a long trip down to Oklahoma!

They were so excited about all the windmills in southern Minnesota!

Everything went fine until we were in the middle of Kansas, where we got a flat tire.  Luckily, we were close to a park and it was nice out, so the kids could get out and run around while we waited for help!

The first thing the kids did when we got to Uncle Brandon and Aunt Karlie's house was go in the backyard and play in the rain!

They enjoyed playing with Mema and Deda again.

Wrestling with Uncle Brandon was a must!

One afternoon, Aunt Karlie took us to meet Uncle Brandon for lunch close to his work.

Papa came for lunch, too!

Bible stories before bedtime.

Karlie and I got a run in!

Laying around with Uncle Brandon and Aunt Karlie

We tried to get all of the grandchildren in a picture, but it was quite difficult!

Cruising in the mini van to get snowcones with cousin Kinley!

All the grandchildren with their sweet Nana.

On the way home, I had a horrible case of strep with a 103 degree fever, chills, puking, and super sore throat.  I can't believe I drove the 15 hours home like this with four kids.

Torsten found a red barn at a rest stop and was so excited about it because they always talk about a red barn in his Bible class!

After we got home, I unpacked our stuff from the trip and then went through all of my baby girl clothes to send to Arizona for my nephew, who was soon to give me my first great-niece!  How exciting!

I was also inspired to clean out our garage.  This was the before....there is no after because I'm STILL working on it!!!

Happy 4th Birthday Klaasen!!!

Klaasen wanted an Army-themed birthday this year, so we used what we had and invited some church friends over for pizza and cupcakes!

After everyone left, I let the boys play in the sand on the table while I grilled Klaasen's favorite meal:  shrimp!   I also grilled some peaches for a healthier dessert, since we had already had cupcakes!

4th of July in Pictures

Our family's 4th of July celebration is one of my favorite traditions.  I get so excited to pass down these traditions to my children.....

 Swimming at Potato Lake with the cousins!

Family bonfire!  This year we went around the fire and told favorite memories of our Grandpa, who died on that day 15 years ago.

We always light our own family fireworks the night before the 4th.  The kids enjoyed the view from the trampoline.

 4th of July breakfast before the "Firecracker Footrace 5k"

Pre-race racers

Skogen's first race!  He didn't do the whole 5k, but completed the kids' race with his second cousin, Macy!  He was so happy!

Post-race racers

Traditional 4th of July parade with my cousin Melody.  We enjoyed many of these parades together as little kids.

The kids made USA shirts with their hand prints!

 And then signed the back of each other's shirts!

On the boat on the way to the fireworks!

They city shoots the fireworks off right over the river from across where we park our boats.  It's a great view and always good memories of lots of food, oooooo's and awwwwww's, and bats and firework shells falling on us!

 The kids were so tired the next morning!  They did not want to get up!!!

We enjoyed one more day at Grandma and Bumpa's before heading home.  It is so peaceful on the water in Northern Minnesota.  We are so blessed to have lake shore there.