Labor Day Weekend

What a blast we had this past weekend up north! Crazy and busy...just the way I like it! This year was even crazier than most as my parents house is under construction so my parents, my sister and her family, and Jason, Maddy, and I all squeezed into my parent's 1000 sq. ft. apartment above their garage. There wasn't even enough beds so my parents actually ended up in their fifth wheel out in the driveway. It was so much fun being crammed into such a small space together. :)

The weekend started with a big hit on Saturday afternoon. We had a surprise 60th birthday party for my mom. It wasn't easy getting her to the lodge, but we managed to pull it off. I wish I had some pictures from the party but I was so busy visiting with family and friends that I never got the camera out. So many people met Maddy for the first time and couldn't believe how much she looks like her momma! It is so weird to hear people say that as everyone thought she was 100% Jason as a baby.

After the party we went swimming at the Holiday Inn Express. A bunch of family from out of town were staying there so it was a perfect stop to let the kids swim, while the adults visited. Of course, Jason and I ended up in the pool.


Swimming lasted until almost 9 pm. Just in time for a 4th meal run to A&W for some root beer floats.

Jason, Maddy, Mom, Joe, Jordyn, and Brooke

Ummm...I love a good root beer float

Sunday morning started early so we could all make it to church. We some how managed to even get their 10 minutes early. My parents were late though as they had to go get my brothers 3 kids, so that he could take Laura (my sister-in-law) to the ER. All the kids went and played in the nursery. Maddy apparently had a great time and even behaved herself.

Jordyn, Maddy, Izzy, JohnV, Brooke, and Jack

Grandma and Grandpa Kreider came along this trip too. So after church she got a ride with grandpa to the car. She just loves his wheel chair.

Maddy riding with Grandpa Kreider

Maddy driving Grandpa Kreider's electric chair

After church its tradition to eat lunch at Storheims (similar to a Culvers...yummy, greasy food and custard). We had a great time as always making quite a scene with all the kids. We had to kinda hurry off and forget ice cream because we needed to get ready for the water ski show. Both of my brothers and my nieces Jordyn and Brooke are part of an amateur water ski club that puts on a show all summer long and Labor Day weekend is the last of the year. Again I forgot to pull out my camera as it was a bit crazy. After the show, we all packed up and headed out to camp for the night. We had a great time walking through the woods and riding the 4-wheeler up and down the dirt roads.

Jordyn, Maddy, Izzy, and Brooke posing on a rock out at the Shanty

Lexi joins the other girls

Look out Maddy's driving
(Brooke, Izzy, Jordyn, Jaelyn, JohnV, and Maddy)

Maddy had a minor accident out at camp. She pushed through the screen on the sliding door and fell right on her face. She fell only two steps, but right onto the concrete. Her nose took the brunt of it.

Surprisingly, we got all the kids to bed without a fight but we all ended up sleeping. Not a single game of cards was played. It was pretty disappointing. We are just getting too old. In hindsight it was a good thing we all went to bed early because the night was more eventful then we had anticipated. My mom showed up to get my brother Joe just before midnight. The headlights of her car, of course, woke us all up. Laura was back in the hospital with viral meningitis. Everyone fell back asleep after they left, until Jordyn woke up at about 2 am crying. She was running a fever and had a horrible headache. I was now in charge of her since Joe left so I was trying to stay calm and help her fall back asleep. I ended up double dosing her with Maddy's infant motrin. She felt better in the morning and was so grateful for auntie's love and care. In the morning, I took all the girls for another 4-wheeler ride as the guys cleaned up the cabin.

The Overnight Gang
(Brooke, Jordyn, Izzy, Jaelyn, Jaclynn, and Maddy)

We spent the whole day on Monday out at the river. We had a great barbecue feast and the weather was just perfect.

Cousin Labor Day Photo Shoot

The kids played in the water and most of them even tried skiing.

Brooke Waterskiing!
Izzy Waterskiing!
Jaelyn Waterskiing!
JohnV Waterskiing!

Next year it is Maddy's turn.

Maddy was having so much fun that she didn't nap all day long except for the 15 minutes in the boat while Jason was skiing. I got to do a little swivel skiing with my cousin and then went off the jump for my brothers entertainment (my brothers can talk me into almost anything). He was hoping I would fall but I didn't. I hadn't jumped in 15 years so I was pretty nervous. My landings weren't pretty but who cares I made it.

Here's the Proof

The weekend was just so much fun, hence the long post. I love spending time with all my family, especially the nieces and nephews. Maddy is really starting to fit in with all the other cousins now too so it is a lot of fun to watch her interact with them. John V and Maddy are still the two to watch out for because they are double trouble when they are together.

Double Trouble