Rewind

...back a few months to early September! So I know I am really behind but one of the reasons I do a blog is so that I have a way to journal the adventures that we did as a family so that some day our kids can go back and read about everything that we did together while they were growing up. So I am going to probably bore most of you and rewind a few months and get the past few months posted.

Sorry but I need to go all the way back to Labor Day weekend. Like every other Labor Day weekend we went up north to my parents house. We so lucked out and had the most perfect weekend weather all three days...in fact, it may have been the best 3 day stretch of the summer. I was so loving it as we spent part of each day out on the river water skiing. That is my kind of way to spend a summer day.

First thing on Saturday, we spent the morning setting up the trampoline we bought my parents for their anniversary. I know it sounds silly to buy my parents a trampoline when they are in their sixties and its actually for the grandkids, but that is the kind of gift they like...something that will entertain the grandkids and make them happy which in turn will make my parents life easier when they are watching them. It didn't take long for the guys to get it assembled so we spent the rest of the morning watching the kids jump and monitoring their one minute intervals as the first two together hit heads. After naps we headed out to the river to ski. Maddy was excited to ski again so she got right up and did it again. I got a little excited and told her to wave through the show course and as soon as she let go with one hand to wave she fell. I jumped off the back of the boat so that she wouldn't be scared, which seemed to work at the time, but after we swam in to shore and I asked her if she wanted to ski again she said no. So we had to force her to ski again before the end of the day and then again on Sunday. I know it sounds cruel for me to force a 3 year old to ski, but I knew she could do it and didn't want her to end the year on a fall and be scared to ever do it again. Mylee went on her first boat ride and took it all in, probably thinking in the back on her head "Oh great...that'll be me in 3 years."

Mylee first ride

Grandma Nancy (Jason's mom) even tried skiing that day. She hadn't skiied in almost 40 years and found it to be a bit challenging but she definitely tried her hardest and put on a good show. The kids just loved watching her try to get up. Addisyn went for her first ride behind the boat too.

Doc helping Nancy get ready


Nancy tries hard to get up

Addisyn with her daddy

That evening we had a first birthday party for Analise. My Auntie Marie and cousins from Minnesota stopped by for a visit too. It was a crazy day, but a great one spent with family.

Birthday girl with her cousins and the neighbor girls

Mylee with Auntie Marie

Sunday we got up early and went skiing first thing as there was a Ski-ters show in the early afternoon. We forced Maddy to ski again against her will but this time she managed to smile a little bit before we pulled her in. Right after lunch, we headed back to the site to watch the ski show. Jaelyn skiied in the pre-show and my brothers and nieces, Jordyn and Brooke where in the big show. I was so proud to see Brooke climb the four-tier. We had a great time and even got to watch my brother John hang-glide to end the show. I was so nervous watching him, especially since the wind conditions weren't ideal for the sport.

Jaelyn skiing in the show

Daddy and Mylee watching the show

Grandpa and Jack-Jack (ignore my dad's jersey...obnoxious)

Jack-Jack, Maddy, and Addisyn enjoying the comedy act

Uncle Joe (the baby) as part of the comedy act


Had to get this on video, as he says he like breastmilk during the song (inside joke)

The four-tier climbing down as my camera took too long to focus
(Brooke was on the top though)

Uncle John getting ready for take-off

He's going up, up, and away (800 feet)

Landing

After the show, we had dinner back at my parents house with some family friends. It was a great night of food and childhood stories. It was a fun-filled day.

Monday, Labor Day, was no less crazy, but just as enjoyable. We started the day back out at the river on the boat skiing. My brother put the boom on so that Nancy could try getting up on skis again, which opened up some good opportunities for Jason and I. Jason learned how to get up on one and I was able to step off and barefoot. It was so amazing and such a great day on the water. I wish I had a boat!

Nancy getting ready to try again

She's doing it

and Maddy and Jaelyn are luv'n it

The kids in the paddle boat

That evening we went out to camp and walked through the pumpkin patch. We picked and ate apples from the apple trees and drove the four wheelers around to find and eat raspberries and blackberries.

Uncle Joe and the kids

Another group of us

Jason took his mom for a ride

We also walked down to the rapids and took some pictures out on the rocks. Before it got to dark and time to head home, we took a few pit stops and found a frog to entertain us for awhile. Another amazing day!

Our family at the rapids

Brooke, Jordyn, Jaelyn, and Maddy

Jaelyn, Jordyn, and Maddy

Grandpa and Grandma

This is how we do it up north

Our visitor...the frog

The kids were so entertained by the frog who didn't move

Tuesday we drove home and ended an almost perfect weekend with a bad accident. Mylee, who was already sick with bad congestion and a cough, feel out of the car onto the asphalt while getting her diaper changed. We made a call into the on-call doctor to help us made a decision about whether or not we should take her into the ER. We decided to wait until morning and then take her in to the pediatricians to make sure she was okay. Everything checked out okay the next morning with regards to the fall, but they put her on her first antibiotic to see if it wouldn't help with the respiratory trouble she was having. She weighed in at 19 lb 4 oz (6 1/2 months old)...big girl! So it was a long few days but all in all a wonderful weekend...one we will never forget for a number of reasons.

Wow...that was a long post...glad that one is behind me!