Soccer Mom

Ethan had his first soccer game on September 5. He did a really good job and has a lot of hustle. He doesn't enjoy soccer as much as baseball, but he seems to like it.

Ethan's First Day of First Grade!

Ethan headed off to first grade on September 8. We have 1/2 day kindergarten in Moorhead, so it was his first time being in school all day. He adjusted to it much faster than I did. I am so used to seeing him everyday and now he goes to bed on Sunday and I don't see him again until Wednesday after school. He loves school and is learning a lot, and I'm so proud of him.


Elliot wants/needs to be like Ethan almost always. When Ethan started wearing his backpack to school everyday, Elliot started wearing this everywhere. He threw a huge tantrum when I wouldn't let him sleep in it. -RL

One Last Trip and Meet Bonnie!

Our final trip was to the cities for a couple of days to see Dave, Bonnie and Auntie Sara. We ate yummy food, played Bananagrams and a new game that was not Kooky Strips, but almost exactly like Kooky Strips. (A large argument ensued regarding Kooky Strips...in the end Dave named this new game, BananaHammock Grams Dos....which was somehow appropriate.) Elliot and I stayed behind one night while everyone went to a Twins game. We went to both the MN Zoo and the Como Zoo and just had an awesome time with great friends.

I feel like when I say Bonnie was with us, I never actually have a picture of her being with us. I'm so sorry Bonnie, but this was the only picture from the weekend of you. If you want me to blow it up and frame it for you, I can do that.

Ethan thoroughly enjoyed the game. He really wanted to catch a Mauer home run, but was happy to have a hot dog. Bonnie was rooting for the Texas Rangers, so that was a bone of contention for Ethan.

Sometimes Chris can't help himself.

Elliot insisted on being with Sara the entire time at the zoo. He had no need for me or anyone else.
Ethan, Dave and Sara walking into the Como Zoo. Bonnie was off studying somewhere like law students are apt to.

All in all, it was an incredible summer. I feel like we really made the most of it. For a family who rarely sees each other during the school year, it was so nice to spend so much time with each other and with the friends and family that we love so much. -RL

More Travels for Us!

After Ethan's birthday we went on a really fun trip to the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. We went with Dave and Bonnie for 3 days. We had so much fun. Unfortunately, I did not take 1 picture of any of the fun. I was too busy water sliding for hours at a time and going on the Master Blaster 8 times in a row with Emma.

So, after that trip Chris, Ethan, Elliot and I all went to Bemidji to Chris' aunt Mary Lou and uncle Paul's cabin. It was such a beautiful place and completely renewed my dream to own a lake cabin one day soon. They have 2 cabins on a gorgeous lake and let us stay with them for 2 days. We had so much fun with Mary Lou and Paul, what wonderful, gracious hosts.




Ethan really loved jumping off this landing. Chris had a lot of enthusiasm for it too.

Off the dock was very weedy, but Ethan didn't care a bit. He jumped off this maybe a thousand times.
Bobbie and Boppa came for part of the trip. Ethan got to go fishing for the first time with Boppa. He caught 2 sunfish and then was a little disheartened that they died during hook removal. He had a lot of fun casting with his new SpiderMan fishing pole that they got him for his birthday.


We all know that the true Paul Bunyan lives in Brainerd, but we couldn't leave without a picture with the fake one. Look at this Bunyan, he doesn't even talk or move his arms! -RL

Ethan Turns 6!

Ethan turned 6 this past August. He had a birthday party with 4 of his friends, Emma, Dave and Bonnie and of course, mom and dad. We went to Buffalo River to swim, then had pizza and cake at our house. It was a really fun day. I feel like Ethan was born a second ago and it is amazing how quickly time passes. I appreciate each day with him and love watching him grow, although sometimes I wish for that little baby Ethan back, just for a day or 2. -RL

Jogging My Memory

This summer was absolutely crazy, busy and fun. We went on an unprecedented amount of trips. So, needless to say, the blog has been sorely neglected. I am going to try and update what we did this summer, but I can promise that it will not be in order

Chris and I went to Lutsen Resort for our 7 year anniversary. Boppa, Bobbie and Sara watched the boys (thank you!) and we had a blast being on our own for 4 days. We shopped, ate, drank, read, went hiking, went sea kayaking and all around had a great time. It was so beautiful and relaxing.

I look a little preggers in this picture, but I assure you, it's the shirt.

This was our room at the resort. It was so nice, definitely will go back.

This is one of the few pictures of Chris and I together from the trip. There's a lot of just him and just me, but only 2 or 3 of us together. This one was shot with my timer and I thought it might just work. No such luck. -RL

My Prairie Home Companion

Whew! We made it to De Smet, SD and back! It was a great trip. We saw so many Laura Ingalls Wilder sites and artifacts. We walked through the surveyor's house that she lives in in "By the Shores of Silver Lake", we went to the homestead that Pa claimed. We saw the trees that he planted by the shanty for each of his girls. We went to the Loftus Store from "The Long Winter" and then visited the Ingalls' graves. It was so fascinating and fun. I love a good prairie! -RL

Every road trip should have a stop at a small town cafe. This one did not disappoint. It was tiny, folksy with lots of regulars that all knew each other. I think they were wondering about the strangers in town.

We had a couple of hours to swim in the pool. The Es had lots of fun and Ethan loved
swimming around with Elliot.

This is Ethan at the Laura Ingalls Wilder Pagaent. It was an outdoor play of "The Long Winter". It started after the sun went down, so it was cold on the prairie.

This is the site of the Ingalls' original claim shanty. Pa planted a tree for each girl and they are still standing.

I love these pictures of them in the prairie grass. Can't you picture Elliot falling down like Carrie on the TV show?

This is a replica of the dugout they lived in on Plum Creek. Cost of this house, you ask? $2.78.

Ethan loved washing clothes on the washboard and then putting them through this old timey rinser. He did it like 4 times while we tried to wait patiently.

Elliot roped a steer from his stroller! That's gotta be some kind of toddler roping record.

On the wagon ride! When asked where we were from, Ethan said "Minnesota!" Then the tour guide said, "I hope you're not a Vikings fan." Ethan then replied, "No, I like the Packers!" And the wagon cheered and laughed. Boppa Dale should be proud.
It was hilarious.

We rode the wagon to an old school. There was a teacher there and Ethan answered several questions correctly....much to my surprise. I thought he was shy--where did that trait go?

Then Ethan rode a horse a bit. He was so excited about the horses and wagon rides.

Then this happened. Both Es totally exhausted from the day. Mission accomplished.