Blog World

It seems like forever since I have blogged...which it has been...but I feel the need to still go back and update this thing before I forget. I still feel like I blog so I don't forget and this site sure does come in handy when I go scrapping and need to journal these stories onto paper. Which the countdown is on until the next scrap camp (AKA Nerd Camp or Drunk Scrappin'). CAN'T WAIT!
We just got back from 8 days of camping. Yesterday Bear turned 35. I have 87 loads of laundry to wash, dry, fold and put/pack away. Including giant bedding, pillows and beach towels. On top of that we had to unpack the coolers and mountains of food we came home with. I finally took a real shower today and used shampoo. Boy did that feel great! And I am in the process of organizing pictures from the last year in order to get them printed for Scrap Camp. So I figure I'll blog a little, go through pics a little in between the running of the washer/dryer and dishwasher. Enjoy the stories to come...they are good ones!

Parker Can Swim!

Parker learned how to swim on our week long vacation at Vagabond Village. He was brave enough, he trusted us and took off his life jacket. He was able to motor around the pool with the flippers, the mask and snorkel. But didn't have the ability or the courage to swim without all the gear. Towards the end of the week he could manage to swim unassisted with just the flippers on. His courage soared throughout the week and it was a fantastic sight to see.

Fathers Day at the Shack

June 2011.
We spent Father's Day down at the Shack. It was Bear's brother Blakes very first Father's Day and it was just simply perfect. My Mom and Dave came down to join in the festivities. Milo and Peg chickened out thinking there were too many bugs in Loman (turned out to be ZERO). But it was a simple meal on the grill-brats, baked beans, chips, and rhubarb crisp. And family.

Bear, Parker and Don...just a couple of boys at heart hanging out at the shack.Grandpa Donnie took Parker out of the 4-wheeler and let him drive the thing. We basically no assistance. Parker was able to control the direction and the speed. Then he drove everybody crazy until the obliged and rode with him on his "wheelie rider".

We went on a lady slipper hunt and managed to find a few Showy Lady slippers and the yellow ones. This one was right outside the shack on the edge of the woods. It was so cool to teach the boys about this special flower.

Grandpa Don and his little shack buddy

Ruby Jay...Ruby Girl...Rhubarb...Rubes...
The cutest little girl who made her daddy extra proud on this special day.

Need I say more?

Emmitt was being camera shy this day but sat down to teach Daddy and Papa how to turn on his super cool shack light.

3 Generations. Including the First Olson Girl.

Emmitt was bumming when Uncle Blake, Auntie Casey and Ruby had to go home. He ran out to the road and waved his little heart out. They live just 25 miles out of town, but our lives get so busy that it's a shame we don't seem them more often. But it makes the times we get together that much more special. 3 Generations. Olson Boys-and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Father and Son

Momma and Daughter-I had the lucky draw of bouncing Ruby to sleep for a little nap and changing a nasty. Her first one at the shack, and I changed it right on the bed! Just like I used to do with my boys. Once she's big enough, we'll have to get her in that washtub for a bath at the shack.

4th of July-the 8th Annual BBQ

Slideshows are just a bit too easy...sorry about that, but when you are this far behind on bloggling, it's easier overall to post a show than individual pictures that seem to go on forever!
We had a blast on the 4th of July...as usual. It was our 8th Annual BBQ. I cannot believe this little tradition has carried on for 8 summers. It doesn't seem like we have been in our house that long. I love, love, love this get together. We have such a hodge podge of people and I think that is exactly what I like about it so much. We have roughly 45 people that come to our house. We have "who brings what" down to a science. We waiver a bit from year to year, but it's pretty much the same. One year my mother-in-law breathed that she may not make her beans due to back surgery and most of the people threatened her and couldn't believe the blasphemy she spoke! My mom made them for her that year, just because I think she felt sorry for the poor woman! Back surgery, schmack smurgery...the beans must be made! Peter actually went up to her this year and thanked her for the beans. It made her day. The 4th is after all, all about the food!
The Karsnia families are a new addition to the party...but we do other things with them throughout the year. Easton was just a newbie last year and this year he was doing the bear crawl all over the place.
Ruby made her first 4th party and vegged out in her diaper or Onesie during one of the hottest 4th's I can remember. At least we didn't flood this year!
The Froemke's came down again for the 2nd year in a row. Minus their oldest boy Jake. Who was in Wheaton visiting his Grandma and Grandpa for a week. We missed having him with us for the party and the float! Garret wouldn't do it without his big brother! But he had a blast flirting his big brown eyes at Emma and playing trains in the basement with the boys.
The Bilbens attended...they are after all "family". Regan battled the heat 6 months pregnant and it wiped her out completely. They made for an early night, assuming that we would be down to their driveway for the fireworks. She makes the best popcorn on the 4th for us as we pile at the end of her driveway to get a great view of the big show in the sky.
Chris turned 40 this year. His birthday was in June and we all forgot. Or were late with his card. Or didn't call him or anything! I mentioned it to my mom and she felt awful. Not to mention that it was a big birthday. Birthdays are a big deal in our family. So we turned the end of our 4th party into a 40th party. Mom made Chris his favorite cake and she found sparkler candles and a cute 40 and sporty centerpiece candle. We surprised him with our family rendition of "Happy Birthday" and "Chris has a birthday". He really was surprised and then immediately asked "Whadidyagetme?"...ha ha! Just be lucky that we owned up to forgetting your birthday made good with it Leps!
It was a bit tricky juggling a float, the kids wanting to be downtown, the heat, the hosting, etc...but by the time 3 o'clock came around, the kids had had enough of being downtown and we were welcomed home to a garage full of family and friends who had already made themselves at home...just where we wanted them. It was nice not having the 5k fun run the same day of the 4th. That made the day a little less hectic, but the float sure did add on to the business of the day. It was an awesome day that turned into an great evening...the storm that came scared us away from the fireworks that still went off...we were all tucked in bed when we heard the booms from across town. We all stayed there with eyes closed dreaming about how pretty the fireworks must have looked and how many mosquitoes the rain storm brought out.

"4th of July 2011"

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