What A Weekend!!!!

We had an incredible weekend with the kids! We were able to help Rachel and John pack up their house in St. Cloud on Saturday. After church on Sunday we headed down to the Donnay's home in Fridley to visit with JD, Emily and the twin girls. Then we headed to a hotel near the Mall of America for some swimming on Sunday night and Monday morning. After we checked out of the hotel we surprised the kids with a trip to Nickelodeon Universe at the MOA...what fun!

Despite having a green cast on, Andray was a champ in the pool. We used good old fashoined duck tape to wrap garbage bags around the cast so it wouldn't get wet. Can you tell the kids were just a "little" excited to go to the water park?!

The kids couldn't believe their eyes when they saw Dora, Diego and SpongeBob hanging from the ceiling at the MOA!

Our first glance of Dora in the ceiling at Mall of America.

I was so excited to bring the kids to Nickelodeon Universe at the MOA!

Jake and Andray's first glance of the amusement park.

Jake & Andray in front of SpongeBob...both kids said, "We can't watch SpongeBob and we don't like him." Too funny!

Roslyn giving Dora a High-Five...precious!

Kids standing in front of the Backyard Agains swings. Andray so wanted to go on the "green" swings, but just as we were about to board, the staff said the ride was broken down. He was dissappointed, but handled it well!

The kids took their first rides ever on a Carousel. Fitting that Roz got to ride on the Rooster..."Cock-A-Doodle-Do!" she said the entire time!

The four of us got to ride on Dora and Boots' Ferris Wheel before we left, that was an experience and we got to ride in Car #11...was meant to be!

Jake and Andray loved riding in Swiper's Sweeper car...Andray thought he was Lightning McQueen driving in the Piston Cup Race!

The Hot Air Balloons were awesome...amazing to see how excited the kids got!

I was fortunate enough to ride in the Hot Air Balloon with Roz..."ooo...cool Mommy," she'd say.

The kids LOVED Lego Land...they couldn't get over that Woody from Toy Story was made out of Legos...not sure who was more excited, the kids or Jake :)

Roz hanging out in the Underwater Sea Life cage...hope that's the last time she's behind bars, ha!

We took the kids to the Rainforest Cafe for lunch...what an amazing experience! The kids loved the rain storms, all the wonderful fish to look at and the butterflies in the ceiling!

This crazy Shark jumped in our family photo outside of Rainforest Cafe, too funny :)

We had a blast at the Mall of America - Good Bye Dora the kids said...See you soon!

Tuesday morning Jake and I took Andray to his Pre-School screening...wow, where have the last 4 years gone?

Hard to believe Andray will start Pre-School next fall...sad and exciting all at the same time!

Megan & the Girls Are Safely Back in the USA!!!

Praise the Lord!!!!!!!!!!! Megan and her mom Lynn, along with Isa and Amelia arrived safely back in the USA yesterday! They cut their trip short by a few weeks, but so thankful they are safe and at home with Aaron now! Distance truly makes the heart grow fonder, so glad they are back together as a family! GOD IS GOOD!

So Excited for the Weekend!

Jake and I are taking the kids to a hotel on Sunday night for some swimming and then to the Mall of America on Monday to visit (as we know it) Camp Snoopy! Can't wait for the kids to see the Big Dora and Boots hanging from the MOA ceiling! Should been some quality family time!

Four Galore!!!!

Hard to believe our Andray Paul is 4 years old already! What a fun age!


Our handsome little stud!

We love our son soooooooooooooooooo much!

March 19th...A Tough Day...

March 19th, a tough day for our family. Happy 36th Birthday to my brother Adam...wherever you are. Miss and pray for you every day!

Also, hard to believe Jake's Aunt Jeanne joined the Angels in Heaven 8 years ago today. She is thought of often and prayed for everyday, as well as her husband Ken and children Karie and Michael who she left behind. Jeannie was a stud softball player at St. Cloud State! :)

March Madness...the BEST Time of Year!!!!

MARCH MADNESS is among us! Truly the best time of year!

Andray had a cast put on his left arm this morning! He's been a champ through this entire process! I was hoping he'd pick a "Duke Blue" cast, but I can't blame the kiddo for picking his fav color GREEN!

"Let's Go Duke!"

Happy 4th Birthday Andray Paul!!!!

Happy 4th Birthday to our amazing son Andray Paul! We love you more than you can ever know! Thank you everyone for your wonderful gifts yesterday, he loved his birthday party!

Andray was beyond excited to find his Lightning McQueen bike waiting for him in the living room this morning. He's already riden the bike through the kitchen and into our bedroom. So excited to start teaching him how to ride a bike this summer! Fun times ahead!

Trials of Turning 4!

Andray's elbow popped out of socket again so he had to have a soft cast put on his arm and we'll have a CT scan done on Monday. He's been a trooper though and is more than excited for his Bday party today and his 4th Birthday tomorrow!

Jake and I can't WAIT until he sees his bike tomorrow morning! He loves Lightning McQueen :) Ah, the joys of little boys!

I Get To Pick Up The Kids Tomorrow...Praise the Lord!!

I can't wait to drive and pick up the kids tomorrow morning! Hard to believe I haven't seen them since Monday night! Looking forward to a great weekend...Andray turns 4 on Sunday and his party is on Saturday...yay!

Missing The Kids Like Crazy!!

Ah...is it Friday afternoon yet? I'M MISSING THE KIDS LIKE CRAZY! They've been in RWF since Monday night and the house is so "eerily" quiet. These next two days can't go by fast enough! (although I know the kids are having a complete blast in RWF with Gma Carol and Papa Larry)

Oh...and the official countdown to MARCH MADNESS is 7 days...can't wait! GO DUKE!

Isa Started School!!

Megan and the girls are doing great in Guatemala! Below are just a few photos from their first week in Antigua!

Ah, Isa started Kindergarten at an All-Spanish Speaking school on Monday, what a BIG GIRL!

I sure do miss my nieces!

The trees are in beautiful bloom for upcoming Easter!

A hard day at work!

Simply breath-taking!

My Girls Are Doing Great in Guatemala!!!

My sister-in-law Megan and my two beautiful nieces Isabel and Amelia are doing well down in Guatemala. They've been there for nearly a week now. Isa starts Spanish school next week, as well as Megan. What an amazing experience!

I miss them so much but know they are having a wonderful time! Sending lots of prayers to them!

We Needed A "Leap Day" To Get Snow, Horray!!!!

Praise the Lord...it took "Leap Day" to bring a winter snow storm to Minnesota! The kids had a blast playing in the snow all day!

Jake was super Dad helping the kids make their first official snow man in our front yard! Meet "Freddie" the Snowman (Yes, Andray named him! See a trend? Chucky the Elf and now Freddie the Snowman...pretty sure Andray has nightmares at night, ha!)

Roz helping put the carrot nose on our snowman!

Can you say...excited?!

Hard to believe March is here...the most exciting month in the Stang Household...we love March MADNESS!!!!