A Bitter/Sweet Weekend...

Well, on Sunday we sold our camper.

Talk about bitter/sweet.

Our family made some great memories in that camper and we turned a lot of "lemons into lemonade" camping with the kids at such young ages.

The kids took the news very well when we told them on Saturday that we'd be selling the camper.

Andray's exact reaction, "This is great news...now we can buy a Motor home! With a Motor home we can just pack up and go!"

Yes, Little Man...you are right (and your wheels upstairs are always turning!). 

And hopefully some day we will have a Motor home to enjoy as a family.

Carrine's one and only bottle in the camper.

Last year she was still nursing.

The big kids and I got in a quick game of SORRY before the couple came to pick up the camper.

With watery eyes, it was definitely harder on Jake and I than the kids watching our camper leave our driveway.

Jake put a lot of time and effort into that camper (thank you). Packing it up, setting it up, taking it down, winterizing it, fixing and maintaining things.

It was a great 1st camper and one we'll never forget.

Still looking forward to camp fires in our back yard and day trips to local camp sites.

Many different ways to make great family memories ahead.

Good Luck Huskies!

Good luck to the Husky Men's Hockey team tonight in the NCAA tourney against Notre Dame!

Should be a great game.

Another great Saturday morning at home.

Andray teaching Roslyn their ABC's.

Like Father...Like Son.

And this Lil' Lady bravely took her first official steps reaching from the coffee table to the couch in our living room this morning! Just so crazy how fast Carrine is growing up! Last year at this time she weighed a whopping 7 pounds...now's she's our 20-pound turkey and mobile as ever!

Have a great weekend everyone - hoping for warmer weather!

Tip-Off of March Madness a Success...

Well...despite Duke getting upset by Mercer (huge disappointment!), 

Jolene and I had a blast with our kids over the long weekend.

Was a long-time overdue hanging out with Jolene and her kids.

Thankful for great friends like Jolene!

Our crazy crew did awesome at Mass on Sunday!

Carrine is now ready for her Big Girl car seat.

This one is for Jake's car.

This one is for the van.

Don't think Carrine is too pumped about moving to a bigger car seat!

And neither am I!

One thing I know is we can't freeze time.

CC's personality continues to blossom every day.

She's a funny and witty kid already.

Looking forward to SPRING!

Isn't It Strange?

Interesting read from our church bulletin this week...

Let's Go Duke!!!!!

Duke vs. Mercer today at 11 am - can't wait!

Hope you all have a fun weekend watching basketball!

Let's Go Duke!

Bowling Field Trip a Success...

Roslyn had her Pre-School field trip today at the local bowling ally.

She loved everything about it.

1. Riding the BIG bus over to the bowling ally

2. Bowling the first game of her life

3. Scoring her first "spare" of her life

4. Wearing bowling shoes for the first time

5. Lifting the heavy bowling balls

6. The pizza and pop party that followed

Whoever invented these bowling hills for little kids was a genius!

Roz waving "Adios" to her favorite #7 yellow bowling ball!

Typical 3rd child...had it all planned out that Carrine would "nap" in her car seat while I helped chaperon the field trip. CC wanted nothing to do with a NAP and stayed awake the entire morning for the show!

At least she didn't cry and was all smiles for the 4-year-olds!

Roz managed to score an "82," not bad for her first time bowling!

Fun morning with my girls, very thankful.

Now, on to the real excitement this weekend....MARCH MADNESS IS HERE!

GO DUKE!

Congrats Cardinal Basketball!

Congratulations to the Redwood Valley Girls' Basketball team on an incredible season!

Was an absolute joy watching them play in the State Tournament last night!

Incredible to see the support the town of Redwood Falls showed at Mariucci Arena!

Brought back great memories!

A season for the record books!

So glad I got to spend last night with Roslyn and my Mom too!

March Madness is among us, truly the best time of the year!

Happy Birthday Uncle Adam...

Today marks my older brother Adam's 38th birthday.

He's been gone from the family for 7 years now and has never met his nieces or nephew.

He is missed more than anyone could ever know and thought of and prayed for every day.

Wherever you are Adam, I truly hope you have a Happy Birthday.

Wish we could celebrate with you.

Despite every emotion possible that I've felt towards Adam in the last 7 years...I love and miss him the most!

Roslyn drew a portrait of herself and Adam.

(Tear-jerker...)

Andray traced his own hand for Adam.

We talk about Adam nearly ever day with the kids and show them pictures of him.

I've learned to "Never give up HOPE."

Someday I hope our children will meet their Uncle Adam and have a relationship with him.

AUNT JEANIE

Also, today marks the 10th Anniversary of the death of Jake's Aunt Jean Stang Malone.

For the few times I met her, she was one person who could light up a room and she left behind an incredible husband Ken and two beautiful children in Carrie and Michael. Her life was cut way too short. Jean is missed as well and will never be forgotten.

RIP

Romans 8:24-25 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Snow is Back for St. Patty's Day!

Happy Belated St. Patrick's Day. Roz dressed herself for Pre-School today and I have to admit she did a great job!

As Dick Vitale would say (American sportscaster)..."Are You Serious about the snow we got today?"

Can you tell I'm in the March Madness mode? :)

Carrine is not so sure about this holiday yet :)

Over 2 hours of shoveling this heavy and wet snow today.

At least the kids had fun playing in the snow today!

I was thankful it was warm enough for all of us to be outside!

Hope you all enjoy March Madness this week....GO DUKE!

March Madness is Here!

Ah, the BEST time of the year is among us...MARCH MADNESS!

Good luck to our Duke Blue Devils...the #3 seed in the Midwest Region.

Watching the bracket released last night, it's going to be a fun and entertaining tournament.

GO DUKE!

Snow Days Are Melting Away!!!

We were FINALLY able to get outside this past week and build snowmen in the front yard! Andray and Roslyn were pumped to decorate their own snowmen (thanks to Aaron and Megan - great xmas gifts), and Carrine's snowman is complete with a nuk, just like her ;)

Andray got to pick his decor first and he was stoked to have a snowman with antlers and eye glasses!

Carrine was excited to get some fresh air - it'd been a long time since she'd been outside!

Our Rozzy Roz loves to be outside, doesn't matter what the temp is!

Of course Jake ended up burying the big kids under the snow...

Ah, what we Minnesotans do for fun in the winter!

March Madness is among us...by far the BEST TIME OF THE YEAR!

GO DUKE ...SELECTION SUNDAY IS HERE!

Redwood Valley Girls BB Team is State Bound!

Congratulations to the Redwood Valley Girls' basketball team on making it to State!

First trip to the State Tourney since 1979!

So proud of Coach Trevor, the team and the entire community!

Best wishes next week at State.

I am one proud Alum today!

Spaghetti Time!

Ah, the joys of eating table food has begun for Miss Carrine.

She absolutely devoured the spaghetti last night, along with meatballs and garlic bread!

Discovering a whole new appreciation for food!

Definitely my daughter...she LOVES BREAD!

Smiled nearly the entire meal!

Her facial expressions were hilarious!

Good bye to baby food - let yet another stage begin with table food.

Every night might be bath night now!

We have officially entered the "toddler stage again!"