Sunday, June 29, 2014

Until We Meet Again...

Father Bob gave his last official mass at St. Mary's church this morning.  Talk about bitter/sweet.  He did amazing things for our parish, the school and our family. 
Father Bob baptized all 3 of our children. 
Today he emphasized Keeping the FAITH. 
Father Bob will be missed by many. 
At the end of mass he said he was filled with a mix of emotions.  But he said he would not say goodbye.  He just ended with, "Until we meet again. .."

Monday, June 23, 2014

9 Years Ago....

9 years ago I made the best decision of my life marrying Jake.
There's no one else in this entire world that I'd want to share this roller coaster of life with!
I love you Jake Stang!
So thankful for the beautiful wedding day we had and to all those family members and friends who helped make it possible! Especially to our parents...couldn't do it without them!

9 years later...three beautiful and healthy children, a home, multiple jobs, cars and another degree in hand.
Lots to be thankful for!



One of my favorite photos from our day.

Looking forward to many more years together with Jake!

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Gussie Days Never Disappoints!

We celebrated Gussie Days this weekend and had a blast!
Good weather, good company and a good cause to support our parish.
Very proud of Andray and Roslyn for running in the 1K.
Neither of them stopped to walk and they sprinted through the finish line!
Thanks to Rach and John for borrowing us their pool!
Was a perfect day to be outside and in the water!
Carson photo-bombing Katelyn and CC.
These water launchers are the best!
Playing bean bags while sitting down...doesn't get any better than this!
Our cheerleaders!
Fun with the sidewalk chalk.
Kids made an obstacle course in the driveway...lots of fun had by all.
Saturday night headed down to the church grounds to listen to Diamondback!
Again...great company.
So thankful for Brenda and her family!
A perfect night!
Then on Sunday we celebrated the festival.
Andray won BINGO for the first time in his life!
So glad I was with him to share in the experience!
He won $10!
Big kids loved the inflatables.

Then off to get glitter tattoos.
Of course Roz picked a star!

This Tommy Trough was hilarious!
Andray went in and out all by himself.
On his way out, he yelled..."That thing is AWESOME!"
People from the Bingo tent could hear him and just laughed.

Yes Dray, it's the little things in life that matter ;)
Roz and Dray got to compete in the tractor pull as well!
Roz was so happy when they brought out the red tractor for ages 5+.
Her exact words..."Papa Steve will be so proud!"
Best part of the tractor pull for Roslyn...she earned a can of pop!
Wrapped up the day working a couple hours with Roslyn at the tattoo station.
She was a great helper!
Nothing like celebrating Gussie Days with Carrine's 1st sucker!
Priceless.
Man oh man were we all exhausted by the time we got home tonight.
Perfect weekend...lots of laughs and fun!

Friday, June 20, 2014

VBS...Check! Bring on Gussie Days!

The big kids completed their first summer week of Vacation Bible School today. They had a blast and wrapped up the week with a great mass this morning at church! 
Theme for this week. ..
God's love is FOREVER. 
Now time for Gussie Days!
Hope the weather holds up this weekend. 
Can't wait!

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Bye Bye Baby Tub!

Well, tonight marked Carrine's last night in the baby tub! This little lady is growing up way too fast!

Looking forward to Gussie Days this weekend.  Big kids are running the 1K race and they are excited!  

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Leave the Past Behind...

So true...Every day is a GIFT!!!!!

Happy Father's Day!!!

Happy Father's Day to all you amazing men out there!
To my Dad (my Hero) and Jake's Dad...Steve.
And especially to Jake, the most incredible father to our children!

Have a great day everyone!

WE LOVE U DAD!

So thankful I got to see my dad this weekend. 

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Home Sweet Home!


Ah...got to spend a week at HOME with Mom and the kiddos while Jake and Dad went fishing up north.
Love coming home and looking at old photos like these.
The kids read MANY, MANY books with Gma Carol this week.
Our trusty fishermen getting their lures ready before the big trip!

Roslyn and I were fighting nasty colds all week but we didn't let those colds slow us down!
A glimpse of our week below...
Of course I had to bring the kids to Dari King one day!
They even gave Carrine a free mini ice cream cone...she loved it!
Then off to one of many parks for a picnic!
I remember swinging on these "unique" swings in Ramsey Park "back in the day!"
Carrine loves to be outside and on swings!
One afternoon we headed to the Ramsey Park Falls.
The kids were in awe of all the water and the sound of the rushing water.
Fun to see the Falls again.
Of course the big kids wanted to explore on the trails in the Park.
It's now confirmed where Carrine got her head of hair from!
Thanks Mom ;)
So glad I got to spend this past week with Mom!
Drove through the Ramsey Park Zoo as well and got to see the baby Buffalo stand up!
Picture doesn't do it justice, but the Peacock was beautiful.
That same day we were off to the new Redwood Area Aquatic Center with one of my best friends and her kiddos.
This place is awesome! Not sure who had more fun on the water slides...me or the kids!
The one thing we ALL did great this past week was sleep!
I haven't slept that sound in years.
Nothing better than taking naps at Grandma's house!

I was so excited to come home and mow the lawn!
I miss mowing Mom and Dad's yard...thankful I had Andray and Roslyn to help me mow on Wednesday!
We also found time to watch our Godson play baseball!
Andrew is a natural!
I picked a great week to come home!
There was a big carnival at the Community Center for Friends of the Park.
Our kids were in heaven with all the activities for them!
Even Carrine got to go in a bounce house for a while!
I think Roslyn's favorite part was the Pony rides.
She loves horses!
Carrine was too little for the Pony rides but she loved watching her big bro and sis.
Roslyn and I got our faces painted too.
Saw so many incredible people from RWF at the carnival. Lot of fun to catch up with old friends.
Our last day at home we got to spend the afternoon with one of my most favorite people on this earth...my Gram.
Gram's yard is absolutely breath-taking!
She continues to amaze me every day with what she all gets done in a day.
Miss my Gpa Shorty!
Gram plans to renovate her infamous Rock Garden this summer!
Carrine wondering where Roz and Dray went.
"Go?"

(Love it when she says that and makes those hand gestures)
My 86-year-old Gram's rock garden.
It really is like walking through a park or green house nursery.
So peaceful there.
Got to spend some quality time with my Uncle Jeff too.
He let Andray and Roz ride in the back of Gpa's old pick-up and brought them down to the end of the driveway to spray some weeds!
Always work to get done on the farm!
Yet another beautiful garden.
And Gram says she's "cutting back?!"
Back from spraying weeds...lots of great memories in this pick-up truck!

Love you Gram.

Heaven on Earth...

The big kids finished up their Mini Sports Camp on Friday morning.
Thank you to Miss Pam for putting on a great camp...the kids had a blast!
A perfect sign of a great week at Grandma and Papa's place!
Thankful for my time at home, there really is nothing better than going HOME.



***********
Redwood Falls has a lot to offer for such a small town.
I couldn't take pictures of everything but we got to see so many people and so many great things!


1. All three Madsen Girls
2. The Van Hees
3. Playdate with Keagan and Kendra
4. Playdate with Willemssen kiddos
5. Afternoon spent with Hmielewski's
6. Baseball games for Matt and Andrew
7. Visit with Billy and Mary
8. Pizza from the Falls Theater
9. Trip to DARI KING and Ramsey Park!
10. Mini Sports Camp all week
11. A day on the Lingl Farm