Happy Labor Day Weekend & "Unofficially" Goodbye to Summer!

Happy Labor Day to all you hard working souls out there!! This is usually a sad weekend, it's the "unofficial" end to summer. I think here in CO it feels like summer till the first snowflake! Anyway, this weekend we were not at the lakes getting it all packed up for the winter. Instead we were here in CO enjoying our beautiful state. Saturday morning we checked Priceline.com and William Shatner helped us negotiate a hotel room up in the mountains. Good deal. We headed up to Summit County. We started out in Vail and walked around the village. Vail is a walking town which was quiet beautiful!! Lots of posh shops and not to mention there was a Food and Wine Festival going on (that would have been so much fun had it just been Joel and I). We went up the gondola to the top of the mountain. It was so beautiful! Brayden really wanted to go on this bouncy trampoline thing (look at pictures) so we let him do it. He had to be 30lbs so he barely made! He had the best time in the world. He jumped so high and then he was trying to do back flips but really could get himself around. It was worth the $ to let him do it. Afterwards we went down the mountain we head to Frisco. We went out to eat and then to our hotel. Sunday morning we went and explored the little town and had breakfast before heading up to Breckenridge. We, of course, had to stop at the Breckenridge Brewery to eat lunch and sample the selection. I had the Agave Wheat beer which was quiet fabulous!! We drove around the area before heading back through the scenic Loveland Pass. Everything was so beautiful and green unlike here in the Eastern Slope. It was about 76 yesterday but felt a lot warmer due to being so high up. We plan on going back very soon to do lots of biking and exploring! It will be so much easier next year when the both can ride happily next to each other in the Burley (am I kidding myself??).

I melt my Daddy's heart with my little smile and puppy eyes......yes I can already get out of trouble this way (I was trying to go up the stairs).

Brayden was in awe of this car made completely out of Legos at Vail.
There was a dunk tank to dunk the local firefighters for charity. Brayden actually hit the target!
Enjoying our walk to the GondolaThe top at Vail!
Getting the gear on to jump.
Oh yah, I am ready!
Jumping so high!!
Trying to get his legs to go behind him to flip
On the way down, the kids were so excited!
The cute main street in Frisco
We love each other!!
Me and Daddy at the Breckenridge Brewery.
I want to get Physical, Physical.....yes my headband looks like I am from the 80s, thanks guys.

Just playing with my cars at lunch time.
Loveland Pass

End of August, already??!

Where has August gone? Not really sure either. We've been getting back into a routine and enjoying the last part of summer by going to the park and pool a lot!

Mom said I would like peaches......but I love them!!

So Happy! Look at all my teeth!!

Now Avery, this is how you properly load the dishwasher, the JetDry goes here.

So excited trying to walk. She always makes a funny snorting face when she's excited.

Mom, were you looking for me?

Brother, you are in my kitchen!
Avery, you told me to start supper. Make up your mind woman! (It's already started, I guess it's in us from the beginning)

Um, sand isn't as tasty as I was hoping for!
Hi Mom!
Just call me Slugger!
Happy 32nd Birthday, Daddy!I don't think they noticed that I had a taste of frosting!

Brayden was trying to lick Daddy???
I know it's under here somewhere!!
Oh yes, found it!

Back Home!

The posts haven't been happening because we've been back to ND and MN the last month. It's amazing what can all happen in a month. Avery has started crawling, pulling herself up and moving around furniture, two more teeth, and more hair! Here's a short novel on what we've been up too.

Joel, the kids, and I took off Wednesday July 2nd at 6pm and arrived at my aunt Cindy's cabin on Lake Sacajawea at 7:30 am Thursday for a fun filled 4th of July weekend. Yes, we drove thru the night! We were going to try it out and the kids slept the entire way!! We were there helping my parents celebrate their 50th birthdays, my brother and cousins Carley and Sarah's graduation, along with my aunt and uncle (Andy and Nancy's) 25th wedding anniversary. We did celebrate all the June and July birthdays too (there is a ton of them). There were over 30 of us, every single person made it. It was so much fun to be with everyone again!! Sunday we left and headed to Fargo to stay with Joel's parents for the night before going to Ottertail Lake, MN for the rest of the week. It was so much fun to be back at the lake. The first thing we did notice.....the humidity! We didn't realize we were so acclimated to the CO dry weather until we arrived at the lakes. We had lots of fun swimming.....but no boating due to windy conditions.

July 12th my cousin, Brian Freeland married Rynelle up at Grand View Lodge on Gull Lake in Nissewa, MN. My parents, brother, sister and Nate, Joel and I drove up for the wedding. It was so beautiful!! Congratulations you guys!! The weather did cooperate that day. They had a tornado warnings and no electricity the night before. It was a bitter sweet day. My aunt Ione, that passed away in December, it was her youngest son who was married. I know that she'd been looking forward to that date for a long time. It was very touching and fitting that during the ceremony for 1 minute, the sun was shinning and it started to sprinkle. I think it was Ione's tears of joy from heaven. I was very happy to have made it to the wedding since I wasn't able to come home for the funeral.

I also am very thankful that I was able to spend time with my uncle Dan that evening. We had a great time visiting and having the waitress bring us a cocktail that we'd had many years ago and always had talked about. The next day when they were driving back to Fargo he started to feel ill, throwing up, etc. He went into the hospital and was kept over night. The next morning at 6 am he had a massive stroke. Since then has had several major surgeries and is now in a nursing home in recovery. Please pray for him and my Aunt Mary and her family as they are going through this that they may have the strength and will to get through. It's so amazing how things can happen so fast, without warning. Be thankful for everything in your life because you never know what the next day will bring!

The following week, Joel and his Dad, brother and Uncle Mark went to Madden's Resort in Brainerd for their annual "brother's" golf outing. The kids and I headed back to the farm. Brayden was so excited. He had been talking about the farm from the moment we left our house in CO. He was so excited to see his beloved "Crusty" the pickup truck (Dad's old beater pickup that B is totally in awe of...for some reason??), Squirt (Mom's horse) and all the things the farm has to offer! That Friday we went to Great Grandpa Allen's(Coppin) farm to take a 4 generation picture and to exchange Joel for my kids. Paul and Moni took the kids for the weekend while Joel and I spent our 1st kid-free weekend back in Milnor for the 125th celebration and my 11yr class reunion. We had so much fun! Thanks Paul and Moni!
My class reunion was a success! We had 11 out of 20 show, pretty good. It was fun to see everyone again. We had a good time in Milnor seeing all our old friends and family.

We picked the kids up at the lake and headed to Minneapolis. The first time we'd been back since we'd left! It felt like we could drive back up to our old house and things were going to still be the same. For the most part it was. It was weird to think that we'd been gone for a year already. I can't believe how fast time has flown. On Monday night we had a happy hour at the Sunshine Factory (our old stomping grounds) and had a fabulous turnout! We were so happy to see our old friends and neighbors again. Thank you to all who came!! It meant a lot to us that you could make it!! We stayed and Jen and Nate's for the evening. Joel headed back to CO that following morning. It was my first long drive with 2 kiddos back to ND but I made it in 6 hours. 3 1/2 hours of driving and 2 1/2 of stopping. Not too bad. We spent two days back at the farm before making our last stop to the lakes.

We had the most beautiful weekend at the lakes. It was perfect weather. I skied again for the first time in 2 summers. I did OK, but I think I am getting old :( We pontooned all day on Saturday with my parents and Paul and Moni. We got back late Sunday night to the farm to pack and get ready to head back home.

Tuesday morning we left for the Black Hills of SD (Nana, me and the kids). We stayed the night in Rapid City. We woke up early the next morning and headed out to see the sights. We made our first stop at Bear Country USA. Brayden just loved it. We drove through the park and at the end got out to see the baby bears and animals. Then we made our way to see Crazy Horse and Mt Rushmore. We then made a scenic byway to Hot Springs, SD through the Needles Highway. It was beautiful but a bit scary along some points. When we got to Hot Springs we checked into our hotel and headed over to the Mammoth Site. It was really amazing to think how many thousands of years ago these creatures roamed our land. Brayden really liked it too. From there we headed right back to CO.

It was wonderful to see the mountains as you came down through Wyoming to Colorado. We got home late Thursday afternoon and the kids (Brayden mostly)were so excited to get back. His toys were strewn everywhere. Friday we just stayed around the house to get the kids acclimated. Saturday we all headed up to Pikes Peak and Garden of the God's in Colorado Springs. It was amazing! I can't believe we could drive that far up. 8,000 miles higher than where my house is sitting. Sunday Mom and I did a little shopping, an extreme of two worlds if you will. We first headed to the Mile High Flee Market to check it out. It was OK but I don't think it was what I was expecting so I won't be back for a long while. Then we headed to Cherry Creek Shopping center which is very posh. So totally different places.
Monday morning we took Mom (Nana) to the airport. It was sad to say goodbye after a month of being around each other. Thanks for traveling with us and taking time to stay! We really appreciated it and had lots of fun!

So that's the end of our month long journey. Here are some pictures from our trip. I had 700 pictures and here's just a sampling.
Dad and Brayden snuggling before we left.

My uncle Andy and Brayden with their Donny Schatz t-shirts. Andy brought it for Brayden.
Joel and I enjoying our morning bloody mary's -hey we are on vacation!
Brayden and Peighton (my cousin Justin's little girl) playing in the dirt.
Brayden all full of dirt and excited to fly the plane!
Mom and her little sweat pea- Happy 4th of July!!
Happy Birthday to you!!! Papa Tom, Nana, and crew!
I just love this picture of Avery, she looks like she's being all innocent.
Brayden and Bryce enjoying the pontooning!
On Lake Sacajawea, the wild horses come down for a drink.
Brayden, Peighton and Sally...too cute!!
Yes, Auntie Cindy's letting me captain!!
Papa Paul's teaching me how to golf, next Tiger?
Papa Paul and the kids
This picture was neat, the sky was clear to one side and the storm approaching on the other. Brayden and Linda Martinson watching Bryce wake board.
Go Uncle Bryce!
Wow, I am all wet! (after the storm went through)
The kids loving the lake!
Miss Avery, 21 means 21!
Happy Centennial Mom and Dad! We went pontooning one evening with the Ellefson's and Martinson's to celebrate their 50th B-days.
What a beautiful sunset on the lake!
Congrats Rynelle and Brian!
Joel and I at my cousin's wedding.
Granny Franny Open, the ladies at Zorbas afterwards.

L-R, Angie, Me & Avery, Mitch, Mary, Moni, Tammy and Megan
The Men, Mark, Jamie, Tom, Brayden & Joel, Paul, Lance and Jerry
Miss Avery loved the water!
Finally, at the farm! Do I look like a little farmer or what?!
Visiting with Great Grandma Helga
Mom, I can pull myself up!
Seriously, I am so cute!
Kissin' Cousin's - Brayden and Sheyenne
4 Coppin Generations - Great Grandpa Allen, Papa Paul, Brayden and Joel
4 hand prints
Grandma Moni and Avery
Running around Aunty Squeeky's yard
I am so exhausted, I couldn't put my bowl down.
This was taken in MPL the morning after our happy hour. He was so tired!
Miss Avery enjoying the swing

Higher Auntie!

Loving the pontoon ride with Great Grandma Mary!

Nana and Grandma Moni
While Captain B is sleeping I am going to take over this ship!
I have these two wrapped around my little finger!!
Taking 5 with Papa Tom
I am going to catch a big wave!
Back in the captain's chair again! Zorbas it is!!
Just a little snuggle with Grandma MoniI am so silly!

Crusty the famous pick up truck!!

I am so happy to see you!!
(yes, we know, pulling a Brittany Spears....but that's how we country folk do it!)
Trying on some new western wear at Wall Drug, SD
Bear Country, USA
Crazy Horse
B &A at the entrance of Mt Rushmore - Brayden to Avery "Can you name me all the presidents?"
One of the one lane paths through the Needles Highway. I tell ya, you were on pins and needles some times!At the top - Pikes Peak Elevation 14,110

What a view!
On the way down from Pikes Peak
Brayden and Nana enjoying the view
Good Bye, Nana! We'll miss you!!
I am a moving and a shaking!!
We are two snuggle bugs!
Helping DadLook at all my little teeth and my booboo on my nose!

Just taking a break. All this modeling is killing me.
Wait, I found another hole!