The "cat" days of summer

Welcome to the 'cat' days of summer. OK - everyone knows that they aren't the 'cat days' - but since we don't have a dog and these two (Mr. Bundles & Sergent Tibbs) seem to be taking on the role pretty - well - we are going to call them 'cat days'. Seriously - it was one beautiful day in Minnesota. We had help yesterday - so the adults in the house planted flowers (that came from ND - and had been in washtubs and misc containers and got them into their final resting spots - huge relief for Karen. One of the elements of feeling fully settled after a move.














As previously mentioned, the weather was great - the pressure to get stuff done was low and we just had a great day. It began with homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. We had church at home today - we read about Jesus calming the storm. We also prayed for our upcoming school year and two other people who are close to us that were injured in the past few days - that they would get better soon!

The water park was open for a while this afternoon - with David, Katie and Emie taking full advantage. Annie is somewhat of a landlubber - so she used the kittie pool - aka bucket as her pool and had a great time.
































While all this was going on - naughty monkey - AKA David began the climb up the pantry shelves - ins search of gum. David is about 90% potty trained - but the final deal is that when he goes #2 - he gets gum. He LOVES gum. Note by his hand on the 4th shelf - he has reached the gum.

David also cruised around in his jeep - pulling Sam and his sisters - which is very funny to watch. For a 3 year old - he is actually a pretty good driver.



Supper was chicken on the grill and AYKE (all you can eat) sweet corn - shucking courtesy of Katie & Emie.



The day ended - we fired up our '34 Ford (another story and post sometime) and took it down to Cup and Cone - home of the 37 cent kiddie cone - and a White Bear Lake tradition. This happened after 7 - which is girls bedtime - so the boys went and brought mom back a treat.

As I said before - it was a nearly perfect summer day.

Now - thinking about back to work and enjoying the last to weeks before school starts.

The "Bee"

One of the highlights for our family every year is a trip to the Albert City Threshing Bee. Albert City is the town that Karen grew up in; and where her parents still live. The "bee" was started 40 years ago - by Karens' dad and a neighbor and has grown into a great family event, full of fun and surprises.

A few favorites - Sam in a pedal pull tractor competition. Way to go Sam!

Some great food, like ribeye sandwiches, homemade ice cream, served from 9 AM - 7 PM, kettle corn, pie, pancakes, funnel cakes, baked potatos. . . . and the list goes on.

and many other fun and interesting things to see.










































and a good time was had by all!

The best part of my day…..

…occurred when I discovered Mr. Universe in his birthday suit playing in the front yard.

Apparently, rather than change to clean clothes after a tee-tee accident someone just decided to go commando.

This particular picture was taken shortly after I caught him giving his sister a wagon ride around the circle.

Sometimes I wonder what the neighbors think.

Top Secret

We just finished a weekend at the cabin and have discovered a top secret location for some of the best blueberries in the world! We want to share it with you.

You head up around Trappers Landing, go past the sawmill and then keep going - counting pine trees - I think it is the 4,522nd, take a left, follow the butterfly across the creek and then take a right - and count 2 potholes. Get out of the car and walk just a little over the hill and you will find blueberry paradise.

Need proof?















A few other fun photos of the picking.









Katie

&

Emie
















Davey





















and the real pros -







Andrew

&

Daniel

























And the million dollar question - what does one do with all these blue jewels? Turn the kitchen over to Chef A and Chef D to create the worlds best blueberry pie!

It was an awesome pie. Best I have ever eaten.

We also had enough to freeze - so we are going to be able to enjoy blueberry pancakes & muffins - part of the year - as we ration them throughout the year.

We have now created a new family tradition - every year - sometime between the last week of July and the first week of August - we are going to be sure to be at the cabin for Blueberry Fest.

Til next time, signing off from the end of the road.

Our Adoption video...

It is apparent on many fronts that I am behind on things in our life....I am sure that anyone who reads our blog wonders if we ever update it!

I am finally getting around to posting our adoption video. We finished it a year ago but then it was misplaced in our move.

Katie and Emie have been with us for almost 2 years now! I can hardly believe its been that long. Seems like only yesterday that we were meeting our 2 sweethearts! :) (Meeting our girls for the first time!)

In fact, it was 2 years ago exactly on July 19th - Katie's birthday - that we left for Ukraine. It was an exciting and difficult time. Every year at this time we are flooded with intense emotions and memories.

We have known from the beginning that Katie and Emie were meant to be in our family. But, the last 2 years have not been easy. Adopting an older child with special needs that has grown up in an orphanage in Eastern Europe, brings with it a unique set of challenges. I have never blogged much about these - most of the time I've been too tired and overwhelmed to sort it all out. Someday, maybe I'll write a post about it.

But, for now we just keep trying to be obedient to the Lord and raise these 2 little scamps to love Jesus. And we thank Him immensely for the opportunity to serve Him by loving 2 of His orphans!


The video is posted at the side of our blog - you can watch it there. Or if you click on the 'original video' underneath, you will see it bigger. Enjoy and be warned - its pretty long!




(and yes, there will be a birthday post for Katie...just as soon as I pull myself out from under the latest 12 batches of laundry!)

Birthday girl!…

Annie turns 6 yrs. old! 

 

 

 

 

The little Princess celebrated her party in fine style…with an ice cream cake decorated with her favorite animal – an elephant and her favorite color – purple!

 

 

Seems like only yesterday!…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a miracle…

 

This is Emie…she is a miracle.   

This is a paper Emie brought home from pre-school a couple weeks ago – this is another miracle!  I will treasure it always.

You have no idea what a miracle this picture is and what this picture means to me!    

Our first weeks and months with Emie and Katie were really (REALLY!) rough.  Emie had happy times but actually spent much of her time in  her own world.  Emotionally and physically she shut down numerous times a day.  Any transition - any change - anything she didn’t like -  sent her back into her world- often accompanied by crying, sobbing, laying on the ground, sometimes grunting at us  -  pushing us away.   She would let Lee in sometimes – she has always adored him. :)  But, not me much.  It was at least 6 months before she crawled up in my lap and “wanted” me to cuddle her!  That first time -I think she sat with me for 20 minutes – I couldn’t believe it. 

 

Now – its almost 2 years since Emie became ours. Seeing her develop  - seeing her come out of her shell – out of her own little world  - its the most amazing thing to behold  - its like watching an exquisite  flower  unfold and bloom.   Now, when I rock her and hold her and love her  -  she truly loves me back.    That is a miracle!

 

Every day I thank Jesus that instead of rotting away in some Ukrainian mental institution… Emie has a Daddy and Emie has a Mommy and Emie has sisters and Emie has brothers…Emie has a family! 

 

Adoption – that is another miracle! 

 

Thank you Jesus!