Memorial Weekend

The boys and I spent the weekend at the lake with Grandma Yvonne.  It was a little chilly at times but that didn't stop us from having a great time.   Colton has a buddy two campsites down who is same age and they spend most their time riding bikes, playing at the playground and enjoying snacks together (they are really only apart when they sleep).  What is even more awesome is that Colton's buddy has a little brother who is only 8 months behind Mason!  Mason and his little buddy spend lots of time kicking around a ball, riding in the crazy coupe and going for wagon rides.  It was a very relaxing weekend.  We of course enjoyed some campfires and consumed our fair share of smores... we love being at the lake!  I did get a chance to play with my new lens again this weekend - I think I am finally starting to get a handle on that thing!  Here are a few pictures of our adventures from Memorial Weekend 2013!

 

Tiger Scout

Scout  Promise

On my honor I will do my best 

To do my duty to God and my country 

and to obey the Scout Law; 

To help other people at all times;

To keep myself physically strong, 

mentally awake, and morally straight.

Colton completed his first year of Cub Scouts and he loved every minute of it!  He was a Tiger Scout this year and as a Tiger he learned lots of new things and experienced some new places like the Behind the Scenes tour of the Library, Fire Station and Radio Station.  He also was able to volunteer in the community by cleaning up a local city park with his den and cleaning up wreaths at Fort Snelling with 750 other MN boys scouts (and their families).  He sold Popcorn and Wreaths and earned enough money to pay for his uniform and camps throughout the year (all the money earned from what he sells goes into his own personal account which he can use to pay for events or gear he needs throughout the year)!  He competed in his first Pinewood Derby Race and even advanced to Districts. He has learned what it means to be part of a pack and learned many of things that he will keep with him the rest of his life!  His first Blue and Gold Dinner which is a banquet to honor the scouts and all they do for the community! Last Thursday was the end of the year Troop Picnic and it was so much fun.  We had a Pot Luck BBQ, played some games including launching water balloons and candy from a catapult made by the boy scouts and of course end of year awards.  Colton completed all his achievements and earned his Tiger Badge which means when we start back up with Scouts in the Fall he will be a Wolf Scout.  Also I have decided to be in charge of wreath sales for our Troop next year and I will be the Wolf Den Leader for next year... wish me luck!!

It's Garden Time!

We planted our garden today!  We weeded, tilled and then we got to planting.... several kinds of tomatoes, peppers, jalapenos, pickles, green beans and soon to be planted strawberries (we still need to buy these and get them in)!  This is our 4th year doing a garden and it is something that I have really grown to love!  And Colton gets excited too when it is time to plant the garden and gets even more excited when it comes time to start harvesting all our veggies.    After getting it all planted I figured it was a great opportunity for me to play around with my  new camera lens (which I love more and more everyday)!  Now that our garden is planted I feel like it is officially Spring and Summer should follow quickly!

      

T-Ball Time!

Well T-Ball Season is officially underway!  We had our first game this last week after several practices and games being cancelled due to snow.  Colton missed the cutoff to play Pitchball by 6 weeks so we have another year of T-Ball which can be very painful to watch sometimes... half the kids are playing in the dirt, or chasing bugs, or running off the field cause they have to go to the bathroom and the other half look like they are playing but really don't have a clue what they are supposed to be doing!  Colton is getting better, he at least understands the basics of the game now which is an improvement over last year.  Compared to some of the little tikes on his team this year he is a enormous... I think several parents what the heck he is doing playing with their babies, oh well wasn't my choice (and believe I tried to fight the city on it, I lost)!  Here are just a couple pictures from our first game... which we played Tuesday when it was 98 degrees, gotta love MN!

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a great Mother's Day today.  Although that is really no surprise as I have two amazing boys who make every day special and a mom and mother-in-law who have always been there for me when I need advice or help with anything!  We started out our morning with cuddles in my bed while we watched cartoons - I cherish those moments as I know the day will come all too soon when my boys won't want to snuggle in bed with mommy anymore.  After breakfast and baking monkey bread the boys and I were off to Frankie's brothers house for an afternoon of BBQ and cousin playtime.  The boys had a blast playing with their cousins and being outside enjoying the fresh air.  Mason fell asleep on the way home so I put him in his crib to let him get in an early evening nap and Colton and I decided to make some dinner (Frankie was still at work).  Colton told me to go sit down and relax because it was Mother's Day so he wanted to make me dinner so I didn't have to.... like I have said I love that kid!  He made me Chicken Alfredo Pizza (frozen one and I had to turn on the oven and I had to take it out when it was done because that was too dangerous for him!!  Frankie made it home right after Colton and I finished our romantic Mommy-Son dinner and he came home with my Mother's Day Gift!  He got me a new lens for my camera and I am so excited about it.... it is amazing and I look forward to putting it to good use in the very near future.  It was a great Mother's Day - couldn't ask for any better, spent it with Family and my boys which is the perfect day in my book!  Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!!

I played around with my camera a little tonight and I am pretty sure I am in love already.  I don't know if I will ever use my other lens again.  We are playing an outing to Afton State Park as soon as I get home tomorrow so I can really put the lens to the test!

Fresh Air Finally

Well the weather is finally getting back to Spring temperatures again so the boys and I figured we better take advantage before it starts to snow again!  This morning we packed up a picnic lunch, loaded the wagon into the van and we were off to Afton State Park (our favorite getaway and it is only about 10 miles from our house)!  The boys were so excited to just be able to run freely and be loud and burn off all that energy they have bottled up for the last 6 months.  Colton was an awesome big brother as always, making sure Mason was safe and enjoying his first hike without his stroller!  We made our way down to the river and found a picnic table to enjoy our lunch.  After lunch we did some more exploring and just enjoyed being outside soaking in the sunshine and fresh air!  After two hours we were all more than ready to head back home.  Mason fell asleep as we pulled into our driveway and Colton and I spent the afternoon just relaxing.  Another perfect Sunday.

 

Seriously, Colton is an awesome big brother.  And he is quite the helper for me on these kinds of outings.  Mason would take off running down the path at top speeds and ignore my demands for him to stop while I am chasing him and pulling a wagon but Colton would always come to my rescue... he would catch up to his brother and stop him until I could catch up!!!  Love these two!