Great Minnesota Get Together

Frankie and I haven't missed a State Fair since we started dating almost 15 years ago so when we found out he was leaving town for work for 11 days of the fair we knew we needed to jump at the change to go Opening day of the State Fair.  We headed to the Fair early (arrived at 10am) in order to hopefully beat the crowds and the crazy heat that was predicted for the day.  We knew we wanted to hit a few of our favorite things like Machinery Hill, The Home Depot Booth so the boys could build something, The Little Helping Hands Farm, The Animals Barns and of course the Kidway to enjoy some rides.  We also enjoyed plenty of our State Fair Food Favorites.  We enjoying Big Fat Bacon on a stick, Pronto Pups, Cheese Curds (twice), Smoked Turkey Leg, Mini Donuts, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Alligator on a stick and a giant bucket of Sweet Martha's Cookies!  I have to say that I fully enjoyed our family day at the fair and made the most of it as we had to say Goodbye to Daddy the next day and won't see him for 11 days :(  

Water fun

The boys and I spent the weekend at the lake again.  It was a pretty typical weekend filled with relaxing, friends, food over the fire, S'mores and of course some swimming and tubing. Our friends took us out on the boat again with them.  We started our day with a stop at a sandbar to swim and collect clam shells.  Then we got back on the boat so the boys could tube for over an hour and then we ended our 4 hours on the water with another stop at a sandbar to swim again!  I love being out on the water, wishing summer wasn't coming to an end so fast.

Out of State

About two years ago Frankie was asked to do a little traveling for his company and we were both excited about his new opportunity.  He has been busting his butt with his career and he has made quite the name for himself and I am as proud as ever.  The first trip was exciting, the boys and I brought him to the airport and counted down the days until we got to pick him up again.  The trips throughout the next year were very spread out and we managed them just fine.  Well lately he has taken on a new role within the company and he has been traveling a bit more.  Okay, a lot more.  I would be lying if I said it was easy or something I enjoy but it comes with the job I guess.  Some of recent trips have been 8 - 11 days which is a very long time to not have my parenting partner at home.  In the last 29 days he has been out of state for 21 of them!  We have been taking it day by day and I am so Thankful for all my family and friends who have kept me distracted while he is out of town, I don't know that I would survive all these trips without them.  It doesn't help that most of his trips are to the west coast so the time difference causes some problems, I am usually in bed before he if off work so we don't get to unwind and chat about our days like we do when he is at home. He has been pretty good about calling when he has some free time or sending little texts throughout the day but it just isn't the same.  The boys have adjusted to him being gone better than I could have hoped, they are just such easy going kids and adjust to change well but there are still nights when they ask when daddy is coming back or mornings when Mason says he doesn't want me but wants Daddy (as Frankie is the one who usually gets them up and off to daycare)!  When Frankie left home 8 days ago I gave him a long hug and tried hard to not cry but as he walked to the boys' room to give them hugs and say Goodbye the tears started to flow (this was a first because of his traveling), I wasn't ready to say good bye for that long again.  I tried to hold it together but couldn't any longer which I am sure didn't make it any easier for him to leave.  I am hoping the travel slows down sometime soon but right now we know there are more trips coming up (just don't know exactly when yet).  As I get ready to go to bed tonight for the last time alone for a couple days at least I am happy and relieved.  I can't wait to see him tomorrow and give him a hug and welcome him home and have my parenting partner back - single parenting can be very challenging sometimes!  

I have kept Frankie up to date on what is going on back home by sending pictures to him via text, here are a just a couple from this last week while he was out in Seattle.

Splish Splash

Well I decided that our deck was missing something, it just seemed a little bare.  So I filled that empty space with a POOL!  The boys are in love with it.  Tonight after we got home from National Night Out they stripped down to their underwear (thank goodness for a privacy fence) and they jumped right in.  I am starting to think that my kids have gills with as much time as they spend in the water.  I am sure we will get plenty of use out of our new deck pool during the next month with the hot August temperatures!

 

Freeze Time

Lately I have really started to notice just how grown up boys are getting and I am not sure I like it.  I just want to freeze time and live with these two little boys just as they are.  Colton has become such an awesome kid, so independent and outgoing. He is old enough to do chores for me like taking out the garbage, feeding the dog, setting and clearing the table and helping his little brother with pretty much anything he needs. He is even learning to cut the grass but don't think we will get to take full advantage of that until next summer.  He also has friends calling him all the time (on my cellphone as we don't have a home phone) for play dates and sleepovers which is awesome as it gets him out and socializing with other kids and give me some one on one time with Mason.  Mason is at the perfect age and so much fun right now.  He can get himself ready to go (putting on shoes and getting himself in the car) which allows me free hands to carry whatever we need for our outing and saves me making several trips to the car.  He also is very helpful around the house (when he wants to be), he cleans up his toys, helps with the cooking and setting the table and loves to help with the laundry!  He has the best imagination and usually has me belly laughing with some of things he says or does.  We have sat the dinner table much longer than we should some nights just because I don't want to stop hearing the stories that my boys have to tell me and each other.

Both boys are awesome with entertaining themselves whether it is by playing with Legos together for hours while I clean or fighting zombies in the backyard while I work in the garden or cut the grass.  They also love to snuggle up on the couch together and watch cartoons.  They get along better than I could have hoped even though they are 4.5 years apart in age.  Of course they still have their fights and about half of those fights end with a wrestling match of some sort in which little brother almost always wins but at the end of the day they are best friends and never go to bed without saying their good nights to each other.  And let me tell you when a three year old says "Luv you big brother, Goodnight" it will melt your heart and make you realize you are doing alright in this adventure called parenting. 

I love that my boys are growing up and we have so many fun things ahead of us but sometimes I want to freeze time and enjoy this age for just a little longer.  I am so blessed to have these two boys in my life and I want to soak in every moment, adventure, smile, tear and snuggle that they are willing to share with me because I know life is always changing and soon enough they will have better things to do that hang out with Mommy!

First Time Campers

Last weekend the boys and I headed to my parents campground for another fun filled lake weekend.  However this time my parents weren't joining us but instead I brought some friends.  My friends Angela and Suzi joined me for the weekend.  What made it even more fun is that Suzi brought her kiddos (ages 2 and almost 4) and this was their first time camping (if you call it camping when you are in a trailer with a 40 inch plasma, flushing toilets and a fireplace)!  We loaded up the van with 3 adults, 4 kids and plenty of snacks, clothes, blankets and pillows and off we went.  The kids were so excited to get to the lake and get the fun started.  We spent the weekend playing on the beach, swimming, cooking meals over an open fire, catching more frogs than we knew what to do with, enjoying pontoon rides around the lake, eating S'mores, watching the loons, enjoying ice cream cones in the Sugar Shack, watching bedtime cartoons, catching more frogs and just hanging out!  

I didn't take as many pictures as I usually do but I did catch some very cute ones.  Although I realize now that I didn't take any pictures of Colton but that could be because he was off running with his friend all day long, only returning to eat dinner and show us all the frogs that he captured. Here are just a few of my favorite moments from our fun weekend!

Waterfalls

I decided I wanted to do something fun with the boys today, something outdoors and inexpensive and adventurous.  So a local State Park seemed like the best choice.  We packed up a lunch and hit the road for Willow River State Park in Hudson, WI.  My sister also decided to join us which ended up being a lifesaver as she was able to snap plenty of pictures of this awesome adventure as I was too busy wrangling in my boys!  We started our day at the beach and enjoyed our picnic lunch.  The boys walked in the water a little but they knew there were waterfalls nearby so they had no desire to play at the beach.  After lunch we drove to the parking lot for the falls and started our half mile hike to the Waterfalls.  The hike to the falls was down a quite steep hill which made it pretty easy however the walk out was a workout that I wasn't expecting! But I have to say, I would do the hike again any day as the falls are amazing.  We couldn't wait to get our shoes off and get into the water.  The boys of course weren't content just standing on the bridge or staying at the foot of the falls... no way, we had to climb our way up to the falls and even make a quick stop behind the falls which was AMAZING!  The rumble and view of rushing water in front of you is just breathtaking.  We had so much fun on our adventure today and look forward to many more outings like this as I would much rather be exploring with my boys than passing endless levels of video games or watching cartoons.

Summertime

One of our favorite summertime activities is running through the sprinkler!!  Sometimes it is the simple things that bring the most fun and excitement to two little boys!