Fun at Home with the kids!

Holly kept climbing into the back of this toy truck - it was really cute!

Myles was pretending that he was surrounded by a force field

Holly peaking out of her toy play house

Myles got this spiderman at the State Fair yesterday, and has been playing with it all morning!

I'm at home today with the kids, and we are having a great time! I took a few quick pictures of us playing in the back yard. Hope everyone is having a great Monday!

Love,

Andrea

The MN State Fair 2008 - The Great Get Together!

Erik and Myles on the Bus heading to the State Fair!

Myles looking so serious as he prepares for the Little Farm Hands experience!

Holly with a basket of eggs at the Little Farm Hands


Myles getting on the tractor at the Little Farm Hands

Holly on a tractor at the Little Farm Hands

Holly checking out some flowers - cute!

Mommy and Holly at the Fair

Erik and Myles going through the Little Farm Hands

Holly sleeping at the fair - a small nap but just enough!

Myles posing for a great picture!

Mmmm... that was a good blue icie - Myles thought it was funny that his tongue was blue

Our favorite French Fries stand - it has the french fry guy as you see in the left hand side of the picture.

This is the world's best Cheese Curds!!!!!!!!! It was the first thing I ate at the fair today, and I felt sick after. I would do it all again in a heart beat! I love these cheese curds!

Myles ate almost all of this giant corn dog.

Check out all the people at the fair! This is just a small fraction of those attending today.

Oh look! Erik got a photo with our next President!

Today we went to the MN State Fair. What fun that was! We got there about 10:30 am and made a bee line to the cheese curd stand. Yum! The day went on and we ate: Cheese curds, beer, Strawberries & Cream, Corn dog, Soda, Ice Cream, French Fries, and Mini Donuts. That is what we ate as a whole - dare I figure out the total calories? Ugh! Myles had fun on Machinery Hill, the Kiddie Midway rides, and the Little Farm Hands. He walked around with us the whole way and never really complained. A little after 3 pm we were all tired so we headed home. It was a successful day at the fair!

Love,

Andrea

New Mail Box last weekend

Here are the proud men displaying their master piece - a new mail box!

Holly chomping away at a popsicle -she really loves them!

The kids eating popsicles

Last weekend (August 17th) we, along with the neighbors, tore down our old mail boxes and put in the lovely new ones! It was fun watching the guys figure this out. But they did a wonderful job and it looks great! Even the mail lady said she was happy with it! After all that hard work we decided it was time for Popsicles. Even the kids had one because it was such a hot day!

Elm Creek Park Beach

Myles playing in the sand at Elm Creek Park beach!

I took this picture of Holly and I - not bad aim!

Myles and Holly playing in the water and sand!



A funny little video of my two kids at the beach!

Today the Johnson family went to the beach to play in the sun, sand, and water! Both kids had a blast and played for about 2 hours. We had a little picnic lunch with us and ate there as well. It was a ton of fun! We will have to go back there before the summer is over. Now both kids are sleeping (yippee!), and I'm sure the afternoon will be fulled with playing and fun as well. Hope everyone else is having a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Andrea

Corn Fest at St. Gerards

CORN FEST AT ST. GERARDS

Myles getting a rocket ship painted on his arm

Holly waiting patiently as Myles plays a game



This is a cute video clip of Myles sliding down a huge blow up slide

Well, it's that time of year again! Corn Fest is here!!!! Our church has an annual festival at the end of August, and it is lots of fun. Very family friendly. Lots of kid games for the young and old, good greasy food to eat, beer to drink, and music! We went for a while today, but after 1 hour it was pouring rain. Bummer. But we got all our fun in during that one hour! Myles "won" some little trinkets and seemed happy. He chowed down a corn dog while Holly munched on a big corn on the cob. Erik had a beer and a corn dog, and I had some yummy french fries. Over all, very healthy eating. :) Looking forward to doing it all over again next year! Thanks St. Gerards for the great Corn Fest!

Love, Andrea

My Famous Husband

I have always known Erik would "make it big" someday - and here is my proof! For the last couple years, the Three Rivers Park & Trails have used this brochure to advertise their grounds and events, and if you take a close look at the picture you should see a familiar fac on that bike! It's Erik! Erik will sign autographs free of charge for friends and family.

What NOT to say to your wife

This is a cute little comedy video about what not to say to your wife. I thought I would post it here to educate some of the husbands out there! Enjoy!

Andrea

Sunday, August 10th - Family time on the St. Croix

Here is a cute video clip of Myles playing in the sand with his cousins. He is enjoying running around and filling up buckets of water from the St. Croix.

What a messy eater!!

Holly is learning the joys of eating "big people food".... and has decided that part of the fun is to smear it in her hair. Here is what she looked like tonight after eating and smearing ravioli on her head. I promptly gave her a bath after taking the picture! :)

Happy Friday everyone!

Love, Andrea

National Night Out BBQ on August 5th

National Night Out BBQ - the fun is just starting!

NNO BBQ - People getting to know people!

Things got a bit crazy... Gwen and I now have a criminal record.... :)

Myles climbing in the cop car

Mason and Nicole in the cop car

The kids all swarm to the cop car to explore... let's hope this is the last time they see the inside of a squad....

Myles and Mason have a new buddy - the Champlin Police!

The Champlin Police hand out trinkets to the kids

Myles gives Nicole a ride - don't worry, there was no speeding!

Fran and Erik pause for a picture!

Rob and Nicole checking out a toy

Little Holly was soaking up the attention all night! Here is our neighbor Sara giving her a smooch!

Gwen and Andrea - the Master Planners!

Erik and Gwen having a beer before the cops arrive - Just kidding!

The Johnson family and the Thielke family decided that we would organize and host our neighborhood National Night Out (NNO). Gwen designed the fliers, Erik stuffed the mail boxes, and I crossed my fingers that we would have more than our 2 families attend the BBQ! After a trip to the grocery store, we came home loaded up with meat to grill. In total we had: 36 burgers, 24 polish sausages, 16 brats, 24 hot dogs, and all the buns you could eat! The neighbors started coming shortly after 6:00 pm, and I believe I counted a total of 45 people (adults and kids). It was a blast!!!!! Everyone brought a dish to share, and we spent the next 2 hours hanging out and getting to know people that live in our neighborhood. The kids ran around and stuffed their faces with junk food. Towards the end of the BBQ, the Champlin Police stopped by with trinkets for the kids, and let them climb around in the squad car - it was a total success! A huge Thanks to Gwen for partnering with me on this fun event! Let's hope someone else takes it next year! :)

Love, Andrea