Camping and Kids

As I type, Ella is outside sleeping in a tent. Mark and Ella are "camping" in our backyard tonight with Ella's friend, Sierra, and her dad. It is a perfect night to be outside--the cool night is just perfect for sitting around a campfire. James was a little sad that he couldn't sleep in the tent too, but to be honest, I think he is happier all cozy with his blankies in his crib.

I received an e-mail today about the cost of raising a child. I hadn't read this one before, and I liked it. I thought it was worth posting here. Enjoy the read if you haven't seen it before.


Subject: The Price of Children

This is just too good not to pass on to all. Something absolutely positive for a change. I have repeatedly seen the breakdown of the cost of raising a child, but this is the first time I have seen the rewards
listed this way.

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140 for a middle income family. Talk about sticker shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition.

But $160,140 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

* $8,896.66 a year,
* $741.38 a month, or
* $171.08 a week.
* That's a mere $24.24 a day!
* Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be 'rich.'

Actually, it is just the opposite. What do you get for your $160,140?

* Naming rights. First, middle, and last!
* Glimpses of God every day.
* Giggles under the covers every night.
* More love than your heart can hold.
* Butterfly kisses and Velcro hugs.
* Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.
* A hand to hold (usually covered with jelly or chocolate)
* A partner for blowing bubbles, flying kites.
* Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140, you never have to grow up. You get to:

* finger-paint,
* carve pumpkins,
* play hide-and-seek,
* catch lightning bugs, and
* never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

* keep reading the Adventures of Piglet and Pooh,
* watch Saturday morning cartoons,
* still go to Disney movies, and
* keep wishing on stars.

You get to: frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets, collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, receive hand prints set in clay on Mother's Day, and cards with backward letters for Father's Day.

For $160,140, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:


* retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,
* taking the training wheels off a bike,
* removing a splinter,
* filling a wading pool,
* coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that
never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.
You get a front row seat in history to witness the:

* first step,
* first word,
* first bra,
* first date, and
* first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family
tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called
grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in
psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human
sexuality that no college can match.

In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have
all the power to heal a boo-boo, scare away the monsters under the bed,
patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and
love them without limits. So . . one day they will, like you,
love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!!!!!

Love and enjoy your children!

Minneapolis Fun

As I type, Ella and James are snuggled together in the same bed after a big evening of waterpark fun. We decided to go to the cities a day early to have a little fun before going to the State Fair tomorrow. We are staying at the Waterpark of America, a hotel with a fairly large indoor water park. The kids had a blast going down slides. All four of us went down the family tube ride. James liked it until he got wet at the end. Mark spent a good portion of the time alternately taking the kids down a different tube slide. James and Ella were allowed on the big slides as long as they were wearing life vests and both kids loved the thrill of the slides as long as they were riding in double tube with daddy. I don't know of any of my pictures turned out... If they did, I'll have to work at getting them posted when I get home.

Tomorrow is Mark's birthday and we will celebrate at the State Fair enjoying the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Great Minnesota Get Together. Can't wait for the fried cheese on a stick!!!

Kittens anyone?

Our little kittens turned six weeks old this weekend. They have grown into adorable, playful little fur balls. Ella and James have affectionately named one of the kittens Meowie Marie. The other three kittens are named Jumpy, Scratchy and Scaredy. They all get lots of attention, but Meowie Marie gets a little extra special loving from Ella.

It really has been fun to watch the kittens grow and it has been equally fun to watch our children watch the kittens grow. They have been a really fun summer project. We took the kittens to the vet on Thursday and they were given their first kitten shots. Now, it is time find homes for our little babies. If you are a local reader and know of someone who might welcome a kitten into their home, please get in touch with me! Despite the kids' (and Mark's) pleas, they won't be staying here. I know our two big cats would not welcome the competition.

Birthday Serenade

August is a big month in our house. Our anniversary is the seventh, my birthday is on the eighth and Mark celebrates his birthday on the 25th. On my birthday I was treated to a nice breakfast from Panera and a morning visit from my good friend, Lisa. I also enjoyed a pedicure and some girlfriend time with my "birth buddy" Shawna, who was in town with her family from Michigan. After a leisurely afternoon, we grilled out and enjoyed some yummy birthday cake that Mark and the kids made for me. Before we cut into the cake, I had a lovely birthday song serenade. Click on the video below to see!

After our dinner and mini birthday party for me, we went to help Shawna's daughter, Julia, celebrate her first birthday at Shawna's parents house.

Julia, Ella and James

Shawna and me! I've literally known Shawna since the day I was born. Our moms were roommies in the hospital when we were born. Shawna was born on August 6th and I made my arrival in the wee morning hours on August 8th.

Welcome Home, Daddy!

The kids and I were super excited to welcome Daddy home. At the airport, Ella was holding a sign that said "Welcome Home" and James held a sign that read "We Missed You!"
Both kids gave Mark big kisses once we got home.

In this pic, James and Ella and are doing "Cheers!" with their new Texas shot glasses. They were very excited to have a drink out of them at supper time. Before you start wondering what kind of parents we are, you have to understand that James was not a fan of drinking milk until he had the delight of drinking it from a tiny glass. Once, I discovered that he thought it was fun to drink from a little glass, I had to find a sutiable glass the only really little glass I had was a shot glass. I filled the shot glass and he drank several little glasses of milk in one sitting. James was happy and we were happy, so sometimes little glasses are part of our mealtime fun. Whatever works, right?

Mark was happy to be home and we were happy to have him here. I was glad he made it back on Thursday as it was our ninth wedding anniversary. After we got the kids settled for the night, we were thankful that Grandma Judy could come over and watch the kiddos so that Mark and I could sneak out for a bit. It was too late for dinner, but we did share some really yummy appetizers and some excellent chocolate cake at a new restaurant downtown called Chesters. I may have found a new favorite dessert!! Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband!!

Daddy Needs a Kiss Good-Bye

Mark went to Austin, Texas on Sunday for work and we dropped him off at the airport. Ella and James are really missing him...I might be missing him a bit too! We were able to go to the gate to see him off, but the plane never came. The kids and I finally left Mark at the airport so James could go home and take a nap. Once Mark's plane finally arrived, they sat on the runway for awhile and his flight was so delayed he missed his connecting flight in Chicago. Thankfully, Mark was able fly stand by and finally made it to his hotel at about 2 a.m. on Monday morning.
Here are Ella and James watching a different plane prepare to take off.

Cuddling with Daddy

All you Cobbers out there, this one's for you! The kids and I attended the annual Concordia Corn Feed that is held in Rochester. Below is Ella holding a giant ear of corn.

The Last of the Fair Pics

More fun on the trampoline!

Serving Milk in the milk stand.
The Milk Stand

Family Style Water Balloon Wars

Notice Ella hiding underneath my shirt. She stayed dry!

James meets a goat.

A proud boy by his ribbon and art.



If only they shared this well all the time!!

James' Champion Hay

Ella with her "Honorable Mention" self-portrait

Dress the Animal Contest

Ella and James competed in the Dress the Animal competition again this year and it was again a huge success. For those that don't remember the details of this silly contest, it consist of people dressing up themselves and an animal with a common theme. Most contestants are young children with dairy calves. This was the third year in a row that our family has claimed the top prize. This year, Ella was handed $40 in cash, so it is worth our time to compete.

Our theme for this years event was: A Princess (Ella, of course) a Knight in Shining Armor (Cecelia, the calf) and the Court Jester (James). As always, Mark got the honor of leading the calf in the show ring since he missed out on it as a child.

A princess with "the knight" in the background.

James with his shield.

In the show ring... Ella enjoyed herself but James didn't last very long. He made one trip around the ring, kicked at the saw dust and then attempted to escape from his costume. This picture was taken right after he realized he couldn't pull off his costume.

Ella's reward: Jumping on the bungee trampoline. She has been waiting to do this again since last years fair. Sometimes I can't believe what a dare devil she is!

James chose to ride the carousal with Grandpa O's help and he loved every second of it.

An Impromptu Pedal Tractor Pull

There is a kid powered pedal tractor pull at the county fair. This year, Ella wanted to participate. We went on Thursday, but arrived just after the five year olds had pulled. Ella couldn't compete for a prize, but she did get to pull with the six year olds. Unfortunately, she could barely reach the pedals on the big tractor they used for the older kids. She did see the trophies that were awarded to the winners of each age group and decided she wanted to try again the next night.

On Friday we arrived at the fair as early as we could and Ella tried her luck on a smaller tractor with about eight or nine other five year olds. She ended up winning third place with a pull of 2o feet, 11 inches. She was thrilled, especially when she was handed a trophy with a tractor on the top (Just like Grandpa Jim has!). We were so impressed that Ella did so well in the tractor pull. Boys and girls competed in the same group and Ella was by far the smallest child, having recently turned five.

Ella's first tractor pull attempt on Thursday with a much too big tractor.

Pulling in the five year old competition.

A very proud (and hot) 3rd place winner with her first tractor trophy!

The Kittens Are Getting Really Cute!!

See for yourself!