The Great Minnesota Get Together

The fair is one of my all time favorite things to do here in MN. I am not sure why...bad, unhealthy food on a stick, vendors trying to sell you things, crowds, etc...Nevertheless, I like it. This year we took the girls and our first stop was at the Little Farm Hands. This particular exhibit was really great.

Getting dressed to work the farm.

Walking through the corn field.

Getting corn to feed the animals.

Transporting the feed.

Feeding the chickens and collecting an egg.

Milking the cow. Ella did NOT want to try this.

Planting a seed and harvesting a vegetable.

After feeding the animals and collecting milk, eggs, etc. The girls were able to sell their goods (or return them) at the farmer's market. They each earned a dollar and were able to go to the store and buy one item (real item). They picked a little stuffed lamb to bring home. What a neat exhibit.

Shark Attack

and other snippets of our day at the MN zoo!

The tube thing that you see is in the Meerkat exhibit. It's very neat to be able to crawl into a tube and view the animals from within their own exhibit.

Happy Birthday to My Sweetheart!

Today, Arthur celebrates a birthday! Happy birthday! May the Lord bless you! I pray that you have a great day with filled simple pleasures. I pray your heart is filled with the joy of the Lord.

Happy Birthday! I love you!

(Not so Wordless) Wordless Wednesday

She's eagerly waiting for the snow!

Happy Birthday Aunt Lynda!

Boy, August is a big month. Today is Lynda's birthday! I pray she has a blessed day full of fun and joy. May she feel blessed and loved!

GOOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!

McKenna played 2 sessions of Soccer this Summer through our local Parks and Rec. Department. Each session was 3 weeks long, two nights a week for about 45 minutes. The coaches were high school soccer players. The skills and drills were age appropriate and delivered or taught in the form of a game/activity--for the most part. There's one night where the kids play a game against the parents. And one night where the kids play a game against each other. She gets a "team shirt" and solid exposure to the sport without Arthur and I committing to months of weekend games and practices.

Kjelshus Reunion

This past weekend we spent some time in southern Minnesota on Lake Hanska @ Kjelshus Pointe! The whole Kjelshus gang (and there are a lot of us) gathered and brought food and fun. Thanks to everyone who put it together. And thanks to everyone who brought yummy food. McKenna and Ella had a blast, of course. It was good to catch up with family and even meet some new family.

That's about as far as I got in the lake. There's mud and fish--yuk! I am princess, ya know.

McKenna, on the other hand, wasn't too bothered by it.

Neither was daddy.

I hope to get some more photos from Kevin and Virginia and Shari. Email them to me! When I do get more, I will post them here. For one more cute picture click here.

Children's Museum

We hit the Children's Museum again! It was fun and this time we brought a friend. Here are a few of the snapshots. There aren't many pictures of Ella because she DID NOT want to pause for me.

Beauty and the Beast....and ants (not Antz)!

Recently we were blessed by a friend who invited us to her home (in home theater) for dinner and a movie. We wanted to see what the girls thought of a movie theater. We had pizza and fruit on a table well decorated with a red and white gingham picnic pattern and confetti. Take a look at the confetti in Ella's hand.

We watched Beauty and Beast, which our girls had never seen before. To our surprise they sat through all of it. McKenna was on edge during a few parts, specifically the battle between Gaston and the Beast. Unfortunately, she lost sleep over the scene for a couple of nights. That, of course, meant that I lost sleep for a couple of nights as well.

I am not sure that we will hit a real movie theater anytime soon. There are just so few movies that meet our qualifications: Christ friendly, kid friendly, not too long, not too scary, keeps our girls' attention. If the right movie were to come out, maybe. But, our girls aren't begging to go or anything so it isn't a priority. We will continue to do movie nights in the affordable theater called the TV room!

It was a fun family night and I am thankful for my friend who has blessed our family!

Chemistry for Kids

Recently we made some play dough. We randomly and occasionally do this in our home. The girls enjoy playing with it, a lot. Ella could play with it for hours. We have a cookie cutter for every occasion--by the way--our cookie cutters are also play dough toys. Everything in the play dough is edible, though not very tasty!

Gather the ingredients.

Pick your colors (or utilize the only non-Christmas colors you have).

Bring it to a boil.

When cool enough, knead it all together.

Enjoy!

Here's the recipe:

Sift Together:

5 cups flour

1 small container granulated alum (found at most grocery stores near the seasonings/spices)

2 cups salt

Boil Together:

food coloring

5 cups water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1. Pour boiling mixture over the flour mixture. Let stand for about 2-3 minutes. Mix with large wooden spoon.

2. When cool enough knead completely to break down flour.

Classroom sized recipe, you could cut in half.

Pickle Man

In the car....

McKenna: Cousin Kendra's baby is named Parker.

Me: Yes, he is.

McKenna: But, Uncle Larry the Cucumber doesn't call him Parker (with a very confused tone in her voice)!?

Me: He doesn't? What does he call him?

McKenna: He has some silly nick names for him. He calls him Pickle Man and Park Park Man.

Me: Yea, Uncle Larry can come up with some really silly names.

McKenna: But, Mommy?

Me: Yea?

McKenna: Cousin Parker is WAAAAYY too young to be a man.

Kittens!

We spent the day in Hanska, MN with our family. I will post more pictures later, but Aunt Virginia sent this one via email to me. This is McKenna and Mya cuddling some farm kittens.

Officer Higgins

My cousin is now a Huntsville City Police Officer! I am so proud!

Calling all parents!

Parents! Yes, you! I am talking to you. That's right! I need your tips and advice.

How do you teach awareness and grace to a child? Don't tell me that it can't be done. I am sure it can. Share with me your tips. What do you do to encourage awareness? I mean awareness of where your own body is and what your appendages are doing or how they might be hurting someone unknowingly, how close you are to falling off of a chair or spilling your milk...this can be taught, I am sure.

Okay lurkers...I know you are out there. Lot's of my friends read the blog and don't comment! Now is the time. If you are a parent, I expect a comment. And, I am talking to my aunts who read also! Most of you are parents!

Or, maybe you aren't a parent and you have an opinion on the topic? Don't underestimate your wisdom! Comment.

Come on, let's have it!

May I suggest....

...these books for your Marriage:

Love and Respect
by: Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
about: God has called wives to unconditionally respect husbands and called husbands to unconditionally love wives-regardless of what they deserve. With tips on applications.

The Power of a Praying Wife
The Power of a Praying Husband
by: Stormie Omartian
about: This is a SUPER great guide on intimately praying for your spouse!

Sheet Music
by: Kevin Leman
about: Sex! This is not your typical Christian book about sex! Beware!

The 5 Love Languages
by: Gary Chapman
about: Speaking love to your spouse in such a way that they understand you.

Most of you who read this blog are my mentors, especially in the subject of Christian Marriage. But, I have read these books. I have tried to apply a few things here and there. They have a made a difference.

An important key to remember is the condition of your heart as you apply the things you learn. Prayerfully, purposefully and lovingly approach these books expecting a change--even if your spouse is nowhere near you in his/her walk with Christ.

Remember that if you approach the book looking for validation of your opinion on how your spouse needs to improve or change, the Holy Spirit will quickly convict you in an area that needs improvement! Count it joy though...when you seek to grow closer to God by being obedient, His Word doesn't return void! You will see something, probably subtle, change in your marriage.

Okay, that's all!

Wordless Wednesday

Let's take a Mommy walk!

I really like Mommy walks. Do you know what they are? A Mommy walk is my (almost) daily form of exercise. I pull the kids from the bed and put them directly in the stroller. No brushing hair or teeth, no getting dressed, no eating breakfast. They get a bottle of water and a pop tart (whole grain, of course) and I proceed to elevate my heart rate and burn a few calories.

I am pushing a double stroller that weighs about 18lbs, a sleepy 5 year old that weighs about 41lbs, and a wiggly 3 year old that weighs about 36lbs. If I were to walk any faster I would be running.

It's pretty much the only time McKenna sits in the stroller (Ella doesn't sit in it too often either). I walk, quickly and purposefully, for about 30-40 minutes!

Fort Sibling!

(For the list of 100 reasons to visit the Twin Cities just scroll down a bit!)

Together the siblings defeated the parents at the Battle of the Great Furniture Move!