Our trip to Beautiful Beach

Over Labor Day weekend Jen and I took the kids (Jacob, MaKena and Emma) to Beach to visit Grandma Vivian and Uncle Tom. A couple days before I was asking myself “what the heck am I doing?” I haven’t gone out of town for a couple days with the kids without Lane and I was preparing myself for the worst and hoping for the best! Well, our plan was to leave Fargo on Friday between 3 and 4. We finally got on the road a little after 5. We got about 45 minutes into our drive and had to stop for a potty break for Emma. Then we decided to stop in Jamestown for supper. By this time it was almost 7:00 and we weren’t even 1/3 of the way to grandmas. After a good hour in Jamestown we made it back on the road again. Shortly after we managed to hit a bird, at least Jen and I thought it was a bird. We were the only two that screamed because the kids were busy watching their movies. It was funny. The rest of the trip was uneventful. We stopped in Richerton to fill with gas and there on the front bumper were the bird’s feathers. Jen and I had another good laugh and we finished our trip to grandmas.

On Saturday we were up bright and early with the kids. They didn’t care that we were an hour behind in Beach; they were still on Fargo time. Later in the morning we ventured out to the park to let the kids run off some steam. But there were lots of bees around so after I got stung we decided to head back to grandmas. I found out Jacob is terrified of bees. Poor kid. Grandma took us out to lunch at the DQ when we got back from the park. After lunch the girls went down for their naps and Jacob, grandma and I got into some heated games of Skip-Bo. OK, they weren’t heated but they were fun.

Sunday we met Uncle Tom at the Flying J for breakfast. Jen and I told Tom it was probably a good thing he didn’t come to grandmas until Sunday because the two girls were a handful Saturday! He was fortunate enough to see a little bit of that on Sunday! After breakfast we headed back to grandmas and Jacob, grandma, Tom and I played Skip-Bo until the little girls got up from nap. Jen and I decided to take the kids into Medora and give grandma and Tom some peace and quiet for a little while! We did a little shopping and played at the park and then headed back to grandmas for supper. After supper Tom headed back to Bowman (I think he had enough of the girls crying and fighting over toys) and we got the girls ready for bed. Monday we got up and packed the car and headed back home. I think grandma was looking forward to a little peace and quiet. We had a good time and I look forward to the next trip to Beach. Hopefully MaKena will be out of her drama queen stage!

Emma and MaKena laying on the floor watching Dora.
All three kids chilling on the floor at grandmas.

Grandma, Emma and MaKena.

Grandma and the three great grandkids.

Jacob and Grandma playing Skip-Bo.

Emma all dolled up in her dressup stuff.

Emma and MaKena helping Jen and I do dishes.

Emma is really getting into cleaning the dishes. Notice her toung sticking out!

Jacob and the girls after a bath.

Tom, Grandma and Jacob playing Skip-Bo and MaKena eating a snack.

Can you guess what she's saying? Cheeeeeeeese

Jacob playing at the park in Medora.

Emma and MaKena playing at the park in Medora.

Jacob and the girls. Like their hats?!

Grandma and MaKena relaxing watching TV.

MaKena, Jacob and Emma before we left grandmas on Monday.

The kids in the car!! They were having fun.

First day of 3rd Grade

The first day of school for Jacob was Wednesday the 26th of August. It’s still hard to believe he’s in 3rd grade. I know, I say that every year but I remember signing him up for preschool which feels like it was just yesterday. Every year on the first day of school I give Jacob a ride and I walk him to his class with my camera in hand. I normally take a picture of him standing by his locker and one of him sitting in his desk. This year when we got to his locker I asked him if he wanted me to take one of him at his desk. I noticed there weren’t any other moms or dads in the room taking pictures. But he gave me the OK and I managed to get one quick picture. I’m sure this will be the last one I get to take of him sitting at his desk. You’ll notice in the picture below he doesn’t look too thrilled. But when I said good-bye to him he gave me a hug and kiss so he couldn’t have been too embarrassed about the picture!

Jacob standing in front of the door (where I always take his picture) on the first day of school. Ignore all the extra junk in the corners!
Jacob standing in front of his locker at school.

Jacob sitting at his desk. It looks like he's telling me to get the heck out of his class under his breath!

The Lake

On Sunday the 23rd of August MaKena and I drove down to Jason and Jerene’s lake to spend the day. It was the last weekend before school started and it was a gorgeous weekend so we took advantage of it. Jacob spent most of Saturday with Grandma Kathy and they ventured to the lake that night to have a sleepover. When MaKena and I got to the lake Jason took us on a pontoon ride. It was a nice calm day which made the ride very relaxing. Jason had the tunes blaring and Mallorie and Jacob were singing along to the songs they knew. The little girls got along for the most part but they had their moments! When they get older and become best friends I’m sure Jerene and I will have many stories to tell them about their toddler days!

Jacob, me and MaKena enjoying the last weekend of the summer at the lake.
Karisa "driving" Jason's (daddy's) boat
Mallorie and Jerene
Grandma Kathy and her favorite grandson! (HA! Her only grandson!!)

Trying to get a good picture of Mallorie and Jacob. Check out Jason behind them.

Three of the 4 kids on the boat. Mallorie, MaKena and Jacob.

One last time......

It’s so sad to think this is the last time the pool will be brought out this summer and the last time these two cuties will show off their bathing suits outside. Where did summer go? Now we are back at school and I see the weather is finally warm. Go figure. Unfortunately we weren’t able to take the pool out too many times due to the cool summer we had. And now it’s sitting in the garage and every time MaKena walks by it she asks for water. It’s very cute. I think she’d swim in her pool if the weather was 50 degrees. She at a stage where she likes to copy people so whatever her big brother was doing she’d try to do.

Sitting on the little seats in the pool. MaKena is saying cheese but trying to figure out what Jacob is doing.

Trying to blow bubbles in the water. I think she was actually trying to drink the water. Yummy!

Jacob attempting to swim in the pool and MaKena saying cheese for mommy.

MaKena's attempt to put Jacob's goggles on. Ignore the snot nose and the crackers all over her face. She was snacking while swimming.

Chicago Post 3 of 3

Before we headed back to Justin’s on Tuesday, we decided to check out the view from the Sears Tower (actually it’s called the Willis Tower now). It was really neat. It was a clear day so the view was amazing. Like I mentioned before, I’m not a big fan of heights so when we got to the glass ledges I wasn’t going to do it. But mom made me! I had to back in and close my eyes. Talk about creepy standing on glass and being able to see 100+ stories below you. And the thing that made it the scariest was all the people standing on the ledge at the same time. My hands are sweating just thinking about it now! It was an experience I’m glad I did and I honestly don’t know if I’ll do it again!

Wednesday was probably our busiest day in Chicago. We headed into the city from Justin’s apartment and got on the Trolley and went to Shed Aquarium. Wednesday must have been the day to go to the Shed because we ended up waiting in line for awhile. Once we got inside we managed to see everything except the dolphin show. When we finished at the Shed we hopped on the Trolley and headed to an Italian Restaurant across the street from the Bank of America Theatre. We had tickets to The Jersey Boys at the Theatre. Talk about an excellent show. The acting was amazing and the story was very interesting. It was about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. By the time the show was over we headed back to Justin’s. It was a late night but a fun night.

On Thursday we headed to the Field Museum with Justin and Laura. They had the Real Pirates exhibit on display. I found it very interesting but it was a lot of reading. The Museum is home to the world’s largest and most complete T. Rex named Sue. It was cool to see all her bones and what they looked like. I enjoyed the museum but it was a lot of history and reading. You could spend days in there and still have stuff to do. Thursday night Just and Laura took us to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner. The food was delicious and the cheesecake was even better. I wish we had one of those here. Actually it’s probably a good thing we don’t have one!

On Friday we got up early and headed into Wrigley Field for the Cub’s game. Justin was able to get us some tickets in the bleacher section. It was a blast. The weather was perfect, the beer was cold and Cub’s won the game. It was a great way to end the busy week in Chicago. I had so much fun at the game I’m already thinking about going to another one next year with Lane and Jacob. If it works into our schedules! Saturday we got up and drove back home. It was sad to leave but nice to get home to the kids and Lane. I needed another vacation from my vacation. We were constantly on the go but we did lots and saw lots so it was well worth it.

A view from the Sears Tower. Those small white things in the water are all the boats along the shore of the lake.
Another view from the Sears Tower.

On the ledge with my mom. Freaky!!

Shari, mom and Carol on the ledge. Carol wasn't a big fan of going out there either!

One of our nice Trolley divers offered to take a picture of us before he dropped us off at one of our stops. We were the only ones on the Trolley.

Bank of America Theatre where Jersey Boys was playing. They wouldn't let you take pictures inside.

One of many of our train rides. We were sitting up top.

Justin and Laura on the train.

This was taken outside The Field Museum. That's Soldier Field where the Bears play.

At the Cubs game sitting in left field. We had GREAT seats!

Me, Justin and mom taking a picture to send to Jason wishing he was with us! (Or just rubbing it in with our beer!! We love you Jason!)

Carol, Shari, mom, me, Justin and Laura enjoying the Cubs game.

These are the roof top bleachers. Business around Wrigley Field put bleachers on top of their buildings and you can rent the space for one of the games.

The four gals after the Cubs game. We had a blast!

Outside Wrigley Field. Carol, Shari, mom, me and Justin.

Chicago Post 2 of 3

Sunday night we headed back to Navy Pier and rode the Ferris Wheel. I wasn’t going to ride it but I didn’t want to be the only one. I’m not a big fan of heights. But it wasn’t that bad. The cars didn’t swing and I tried not to look down when we were at the top. It was a beautiful view so I’m glad I went.

On Monday, we (Carol, Mom, Shari and I) headed into the city alone. We ate lunch at Millennium Park and took a Trolley tour which brought us to Lincoln Park Zoo. The Zoo was really neat. It was a hot day so some of the animals weren’t out, which was a bummer but the Apes made up for it! That’s all I’m going to say about the Apes!

On Tuesday we took a Trolley ride to the Oprah Studios and Store. On the way there we stopped in Little Italy and ate at a really good Italian restaurant. Once we made it to the Oprah Store we took some pictures of her studio, which was right across the street. We weren’t able to go to a show because she doesn't tape in the summer. But we shopped and shopped in her store. It was really neat to see her store. And of course we took pictures! Once the Trolley brought us back we hopped on another tour that took us by President Barack Obama’s house in Chicago. They have police outside his house and street 24 hours a day. The only people that can drive down that street are the ones who live there. If you are going to visit someone on that street they have to notify the cops 24 hours before your visit so they can let you in. It was interesting to see. I was able to get a picture of his street and his house.

Mom, Carol and Shari on the Ferris Wheel
The view from the Ferris Wheel
Justin wanted to take a picture of me with the city in the back. I believe this was at the top of the Ferris Wheel.

Waiting in line for the river boat tour.

A view from the river boat tour.

Mom and Carol on one of our many Trolley rides.

Shari and I on the Trolley.

A view as we were riding on the Trolley.

Harpo Studio's where the Oprah Show is taped.

The Oprah Store.

This is what the street looks like that Barack's house in Chicago is on.

This is a picture of Barack's Chicago house. Its the small house in between the trees. (The red brick house).