The braces are off!!

Back in September, the 21st to be exact, Jacob got his braces off after a year and a half of wearing them. (I forgot to add this post at the time!) He got his braces on in March/April of 2010 and along with the braces he had to wear head gear. He has or I should say had an under bite and his bottom jaw was a whole tooth off. Thankfully the year and half of braces and head gear worked and he now has a normal bite. But now it’s a waiting game to see if he bottom jaw stays put. I really hope so otherwise he’ll probably have to have surgery. When Jacob got his braces off he was a little nervous about the whole process but overall excited. I have to say he looked like a different kid without the braces. He’s got such nice straight teeth!

This picture was taken with my phone so its not the best quality.

Happy 11th Birthday my sweet Jacob!

Happy Birthday Jacob! I can't believe today you are 11! You are growing up so fast. I still remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. I am the luckiest person on earth because I get to be your mom. Thanks for being you. I love you to the moon and back a hundred times buddy. Hope you have a wonderful birthday.

Happy Birthday Jason!

Happy Birthday to my favorite big brother!! Thank you for all you've done for me over the years. We hope you have a wonderful birthday. We love you!!


Jason holding Karisa and Josey Kate at Christmas last year. I think Karisa was a little jealous because daddy was holding another baby!!

Hanging with Isabel!

On Saturday we spent some more time with the Huseby’s. Nana, Papa, Brec and Isabel stopped over Saturday afternoon for a visit and then took MaKena back to their house to play with Isabel. We met up with everyone at Brandon’s football game at the Fargo Dome that night. After the big game, they won by the way; we headed back to Lonnie and Ardis’s for supper. Alexis had planned a sleepover with MaKena and Isabel at Nana and Papa’s house so MaKena was excited. Before supper Isabel sat on the couch and read MaKena some of her school books. It was adorable! After supper, MaKena got the card game back out and sat on Papa’s lap and played the guessing game with Papa. I think this is a game we’ll have to get for our house.

Isabel reading to MaKena. (Notice the puppy in MaKena's hands. She got that the weekend before from Great Grandma Vivian and takes it with her a lot.)

MaKena and Papa playing the guessing game. I seriously think she would have played this game all night. She was having so much fun.

I love this picture!! Papa is really trying to figure it out!

Some quality time with the Husebys

Two weekends in a row we had some good quality family time. The second to last weekend in October Brec and Isabel were in town for a visit. We had dinner at Lonnie and Ardis’s Friday night and the whole Huseby crew was there. Isabel brought a fun game that all the kids and adults really got into playing. I’m not sure what the game was called but it involved a deck of cards with pictures of food, animals, household items, etc. on them. You put one of the headbands on your head and someone puts one of the many cards on your headband and then you ask questions and try and figure out what card is on your head. MaKena wasn’t good at keeping a secret. Many times you knew what was on your head before you could ask a question but she sure had fun playing. She liked picking out the cards and putting them on everyone’s head. Some of the items she didn’t know what they were so if you asked her a question sometimes you’d get a wrong answer. There was a lot of giggling going on that night. The kids had a blast playing and running around. It was a fun night.

Isabel with one of the many cards on her head.
Brad with one of the cats. (I have a hard time telling them apart sometimes! MaKena usually corrects me!!)

MaKena "helping"me figure out what's on my head.

Nana and Papa got in on the fun too.

MaKena helping Uncle Brad figure out what's on his head. The unicorn was MaKena's favorite card to put on everyone's head.

Uncle Brec trying to figure out what card MaKena put on his head. She didn't know what the pictures was so it took awhile!

Brandon and Alexis giving MaKena and Isabel airplane rides.

Brandon giving MaKena a horsey ride.

Quality time with the Redfields

I love family time. I love being surrounded by family. It makes me feel safe and comfortable. I’m a family girl. In the middle of October, Justin and Laura were in town for the weekend. On Saturday they came out to Jacob’s last soccer game and helped cheer his team on. Jacob was thrilled to have them at his game. On Sunday mom had the whole Redfield clan out to her house for dinner and some good old family time. Everyone was there, well just about everyone! It was loud and crazy but it was fun. That’s the only way to have a Redfield get together! The kids ventured out to the park to play for awhile which made the house peaceful for an hour. I walked out to check on the little kids and take some fun pictures. Before we knew it, it was time to pack up and head home. Justin and Laura had to head back to Chicago on Monday. It was a short visit but it sure was a nice visit. We look forward to their next visit and maybe even planning a visit to Chicago of our own!

Mr. Gunnar hanging out in the kitchen.
Justin, Mom, Grandma Vivian, Dan and Grandma Ivy visiting.

Lane, Uncle Tom, Jason, Uncle Steve, Uncle Keith, Laurie and Jerene visiting upstairs at mom's.

McKayla, Mallorie and Jacob playing on the teeter totters at the park.

Emma and Karisa joined the big kids on the teeter totters.

MaKena and Karlee playing on the big tractor tires. They were having fun!

Karisa, MaKena, Karlee and McKayla playing on the tractor tires.

McKayla, Karlee, Emma, Karisa, Jacob, Mallorie and MaKena posing for a cute picture.

The kids getting ready to play hide-n-seek.

Emma mastering the monkey bars. I love how she has her tongue out!

Karisa swinging like a monkey!

The 3 little girls playing on the teeter totters. (MaKena in pink, Karisa in green and Emma in grey.)

Jacob, MaKena, Emma, Mallorie, Karisa, Karlee and McKayla hanging out at the park shelter.

Justin and Laura opening their baby gift from Grandma Ivy. Yep, I'm going to be an auntie again!! I can't wait.

Mr. Gunnar being cute!

Grandma Vivian with all her Redfield great grandchildren. Emma and MaKena in the front, Karisa in purple, Mallorie in blue and Jacob holding Gunnar.

Uncle Justin playing with Gunnar.

MaKena being a big helper and helping Gunnar get his shoes on!

Fall Soccer

Jacob wrapped up another year of soccer. This year was a bit challenging. The soccer club we are part of really mixed things up this year. For the last 5 years Jacob has played with the same kids from West Fargo, which is where he goes to school. This year the club merged the Red River Soccer Club with the Moorhead soccer club and Jacob ended up on a team with 4 West Fargo kids who were on his team last year, 10 Fargo kids who we’ve never played with before and a new coach. It took the boys awhile to get familiar with each other but towards the end of the season they started playing well together. Unfortunately we didn’t win any games but Jacob still had fun and that’s what it’s all about. Hopefully next spring will be a little better.

Jacob is #3 in the white with his back to us.

Another trip to the Zoo!

We love the zoo! When Lane and I took MaKena to the zoo in August we bought a year membership. We knew we’d go back again because MaKena loves animals. The beginning of October Lane had to go to the cities for a week for a work conference. He left Sunday morning so that afternoon I decided to take the kids to the zoo. It’s been years since Jacob has been to the zoo and the weather was perfect to be outside. We got to the zoo and MaKena had to show Jacob all the stuff. She was our little tour guide. We checked out the wolfs and the bald eagle then ventured over to feed the ducks. We quickly walked through the reptile exhibit then headed over to MaKena’s favorite part of the zoo…..the petting zoo. Both Jacob and MaKena fed the goats and pet the horses. Before we knew it we’d seen all the animals and decided to head inside for ride on the carousal. We were the only ones on the carousal so we got an extra long and fast ride! It was a fun day.

My two favorite kids sitting by the tiger (as MaKena called it!) outside the zoo.
Feeding the ducks.

MaKena and Jacob checking out the prairie dogs.

The kids checking out the horses.

Feeding the goats.

MaKena getting a little help from Jacob so she could pet the horse.

A cute little picture!

Getting read to ride the carousal.

Fall Festival

The middle of September Lane and I took MaKena to the Fall Festival at Rheault Farms. This is the 2nd year we’ve went but this year Jacob wasn’t able to join us. The weather was great. Once we got to Rheault Farms we bought MaKena a wrist band so she could take part in all the different activities. They had a couple blow-up games from Games Galore, face painting, cookie decorating, pumpkin decorating, a mini pumpkin patch, carnival games, a hay bale maze and pony rides. MaKena’s favorite was the pony ride. To say she loves horses would be an understatement! After the pony ride we ventured into one of the buildings to get her face painted. She looked pretty cute after her face was painted like a puppy! We played a little longer and then checked out the pumpkin patch and then headed home. It was a fun filled day!

MaKena playing one of the many games set up.
Getting ready to get on her pony.

No fear!!

She loved every minute of the ride.

MaKena hanging out in the hay bale maze.

Checking out all the pumpkins in the pumpkin patch. She picked the littlest one!!

See the pumpkin on the table, that's the one she picked out of the pumpkin patch!!

Getting her face painted.

MaKena the cute puppy!!

This was one of the blow up games. The next several pictures Lane took with the continuous shot. I love these. It shows her going down the slide. Check out her face expression on some of them!

Me and MaKena on our way out of the Fall Festival.