Our vacation at the lake

At the end of August we took some vacation time, spent a week at the family lake cabin on Big McDonald lake (MN)and then went out to Fort Wayne, IN to G'ma & G'pa Harvala at their new house on campus at the seminary. Here are lake pictures, Fort Wayne pictures are yet to come.

Taking some time to see Phelps Mill, an old flour mill in Minnesota.


Adam, Joshua fishing off the dock. Grandpa Hanson helping Joshua


Joshua's 1st fish!


The line's back in the water, let's try for another fish.


Adam untangling the line caught in the reeds


Adam and Joshua went fishing out in the boat and came back with supper in the live well!


Miriam trying to get into the excersaucer


G'pa Hanson would be proud.. Joshua ate the last of the Kuchen like a piece of pizza!

Mallory's Birthday

Our niece and cousin Mallory's birthday was August 17th, to make it easier on the traveling fam with gathered on saturday instead (the 16th). She is now 2 and although about 2 months younger than Joshua is just about the same size... pretty much. Here are some pictures from that day.

Mallory drawing with sidewalk chalk


Joshua playing t-ball and Mallory's new puppy


Mallory blowing out her candles


Matt was hauling garbage in a wagon out to a burn barrel and Joshua found another wagon to follow him. It was so cute!

Here and There

Joshua and Brynn at our park in Holland, Sophie (Brynn's sister) in the back left.


Joshua going down a slide at a park in Tyler, MN


Joshua posing with a hat he got from G'ma & G'pa Harvala when they were in the process of packing up there belongs to move out to Fort Wayne.


Looking cool riding in the van


My babies playing together!


Joshua "reading" to Miriam


Miriam at the park here in Holland


Miriam sat up on her own... now she's a pro at sitting, she can sit up so nice and tall.

A day at my friend Becky's house

The kids and I went over to Becky's to can peaches about a month or so ago. Here are some pictures from the day.

Joshua helped put the peaches in the jars


Joshua and Brynn lounging on her couch


Brynn wanted to help Joshua put his shoes on

The Famous Song of Hiawatha Pageant

From our seats..


Also at the end of July we made sure to go see the 60th and final year of the Song of Hiawatha Pagaent. Last year we had been told about it and that we should go, but thought it would be too late in the evening for Joshua (it starts at about 9 when it gets dark and is about 2 hours long). When we heard this was going to be the last year of the production we made a point to go see it and dress up as Indians. People from the community just show up to volunteer to be "extras" as Indians (costumes are provided), they also sign up where they attend church and the church receives a little money for their participation. It was a fun time, I'm glad we made sure to do it.

Our Indian family


Our Indian boy


The group from our church

Where to start??

I have so many pictures to share and a lot has happened since I lasted posted... especially with our little Miriam! Now that we're done vacationing and I am getting caught up with laundry and other daily cleaning I'll try to get some stuff done on our blog. So please continue to be patient, I still have Joshua and Miriam to work around. Way back in the end of July or beginning of August was the Pipestone County Fair. I bought some ride tickets for Joshua ahead of time so they weren't as expensive and Joshua rode a handful of different things and most of them twice. We met up with my friend Becky and her two girls, Brynn and Sophie. Brynn and Joshua rode just about all of their rides together... try to compare their body sizes, Joshua is just about as tall as Brynn, but definately heavier - She is 4 and he is 2!

On the car ride with Brynn (curly blonde haired girl)

Riding a Motorcyle with Brynn

Going down the big slide - Joshua loved it! On the left is my friend Becky & her daughter Brynn and I am on the right with Joshua.