Hanging Lights 2022 🎄

Shecklet #1 is in his element tonight. Grandma Lois called and asked if he would hang her Christmas lights again this year. He said yes, of course! Jake drove him down to her house tonight in an effort to beat the cold temps that are coming our way tomorrow. I’m excited to see how they turn out!

Opening skiing 2022!

Trollhaugen has been making snow during this current October cold snap we’ve been having. The Trolls sent and email saying the slopes would be open for a few hours today.

Jake took the girls to get their first lift ticket of their 2022-2023 ski pass. (The boys had youth group tonight, so they stayed back with me.)

Cheers to 20 years!

Twenty years ago seems like yesterday and forever ago at the same time.

We’ve loved through the joyful times as well as the gut-wrenching, sorrowful ones.

Thank you for being my partner through it all.

Taking out the dock

September is a busy month this year, so the annual dock removal and Nissedalen cleanup took place today. We had beautiful weather and had a lot of fun while working together.

Fr. Joseph visit!

Shecklet #3’s godfather came to visit us today!

The kids did some biking at Carver Lake Park while we caught up with Fr. Joseph. We then headed for lunch before having to bring him back to the airport. It was a very quick trip, but it was SO good to see him!

Tractors in Hutchinson 🚜

Jake took the girls and one of his sisters out west to the Orange Spectacular this evening, complete with a tractor pull. Shecklet #4 even found a chainsaw 😆 (Yes, I know my tractor emoji is John Deere-colored. I apologize to the Allis-Chalmers devotees.)

Father’s Day 2022

This baby was placed in my Walmart cart, so I took that as a hint that it was supposed to find it’s way to our home. I don’t often surprise Jake, but this time I did. I’m not sure he imagined I would actually purchase it for him. Surprise!

Three of the kids helped assemble it.

Then it had to be out to use! (The kids figured out the air fryer pretty quickly.)

We also celebrated Grandpa Dave’s and Aunt Bri’s birthdays.

Popsicle tree

After a multi-year hunt, I finally found a replacement for the mini popsicle tree we used to have in the front garden. My initial thought was that it was going to be too large, but it ended up being the perfect size. The guys ended up planting it for me. I love it!

PPFL Banquet 2022

We were invited to attend the 2002 Prenatal Partners for Life banquet this evening. Mary Kellett contacted us to see if we were available to use three of the tickets purchased by a group who was no longer able to attend and wanted to offer them to someone else. We were able to take Shecklet #3 with us. It was her first “fancy” dinner.

During the presentation part of the event, we heard the story of a family who lost their little girl due to a chromosome defect. They were blessed to have a few days with her prior to her passing. It turned out that the little girl is the sweet baby who is buried next to Astrid. I ran into her mom while exiting the restroom and introduced myself. She told me that it is her MIL who will leave flowers at Astrid’s grave when she visits her granddaughter. I have often wondered who is behind the heart-warming gesture – now I know.