A day at Nissedalen
Jake took a day off of work (but did get on two video calls) so we could spend the day at the lake. The kids had a blast hanging out with some of their cousins and visiting Great Grandma Lois.
Tag: cousins
Father’s Day 2020
I put together a collage of pictures with Jake holding the Shecklets as newborns.
Bittersweet day. It’s hard to not feel Astrid’s absence.
Cousin visit
No school for these kids because of cold temps means they get to see their cousin and aunt today!
Overnight guests
My cousin and three of his boys stayed with us last night on their way to Green Bay for the Packers/Seahawks football game today. The fact that our kids haven’t seen each other in years didn’t phase them – they had fun playing video games and having nerf battles. Hope we can connect with them again, soon.
Game day times three plus a birthday
Basketball is in full swing in our house. And the games must go on (even when it’s mom’s birthday!)
Jake is took Shecklet #2 to Duluth for a tournament and we called in reinforcements (my amazing in-laws) to help shuttle the girls. My friend, Michelle came with me and my FIL to Shecklet #4’s game while my MIL and Shecklet #1 went to #3’s game. Then afterwards, my MIL gave me the amazing gift of time to spend with Michelle going out to lunch – while she and my FIL hung out with the kids. It was the best birthday gift a mom could receive during this stage of life!
Shecklet #2 had a cheering section of family while in Duluth – Jake’s cousin and her family for one game and my aunt and uncle for another. It was so nice of them to take time to support Shecklet #2!
BTW- since Jake & #2 had to leave Saturday morning, we celebrated my birthday on Friday night. Chinese take-out and cake.
Ren Fest 2019 and a train ride
Today’s trip to the Renaissance Festival was a first for three of us. We saw knives, royalty, and acrobatics, ate Scotch eggs, beef sticks and cheesecake, two Shecklets tried sword fighting, and the girls had face paint and henna done. We enjoyed spending the day with cousin Jess, who was a gracious guide.
Meanwhile, Shecklet #1 spend the day with Grandpa Dave. He started out at Grandma Lois’ house and had breakfast with her before Grandpa came to pick him up. They went on a train ride across the St. Croix, stopped by a candy shop in Stillwater and then headed back to Grandma Lois’ house to watch the Gophers beat Purdue! He spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa’s house, went to mass and then met Jake and Shecklet #2 at Aunt Kari’s new house. Jake worked on her getting her internet working while the boys helped with unpacking and putting things away. I’d say Shecklet #1 had a pretty packed weekend.
📷: Grandpa Dave
Baby shower
My SIL, (Jake’s youngest sister,) is having her first baby. She is due in September with a little boy. The Shecklets are excited to have a new cousin 💙
I found a photo from the baby shower that Jake’s sisters threw me a little over 13 years ago…amazing how much happens in a little over a decade.
Cousins’ Day 2019 @ Nissedalen
We spent the day at Nissedalen with over 40 family members. The weather was fantastic, the food was tasty, and the memories we made were plentiful. I love that my kids get to experience the gift of having a large extended family. There’s always someone to talk to, play with, or laugh alongside. And to think – this is just a portion of the family!
One thing that I enjoyed watching (this year especially,) was the way that Jake’s younger cousins (who are now all adults) have taken an interest in showing my kids how to do certain things – helping them ski, how to safely use a gun at the shooting range, as well as taking the time to talk with them and ask about their interests.
Here are the rest of the photos from Cousins’ Day and the shooting range the day before.
Jake’s cousin, Jess, let the guys ride up north with her on Friday AM. I followed the next day with the girls.
Settergren Christmas 2018
We gathered at Grandma Lois’ church to celebrate Christmas with almost all of the family this afternoon. We feasted in Swedish meatballs, sausage, vegetables, salad, jello & rolls. After opening gifts, we had desert. Delicious food and fun family made for a great day – but we definitely missed having Papa Dale with us!
Shecklet #2 decided he wanted to dress more festive, so we tracked down a llama sweater for him (at our second Target stop.). Not wanting to be left out, Shecklets 1, 3 & 4 also found festive Christmas tops to wear to the family party.
Paddle boarding & Nissedalen @ 50 years
✅ Paddle boarding!!
We spent the day celebrating 50 years at Nissedalen today. The weather was absolutely perfect and the lake water was warm enough for me to enjoy being in it. If you know me at all, that’s a pretty big deal! With summer (sort of) winding down, today was a great day to attempt the next major item on my recovery checklist – paddle boarding. Jake rented a couple of boards from a local shop and his cousins let us use their trucks to transport them to the lake. When the little kids weren’t using them, a few of the adults gave them a try. I was thrilled to not only get up without falling off the board, but keep my balance while paddling down the shoreline and back! Hooray for another recovery item checked off!
Group shot – 4 generations!
Grandma Lois & Papa Dale with many of their grandkids (and spouses) and great-grandkids!
One note about the coloring of the pictures. The smoke in the air from the fires out west was intense. These have been tweaked a bit just to tone down the yellow tones a bit – and they still look hazy!
Shecklet #2 also got up on skis today! Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of him, but he wants to go again, so I’ll try to capture one next time.
The rest of the day’s photos can be found here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kT3NcQ9JhhWmu5878