My cousin and his family came to visit over the weekend. 8 kids, 4 adults, lots of laughs, and new memories made. The kids connected like they were old friends, which was awesome to see. The adults enjoyed sitting around the kitchen table and catching up over Crown Royal peach with sweet tea. We took in a Twins game (unfortunately, they did not win,) but it didn’t matter. It was just great to get to spend time with family.
This is what family looks like.
Shecklet #2 is giving cross country a try as a way to get in shape for the ski season. I’m super proud of him for trying something new.
Jake took the boys on a new single track ride tonight. They all enjoyed it and can’t wait to go back.
Shecklets #1 and 3 spent the day with Aunt Larissa while Shecklets #2 and 4 went with Jake and me to the lake to help take out and wash down the dock. Larissa took them to the orchard where Grandma Patti works each fall.
Here are some of the latest “how tall” stats for 2021.
I haven’t seen my aunt and uncle (my godparents) in over two years. A lot has happened to all of us during those two years. Seeing them today and being able to catch up in person was so good for my heart.
My aunt Deb gifted me a cedar chest that my grandfather made and several knitted items that my grandma and her twin sister made. I had asked her to write up a brief history of the piece, which will be a treasured piece of information about the chest that I will keep with it.
Here it is in its new location in our home.
Aunt Deb introduced me and the girls to diamond dots. (The peacock in the photo of the two of us was done by her.) She sent home three mini kits for us to try.
These enormous pine cones arrived from NV. Shecklet #3 and his Aunt Bri and Uncle Jason found them on a hike, Aunt Kari baked them when she was visiting Jason, and Jason sent them. They are amazing!
Weddings are often the only time we get a “fancy” family photo. Today we attended the vow renewal and reception for one of Jake’s cousins. It was a beautiful day and a fun reason to celebrate with family.
No, Jake isn’t shorter than Shecklet #1…yet. He’s leaning forward a bit in the above photo, so it looks like Shecklet #1 has passed him up.
We have a high schooler! How can this kid be in 9th grade? Wasn’t it yesterday that he was starting kindergarten? So excited to see what this year has in store for him!
As a friend of mine pointed out, he’s lucky to get to go to school with bare feet 😆
Ever since returning from his trip to NV, Shecklet #2 has been anxious to design and build a bike trail with jumps at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. He and his dad started some of the process at home.
Then they headed south to bring some of his vision to reality. Jake’s parents’ neighbor, who has excavating equipment, made short work of building the dirt jumps – saving Shecklet #2 many, many hours of work.
After helping, neighbor J enjoyed watching the Shecklets alongside Grandma and Grandpa 😊
And yes, that’s Shecklet #4 taking quite the fall, but she’s a tough kid and shook it off!
My driver’s side mirror was damaged and the whole mirror arm needs replacement. In order to find the exact product number, Jake had to remove the mirror glass. Unfortunately, the glass couldn’t be reinstalled while we waited for the new arm to be delivered. This is my temporary fix (a blind spot mirror) until the new one arrives and Jake can install it.
I can’t wait to be able to see using a real mirror again!
