More Up North photos

Maria is already in the Driver's Seat!
Maria and her daddy riding in the caboose!
Casey Jones and his crew riding the Nisswa Express!
Good Exercise!
Grandpa and Dad trying to bring the kids out in the lake behind the paddle boat. No go! Had to paddle by hand!

Up North - Brainerd

The little fisherpeople going out in the boat with their dad and mom. This lasted about 5 minutes...Mitchell was directing the driver, "Too fast! Too slow! Faster, Captain!"
Chuck would get a worm on the line of Mitchell's Superman pole and then after a couple casts Mitchell would be done. Chuck did more fishing with the Superman and Princess poles than he did with his own!
The day of the Turtle races in Nisswa...Mitchell loved Babe the Big BLUE Ox.
Mitchell and Grandpa waiting for their turn to race Mitchell's turtle...they wore matching race caps. They picked a very tired turtle as Mitchell was racer #212 and Maria was #221. It's a pretty big deal on Wednesdays up in Nisswa! Mitchell has his T-shirt on for the occasion. You can also see Grandma in the background taking a photo.
Uncle Brent and Grandpa went to pick up the boat and we were waiting for them at the end of the dock. Mitchell flagged them in with his Superman cape.
A little quiet time with Grandma--she brought along all kinds of great activities to keep the kids busy when they weren't fishing or playing in the sand OR when others in the house wanted to get a little extra sleep. (Thanks, Mom!)
Maria having fun in the sand with her new suit from Grandma & Grandpa.
Mitchell caught a keeper! We had a fish fry Friday night. They caught enough for everyone to have a taste--Mitchell and Maria loved the fish!
The scenery from the back patio. Mom got to sit and relax once in a while...
Grandpa walking Maria down to the lake for fishing.
First day at the house on Gladstone Lake. The kids got new boots from Grandma & Grandpa and Chuck took them to the end of the dock to learn how to fish. It was a lovely week with the family. Thank you Family!

Maria's Braids

French Braids!!!

And believe it or not, I did them! I am getting kind of good at them. I keep asking her if she would like to get a hair cut though! I even told her she could get it cut from the same lady who cuts Grandma's hair, but she still wanted no part in it. (I know where she gets her Girly-Girl stuff, and I am so thankful Grandma takes care of the nail polish and fancy dresses!)

Water Slide Photos

This is Mitchell and Maria's second week of swimming lessons. It has been much warmer and the sun has even come out! The teachers do such a good job with them. Grandma got to come watch them one day last week and then she took us to the Bakery for a treat! Last Friday Chuck had the day off and the teachers were trying to get the kids to blow bubbles in the water. When that didn't work with Maria, the teacher said, "Can you get your nose wet?" and Maria wouldn't cooperate. Then Chuck yells out to her,"Maria, get your nose wet!" She dipped her hand in the water and put water on her nose!

Today they went down the water slide for the first time--both of them. They were nervous, but then were excited they made it! Mitchell says that Catherine is his favorite and Maria likes Sylvie the best!

Maria feels like a princess when she wears her jewelry! Mitchell likes to be a puppy or kitty by the name of "Ginger". I think this picture was taken the day he was the princess's cat, Ginger! He also likes to show us he can curl his tongue - he calls it a "Hot Dog Sandwich". I think that's another term he made up, or heard from Grandpa!

We will be celebrating Mitchell and Maria's learning to swim with a trip to see Auntie Barb and Jimbo to swim in their pool. The kids will also get a chance to be in the lake at my friend Paula's house next week. It will be good practice for our vacation when we go to stay at a house on a lake up North with Grandma & Grandpa and we hope Uncle Brent and Aunt Wendy too!

Chris has a new gig at the Anoka theatre: Lyric Arts. He is a stage manager and a manager of all of the stage managers! We spent his birthday at Elsie's for dinner and bowling - what a good time! We all always look forward to spending time with Brother Chris, and now his girlfriend Allie too!

Fourth of July Parade

It looks like I uploaded the photos in the wrong order...AGAIN!
Since Amy McCusker-Dombeck was due with Abbey (her golden bday is July 8th) we have been watching the Fourth of July parade in Cannon Falls with the Dombeck family. This year Chuck was setting up the chairs and awning with Doug at 7 am - and they weren't the first ones out there! Apparently some people set up the night before to reserve their spots - we are a trusting folk in CF. The parade starts at 11:30 and we saw the last float/tractor go by about 1 pm. It's a big "To-Do" in Cannon. We saw several squirt guns and hoses and water balloons. We were doused by the fire department (Jeff, Amy's brother volunteers with the CFFD) and then the CF pool crew who know Mitchell and Maria from swim lessons and they know me from school...Grandma always has a special bag of candy for the Hoffmans and Dombecks - she jumps out of the '55 Chevy which is in the parade representing the Cannon Cruisers, she hands the kids their special treats, and then she boogies to catch up with Grandpa. Uncle Brent was driving the '67 Buick with Wendy as co pilot and photographer.

Swimming Lessons

Maria and Mitchell started their first swimming lessons at the Cannon Falls pool on Monday. I don't think it has been over 70 degrees since then! They both got in the pool with their lifeguard teachers on Monday and due to the 63 degree weather on Tuesday they had a safety day. Today Maria was sick so she didn't get in the pool, but Mitchell swam by himself and had a try at the diving board!!! Maria said she will go in the pool and swim without holding on to Sylvie (her teacher) tomorrow.
We had a busy spring with birthdays! Maria's was on April 5th and we had dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Mitchell (May 14) had a party at the Green Lake Park with his friend Sam whose birthday is May 10th. It was a cold day for May, but the kids had a good time!
I am off for the summer until August 17th and we have a family vacation planned for Brainerd the week of July 20th. We sure are looking forward to it! Enjoy the photos and have a safe Fourth of July.

Easter Days

Cannon Falls has an annual Easter Bunny food shelf collection and candy bag hunt. We met Sam & Sara there who both go to WeeCare with Mitchell & Maria and are the same ages and in the same classes. We meet up with them frequently at community kid things! Notice that Maria is about the same size as Sam!!! Maria was a little afraid of the Easter Bunny, but not afraid of the candy! The kids got a number and then searched the town for the candy bag with their number on it. It was a nice warm day to walk around and "window shop". Mitchell found his candy bag at Fouth & Main, the new fabric store in town and Maria found her bag at First Farmers & Merchants Bank.
We spent Easter with The Sigmeths and had a couple Easter Egg hunts--the Bunny left plenty of candy as well as new outfits and workbooks.