Free Nu Strpz on Labur Day!

So - you might remember this....

We'll do about anything for free Chick-fil-a. I'm thinking if you are reading this - perhaps you will too! So if you haven't heard - tomorrow (Labor Day) you get a free pack of 3 of the new Chicken Strips is you wear a shirt with any football team logo.

WooHoo! Free Chikin!

A final look at MN

Yeah - I'm almost done with our MN trip - and we've only been home a week.... what can I say - we did a lot, and it's been a really crazy week. At home this week we've had tornado warnings, teeth coming in (oh my), trips to parks, indoor playgrounds, music class, and have come down with a baby cold (probably due to one of the trips above - or the airplane coming home). So finally he's the wrapup...

Before we left MN we had some water fun.... more driving lessons....
One on one b-ball with Halee...

teeter-totering....
Reading lessons (Thanks Tony - she learned a lot from your book)....
More giggles with Halee....
Dancing, playing and musical flowers with Great Auntie Janice....
Slam dunks with Auntie Dawn....

Yummy Mickey Mouse Pancakes.... Megan was very impressed!
So much so that she said - forget the little pieces that mommy cut - I'll just shove the whole thing in my mouth...
Some good belly laughs with Tigger....
And some good tickles from Uncle Tony...
We had a great time and are so thankful that Megan got to see so many folks. We can't wait to come back and see you around the holidays!

Kitty Cats

We ended out trip to MN with a trip back to the cities and some time with Uncle Tony and Auntie Dawn. Which of course means lots of time terrorizing Bebe, Buddy and her best friend Bear.

Megan gave Bear lots of kisses....
And more kisses....
And more kisses....
And occasionally, left Bear a little reminder of her kisses. (Note the cracker crumbs she lovingly slobbered on him above the eye on the right)
We love you Bear.... Thanks for putting up with all of Megan's passionate hugs and kisses!

Uncle Dan

Uncle Dan did his fair share of entertaining little Megan. On any given day you'd find him reading to her - or playing drums.... Or being entertained himself as Megan went coo-coo over the coo-coo clock...
We love you Uncle Dan!

Little Grasshopper

Grasshopper hunts were a daily past time in MN. Megan was good at it (much to my dismay). She only tried to eat 2, and thankfully we were there to save the day (and the grasshopper).
Look closely - you can see she caught one and is holding it in her fingers, inspecting it. She's fearless, that's for sure. Where did you go?????
The chase is on.....
Let's just say I had to overcome some major insect heebie jeebies to be out there hunting grasshoppers with Megan. I'm not a huge bug fan but you do what you have to do when you have a 17 month old... right?

Gooseberry Falls

If you ever get to go visit the Northern shores of MN, be sure to stop off at Gooseberry Falls. It's a beautiful park with some great waterfalls. The water level was really down while we were there - but it's still beautiful and there was a lot of exposed rock to walk on and Megan loved that. You can hike to the upper, mid, or lower falls. This is a peek at the upper falls.


We walked out to the water at the mid falls area and Megan played in the water. I don't know how she stood it - it was freezing! But she wanted more and more and more...
Wondering who the shirtless man is? And why Megan is hanging out with him?
This is a monument to the men who helped to build the park (CCC - Civilian Conservation Corps.) in the 1930's. Tom's grandfather was one of those men. How cool is that to be able to tell Megan - your Great Grandfather helped to build this park.

The CCC is actually really interesting. It was set up by FDR in the 30's to help with the unemployment situation. This was a quote about his plan....

"Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously.... It can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself, treating the task as we would treat the emergency of war, but at the same time, through this employment, accomplishing greatly needed projects to stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources."
From President Roosevelt's Inaugural Address, March, 1933

Tom's grandfather is in a picture in the visitor center - again, how cool to see Megan's history laid before her in physical form.

Exploring

It's good to be in MN in the summer - when you can actually get outside to explore. We had a couple of windy days - which Megan loved. She just giggles and opens her mouth and lets the wind fly in. Papa has lots of flowers. Megan loved smelling each one.
There were also hundreds of grasshoppers and crickets (I am not exagerating) hopping around. So every day we went out to let Megan hunt for some. A funny site.... multiple adults trying to stir up grasshoppers for a little girl.
Once they got stirred up... the chase was on! And let me say that Megan had an amazing knack for catching those quick little guys. I have a video of that to post later.
After exploring the yard, we headed to Lake Superior (which is basically across the street and past the golf course).

Papa and Megan went on a rock hunt looking for agates and sea glass (Ok, maybe they were just looking at the rocks and I was the one hunting for specifics - now that I know what they are).
And there was a lot of driftwood - and you know how Megan loves a good stick.
We ended the day with a visit from some family friends.

Megan served up some tea for Barb and Grandma. (I can't believe she's old enough to have a tea party - sniff sniff).
And Barb gave Megan a fun book - of which she still loves the doggie tongue.

Branden

It's with a heavy heart that I write this final note to ask for prayers for Bryan and his boys, Justin and Ethan. Little baby Branden passed away last night. He put up quite a fight but is at home with the Lord (and his mommy) now. Please pray for this sweet family as you hug your kids or spouse or friends - I really can't imagine what Bryan is going through. When asked what he needs, Bryan's response is and has always been - just pray. So now.... just pray!

The organist...

Practice, practice, practice... Working on her solo....
Everybody sing....

MN Fun

Megan had so many fun experiences while we were in MN that it's hard to get them all in. So I'm resorting to snip-it's. The pictures don't do justice to the memories we made.

By the end of the week, Megan was trying to say Uncle Dan. She'd get out "Bye bye Daaaahhn." It was very sweet
We got to play with Grandma and Papa's organ. Megan found it on the first day and the rest was history.
We got to walk to a park near Grandma and Papa's house. That was fun. Note the jackets - It was blazing hot the first couple of days, then windy and cold the next couple. Glad we packed layers.

Peek-A-Boo!

Little Mimic

Megan will do about anything you want...... IF.... you do it with her and let her mimic you.

Pray for Baby Branden

(I think I got the Caring Bridge link fixed.)

Please keep little Baby Branden in your prayers. He was airlifted from Fargo to Minneapolis when he developed NE (Necrotizing Enterocolitis). He had surgery and they had to remove part of his intestines that were "dead". It's touch and go and he's still a very sick little boy. Also pray for his brothers, Ethan and Justin. I can't imagine what it would be like for the little guys to lose thier mommy and now have their daddy and new baby brother so far away. They started up a caring bridge site for Branden - so check it, let Bryan and his family know that they are being prayed for.

The Breakwater

While in MN we spent lots of time outside, which of course is Megan's favorite place to be. We heard some boats were coming into the harbor (on Lake Superior) so we headed to the breakwater to check it out.

Daddy, Megan, and Grandma with the boat behind them.
Megan loved the safety ropes.
Back to the car with a ride on my shoulders. Behind us, to the left, is the light house.

Once we got home - Grandma gave Megan one of the special cookies she had made just for her. Megan loved it, of course. Then Megan wanted to make sure everyone knew how the kitty cat's ate their food (flashbacks to her new friends Bebe, Buddy and Bear).... either that, or she just liked looking at herself in the metal tray. (your guess is as good as mine)

Sidenote - this was the same highchair that Tom used when he was a little tyke.