Family galore

This weekend we celebrated my Grandma Ethel's 80th birthday, here in Fargo. This is the fastest a weekend has ever gone, I'm fairly certain. Steve, Debi and Grandma Ethel arrived on Wednesday evening, Steph and Mike arrived on Thursday afternoon, and Josh and Christy live down the street.

They watched Gus on Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. He will be bummed on Monday when he has to go to actual daycare again.

All the other family members came tricking in on Friday afternoon and evening.

Pictures in the park:


Swimming was our priority. Gus loves it although he looks quite upset in this photo. Maybe he thought Ross was going to swim away.


Lindsey, Josh, Christy, Steve, Laura and Brett enjoying the Holiday Inn's pirate swimming cove. You can't see the pirate ship from this angle but ARRRGH!

Gus practicing standing and trying not to slip.

Mother Theresa/Brett

Grandpa and Gus

Laura getting launched up onto the Pirate Ship.

Josh is the human spring board. Lindsey up up and away.

Gus and his Great-Grandma Ethel at her dinner party on Saturday night. He wore a suit which he later puked on. He looked sharp for about an hour prior to that.

All the grandchildren and their families.

The whole fam eating dinner.

Too many choices in this menu for Josh.

Everyone posing and looking happy to be there!

Gus thinking and shaking his finger as if to say..."wait a sec mom...something's kinda fishy here....gotta keep my eye on you.."

4 generations of us.

All the siblings with Grandma. Happy Birthday!

In or on stuff all the time

Gus prefers to go straight over or through his obstacles rather than moving them aside.

Green is in now, right?

Gus exercised his green thumb tonight, working on our plants during these last few days of summer.

Sorry, didn't have time to edit out the drool on this pic.




This plant species is not edible so here is where our gardening expedition ended.

Walker-boy

Gus received this sweet walker/scooter from Grandma and Grandpa V. He took off right away.

Playing with all the gadgets first.


It looks like he's mowing the lawn, doesn't it?

Notice the blurring foot, yes - he was going that fast.



The only problem is turning around and backing up. He will get the hang of it the more he practices. Thanks for the great gift!

Camping, but not roughing it

We spent the long weekend back in MN, up north near Walker, MN at Huddle's Resort. We met our good friend's Mike & Michelle, and Tara & Buzz and spent the weekend fishing, eating, shopping, walking, campfiring, and swimming. We are beat but it was worth it.



We tried to keep Gus out from under the table (gross, who knows what has been under there), but there was no stopping him.

Breakfast with the men.

Modeling Mike's shades.


The puppies, Griffin and Mollie, were a huge source of entertainment for all of us.

Mollie fetching sticks.

Tara's new sombrero. She's always been prone to a sunburn but this is taking sun visor to a whole new level.

Actually, this is a floaty.

Michelle (and baby girl...8 weeks to go) looking cute and pregnant on the beach.

Mollie, tired and ready for a nap.

Gus was WAY pumped up to jump in the pool.

Too bad our small inflatable pool at home doesn't create the same level of excitement.



Pina colada, please.

He received plenty of attention while swimming and he didn't let anyone borrow his floaty.

Walking the dock, checking out the boats.

Senior, not as in citizen

A highlight from last weekend was a visit from LeRae and my cous Braden. I had a great time taking his senior pics even though it took me nearly half the session just to accept the fact that I am old and that he is old enough to be graduating. I finally came to terms with it and enjoyed gallivanting around Fargo with him and LeRae, hunting down the perfect spot. We had fun! LeRae was the perfect assistant and Braden is a natural model. All I had to do was snap, snap, snap away. See?




Very handsome and cool kid, too.