Great Wolf Lodge

We water-logged ourselves at the ‘new’ Great Wolf Lodge in town. GWL bought an existing water park and added its themed activities that allows for more to do than just the park. Our two kiddos just wanted to stay in the water.  Colin and Bill made multiple trips down the tube slides. Bill mastered the body surfing. Sydney was happy to float around the lazy river zipping by whenever she hit the water jets with her water wings on. The kids enjoyed the story time in pajamas before we turned in for the night. I enjoyed the Dunkin' Donuts coffee the next morning before day two of swimming.

 Enjoying some ice cream by the fire place.

Thanks to Nana Sheila and Papa Guitar for the fun stay-cation!

Nickelodeon Universe

Spent the day off at Mall of America with a bunch of other crazy people.

Log Chute with Paul Bunyan in a Vikings jersey?

 This power tower type ride was a little too much for Syd's tummy.

Met up with the neighbors. The girls rode these cars over and over. 

 Carousel 

The Air Bender probably started Colin down the path of his upset stomach. 

Sew, very old one. Sew like the wind! - Three Amigos

Got it in my mind that I could whip up some sleeping bag blankets for Christmas. Sydney wanted a mermaid and Colin wanted a dragon. And, I didn't do too bad. I even made matching hats!

Memory Lane

I have a bunch of silly photos on my phone that haven’t made it on the blog. So before I lose them, I’m finally adding them below.

Sydney potty training Brutus Buckeye.

A perfectly timed photo.

Cousins on the 4th of July 2014, I think.

Colin and the summer mowhawk

Taking up snowboarding 

His first Buckeye football game (in MN in the very cold!)

Sibs :) 

Christmas 2017

While the artic cold didn't hit until after Christmas, we were getting in the holiday spirit throughout the month of December.

Kiddos enjoyed making and decorating their Ninjabread men.

And they made their gingerbread houses with Nana Sheila and Papa Guitar.

We spent Christmas in Toledo and had fun with aunts, uncles, cousins and Nana Mary and Papa Beard. They had a nice snow fall of a few inches for a lovely white Christmas. We went with the Molnars to see some of the lights downtown Toledo.  

Always a beautiful tree!

Made it back home after Bill left his phone in the rental car and had to go back to retrieve it and barely make the flight! Kids were freaked out that we might leave Dad at the airport. A bit of a "planes, trains, and automobiles" adventure. 

Back home, and opened more gifts. Syd compared her loot to the Target toy catalog and commented on the items Santa didn't bring her. 

Colin decided it might be a better plan to provide a Christmas list vs. asking people to surprise him. Found out that Sydney has fairly decent patience and skill for building a large Lego set. With some explanations for how the Lego instructions work, she built herself a beach house. Colin and Syd donned their long underwear and winter face masks and weapons for a ninja battle. 

Russ and Mandi's epic wedding

A beautiful setting in Berryville, VA for Russ and Mandi's wedding. It was a lot of fun to have all of Bill's sibs and most of the cousins join the festivities. 

Rosemont Manor

From the manor house looking out on the grounds and where the ceremony took place. 

We had time before the wedding to visit a nearby apple orchard and let the kids loose to pick a 'bushel and a peck'. We came home with 12 lbs of apples. 

Fun with cousins at the rehearsal dinner. 

Getting ready for the wedding!  CP -so handsome!

A great picture with Nana and Papa :) 

A pretty flower girl! Cutie Emma's photo bomb. 

And, finally, the big day! Bill was one of the groomsmen. Looked very fine in his tux and snowboarder cuff links, a gift from his brother. Sydney took her role as flower girl very seriously. She did very well spreading the petals along the walk. 

A beautiful wedding!