Peek into our Week Archives - Page 5 of 7

0 In Family/ Friendship/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

The Best Thing About Memories is … Making Them

Summer is for making memories! Here’s the highlights:

A visit from Mom

Grandma came for her first summer visit in Minnesota! We got to spend a few awesome days together, which included knocking an item off the Minnesota Bucket List – a visit to Mill City Museum (click here to read about it). Then she graciously watched ALL FOUR boys so I could go to Florida for my second favorite memory of the summer…

My Cousin’s wedding in Florida

I spent four wonderful days with family in Sarasota, Florida to celebrate the wedding of my cousin (who’s like a little sister to me). My uncle rented a big house that used to belong to Flavor Flav and I spent 3 nights with family there – and one night with my sister on Long Boat Key. It’s the first time I’ve been back to Florida in SO long and forgot how much I love it there.

Me and my sister, Krista
View from Flavor Flav’s former house

There’s something soul-healing about walking on the beach, soaking in some sun, and playing in the waves.

My cousin’s wedding was absolutely BEAUTIFUL and I’m grateful I could be there!

A Unique Birthday

Dropping off diapers and wipes at a Pregnancy Center
Hiding Dollars at the Dollar Tree
Ended my birthday with burgers at B-52

I learned how not to dread turning a year older – make it about OTHERS! This year my boys and I researched ways to give back to our community. On my birthday, we spent the day making a difference!

My baby sister’s wedding in Oklahoma

Another whirlwind weekend with family in another part of the country. I loved spending time with family, celebrating Brooke and her new husband, Jeff!

She had the sweetest wedding, surrounded by big trees, on a beautiful lake.

My sister, her new husband, and new step-daughter
Fueling up for wedding prep
Presenting…the bride!

Fourth of July in Indiana

Shipshewana
Rise and Roll Donuts
An annual tradition – me and my sister with all of our kids

We spent several days with our Indiana family – boating, tubing, fishing on the Lake. We also explored Amish country in Shipshewana, Indiana.

On our way home from Indiana, we stopped for an…

Adventures in Illinois

We visited two places I love… Bien Trucha for the world’s best tacos and…

Blackberry Farm – A fun spot we’ve been visiting since the boys were babies!

We came back home to spend the rest of the summer at home. Some of the highlights for July and August are…

Exploring the Twin Cities

We went fishing, explored parks and beautiful spots around the Twin Cities.

Como Zoo and Conservatory

Egly Burger Challenge

BURGER CHALLENGE STOP #5

We are on the hunt for the best burgers in the Twin Cities. This summer we tried FIVE different burgers places. When we finish, I’ll blog about what we discovered!

Mall of America

Co-producers
Apple Camp
Lego store fun
Log Ride

We love having Mall of America just a few minutes away. George and Clark did a free video editing camp at the Apple Store and all four boys tried their first roller coaster.

Back-to-School Ice cream party

We texted our neighbors, set out ice cream and toppings and 30+ people showed up in our front yard for a back-to-school ice cream party. Super easy and fun for everybody! I wish I would have snapped a picture of the crowd gathered in our front yard – but I didn’t, and it is one of the sweetest memories of the summer.

The Minnesota State Fair

THE GIANT SLIDE

I was going to skip the fair this year, but a friend gave me four free tickets so I took Clark, his friend Sam, and Luke.

We tried some new foods, rode the Giant Slide, enjoyed the Fair from up above on a ski-lift type ride called the Sky Glider and played some games. It was the last thing we did before school started and Clark called it his “favorite thing” all summer…well, “and cousins.”

The Difference a Year Makes

One year ago, I attended a ladies night (Sisterhood) at our church alone. I sat by myself and chatted with complete strangers. This year I came with this group of phenomenal women.

I’m shocked at what a difference a year can make. Last summer we did some grieving and moving – this summer was filled with friends and happy memories.

It’s been fun to go back and reflect on the summer and see the generosity of friendship, the beauty of nature, and the Goodness of God in all of it.

Thanks for joining me on the summer road trip down memory lane.

Subscribe to follow along on our adventures through Fall!

September 7, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Family/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

A Peek into our Week – Summertime, Part 1

I’ve been so busy ENJOYING summer that I haven’t stopped long enough write about it.

If we are friends on Instagram or facebook – you get a glimpse into our lives…but this week I took a break from social media, so I suddenly had the urge to write down what we’ve been up to!

Sunday Funday:

We went to church in the morning. In the evening, Ted and I went to the adorable town of Wayzata . We had an amazing dinner at Gianni’s Steakhouse. We looked at each other in disbelief that we’ve lived here over a YEAR and haven’t yet explored this delightful little town – right on Lake Minnetonka!

Our family is doing a Twin Cities Burger Challenge. We are trying top ten Burger joints (according to the Minnesota Monthly Magazine) to determine which restaurant in the Twin Cities has the best burger. We decided to visit Gianni’s by ourselves because it’s a little fancy and better for date night. You can follow me on instagram for updates on “finding the best burger #eglychallenge.”

I’ll also write our thoughts on the best burgers when we finish the challenge, as well as how we thought they ranked in the following categories:

Kid-Friendly,
Price,
Ambiance, and of course,
TASTE!

Gianni’s Steakhouse was stop #3 on our Burger Challenge. It was DELICIOUS, with a fabulous patio right on Lake Minnetonka.

Monday at the Mall

#georgewilliam and #clarkwayne discussing their movie

I signed George and Clark up for Apple Camp on Movie Creating and Editing. If you have an Apple store in your area, click on this link – the camps are FREE and lots of fun! Here’s a short movie the boys created (no sound):

Afterwards, we walked around the Mall of America …

Beautiful Butterfly Display made out of recycled products
U Betcha!
#lukewashington

and played at the Lego Store.

#eglyboys hard at work
#paulwalter posing with a Lego Statue

Tales from Tuesday…

We met some friends at the movie theater to watch The Lion King. We loved it. It’s almost identical to the original cartoon, but the real animals make it better!

PS – Tuesdays at our theater is DISCOUNT day. Tickets are reduced and popcorn is FREE. Check your local theater to see if you have a “Discount Day.”

Wandering Wednesday…

We were back at Mall of America for Day 2 of Apple Camp. The boys created another movie. Here is George’s short film:

After camp, I let the boys choose a ride at Nickelodeon Universe. Clark, Paul, and Luke wanted to go on their first BIG KID roller coaster. Luke was an inch too short and CRIED that he couldn’t ride with his brothers. Clark and Paul LOVED it though!

Thoughts on Thursday …

Thursday we went to our local library. It’s been closed for renovations and we were so happy to have it re-opened.

The big boys also have Sports Camp every Thursday. They’ve had an awesome coach and really enjoyed it.

TGI Friday…

The boys went to their final class at The Apple Store. Then we spent some time fishing and playing at the lake with friends.

Saturday Adventures…

We went back to Wayzata to let the kids play at the beach on Lake Minnetonka.

#lukewashington cheerfully posing for a picture for me
#paulwalter searching for beach treasures
Ted tossing a football with the boys

We are kind of spoiled with all the pool swimming we do, so the kids and I don’t love swimming with all the rocks and muck at the bottom of the lake. We left after a couple of hours and went to the pool to swim.

First, though, we picked up burgers at Lions Tap Family Restaurant to try their “Famous Burgers” in our #eglychallenge. (Stop #4 of 10) Lions Tap is a hole in the wall place, but the boys and Ted LOVED their simple burgers.

That’s a peek into our week!

Leave me a comment to tell me about your week.

PS – you now may have to “sign in” to leave a comment. I was getting a TON of spam and had to change the way comments are made. Sorry for the inconvenience!

August 4, 2019 By Kathryn

2 In Colorado/ Colorado Springs/ Faith/ Inspiration/ Joy/ Memories/ Moving/ My Journey/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Colorado/ Traveling

My Volunteer Vacation

One year ago, New Life Church was hosting an amazing children’s/family ministry conference called The Gathering. It was during this conference that my husband accepted a job with Target, which meant we’d be moving to Minnesota.

I love Colorado, and I also loved working with this team at New Life. I was struggling with the idea that this chapter would be ending soon.

On the last night of the conference (last year), each person who helped lead the conference was given a box of cereal from Dr. Michelle Anthony – my (former) boss and Family Ministry Pastor. She gave me a box of S’mores and told me that she would like S’more of me. It took everything in me not to burst into tears right then. Just a couple days later, I’d be sharing the news that we’d be moving and she’d be getting S’less, not S’more.

I went home from the conference and shared how I was feeling with Ted. He encouraged me to come back to the conference in 2019 and volunteer.

So this year, I went to Colorado for a Volunteer Vacation! I came to assist, learn, and connect with my New Life friends!

When I first arrived in Colorado Springs – tears filled my eyes. This city has such a special place in my heart, and I was so happy to be back.

The morning of the conference, I drove over to New Life Church with my friend Holly, and helped with the last minute details. All morning I was greeted with love and hugs from friendly faces. It was pure joy.

Because my kids weren’t with me, I got to focus my whole week helping wherever needed … AND catching up with SO many dear people. I loved every minute of it.

In a season of all things new, spending several days in a place that holds so much familiarity & treasured relationships, felt like a well-timed gift.

Though I didn’t sleep much, I came home from my Volunteer Vacation refreshed and full.

If you have some vacation time coming up and aren’t sure what to do – consider a “Volunteer Vacation!” Take the opportunity to go somewhere and help with something. Every non-profit organizations can use an extra set of hands. And when you make time to bless someone or something, you always get blessed in return!

Here is an (affiliate) link to a book filled with ideas on short term adventures that will benefit you and others!

July 9, 2019 By Kathryn

5 In Family/ Minnesota/ Peek into our Week/ Things to do in Minnesota/ Traveling

A Peek Inside the Incredible Mill City Museum

It was our first day of Summer Vacation and time to check something off our Minnesota Bucket list with a visit to the Mill City Museum. Imagine stepping into a museum that was once a bustling flour factory. The Mill City Museum in St. Paul was once the site of the General Mills (aka Cheerios) factory that was devastated by a flour explosion. The Minnesota Historical Society put the ruins to good use by creating a beautiful museum that shows the history of the flour industry in Minnesota, as well as how flour is turned into food.

I read beforehand that the museum doesn’t have their own parking. Thankfully, we found a place to park right outside the museum and the cost was only $1 per hour. There was also a parking garage right across the street, so finding a place to park wasn’t a problem.

From the moment we walked into the building, I was impressed with how nicely this historical building has been maintained.

First, we explored an old box car that was originally used to transport the flour all over the country. The original railroad track is still there.

Next, we walked around the museum that was filled with hands-on exhibits. My boys LOVED the ‘water room’ where they could rebuild the city of Minneapolis and create a ‘log jam.’

Be sure to check out the museum’s demonstration kitchen – if you are lucky, you may get to enjoy a freshly made Betty Crocker treat. My boys loved the ‘snacks’ they were served.

For an immersive experience, be sure to check out the ‘Flour Tower’ exhibit, where you’ll be transported back in time and experience what it was like to work in the factory. This exhibit is a large elevator with seating inside. The elevator takes you up, stops at each level, opens up the doors, and shows you a glimpse into that level of the factory. There’s a video in the background with old footage, and voice recordings of men and women who used to work in the original factory. It was fascinating to hear the voice recordings of former workers sharing their memories and stories.

From the elevator, we went to the observation deck to take in the beautiful view of Minneapolis, the Stone Arch bridge and the Mississippi River. The Stone arch bridge was originally a train bridge, but is now a pedestrian walkway.

From the observation deck at Mill City Museum

After that, we went to view the 19 minute video, “History of Minnesota.” As someone new to Minnesota, the movie was informative and interesting!

The Remains of the inside of the General Mills Factory

Did you know that flour floating in the air is deadlier than GUN powder?

The original mill was built in 1874 but destroyed in a flour dust explosion that killed 14 people.

We walked outside the back door of the museum to explore the ruins of other mills along the channel. The channel was created to feed the mills with needed water power.

The entire visit took about 3 hours. This museum is great for people ages 5 to 85. It would also make a unique date night.

We loved it and highly recommend a visit to Mill City Museum. (I was NOT paid for this endorsement.)

Ticket prices can be found by clicking here. However, I’d recommend purchasing the Minnesota History family pass that will get you into the Mill City Museum, Fort Snelling, the History Center, and more.

Minneapolis has TONS of great options for lunch or dinner after a visit to the museum. We chose Popol Vuh, but Hope Kitchen is another place we’d recommend.

Thanks for reading!

Here’s my Minnesota Bucket list – Check it out!

June 15, 2019 By Kathryn

6 In Family/ Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Life through the lens of a 5 year old

It seems like Luke Washington was born 5 minutes ago…but somehow, it’s been five YEARS!

On the night before Luke turned five, he asked if his daddy would be there for his birthday. I reminded Luke that Ted was working in Colorado but couldn’t wait to give him a BIG Hug and Kiss when he got home.

“Dad probably won’t even know me because when I turn five, I’ll be SOOO big!” Luke said enthusiastically. ‘Is it bedtime now? I want to go to sleep so I can be five!’

Luke showing that he is four one final time!

When Luke woke up on the morning of his fifth birthday I asked, “How does it feel to be five?”

“Perfect,” he responded…”PROFESSIONAL.”

Luke and I ran some errands after his brothers left for school. As we passed complete strangers in the store, he asked me why people weren’t wishing him a happy birthday.

“No one knows it’s your birthday unless you tell them,” I answered.

For the rest of the day, he told everyone it was his birthday and was rewarded with endless smiles and birthday greetings.

We joined his brothers at their school for lunch. His brothers and their friends were SO happy to see Luke. Everyone asked for Luke to sit by them and the ENTIRE cafeteria sang Happy Birthday to Luke! He was so embarrassed he climbed under the table. However, he had the BIGGEST smile on his face and loved all the high fives from the ‘big kids!’

After school we invited the neighborhood kids over for cake and games. I honestly wasn’t planning a party for Luke because we had a “family” party last weekend. However, Luke was inviting nearly everyone he knew to come to his house on his birthday for his “party”…apparently he would have a party with or without me…So, I got a cake and the neighbors came!

At bedtime Luke realized that dad was almost home and it triggered his memory of “growing so much dad won’t recognize me.”

“MOM!!! Why haven’t I gotten any bigger today!?”

Luke’s 5th birthday is a little bittersweet. Luke isn’t a baby anymore. I’ll miss those baby snuggles I’ve enjoyed over the last decade! I’ll also miss the hilarious thoughts and questions that come out of the mouths of our little ones.

However, I’m looking forward to the adventures we will take now that he’s a little bit bigger. I also love that I have four boys who put on their own shoes, buckle themselves in the car, and SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!

May 17, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Family/ Peek into our Week/ Traveling

A week in Oklahoma!

We were planning to have a “staycation” in Minnesota for Spring Break – possibly knocking out some of my bucket list items, but at the last minute, we decided to jump in the car and drive to Oklahoma.

The Tulsa area is a special place for Ted and me. This is where we met, fell in love and got married. It’s where we purchased our first little home and where we still have lots of friends and family! It’s always nice to be in Oklahoma.

Saturday

We arrived at my in-laws house on Saturday and spent the evening catching up with our Oklahoma family.

Two of my sisters
Cousins

Sunday

We visited Life Church with friends, then spent the afternoon with more family. The day was warm and the sun was out and it felt so good to be in the sunshine!! I forgot how glorious the warm sun feels!

Sunday night Ted and I went out with two couples who have been friends since before we were all married. We laughed til our cheeks hurt and our dinner at Red Rock Canyon Grill was incredible!

Our server was a girl named Tiffany Rogers, who I knew from nearly 20 years ago. I hadn’t seen her in person since she was 8 years old, but we are social media friends. She is a GREAT writer and will soon be publishing her first book. Click here to find her on instagram.

George hanging in a POD
Luke on the slide
George on the zip line
The boys
Luke and Nana in the Mirror Maze
Paul on a Pear

Monday

Monday we spent the morning at an amazing new park called the Gathering Place. This place was named the best park in America and that is COMPLETELY accurate. It’s 100 acres of beautiful landscaping and incredible play areas for kids. Swings, zip line, climbing structures of every sort, slides, a music area, a castle, canoes, a water area and more. They spared no expense at making this the most amazing park in the world. And it’s FREE to the public!!! Thank you to the Kaiser Family, to Tulsa, and all those who sponsored this incredible place. It’s worth a trip to Tulsa just to visit this awesome park. No matter your age, you will LOVE IT!

Tuesday

The boys had a friend over and we all went to see How to Train your Dragon.

Afterwards, we visited the church where we got married. It’s the first time we’d been back since our wedding day! We also found the spot where we took our engagement photos and re-enacted one of them.

2019
2001

2001
2019

Wednesday

I woke up and went for a run. I heard the sounds of birds and frogs, I could smell spring blooming, I spotted a pair of cardinals, a BRIGHT bluebird, and then a BALD EAGLE flew right over my head. It literally took my breath away.

For lunch, we met my step-mom, step-sister, and her kids at a yummy BBQ place called Burn Co., then went back to the Gathering Place.

Paul and Ava, enjoying the view from the BoatHouse

Thursday

Ted and I explored one of our favorite places (Utica Square), sat outside a coffee shop to read, then had an early dinner at Los Cabos. They have great Mexican food and outdoor dining.

Luke watching Clark fish
Paul caught a fish!

Friday

The boys went fishing, we played games, and then packed to head home.

We took time at dinner to reflect on what we loved about our week in Oklahoma and agreed that we loved EVERYTHING!

April 4, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Book Review/ Family/ Memories/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys

Peek into our winter week(s)

Mom’s Morning Out

I had just started writing for the Colorado Springs Mom Blog when I found out we were moving to Minnesota. I subscribed to the Twin Cities moms blog right away because I knew it would be a helpful resource and a good way to connect with other moms. It’s been all of that! Last weekend I gathered with other moms from around the Twin Cities to create something original at a place called Projects in Person. If you are a mom who is looking for a helpful resource and connection with other moms, click here to find out if there’s a City Moms Blog Network in your area.

Daddy Day at Preschool!

Luke woke up saying “TODAY IS DADDY DAY,” with a big smile on his face. Ted comes downstairs a few minutes later and says, “Today is Daddy Day!” Luke smiles and says, “I JUST said that!” And they both laughed.

Luke really pays attention, because when describing his dad, he was pretty accurate…

He knows his dad works on the computer (that’s what he SEES him do…though that’s only a small part of Ted’s job), he likes to eat Salad (YEP!), and he knows Ted loves him SO much!

But he must also think Ted has a really big nose….:)

Clark breaks his thumb

During our super cold spell in February, we were cooped up inside for four straight days. We were all going a little stir crazy. On the fourth day, Clark was doing a fancy jump trick off the couch and landed on his thumb. At first I just thought he’d just bruised or jammed it, but the next day it it was getting worse, so I took him to the doctor. He had a broken thumb and had to wear a cast for 3 weeks.

Draw your favorite book

It was Read Across America last week at school, and the boys had to do a drawing of their favorite book. Clark and Paul chose our book, and I think they did a great job re-creating the cover of Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore! Paul also mentioned to his teacher that his dad’s book is also one of his favorites. Paul hasn’t read it, and could not remember the title, but he did a good job remembering what it looked like!

Clark’s Drawing of Climb, Soar, Swim, Explore

Paul’s drawing of my book and Ted’s book

My Goodwill find

I’d been watching for a good deal on hiking shoes the entire time we lived in Colorado. I finally found a GREAT deal. Goodwill had a pair of Merrel hiking shoes that were practically brand new and only cost $2.50! The same ones are currently selling for $99!

What I’m loving right now:

Playing games with my boys…

This super fun snow ball maker...

A great book….

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines – This book was absolutely delightful! Chip and Jo share stories about their lives growing up, how they met, and the hilarious story about how their show Fixer Upper almost didn’t happen. If you need an easy, entertaining, funny, and fun-to-read book, this is the one!

March 11, 2019 By Kathryn

0 In Memories/ Minnesota/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Raising boys/ Things to do in Minnesota

Peek into our Fall, Christmas, & New Year!

(This post was written just after the New Year and it never got posted…so here it is now!)

The weather outside is frightful, but my snowsuit is so delightful!

Oh how I love the (vintage) snow suit from my mother-in-law! It’s the ugliest, warmest, softest thing I’ve ever worn and I’m in love. This thing makes playing in the snow with my kids not only bearable…but fun! Ya’ll need to find yourselves one of these!

Pass the Popcorn

I’ve probably been to the movie theater 5 times in the last decade. However, I now have four boys that will all sit through an entire full-length movie!! We’ve celebrated by spending three cold days this fall/winter viewing THREE different movies – Small Foot, The Grinch, and Ralph Wrecks the Internet. All were cute movies but my favorite was Ralph Wrecks the Internet. Our local theater has $5 tickets on Tuesdays – and free popcorn! What should we see next?

17 years and counting

Ted and I celebrated our Golden Anniversary – 17 years on November 17th! Our tradition each year is to try a new restaurant we’ve never visited before. A friend watched our boys and made cookies with them while Ted and I went to dinner (Thank you Corey!)

Our friends Nadia and Kevin
Lake Tahoe

California Dreamin’

Ted and I spent a long weekend in California. We got to rest, relax, read, eat good food, explore new places, connect with old friends and meet new friends. Thanks to my in-laws for watching our boys so we could get away! Early Christmas with Nana and Papa

George reading to Luke

How did Christmas come and go so quickly?

When I was a child, it seemed Christmas would NEVER come. Now that I’m an adult, it comes and goes WAY too quickly. Every Christmas with our boys is magical. I LOVE experiencing the season through their eyes. I was so sad that Christmas day came and went so quickly. However, the sadness ended quickly when my mom, step-dad, sister, brother-in-law, nieces and nephews all came for a visit!

My family visits Minnesota for the first time!

We loved having our Indiana family stay with us for a few days after Christams. We made the most of our time together – ice skating, sledding, cooking, eating, laughing, and playing/shopping at Mall of America. We also got to go on a double date (thanks Mom and Chris) and rang in the new year together!

Happy 2019 everyone! May this be your BEST YEAR YET!

February 15, 2019 By Kathryn

2 In Family/ Joy/ Memories/ Motherhood/ Peek into our Week/ Product Recommendations/ Raising boys

Merriest Christmas 2018

Why does it seem like Christmas comes SO slowly when you are a child and as an adult, it comes WAY to quickly. I wish the Christmas season could last twice as long. I love the lights, the songs, the decorations, celebrations, traditions, extra time with friends and family, …and the anticipation and excitement in our children!

Our day started early … 3 AM early! Paul and Clark woke up, went into George’s room and woke him up and exclaimed: “It’s Christmas! Wake up!” Thankfully, George looked at the clock. He then came in, woke me up to let me know that his brothers were up and ready for Christmas and he thought it was too early.

Me: You are right, it’s too early! Go back to bed!

I went downstairs to bring the bad news to Paul and Clark that Christmas wouldn’t begin for 4 more hours.

CLARK: What will we do for FOUR hours?

ME: SLEEP!

CLARK AND PAUL: We are too excited to sleep!

ME: I’m sorry. (not sorry)

Thankfully, somehow, they did go back to sleep and so did I…and Christmas morning began around 7 AM.

Here were their favorite presents:

George – Lego Sets and Portillo’s gift card.
Clark’s – Vikings Jersey and finding out he’s going to the Bears vs Vikings Game with Ted on Sunday! He declared it the “BEST DAY EVER!”
Paul’s – his new slippers and a Dinosaur toy.
Luke’s – remote control car and a Playdoh set.

My favorite moments were:

The homemade gifts and handwritten notes from the boys
The Scavenger hunt that Clark had prepared:
- He had us go upstairs while he hid 3 notes for each person around the house.
- Each note declared something he appreciated about the person:

"George, I love how you are caring."

“Paul, I like how you play nicely with Luke.”

"Luke, I love how you are happy to play any game with your brothers."

“Dad, you are good at football.”

"Mom, thanks for playing games with us."

It was the sweetest game/gift EVER! Wow!

For Christmas dinner – I made their favorite food – STEAK!

Thanks for reading and thinking about our family. Leave me a comment and let me know the best part of your day!

December 25, 2018 By Kathryn

4 In Motherhood/ Peek into our Week

Peek into our week – Halloween and more!

Halloween

This was our first Minnesota Halloween, and we were invited to two neighborhood parties! One was an annual gathering and the other was a “play on words” party.

Nickelback

Clark: Ninja Kid

The Apostle Paul

Super Luke

The weather was perfect on Halloween and the kids had fun trick-or-treating with their friends. When Luke got too tired to walk, we went home and passed out candy – which is almost just as fun as collecting candy.

Neighborhood friends

Minnesota Zoo

The boys had a four day weekend, so we took one day to go to the zoo. The zoo was awesome, but Paul got his first PUNCH in the face by a kid on the Zoo playground! I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I do know it started with a game of tag and ended with a bloody nose.

Paul was okay, thankfully, and loved the Zoo in spite of the ‘incident.” We bought an annual pass, so if anyone wants to join us next time, leave me a comment!

Sharks were Paul’s favorite!

House of Mirrors

We visited the Amazing Mirror Maze at the Mall of America. The boys had been asking to do it, and when I found a discount on Groupon, I snagged the deal. They loved it! I’ve never done a mirror maze and it was fun! If you bring young children, I recommend you hold their hand. Paul (my 6 year old) insisted on walking ahead of me and banged his head into a mirror. He was okay but the mirrors are incredibly deceiving! I walked very SLOW!

Four pairs of wrestling shoes!

Wrestling

The boys started wrestling and needed wrestling shoes. I went to Play it again sports and they didn’t have any good used ones, so I bought one pair of new ones. I didn’t know how EXPENSIVE wrestling shoes were, and I didn’t want to buy FOUR new pairs. Thankfully, a friend gave us a pair of shoes that her son had outgrown for free. I found another pair on Facebook Marketplace, and the last pair on Craigslist. The 3 used pairs of wrestling shoes were still cheaper than the ONE pair of new ones. I wasn’t in sports as a kid, so I’m still adjusting to how much sports (and all the equipment) can cost – and am happy to let my boys borrow or purchase used items whenever possible.

Our first ride

Saying Good-bye to the Minivan Years

We traded in our minivan for a car. My minivan was sooo well loved and it was time to trade it in before winter arrived. I was nervous about getting stuck somewhere with four boys. Ted’s going to use the car for work, and I’m driving our SUV. I LOVED my minivan… the sliding doors and all the space! If I don’t feel the same about this SUV, I may have to go back. Minivans are MADE for moms – especially moms with four boys!

Minnesota Vikings

Chad Beebe, a family friend, has been on the Vikings practice squad since the summer and just got called up to play with the team. It was fun to watch him play – especially since he did really well. We attended church with his family in Illinois. My first memory of Chad was when he was about 8 years old. I had just started my position as the Children’s Ministry Director. I was signing him into Children’s Church and I couldn’t remember his name. I was too embarrassed to tell him that I didn’t know his name so I said: “Spell your name for me buddy!” He said slowly, “C….H….A….D.” I smiled, thanked him and handed him his tag. I should have just asked him his name because I was more embarrassed having him spell it. I never forgot his name after that. The Beebe’s are an amazing family and I’m excited for all of them.