Weekend

Funny what kids will imitate!!! HOpefully he doesn't get too good at writing checks out!

Yes, it is supposed to be June 1st tomorrow and I'm wearing a wool sweater. It was very cold and rainy today, so we decided to take a drive up to my favorite restraunt, Sir G's in Ely. We wish Auntie Binzer and Uncle Brian could have come too.

Joey loved his spaghetti!

So.. just wanted to post one last picture of our house, for my sister. The boys got the railing up, and I was able to plant some plants in the new garden to the left. Hopefully it will start to warm up soon.

I didn't get a picture of what we did this p.m. Derek and I took the dogs by the golf course by honda hills, it had rained, and of course bentley decided to lay down in a iron ore puddle. Derek thought he could get the dogs clean by having them go in a pond on hole #10.. bad idea.. they came out black with mud and stinkage. I guess there are some benefits from working at the VGC.. Derek brought them up to the cart barn, and tried to rinse them off with the hose up there... i think we'll stick to walks with leashes from now on.. on a paved sidewalk.. unless at Lake Vermillion.. Just a day in the life of the Aho fam.

Memorial Day

Joey waking up from a nap at the cabin.. it's so easy to sleep out there!

Today was Cal's 1st birthday party. THis is the only picture of the cousins I could get.. everyone was playing hard.

Cal had a super awesome cake, that Joey was very anxious to eat. Cal's cousin Sydney was nice enough to hold JOey up for "Happy Birthday". Amanda got teary eyed, and so did I! Sally was right, one year you are room mates in college, and pretty soon you're related with kids!

Does anyone else think this is a funny picture?

Cal loved his cake!!!

All done!

Well pretty close.. we still have to do the hand rail, and i have to plant the new graden to the left of the house.. but i planted a few pots tonight. we've enjoyed sitting on our new steps already!

Phase 2

The boys went to Lowes today to pick up supplies. Derek was unable to jack hammer all the steps away, so plan B was to build over them.

Making progress...

More tomorrow.. Happy Memorial weekend!

Day 1..Demolition

The time has come, for us to replace our front steps. The risk of someone falling down them because they were falling apart was too great.

This is what our yard looked like all day yesterday. Joey was a very good boy helping out. I tried to take him for some wagon rides to get away from the noise. Unfortunately, i had to transplant my rose bush and i think we killed it. =(

Joey was such a good helper. He would put chunks of cement in his tonka truck, then dump them out, back and forth! Derek and his brother will hopefully be able to go buy supplies and get going on our project!

Bemidji

Unfortunately.. the only picture I got of Paul Bunyan.. was his butt. My camera battery died right after this picture. We were in Bemidji for Derek's cousin's daughter's graduation party. It was sooo windy and cold, it was like winter, so basically we got out of the car, looked at Paul Bunyan and went back in the car.. to Gander Mt.

Derek's cousin Ashely is a super fantastic horse competitor. She made it to Junior World's in Texas. Here are Grandma Nancy, Grandma Vi, Ashley, Auntie Connie, Hailey, Joey, and Derek. The horses were very friendly, and competing for attention to be pat.

...I love this picture...

Truck Night

We went to ParkView last Thursday night to attend Truck Night. Joey loved it! But was a little hesititant to sit on the trucks. What a great thing for toddler and kids!

Joey driving the snow plow truck.. oh wait, maybe its Derek

Giving hugs to Baby Cal..Thanks for the yummy BBQ Auntie Sally!

Will Tony be proud of me?

I've been wanting a rain barrel, for multiple reasons. One i don't want to have to pay for water, plus I hear rain water is better for your plants, and I want to go green.. to the best of our ability. So, we looked around up here, but when we were in Elk River, Erin and the kids and I found one at Home Depot. It was installed on Tuesday when we got back and it was filled that night! I'm very excited to use it. Thanks for taking us to HOme Depot E.T...Now onto our front stairs project...

Visit to see C.C.

We went to stay with the Skubic gang on Sunday afternoon-Tuesday. The boys went golfing, because Derek was playing in the qualifier again on Tuesday.. don't ask.. didn't go so well... Despite that, Joey and Celia had lots of time to play together. SUnday we took the kids to a park near Erin and Jeff's. Erin and I tried to get a power walk in, but closer to home we let the kids out of the strollers and walked the trail.

We were able to experience a first with Celia... peeing in the woods. She was very brave, and I tried to tell her this is what you do when you go camping, you can see JOey in the background collecting sticks..

I had a pile of sticks in the stroller!

On Monday, we took a short drive to another park near the Mississippi River. Joey is a lucky boy, he got to see where the Mississippi ended in New Orleans in March, he got to see part of it this weekend, and Next weekend we are going to Bemidji, and are hoping to see the start of it.

There are so many great paved walking trails in Elk River. It was beautiful to walk around and let the kids explore.

Daddy and Joey chillen in the grass. I'm not sure if they were having a deep discussion or looking for worms! Thanks again to the Skubic gang for the great, relaxing, enjoyable, comical visit.. maybe Jeff won't fall asleep next time!

Grandma B's Birthday and Opening Fishing

Raking leaves for JOey to run through!

Joey's love in life... the gator!

It was VERY cold at the lake today, but we still spent most of the day outside. I managed to get a 6 mile run in, while Joey and Grandma napped. I'm hoping to do well in Grandma's Half Marathon in June, i've got a month and a half.....

BRRRR. Bentley loves fishing with my dad. He sits and watches the bobbers so intently!

Showing JOey the minnows. He wanted to look, but did not want to touch.

Joey's new chair! JOey has a green one, and Madi has a red one! Thanks grandma and grandpa!

...So, I may have burnt the bottoms of the cupcakes, but that's ok, they were still good! We sang happy birthday to grandma. we missed auntie lindsey and uncle brian.

Boy have i missed being at the lake. It was derek's last day of work today, until july 26th, hopefully they will go back to work then. but for now, we will enjoy the lay off and hopefully be able to do things we haven't been able to do in previous summers, like have derek there for the whole day on the 4th of july! happy mothers day everyone!

Just playing

Joey was playing with his trucks this morning. At first we were counting all of his cars, and then he was playing with his fire truck, and his guy was "climbing the ladder to help somebody." It is so fun to watch his development, from just driving cars around to now purposeful play, and actually pretending and seeing his imagination come through. Now he is banging me on the knee.. "mommy pom here.. play hockeeeyyy," can i play hockey, get dressed, pack a lunch, let the dogs out, pack a diaper bag, and put my make up on? yes i can, cause i'm a MOM!! Happy mother's day weekend everyone!

This one is for Auntie

I was going through some stuff and found JOey's Halloween costume.. sure now he wants to wear it! He didn't on Halloween... but he'll wear it in May! It was pretty funny.. Hope Auntie Binzer is feeling better and recovering well! Miss you. XOXOXO

A Nice little Saturday

Julie gave us a tip to go to Mt. Iron to show Joey the trains and old mining equipment. So we decided to do that this morning. Derek is on afternoons, so we had a busy morning. Joey is still obsessed with trains, tractors, dozers, backhoes, and all things that have engines.

We also stole an idea from BAT/ACT's blog to go to L &M and check out the chicks and ducks..we only had 2 tantrums in the store. Daddy said "no" to getting new pets.. joey wasn't too happy... so we decided to head to the other Aho's and check out their new pet...

Koda! Unfortunately their other schnauzer Max went to puppy heaven because he was sick. On Friday they were able to bring their new baby Koda home. He is so cute! He even played trains with Joey.