Pumpkin Patch

Today was our annual trip to the Nordic Ridge Pumpkin Patch in Bovey.  We were joined by Auntie Becca and Jordan who were newbies to the "Patch".  And actually, so were Lexi and Maija.  We were graced with a gorgeous day and when we arrived it was quiet with very few cars in the parking lot.  I guess it was quiet until we showed up.  Like I said in my last post, I just never know what I'm going to be served with the twins.  And today for some reason, being unfamiliar with the Pumpkin Patch and their surroundings, they BOTH wanted to be carried by me.  They wanted so very desperately to be carried.  And the more I refused, the louder they screamed.  So this family-friendly, peaceful setting was quickly turned into the Field of Screams.  Blood-curdling screams.  Screams that scared the scarecrows.  But what are you going to do?  We got through it and things improved.  They've got to, right??

So here's some proof that we DID, in fact, have a good time:

Maija and Lexi conquering the haystack!

Here's Maija not enjoying the smell of the geese, I guess!

Ella coming down the tunnel slide.

Lexi looking confident in her choice of pumpkin.

Becca and Jordan



I HAD to include this picture even though
Becca is probably going to yell at me!
Doesn't it illustrate just how far moms will go
to bring pure joy to their children's lives?
She's 6 months pregnant and her face is saying,
"THIS IS SO NOT FUN!!"
But she's doing it for that HUGE smile on her little boy's face.
I love this picture!





Time Flies

I really haven't forgotten about my promise to journal regularly.  It's just that life has been pretty low-key lately.  So it won't take long to re-cap the last few weeks!  Emma is loving preschool.  We haven't had any hesitations about going.  She does get really quiet when we arrive and she has grown fond of one teacher who holds her hand each time as they walk to their classroom.  Ella has been busy with dance and Daisies and this past Tuesday, Josh and I went to her conference at school.  She is doing amazing in reading and math with high scores on daily work and some of the standardized tests.  Her teacher said that she is also very quiet, but they're working on it.  Ella also had tubes put in her ears yesterday.  She's been having numerous ear infections and complaints about ear pain.  Surgery went well and I was really impressed with how brave she was.  A little Tylenol and a McDonald's Happy Meal and we were good to go!  Lexi and Maija (I know I shouldn't always group them together!) are just hanging out being 2-year olds.  Sometimes life for them is good and silly and easy-going; other times, it's whiney, cranky, and down-right miserable.  I just never know!

I did get to leave town a couple of weekends ago.  I took Ella and Emma along with Grandma Ann to the cities.  The purpose of the trip was to go to Ikea and get Ella some furniture for her new room.  So shop we did and her room looks great with a set of shelves, a desk, and a dresser.  The girls also suckered me into the Build-a-Bear workshop.  They had a blast designing their bears.  We stayed at a nice hotel, did some swimming, met up with Auntie Jen, rode some rides at the Mall of America.  I'll have to post some pics of the new room and the bears!

I am grateful for this MEA break...Pumpkin Patch tomorrow with Becca and Jordan...celebrating Uncle Pete's birthday on Sunday.  I should have much more exciting posts and pictures!  Then again, sometimes no news is good news!