He's a little bit Techy

Last night as I was reading a bedtime story to the boys, Gavin put me on "pause" while he went to the bathroom. He said "pause the story Mom". When he came back he said "Ok, unpause". And I continued reading.

All in One Week

I'll start last Thursday when we went to Valleyfair, well actually the night before I took the boys to Shakopee where the Rosenbergers were staying at a hotel and went swimming and sliding with them. The next day we did a full day at Valleyfair. Wyatt was home with a temp and a very sweet babysitter. Gavin was not tall enough, nor would he have been brave enough to go on the big rides. Jacob was tall enough for most of those, including Wild Thing. It was a nice day out and hot enough for us to enjoy some time at the waterpark there too. We arrived at 10 and when I left with Gavin at 7, he was crying that he didn't want to leave, but I think he was asleep by the time we got out of the parking lot. Rosenbergers brought Fred and Jacob home about an hour later. I spent most of the day with Gavin and I think the small rides are rougher than the big ones, all that spinning I can no longer handle.

Friday night Fred took Jacob and Gavin to the Spy Kids movie. Wyatt and I stayed home, he fell asleep at 5:30 and slept until the next morning at 7AM. He slept similarly the next night when Fred was home with all the boys and I was in Waconia "helping set-up for a baby shower". I say that in quotes, because we were very unproductive, but did lots of gabbing and made it out for a bite and a drink.

Sunday, Becky and Kari hosted a shower for Kim. I provided the games. I froze little babies in ice cubes and hung them in plastic cups to see whose baby would be "born" (unfrozen) first. I also made bags with the letters "Baby Gillespie" on them and found baby items to put in each bag that started with the letter on the bag. Both pretty fun games. For Kim's present I attempted to create art and was pretty happy with my results. My mom had made her quilt, so I had some fabric samples to match the art to. Now I am trying to figure out how to make art for in my house, it was so fun to do.

Art Imitates Fabric

Monday night, Fred got a break and got to go to his fantasy football draft. Then I was off again on Tuesday night to Katy Perry. I met Jolene at the Mall of America for some sushi at Crave and then we went to the concert with Adrea and Kim. It was a fun concert, entertaining except for the odd middle "karaoke" bit. They were free tickets from Fred's work, so it was well worth it!

Kim, myself and Jolene at Katy Perry, thanks for taking the pic Drea.

Katy Perry and dancers

On Wednesday night Fred's mom and nephew Jesse came down and we headed to the Twins game. Jolene's dad threw out the first pitch, so they had some extra tickets and we got to sit amongst all the Boeckermanns. The game was a loss, but the boys were all really good during the game and it was much better than last year's Mother's Day outing.

At the Twins game.

Jesse

Gavin

Jacob

The view from the Skyline Deck

Yesterday was the first day of the State Fair, and we were there at about 9 ready to eat the day away. After a some cheese curds, crab fritters, cini minnies, a corn dog and smoothies the kids got their faces painted and Drea got some body art.

Drea, Maddie, Gavin, Jacob and Isaac

Then we hit the "Sing-a-long" area and did some giant karaoke. On the way to Little Farm Hands, we had some walleye cakes. On our way to the 4-H building we had a twisted sausage (sausage on a stick, with spiral cut potato surrounding it), apple dumping, footlong hotdog, and strawberry and chocolate malts. After the 4-H show we headed to the food building for catfish and fries, caramel apples, pineapple, mcRib sandwich, bull bites, eggroll, onion rings, corn fritters, popcorn, taffy, deep fried cookie dough, and crab cakes.

After "lunch", Fred and Joe took the kids on the skyride while the women got to go to the Horticulture building to buy knives, State Fair knives are the best. We watched the parade while sharing a gyro and more cheese curds. Some rode the space needle. We ventured into the International Bazaar, so Maddie could find a new bag. There we had some cinnamon roasted almonds and strawberry cheesecake on a stick. Then Fred and I took the kids on Ye Old Mill, a log ride that is mostly in a dark tunnel (98 years old, but very Disney-like with all that dark). After that we got the bucket of cookies and Adrea found some gummy candy and gelato on the way to the DNR building to look at the fish pond. We made our way to the Giant Slide for a couple rides down. Then Fred took Jesse to the Midway and Joe, Dre and I took the kids to the kidway while Lys and Mom checked out the Grandstand merchandise.

By this time it was about 5 and the kids were about done. Fred, being the awesome husband and dad he is, volunteered to take our kids home and let me hang out with Adrea for a while. We went to watch Lori and Julia, a radio show and we made them a list of what we'd eaten that day, which they read on air - only pronouncing mine and mom's names correctly, but oh well. It'd been a while since we'd eaten, so we went to find some cheese on a stick, we didn't find a stand with the pepperjack option and the American cheese version was not as good. We found the breakfast lollipop, sausage surrounded by pancake on a stick, yum. Then went to weigh in at the Health Booth and check our visceral fat. Finding that we weren't in danger yet, we got some ice cream. I wandered thru the Fine Arts building while Drea checked out the Eco-Experience, then we watched a little of the County Fair Talent contest. For one last "treat" we sought out the chocolate covered jalapeno, took one bite each and declared it disgusting. Some chocolate milk helped cool our mouths, we gave away one of the 3 jalapenos they give you, warning these strangers how disgusting it was and headed out of the fair. At the end of the night, it was not my stomach that hurt, but my feet.

Week in Oz

I spent the first week of August in Melrose with the boys. Jacob and Maddie went to Theatre Camp put on by the GREAT Theatre Company out of St Cloud, where we are season ticket holders. This year the play they put on was "The Wizard of Oz". Jacob got the part of Ozian 2 and Maddie was the Wicked Witch. Jacob thought he looked like a leprechaun. They only had 5 mornings to put together this 30 minute play. The costumes were so fun and the kids appeared to know their lines really well. Only problem was that it seems they were told they'd have microphones, but they didn't. The only lines you could hear were your own kid's because you'd practiced them and knew what they were saying. Plus during the show, Wyatt was about the loudest one there (on or off stage) and in the middle of the play I felt this familiar warmth soak thru my shirt (meaning I'd been peed on).

Jacob as Ozian 2

The Wicked Witch and the Ozian

We did have a fun week in Melrose though. We had lunch at the bowling alley and bowled one day. Ate at the pizza buffet in town. Saw the smurfts movie. Swam in the Rosenbergers pool. Spent another day at the lake with the Feldewerds. Went to McDonalds playland for lunch one day. And enjoyed time with family. Fred missed us, next time I'll leave him a list so he doesn't get so bored.

Gavin with a Mario mustache from the bowling alley.

Gavin with crazy "Shark Boy" hair.

On the 5th of August Adrea, Alyssa and I went to Glamorama, a fundraiser for Children's Cancer Research.We went out to Crave before hand for sushi and appetizers. The show was at the Orpheum, it began with a video about a MN family whose 2 children both had a rare form of cancer, but now are cancer-free, so we started out in tears. Then the fun came, the show starred Far East Movement and Bruno Mars, they performed during a fashion show of a number of designers, the last one being a men's underwear designer. After the show, we all hearded over to Macy's to their 8th floor for appetizers, desserts, drinks, dancing, and activities. We got some body art painted on our shoulder and had some fun photos taken of us. We ate and drank to our best abilities and tried not to look too old on the dance floor. It was such a fun evening, I hope we can do it again next year.

On the 11th of August we went to St Paul's Rice Park to help set the world record for most simultaneous somersaults. Adrea came with us. Adrea, Jacob, Gavin and I somersaulted for the record. We also got to see Kerri Strug and Petey the Pea Cup (a HealthPartner's mascot).

It was a challenge to try to get a picture of us.

Here we are with Petey.

Lake Week

We did our annual week at the lake at the end of July. This year, our first year with 3 kids, we decided we'd try to stay at the cabin (2 bedrooms, thin walls). The mornings were early, either due to a baby waking or just the sun shining. The first morning Gavin woke with a stomach ache, so I headed into town with him, but he recovered after some more sleep. The boys spent lots of time in the water and on the boat, not enough time on the tube (according to Jacob). It was kind of a hard week with Wyatt wanting to be all over and put every leaf or whatever else he found in the grass in his mouth. Plus, my dad was having chemo that week, so out extra hands weren't available to help during the days. We did have gorgeous weather and I think the boys were wet each morning by 8 and the out boating shortly after. Gavin caught a lot of naps in the boat.

Jacob jumping in.

Gavin making his leap.

The boat on a calm morning.

The boys headed out for a ride.

Wyatt on his first ride. He liked to drive, but did not enjoy the life jacket.

Jacob enjoying the pontoon ride.

Wyatt with Grandpa Ron, enjoying some down time.

On Tuesday, the Feldewerd crew came out to the cabin to play. It is so fun to see Jake and Jacob play like they see each other all the time. They just get in the paddle boat or into the sand and go to "work". Gavin was tired that day and decided to nap on my lap instead of play with the boys.

Jake and Jacob working in the sand.

I got to go to a GREAT Theatre fundraiser with my mom and Alyssa on Wednesday night at Thompson's Greenhouse, which was so fun. Lots of wine to taste and fun appetizers. Then on Thursday night my mom and Alyssa went down to Springfield to surprise my Grandma for her 90th birthday. One of her friends had arranged a limo for Grandma and some friends to go bar hopping in. Yes, you are reading this correctly - my 90 year old Grandma went bar hopping for her birthday. I hope I am in as good of shape and am able to do that, not that I'd want to, but I'd like to be able.

On Saturday morning, Jacob pulled out his first tooth while we were at my parents' house. Fred wrapped the tooth in a tissue and left it on the kitchen counter. My mom didn't know this and used it for her cherry seeds and threw the tissue and tooth away. Being the good dad Fred is he sifted thru the garbage until he found it. We headed to Jackpot Casino for the evening so we would be close to Springfield and all the 90th birthday festivities on Sunday. The tooth fairy left Jacob $2 for his tooth!

On Sunday we went to church with Grandma, went out to brunch with the family and then hosted an open house for Grandma at her community center. She had nearly 250 people come to wish her happy birthday. It was amazing and she loved it. Fred took the kids to the pool in Springfield while I stayed at the party with Wyatt. Then Fred headed back to the cities while me and the boys went back to Melrose for a week of Theatre Camp for Jacob.

Sports Wrap

Jacob had soccer camp and tennis camps in mid-July. Soccer camp week was cool and rainy, which was alright except for the time he missed due to the rain/lightning. He did the same camp last year and it was awesome, but this year's "coach" was not nearly as fun and energetic as last year's and so it was a bit of a disappointment. While Jacob was at soccer, Gavin was at gymnastics for a few days, he apparently didn't enjoy it despite how he looked when I saw him having fun in class. He didn't want to go back on the second day (but he did) and he still ask sometimes when we are going to the community center if he has to go to gymnastics, because he doesn't want to.

Tennis week was one of the swelteringly hot weeks of July. Luckily tennis was only an hour and he started at 9am. Gavin liked hitting balls around too, so Gav and I turned rosy red on the courts too. Although, you didn't even have to move those days to break a sweat.

Jacob taking a swing at tennis. Good form, but I think he missed.

Gav enjoying a courtside snack after some tennis.

Wyatt when he was still happy to hang in his stroller.

Jacob's coach pitch season wrapped up while we were up in Melrose, so his last game was July 21st. He got to put on the catcher's gear and try out that position. He learned some good pointers in coach pitch this year, but they could have used more practice and less games at this stage.

Jacob in catching stance.