Two Little Visitors

Emma and Olivia came to stay for several days, six actually. I went down to Winona to meet Gina and pick them up on Tuesday after I took my boards. We met Laurie T. and her 'whittle' girl and went out to eat lunch at Beno's sandwich shop, mmmm. Then we went shopping at Rochester Wholesale Fruit, which is in Winona, go figure. After that we went out to Laurie's house and then we came back home. We grilled burgers for supper and blew up the little whale pool so the girls could play in the water in the back yard. After supper we went out to Silverlake park and the girls ran around and had a good time. For a treat we stopped at DQ on the way home for cones, mmm.

On Wednesday morning we cleaned the fish tank, it needed to be done and the girls thought it was pretty fun. Then we went to get 4 new fish, and the pet store is always a fun place for the kids to go. After we got the fish we went to meet Aaron and Jami and we went with them and Chloe, Ben and Jami's dad to a small free zoo that has local animals. We saw otters, a wolf, foxes, snakes, porcupines, owls and eagles. Also turkeys, goats, chickens calves and a donkey.

It started to rain so we headed back to town and went out to eat with the gang at Noodles. After that we headed our separate ways, the girls and I went and got some groceries and then went home to make cookies and play in the pool. I got the girls ready for supper and we had tacos. Then off to meeting. After meeting we had a little bonfire and roasted marshmallows and had smores. We had to use chocolate chips cause the battery in our car went dead and Nate had gone back into work for a while, but we made due.

Thursday morning we made oatmeal scones, went for a walk around the block while they were baking and then went down to the track at the high school while they were cooling. It was super hot that day and the girls didn't last long out in the sun. We came home, had some water to drink and then headed into work with cookies and scones to drop off in celebration of passing my boards. The girls also wanted to see the hospital where I worked. Olivia wanted to see the babies, but it is locked and you should pretty much only go into the unit if you know someone who has had a baby.

After our visit at work we went back home to have lunch and we watched a little WALL-E, during which Olivia fell asleep. After nap we got ready for the pool and headed over to Sims to go swimming. We had a blast there and got some good rays! They even have a water slide that goes into the pool, pretty neat.

To be continued...

Gina and Richard's New House Part II

These pictures are from a while ago, I just haven't gotten around to taking pictures the last couple of times I have been down. They are all moved in an pretty much everything is done except for the bathroom vanities.

Alan's Surprise Birthday Party

We went out to eat at a grill your own steak house, pretty good, but most of the time when I go out I want someone else to cook for me.

Alan was feeling sad and forgotten, cause his party was a week or so after his birthday, the thought we forgot about him! He was lamenting the fact that he had to buy his own birthday cake and said this quote to Heather. Heather told her sister and they made a big poster and everyone at the party signed it.

The grill is ready, we are all waiting for Alan's arrival

Here they are!!! He was totally surprised, even though he is playing it cool in the photo.

Denny cooking up their steaks

Our steaks, ones on either side of the Texas toast, mmm, that was the best toast ever.

Alan and Nate making some toast, Nate looks a bit worries, I think it may have just been the heat from the grill causing him to make a funny face. Oh, and the toast again, it was so good, you used a brush to put on the butter (probably why it was so good) and then you could sprinkle on salt and seasoning and toast it on the grill, mmm.

Alan with his cake, it is a Wiimote, Wii remote for all the non-gamers out there. Don't you love the hat, it is so over the top, actually it was very top heavy, with those tall spikes.

Trying to get a good picture of Alan, well, one without him making a goofy face, is like trying to get a cat to take a bath, pretty much impossible.

Us eating our steaks.

Visiting in Des Moines

Here are some other pictures from our trip down Des Moines way.

Izabella is always on the move!

Going

Going

Here

There

Everywhere

Never sitting still

Never even standing still

Must get away

She is a CUTIE!!!

The 'guys'

Crepes for breakfast

With cherries, blueberries, whipped cream and cream cheese. MMMMMMmmmmm.

Hens and Chicks at Dave and Libby's

Close up

Dave and Libby's new pond

Latte, Dave and Libby's dog

Kitty Cat drinking out of the pond, knowing cats, I am sure they think this pond was put there to be their watering bowl!

Beautiful clematis at Dave and Libby's

Gorgeous poppy at Dave and Libby's

Daisies at Denny and Debbie's

More daisies, they are all over!

I brought down some black-eyed Susans and daisies, Denny and I planted them around the bird bath and in between the porch and the stairs up to the deck.