Happy Birthday Jeff!

Poor Jeff had to spend his birthday flying home. We decided to celebrate a day later and the kids and I baked a cake. Nora was much more excited than Jeff, especially when it came time to blow out the candles!

Jeff celebrates Father's Day, his birthday, and our anniversary all within a week every year. I always have a hard time finding gifts for all three events. This year I ordered him a Florida State Seminoles flag to hang in front of our house during football season.

Blanchettes

Jeff has three cousins graduating from high school this year. We went to one of the graduation parties, for Nichole, while we were visiting. It was a great chance to catch up with all the Blanchettes. It was a beautiful day and we spent most of it outside. Nora even went swimming!

Someone brought out a bean bag toss game and Ronan had a great time making "hoops."

Nora and Grammy taking a break and reading in the shade.

Nora and Ronan with their Great Grandma, Luella. It was so good to see Luella. The kids are so lucky to have so many great grandparents and it really means a lot to me that they are able to visit with them when we have the opportunity.

Nora loved all the attention from Luella.

Three more great grandchildren on the way! Actually, since this picture was taken, Karly had her baby, Mason. Sarah is due with her second in early August, while I'm due in later August.

Snuggles

Nora and Brenna slept together the first night. They were so excited to have a sleepover. Nora absolutely adored everything about Brenna. They two girls were just adorable together. Ronan snuck in for a quick show and some milk before coming downstairs to sleep with us.

Swimming off the Dock

Warning: You might see a baby bum!

Jeff and Jake decided to go for an evening swim off the dock. Of course the kids had to join them, minus bathing suits!

I was actually surprised that Ronan wanted to get in, but he loved it once he did!

Nora loved swimming without a suit. I hope she doesn't think this is the new norm.

The boys after they jumped in the water.

Jeff right before he jumped in. The funny thing is that the water is only a couple of feet deep, so they had to jump in to their knees and then swim farther out to actually get any depth.

The Hunting Land

On Saturday the weather wasn't nice enough to spend the day on the water. We decided to go for a walk on Don's hunting land.

On top of the deer stand.

Nora was really excited to climb to the top, but Jeff had to carry her because it was so high up.

The deer stand was built from an old wind mill.

Ronan loved being out in the wild. I bet Papa will have a hunting buddy a decade from now!

Everyone rode in the back of the truck. Who am I??? Letting my kids ride in the back of a truck??? We bend the rules in Wisconsin!

Fishing

Nora recently asked us to take her fishing. I have no idea where she came up with the idea, but we were in luck because Jeff's dad loves to fish. When we arrived in Minneapolis, Nora ran up to Papa and asked him if he'd teach her to fish. Of course Papa agreed and they went out on the boat together.

Papa took Nora and Brenna out fishing. They caught a perch that they ate for dinner.

The girls were so excited to go fishing. Nora played with the minnows and the leches. Gross!

I was shocked that Nora fished with Jeff's dad for over an hour. She loved every minute of it even though they didn't bring back any fish on their first trip out.

Fireworks and Camp Fires!

I don't really know what the laws about fireworks are in Wisconsin, but I'm guessing that there aren't many of them! We picked up some fireworks and Jeff had a great time setting them off for the kids. Ronan and Nora really didn't like the sounds they made, but loved watching them light up.

Jeff would shoot them off the dock.

Nora and Brenna hanging out in front of the campfire.

Ronan loved the fire pit and would throw anything he could find into it like it was a basketball hoop.

The kids snuggled up with their grandparents on the deck while Jeff lit fireworks.

Boating

One of our favorite things to do while at the cabin is to take the boat out. The kids didn't mind wearing life jackets this year. In fact, Nora and Brenna never took theirs off! One night we took the boat to a bar for a little outing. Nora and Brenna even got Shirley Temples!

On Friday we took the boat down to the river. On the way home Jeff wanted to stop the boat in the middle of the lake so he could jump in. Nora wanted to jump in too. She had no idea the water was going to be deep and freaked out for a minute. Jeff stayed really calm and got her back to the boat. We'll have to warn her next time.

Ronan snuggling with Grammy after playing in the water.

This girl knows how to relax!

The wind in our faces!

This was the best seat in the house and both kids wanted a chance to drive the boat and more importantly, honk the horn! Grandpa did a great job helping the kids steer. We're happy to report that there weren't any accidents.

Paddle Boat

We spent the weekend at the cabin in Wisconsin. I still can't get over how great the trip was. Nora and Ronan had soooo much fun! We spent a lot of time playing in the water. One of the kids favorite things to do was to go out on the boats. One of the neighbors had a paddle boat that we borrowed. The kids loved it!
Jeff's friend from high school, Jake, and his family came to visit. He and his wife, Erin, have two daughters, Brenna and Harper. Nora and Brenna were instant best friends and played together all weekend.

Olson Great Grandparents

On our way to the cabin we stopped by Jeff's grandparents farm. We had a really nice visit with them and Lenore made a wonderful lunch for us. Nora and Ronan loved the farm.

I love this picture because you can see the house in the background.

Jeff took the kids on a tour of the farm. They went searching for cows and tractors. Apparently Ronan loved every minute of it.

Jeff's uncle, Keith, came over on his ATV. The kids were obsessed and two minutes after meeting Keith, they were going for a ride!

Nora and Keith went on a long bumpy ride. Nora loved every minute of it.

Keith took Ronan on a very slow ride. Ronan couldn't believe that he was on the "red truck."

Layette Party

Every year Kathy holds a charity event at her condo where she collects baby supplies to distribute to families through the clothes closet at her church. She quits blankets and shops for clothes all year long in preparation for this one night. Each layette is filled with a quilt, book, toy, diapers, wipes, socks, bibs, hats, onesies and sleepers. It's such a fun event and Nora looks forward to it every year.

Nora is holding a layette that she put together for one of the babies.

Kelly snuggling with her cousins.

Tea Party

One of Grammy's friends recently adopted a little girl, Olivia. We've been hearing wonderful stories about her ever since and Nora couldn't wait to meet her. Grammy set up a tea party for the kids and it was adorable. The kids were dressed up and so excited for their treat.
Nora and Ronan kept trying to hug and kiss Olivia. Ronan kept calling her "baby," (she's only a month younger than him).

Olivia having tea.

Ronan tasting his special treat.

Nora in all her glory.

Como Park

We took our annual summer trip to see Jeff's parents earlier this month. We had a great visit and the kids were so good the entire trip.
Jeff wanted to take the kids to Como Park, a free zoo that he went to growing up. We went there last summer and loved it too. The kids really like the rides and that's where we spent most of our time. Ronan wasn't allowed on as many rides and he was really jealous when Nora got to go on the swings by herself. Hopefully next year both of them can go on all the rides they want!

Best picture ever.

Ronan was so happy to go on the cars. Last year he went on these cars with Nora and he wasn't quite ready for it.

Jeff's cousin, Kelly, came with us to the park. Nora and Ronan love Kelly and we were so happy that she spent the day with us. She also stayed the night. Nora was planning to sleep with her, but with the time change and all the excitement it didn't work out.
Nora really wanted to get her face painted. She asked for a unicorn. She didn't touch her face once, she was soooo proud of it!

Jeff and Ronan on the train ride. Ronan takes his riding very seriously, so it is hard to get a picture of him smiling. Trust me, he loved the train!

Kelly and Nora trying to put out a fire.