Minnesota State Fair 2013

It's already that time of year again.  Yesterday we enjoyed "the great Minnesota get-together."  After Amanda, Nathan and Lucy missing it last year due to Nathan being only weeks old, it was great to have everyone there again.  Each of us have our favorite parts of the fair.  Nathan loved the french fries.  Lucy liked watching the parade.  Matthew really wanted to watch the skateboarders and bmx riders.  Caleb was pretty excited about getting his $5 item from the souvenir shop.  Molly had a great time on the sky glide with her brother.  Amanda always likes to watch people.  I love getting to talk to the high school kids about their animals.  I met a really interesting kid from Stillwater who may be able to help us get some pigs next year.

It's probably good that it only comes once a year.  It it was more often, we would all weigh 300 pounds and be broke.  As the kids prayed last night, getting to go to the fair made all of their list of things for which they were thankful.  It made mine as well.  Memories made and good times had by all.

One Year With Nathan John

Nathan John turns one-year-old today.  It has been nothing but a joy and a pleasure to welcome him into our family.  He is sweet and all of us love him immensely.  We got him a cozy coupe for his birthday.  They gave it to him this morning.  Amanda texted me and said that "Someone won't get out of his car to eat breakfast."  We are so thankful for him and love the way that he has perfectly rounded out our family.  We love you Nate Jack.  Happy Birthday!

Nathan Likes Bacon

Some friends gave us some salt cured bacon last week.  We fried it up on Saturday morning to go with our pancakes.  As you can see below, Nathan was a fan.

Rough and Tumble Lu Ru

Amanda just sent me this picture.  Lucy apparently fell down the stairs outside by our mudroom.  I think she's on her way to urgent care to get a couple of stitches.  She is a pretty tough little cookie.

This is Lucy's second head wound in the last few weeks.  When we were camping last weekend, we had just stopped to check in for our campground.  All of the kids were out of their seats in the van.  We had just pulled around the corner to head for our site.  All of a sudden, I hear the van door open.  Lucy had opened the door and tumbled out.  We were going about 5 mph.  I stopped the van and jumped out.  She was bleeding like crazy from the back of her head.  I picked her up and began applying pressure to the wound.  Long story short, the boys ran to the ranger station to get help and the rangers arrived, lights and sirens blaring, in minutes.  We got the bleeding stopped right away and Lucy calmed right down.  The rangers recommended that we take her to the hospital for a stitch or two, but we decided not to.  The wound was more of an abrasion and not a cut.  She was fine.  When we went to church the next Sunday, she said, "I have to tell everyone about how I fell out of the car."

I guess this is the life of a 3-year-old.  I'll post an update if indeed there are some stitches necessary for our little sweetie.