Road trippin'

Last Friday Rick and I headed a bit south of here to visit 

 Historic Forestville

I've always wanted to check it out and I wasn't disappointed.

 This old steel bridge takes you into the old town of Forestville

It is closed to cars, but people and people on horses are allowed to cross.

As you walk across the 1899 bridge, you are able to see buildings
 as they were in the 1890's, the original Store still stands,
it is packed full of authentic merchandise that dates back to 1910.
 All left there when the store closed it's doors for good.

Costumed interpreters portray 1890 villagers,
 they interacted with those that are visiting as if it were still 1890.

This man gave us the initial orientation and history of Forestville
He really knows his stuff!

My favorite Character... he was minding the store
 while the owner was "out of town on business"

This store had everything a person would need from the 1890's
Food, medicine, clothes, shoes, tools, hardware....

Fabric

straw hats, and....

"Fancy dress shirts" for men

The store keeper took us to the "house". We were met by a nice lady
who told us all about living as a women during this time

To the right of her hand is a batch of sugar cookies
she made to share with the visitors of the day

Then we have the gardener.... I have to say he played his part well,
hands were filthy from digging in the real garden,
 and he smelled like he hadn't had a bath in days.

 He pulled this black turnip out of the garden as we stood by and watched.

This guy showed us around the barn, he showed us some old tools
that they used, back-in-the-day, and how they worked.

We spent a little more time exploring The State park after our tour of the old town,
I have a few more photo's to share next time...

It wasn't easy as it looks....

I've always enjoyed doing little amateur photo shoots each year with my grandkids.

My daughter takes them to Target for their indoor professional pictures, 

and then I supplement them with some outdoor photo's just for fun.

This year 2 year old Carson wasn't havin' the Target lady..... no way, no how!!!

So a second attempt was made by me with my daughter to help make it happen.

Yes it looks like he was a perfect child model...."CHEEEEESE"

Not really...there was actually a lot of craziness going on directly behind me as my 

daughter danced, waved her arms, and made crazy sounds to make him smile.

You have to wonder what he was thinking about his mother

during all of this?

"My mom is crazy"!

So this is about as cute as it gets....Carson's sweetest smile.

Guess what his momma was doing to get this reaction???  

She was pretending to eat my head, as I was on my knees taking the photo.

Yep.... you gotta do what you gotta do!

I just love this little guy

"Where's Carson"?...... PEAK!!!!!!

that made him smile every time  :)

Just playing

The same spot I took his sister for her 2 year photo shoot

On the tracks with a harmonica in hand

No worries....we never saw a train  :)

BLOG HOP "Being a mom is tough "

My first "blog hop" I found this on
 http://proverbs31.org/online-bible-studies/current-study/  So here it is, my take on
"Being a mom is tough"

I always knew I wanted to be a mom.... 

We were married young, Rick 23 and me 21.

 We were eager to be parents,

 but decided to wait a year before we thought about starting a family.

 One year and nine months later we had our first....Brianna

 The boys followed, Brice 3 years after Brianna, then Gavin 4.5 years after Brice.

Being a mommy is so rewarding but also very challenging in many ways.

The rewards far outweigh the challenges, but who knew how hard it would be...

and still is, even with adult children.

I've always said kids act out throughout all their years of growing up, 

it's just different at each stage of life. 

Beginning with the terrible two's (for us it was the terrible three's) the tantrums,

 to pre-teens whining about what ALL their friends have but they don't get to have,

"everyone else's parents let them do it", have you heard that one yet young mom's? 

to teenagers, testing their boundaries, 

to young adult and their decisions that you have to let them make....ugh!

Then this is where it gets hard....

They leave you one by one

Then you begin to wonder... Did I mess them up?

Will they make the right decisions

Will they keep God first in their lives, and let Him direct their steps?

Was I a good example, was I patient enough, and did I show enough love?

My three in the middle,

Brice married Jennifer, 

Brianna married Chris.... Gavin, still single  :)

No matter how far away they are you miss them, and you worry!

Once a mom...always a mom, 

you cant help but want to know what they are doing, 

where they are going, and are they happy?

When it's all said and done,
I did what I thought best at that time,

at that moment, under those circumstances....

and I prayed a lot. 

My Greatest blessings

I love the song below, "Blessings" it's really about life and it's blessings.... 

 click the "play" button, the lyrics are included.... check it out

"what if your blessings come through raindrops, What if your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights is what it takes to know your near? 

What if the trials of this life are your mercies in disguise"....

For my Children...my blessings.

When despair finds you...

When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the Rock that is higher than I psalm 61:2

When you're weary...and you will be

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me Phil 4:13 

When you feel weak and worn out...

My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in your weakness 2 Cor 12:9

Just when  you think you have it all figured out...

To everything there is a season and 

a time to every purpose under heaven  eccl 3:1

When you need reminding that you are His and he takes care of His own...

For I am the Lord, your God 

Who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,

Do not fear: I will help you  Isaiah 41:13

I prayed for you before you were conceived and have never stopped

you are my blessings, I love you Brianna, Brice and Gavin.

~Mom

Super Moon

The Super moon was amazing tonight, 

we got to enjoy it all the way home from the Twin Cities!

We pulled over just as it was getting to be dusk and I snapped this one

A little Fire-cracker !

We are the proud grandparents of  a sweet little girl, 

born to Brice and Jennifer on July 4th.

Her name is Scarlett June, and she's perfect. 

 She's already got ahold of my necklace....love her!

 Proud Grandpa

 Oh Uncle Gavin

 Official Grandparent photo...Gotta have it

I Love this one !!!!!! 

Friends that go way back and.... a PHOTO SHOOT....

Recently I was asked to take some family photo's
 for a friend who just had her 3rd baby. 

I'm no professional, but I'll do in a pinch and of course
 I love photography as a hobby. 

I have known Kelsey since she was a baby....
I changed her diaper in the church nursery and went on 

 mission trips with her and my daughter with the youth group.... we go wayyyyyy back.

I have now taken care of her children in the church nursery along with my grandchildren  :)

My daughter grew up with kelsey at church, her mom and I have been friends for 

many years and have worked together as nurses (she is currently my boss). 

Now our daughters are both nurses and have children that are close in age. 

Kelsey & Brianna (my daughter)

Brianna and Kelsey were also college room mates at Winona state and now

 live only a few miles from each other. 

While in college, they both worked at Culvers, where they happened to meet the men 

of their dreams and married them in the same year. 

They have remained good friends and do many things together with the kids.

 These three have been growing up together, this was taken over a year ago.

That's my Audrey in the middle.

 Yesterday the two brave mamma's took 

their 5 little ones to the Minnesota zoo

(Ages 1 month, 2, 4, 5, 6) 

Our grandson Carson joined the boys in this photo.

I told Brianna yesterday as she was headed to the zoo, that I was so glad 

she had good friends to share life with.... It's such a blessing!

Now, back to the photoshoot....

I was honored to take pictures for Kelsey and her husband Jeff 

They have a beautiful family!

 The boys

 Such a sweet family

 Baby is in there some where  :)

 Sweet Evalyn 

Just relaxing in a bucket.....Kelsey brought the props

My kind of day

Most of you will disagree with me but that's ok, 

I really do understand your point of view and if you were me,

 you'd understand my joy in this day....

My front garden

It's July 1, and the thermometer is reading just 70 degrees here in NW Rochester. 

A cool breeze hits me as I sit outside enjoying the day, no blaring hot sun,

 just fluffy clouds with some peeks of sun in between.

As most know I am a fall and winter lover.... lover of snow and all the beauty it brings. 

Taken a few years ago at Oxbow park, beautiful winter day... me in my element!

For me... the last few weeks has brought a form of
seasonal defective disorder to this girl, 

hot and humid is not a good mix for this soul....

I try, but here's the thing, nothing about 80's and humid is happy for me. 

I mostly stay indoors cooped up in the air conditioned house. 

If I do go out I immediately lose my makeup to a sweaty face and

 my hair goes from some what of a style to limp and sticking to my face....blah!!!  

Some may say "well in the winter, you sit in the house all day, that can be depressing"

Not for me, cuz that's what you expect in winter...indoors would be normal.

I'm actually more comfortable to be outside in the fall and winter...

no sweaty face, my make up and hair stays put, and I'm in my element.... 

all around comfort!

So, I'm loving this break from the heat and humidity, a coolish, overcast day, 

my kind of day!