Catch Up Time

Shall I catch you up a bit on what's been happening?  No?  Well, tough.  I'm going to.

After we got back from the cabin, we joined some friends for our first trip to the new Target Field to watch a Minnesota Twins game.  It was good to catch up with friends and enjoy a little outdoor baseball.  Oh, and the Twins won, so that was a bonus.

We also celebrated my niece Maggie's 1st birthday!  Ben and Cole stayed back in Blaine for a little daddy/son time and I went to LaCrosse for cake and ice cream (which she obviously enjoyed immensely).

After the party, my mom, dad and I ventured back up to the cities and went on our annual outing to the Minnesota State Fair!  Gluttony ensued!  Some of the best food this year?  Chicken Fried Bacon (really it was quite good) and the usual indulgences like Pronto Pups, corn on the cob, ice cream from the dairy barn and Sweet Martha's cookies.  Cole actually did really well!  He loved people watching and seeing all of the animals.  And our wagon came in handy when he was dozing off.

We also decided it was time to say farewell to our Mazda.  We bought it when Ben and I first got married and it's been a great car.  But we knew it was a matter of time before things started falling apart and boy were we right!  The day that Ben put it on Craig's List, the tie rod broke and we had to put $$ into it.  But now it's all fixed and just like new! :)  So if you know anyone who needs a cheap, reliable car with a "few" miles on it, send them our way!

Otherwise, we've been enjoying the lovely fall weather and getting outside as much as we can before the ice and snow hits in a few months (I felt like I just swore when I said ice and snow, so if I offended anyone, I'm sorry.)  This past weekend we went to our local pumpkin "farm" to enjoy some fall activities.  Here is a picture of Cole last year when he was about 5 months old and this year at 16 months!  Still as handsome as ever.

And to end this update post, here is a video of Cole busting a move!  Enjoy! (Oh and I apologize to all of my family in Wisconsin and fellow Green Bay Packer fans for the shirt that Cole is wearing....it pains me too.)

Cabin Vacation 2010

Every year, ever since I was a baby, my family has been going to our family cabin up in northern Wisconsin every summer.  It's such a big part of our family and since we have expanded over the years, it's been fun to introduce new traditions and memories.
 Last year was Cole's first year, even though all he did was eat, sleep and poop (he was about 2 months old), so it was fun this year to think of all the things he would enjoy that he couldn't last year.  Oh, but this year all he did was sleep and poop, not so much eating.  Yup, he was sick for the majority of the time.  Of course.  And it just happened to be the coldest week of the summer up there.  Ugh.  BUT, in the long run, it was lovely to be away from work and the routine of life and as always it was fun to spend time with family.  Enjoy the pictures!

First time on the dock and stylin' I might add

Hanging out with Grandpa

Ladder Ball in the water

Chilling with Cousin Ellie

The sun's out right?

Daddy and Cole

LOVE this picture!

Ben and his horse Champ

Dancing with Nana

Ben is such a natural with three kids! :) Cole, Maggie and Ellie

Pontooning it!

The cabin version of the tub

Uncle Nate and Cole

Cole's attempt at escaping, sans life jacket!

And apparently no swim diaper. :)

Going a bit stir crazy trying to entertain the little man

Feeding Jane Doe and her two fawn

Cole learning the finer art of cribbage - putting the peg in the hole

And so proud of himself when he did!

Story time before bed

Mommy and Cole

SMOOCH!

Silly boy!

We tried to go for a cute hammock pic - obviously they weren't having it.

Gramps, Gram and the Grandbabies

Yeah, we weren't ready to leave either Cole.

Bug Bites and Fevers

Last weekend I spent most of Saturday playing sand volleyball for a work function.  I had a lot of fun and our team smoked every team we played, so that made it even more fun of course!  But what I didn't plan on was this....

I don't think the pictures really do justice to the discomfort that I was in.  So much so that I even went into the clinic to make sure I didn't have any kind of infection.  Not sure what bit me (sand fleas, chiggers), but I definitely had a severe reaction.  Monday was the worst day.  My ankles swelled up like I was nine months pregnant and it literally hurt to walk.  Thankfully they are getting better and I was finally able to shave! :)  Note to any of my enemies - If you want to torture me, make me itch!

We had the privilege to travel to the lovely neighboring state this weekend to visit with my family.  Unfortunately Cole had a fever all weekend.  No idea how or why, but I think he's turned the corner.  I don't like it when he's sick.  I feel so helpless.  All I can do is drug him up and love him up!

Bearer of the Ring

Our journey to Illinois began on Thursday night.  We picked Ben up from work, ate dinner in the car and made our first stop in Eau Claire.  Cole thought Dad was driving too slow, so he decided he would help out.

However, we thought he would do much better sleeping.  And he did.  Over the hills and past the woods to Great Grammie's house we went.  We slept at Grammie's and took off again the next morning to complete the journey.  Of course we had to take a pit stop at Bass Pro Shops...our trip wouldn't be complete without it...ahem.  Right. 

The rehearsal went well and the rehearsal dinner was yummy Chicago pizza.  Cole even tasted his first lime!  I know...we're mean aren't we?  He didn't seem to mind it too much though!  Check it out!

The big day came and it was my task to figure out how to cut Cole's two-nap day to a one-nap day all while preventing any meltdowns, keeping him clean, keeping his tux on and making him smile for pictures.  We kept him busy in the morning until he crashed at about 10am.  Luckily he slept until almost 1:30pm and I couldn't have been more thrilled.  It was a bit tricky getting out the door and to the ceremony site in time for pictures as everyone else was already there.  But we made it and he looked unbelievably adorable.  But don't take my word for it!  See for yourself!

Getting ready for pictures

My two handsome boys - I'm such a lucky girl!

Strike a pose

Cole did a great job "walking" down the aisle with Daddy.  About half way down,  he started to freak out, but I popped my head out so he could see me and all was well. :)

The long walk....

The lovely couple was Ben's brother Mark and our new "sister" Beth. 

What a little man!

Our little family

The reception was fun and Cole changed into his party clothes to be able to move around and dance!

Cole in his "after party" attire - keeping with the tux theme of course

Of course, he only lasted so long and fell asleep on Uncle John's shoulder to flashing lights and bumpin' music.  Hey, when you're tired, you're tired!

Uncle John making a good pillow.

Cousin Dave making just as good of a pillow

Overall, Cole was such a trooper and did such an amazing job!  We couldn't have asked everything to go any better.