Collin is THREE!!

Collin turned three on Friday. It seems so hard to believe. I had the day off on Friday and it just so happens to be the big Game Fair weekend in Ramsey. Ben was working so the kids and I headed there to see on the puppies. Watch the dogs do the dock jumping and obstacle course. Tayah and I also did some archery practice. When Ben was done with his work there we headed to dinner and then to see the Disney movie, Planes. It was a pretty good birthday day.

The Kids at Game Fair.

Now that Collin is three our big goal is to finish getting potty trained. We have been working on it for a while and he just hasn't been able to fully commit to the idea. Some days he does great and other days he wants nothing to do with it. I can't push it cause that just makes it worse but we will just keep trying. Wish us luck cause this mama is ready to be done!!

Happy Birthday Baby Collin!!

A Week at the Cabin

Well, we are back after spending a week at a cabin on Upper Whitefish Chain, near Pequot Lakes. It was 7 days of beautiful weather. Perfect Lake weather. Not one rainy day while we were there. Our week went a little like this, sleep in, boat to the island, swim, paddle board, tube, eat, campfire, fish, stay up late, REPEAT!! We also went mini golfing in Brainerd. We went and saw Despicable Me 2, we had some friends come and stay with us for a couple days. We had a great week!

Collin playing mini golf.

Tayah posing for a mini golf shot.

Tayah and Ben riding go-carts.

kiddie cars.

Fishing pro.

Beach life.

MN Surf Company

MN Surf Company

50th Anniversary Turtle Race Contestants.

Collin getting sleepy.

Kids with their Racing turtles in Nisswa.

Paddle Boarding

Beach girl

More paddle boarding.

Collin loved fishing.

Wedding Weekend

We had the last Cade wedding. Ben's youngest sister got married over the weekend in Madison, WI. We all got to be a part of this special day. It was a beautiful day and lovely wedding. Congratulations Abby and Chris!!

Speaking of weddings, Ben and I are celebrating 9 years of marriage today. I can't believe how fast that time has gone and I can honestly say it has only gotten better from that day. No big plans today. We are spending a week at a cabin in Brainerd next week. Looking forward to relaxation, boating, paddle boarding, swimming, Sun and cabin life for the next 7 days.

Memorial Weekend in Chicago

Ben's little sister is getting married in a few weeks so Emily (Ben's Middle sister), along with Emily's friend Kayla, and I took off for Chicago on Friday to help celebrate with her bachelorette party.

Friday- It was Tim McGraw concert.
Saturday- Shopping and Limo, Dinner and drinks.

Sunday-We headed back home.

We had lots of fun with the girls and Ben and the kids stayed home and had their own fun.  First time I left Ben alone with the kids for more than 24 hours. Not that I don't trust him, I just don't do this sort of thing nearly enough. Note to self!!

Tim McGraw Concert

Saturday night out.

Limo time!!

I got home late on Sunday and thankfully still had Monday to recover. We decided to go looking for some Morels. Had a little luck. Will have to check back later this week for more. They are just sooo good!!

Morel hunting with the kids.

Collin's first trip mushroom hunting.

Collin Update

So Collin is starting his 3rd week of speech this week. Sally, the speech pathologist, comes to our house 2-3 times a week. He loves it!! He works so well with her and he thinks it is great that a special person gets to come and play with just him. She makes it fun, they play games and work on different sounds and words along the way. I am already noticing some new words and an increase in his vocabulary in the short time they have been working. I think the biggest thing was getting him to feel confident to even TRY new sounds and words that he maybe knew were a little more difficult for him. We have been signing with Collin since he was a baby and he continued to use the signs we taught him up until more recently. I am now noticing those signs being replaced with the words. It's a little sad to see those go but I'm happy he is making those accomplishments.
Sunday we took a little Sunday drive to Wabasha to visit the Eagle center and spend the beautiful day outside. We stopped and had pizza, ice cream, and not to mention visit the eagles at the Eagle Center. As we were getting ready to head home and get in the car, Collin said "All aboard". Ben and I looked at each other like, did he just say, "all aboard." We had never heard him say anything like that before and I'm still not sure where he got that from or heard it?? Thomas the Train, maybe??
Today he was helping  me pick up blocks and after he gave me high five and said "Good Job, Mom." It may not sound like much but any time he puts a few words together to form a sentence I take notice and it makes me so happy.

I have to take the photos off the camera from our Eagle trip from Sunday. I will post those once I do. Just had to share a little update on Collin.

Turkey Weekend

Well, the turkey weekend is complete. Ben headed out to South Dakota hunting, with 2 other Avery guys last Wednesday. I had plans to meet them out there on Friday after Tayah got on the bus at noon to go to school. We ended up getting a pretty bad snow storm Thursday so I had been debating if I should make the 6+ hour drive out there by myself. School ended up being cancelled Friday but I decided since I was headed in the opposite direction of where the storm hit, I would take off a little early and make the drive. I got there about 6:30 pm on Friday and Ben immediately had me change and took me out to where we would hunt. Didn't see much that night so we just set up to go out Saturday morning.
Last year when I agreed to go turkey hunting with Ben, I did so because I knew the season is in the spring and the weather is usually nice. Well, not this year. Saturday was the coldest day of the weekend and our main hunting day. It was 19 degrees that morning when we woke up and windy. Not ideal, but we made the best of it.
That morning the birds came back to feed just after sunrise, as expected. Ben and I were in one blind and Mark and Nathan were in the other, just down from us. Turkeys decided to come around to Mark and Nathan's decoys and 2 Toms down as Ben and I watched them shoot. We each had a turkey tag to shoot 2 birds. Mark and Nathan had got their 2, Ben got 1 on Thursday before I arrived and was waiting to shoot his 2nd when I arrived. It was my turn. I was up next. I had told Ben that I was not going to shoot a Jake (a young male). I really didn't want to shoot anything unless it was a Tom.
Anyway, long story short. After sitting for probably more than 10 hours, waiting for more birds to come we got our chance. A group of hens and jakes with two Toms came near our blind. Ben shot 1 and I shot 1. 2 more Toms down. And the good part was that it was still early enough that we could clean up to go to dinner to celebrate. It was a fun weekend actually and I would do it again. I'm glad the guys were so encouraging to let this rookie come hang out with them.

Best Wife Ever

....and this is why...Last weekend I spent most of Saturday taking my firearm and hunter education test. Ben drove me out to Bloomington to take my test and then all the way to Le Seur to the gun range to do my shooting test. I had completed the online classes and completed the online test and just had to complete my field day test in person. I passed with flying colors. It was a piece of cake and now it is done. I actually studied and everything and was even a little bit nervous. So, I guess I was prepared.

Next, I am going out to South Dakota for a long weekend to go turkey hunting with Ben and some other guys. I am sorta looking forward to it as long as the weather is descent. Weather at this point is very questionable but I guess we will wait and see. Ben leaves next Wednesday and I will be meeting him out there on Friday.

I figured since my kids are going to be hunters I might as well participate as well. If you can't beat them, join them. I will post pictures.