September 2009

2:52 PM

December 9, 2009
Ahhhh, September. The month I get to send kids back to school. And this year 2 of my children were off to school. Yep, 2 kids out of the 3. Wow. Luke started 2nd grade and Ashlyn started Kindergarten. Where did the time go? It feels like we just moved back to MN from Kansas and Ashlyn was only 4 months old...not even. Now she's in school. Here are their first day of school photos. They started on different days so I don't have an official one of them together...that'll be next fall when they start school together on the same day and go every day...all day. :) (Kindergarten in Cannon Falls run all day every other day)



I threw this one in there. This is Chloe ready to go to church on the first day of Sunday school. She isn't in Sunday school yet, but she insisted on the backpack. She filled it with things to keep her busy while we sat in church. Funny girl. The photo made me realize that she too is growing up. Look at her....she looks like she's ready to get on the bus.

Summer Roadcation - August 09

11:56 AM

December 9, 2009
The second week of August...we left on a Friday to start our journey to Parker, Colorado....all 5 of us, together, in one vehicle. Yep. We're nuts. BUT, the kids were the best they have ever been....yeah, there were a couple snags along the way, but for the most part...they were awesome. We stayed in CO at Lincoln's sister's house with her husband and son for the weekend and had a blast...we didn't do a ton, but it didn't matter...we just liked being able to visit. We saw a few things and walked to the pool everyday, they made us thee best meals...Daryn and Bryan Daryn's twin brother) can grill awesome food. We left on Monday morning and headed to Scott City, Kansas...the place where Lincoln and I started our marriage and family. We got there in the afternoon and had time to swim and rest before we met some old friends and their girls for supper and playtime at the city park. The next morning we were off...to wherever. Eventually, on a Wednesday evening, we made it to Lena, IL. We met up with Lincoln's Godparents and their kids and grand kids for a night of watching little kids play soccer and a dinner out. We stayed the night in Lena with Drew & Jenny and their family. Great time. I really wish we could get together with these guys more. The next morning, Drew & Jenny were already out the door so we took our time and then met up with Lincoln's Godmother at their place in Monroe, WI and followed her to New Glarus where her daughter, Brandi, and her have a bridal shop...Brandi's bridal. Cute shop! the kids ran around with her daughter Elle and we got the tour. Again...really wish we saw those folks more. :) After our visit in IL & Monroe, we were headed to West Salem for our last stop..Lincoln's cousin Corey & his wife Stacey and their 3 boys were in for some chaos. Yep, our family of 5 and their family of 5 all under the same roof and it was soooo fun. And, Corey and Stacey graciously offered to watch all of our kids so that we could go have dinner...by ourselves. We had a great dinner and some quiet time. And they learned that they could have at least 3 more kids and still be half way sane. :) Our kids have so much fun together. The next morning we ate breakfast and some of us headed out to a park before we were on out way back to Cannon Falls. We did A LOT of driving, but we had so much fun seeing things, showing the kids where they got their start and visiting. We had to be back by Friday because Lincoln had to work that weekend. We needed a vacation from our vacation. :) Isn't that how it goes? Next year I'd like to tackle driving out to Hershey, PA...we shall see.


(a lot of hours of driving and riding will do this to a person)
Iowa

I am convinced that they put these things so close to the road so drivers have something to look at in this state...there isn't a whole lot of anything in Iowa. :)


But there is Farmall-Land in Iowa. (I have almost 100 photos from this place...)




COLORADO - here we come!


Lincoln asked her out...but she just would not stop telling us about wildlife. He gave up.
Then he hung out with all his friends.

Coleton with Uncle Lincoln

Kanorado. Hmmm, can you guess where this place is located?
Scott City, Kansas....park.

Drew is developing the land around his house....awesome.
Spotted Cow beer anyone? I wish we would have stopped for a tour.
New Glarus, WI - in case you or someone you know need a bridal shop...this is the place to go.
West Salem water park....or Corey and Stacey's backyard.

A little August 2009

11:31 AM

December 9, 2009

August was full of family picnics, trips to the zoo and the end of soccer....and the end of summer.

Ashlyn on the 'skeeter' MN Zoo.

My turtles. MN Zoo


Ashlyn & soccer



Chloe - "Just chillin'"


with grandma Darla



Kreisler / Showers family reunion, Cannon Falls


Visiting grandma Darla & grandpa Kerry


An awesome visit from some family in Washington state!

10:56 AM

December 9, 2009


What better day to get caught up on the blog...a snow day!



Back in July (seems like so long ago) Lincoln's great-uncle Ollie and great-aunt Anne (Grandma Betty's brother and sister-in-law) came to visit along with thir children. So, the prompted the reast of the Sjoquist's to get together also...for somewhat of a family reunion of sorts. It was SOOOOO fun to get together with everyone. It was a whole weekend filled with family. I am so lucky to be part of this family.




This was pretty funny...Uncle Ollie pushing my daughter uo a slight hill in the Gator. I believe that my daughter had Ella pushing her first. Nice one, Ashlyn.
All of Betty's great-grandchildren...she's got one more on the way now.
60 years...just awesome.
Well, of course this beautiful lady got to ride in the Viper!!
This was a pretty fun visit. Ollie and Anne were just back here again in November for Grandma Betty's 90th birthday celebration! Awesome.

I know, I know...It's been a while.

11:41 PM

October 19, 2009
I realize that I need to update this thing...I have actually been contemplating shutting it down, but I don't want to lose everything I did. :) One of these nights, maybe this weekend I will try and get it updated with August and fall. For now, just words will have to do (because I don't want to take the time right now to upload pictures).
School started...life is good. :)
Luke is liking second grade. He doesn't talk about it much...because it's school, but he is enjoying himself. the only thing he does complain about is that he really wished that he could have all his friends in class again this year, but he still gets to see some of them at church and at recess. This week is extra special because he gets to go to basketball camp for an hour after school each day except Thursday. Man was he excited. He lost another tooth, so that's 5 now. He lost it at school. He's already been to the MN zoo for a field trip. Unfortunately, mother nature is giving us a very cold fall and no Indian summer so it was chilly the day he went.
Ashlyn is really enjoying Kindergarten. She is still a story teller, but whatever....can't scold her for having an imagination at the age of 5. Her favorite time of the day is free play time when she can hang out with her friends. She goes all day, every other day. Her conference was great. Her and I butt heads constantly though. :) Ashlyn is in dance again this year. She is loving that too. She is excited to get to wear her new and different outfit this year. Her program is in December.
I must admit...it has been nice only having Chloe a couple times a week. Chloe enjoys the time to herself too, but is always glad when she has Ashlyn to play with. Chloe is talking like crazy and she sings a ton. Always singing. Clearly too. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is her favorite with "Here Come the Sun" by the Beatles coming in second. So funny. She also like to learn all Ashlyn's dance moves when Ashlyn comes home from dance.
As far as our family...we are just doing the same old thing. We have amazingly survived the first year of house payments...we are lucky to be able to say that. :) Lincoln will be starting to go to Gopher Basketball games now through March and I am sure that his basketball league will be starting in another month. I have been busy with kids, church and jobs.
The farm is still running. Rumors are flying around here somehow that we went bankrupt, but we did not. Times are tough...just like for everyone, but we will be fine. We have cows and we feed them and they have milk.
That should be all for now. I really need to go to bed. I will hopefully update with some photos soon.

July 2009 Stuff

9:33 PM

September 8, 2009


Back to the blog. It gets away from me...




In July we.....
...went to the Cannon Valley fair for kids day for rides:





...went to the 4th of July parade in town:

...went to the zoo with Sophie and Bonnie:




...celebrated my birthday at home with a cake that Lincoln got me:



...and finished off the baseball season:

I didn't get a picture of Ashlyn's team that night...she playing this summer too though.