if I could turn back time...

Our fifteen year old attended freshman orientation tonight. He is ready, but I don't know if I am.

life lessons at the pool

Yesterday, my six year old and I celebrated my last day of summer vacation by heading to the Ellsworth pool together. We were hoping the water slide would be open, but the pool didn't have enough swimmers to open that part up. A very kind boy who is about 10 years old invited O to play football in the pool. Our six year old was thrilled to be approached by a much bigger child and had a wonderful time.

Also playing with the 10 year old was an eight year old who seemed very short in stature. He pulled his body out of the pool and O and I discovered he didn't have the bottoms of his legs. We had a great conversation about how some people are born without full legs, or other body parts. The little boy talked to O and shared that he also has prosthetic legs. When he came out with his "bionic legs"--that was O's term, O decided it was pretty amazing to be born that way.

I hope that is how he always feels and realizes that people are special no matter how they are born.

homestead

On Saturday, our family attended the MN state fair to watch the lovely Liana Marie present her demonstration on pigeon showing and to see Kim, Kurt, Sheila, Lukas, Seth, Ryan, Abby, Andrew and Evalyn at the Great MN get together. We also caught a glimpse of Kyeanna's parents as they were working the rabbit show.

After a full day of the fair, we traveled to St. James to visit Mom and Dad at their new home at Homestead Cooperative in St. James. They welcomed us at 9:30pm and then we traveled further west to spend the night at Kurts. Up early Sunday morning for church and then to lunch at the Hometowner in St. James.

Mom and Dad look fully integrated into their new home and it felt like home visiting with them.

Happy to see them settled.

happy birthday dear Betty Jean

Wishing blessings to a wonderful Mom, mother in law, grandma and friend, Betty Jean Olson. You are so caring and giving.

Here is grandma Betty helping her nine and ten year old grand daughters primp at the lake.

riding the rapids with my sweet friend

Bright and early this morning, Brad and I departed Glen Park and paddled our anniversary canoe and kayak about 8 miles. The water was great and we managed to hit the rapids just right. A downed tree downed the canoer and he pulled off to the side to unswamp his canoe.

It was a fun and fast ride down the river.

the tree that swamped the canoe in the background

scary teeth

Yesterday, O had a play date with his buddy Coulter. He woke very early and was telling me his teeth were hurting. This is how he greeted me:

his teeth were back to normal in time for the play date.

workshop baby

Wednesday was the first day of teacher workshop and catching up with my cool staff. Feels great to be back.

zoo exploration

The two youngest and I traveled to Apple Valley on Tuesday to spend time at the MN Zoo. It was so fun to explore together. Dinosaurs and the Tropical Trail were the highlights for us all.

pool time and game on!

On Monday afternoon, I took O and his buddy Wil to the Glen Park pool and then we drove to New Richmond to watch the 9th Grade football team beat the New Richmond Tigers. It was beautiful weather and fun times for the Olsons!

paddle down the St. Croix

Our family had planned on going on a paddle on the Namekogan in northern Wisconsin in the final days before teacher workshop. Plans changed when the weather didn't cooperate, so we paddled down the St. Croix from Interstate Park to Osceola with Ibby. It was a beautiful day and we are so happy we didn't camp in the weather that was on other days.

It was pretty cool to see the geology at Interstate park too. Some stories to take back to my classroom this year.

happy 9th birthday Trenton Anders!

The sweet and smart Trenton Anders has been ushered into the age of 9. Happy birthday to you and wishing you many more years of happiness and health!

on grandma and grandpa's exercise bike before the big move