Dragons and Tigers...oh my!

We had a fantastic Halloween weekend! Friday night we carved pumpkins, we made a funny pumpkin, a scary pumpkin and two "regular" pumpkins.

Colin was a white (siberian) tiger this year and Justin was a dragon. Poor Justin, he'll be whatever Colin was the previous year for awhile.

Saturday we went to a few Halloween "parties" in Winona, played at a park in the costumes and went to the Rollingstone Jaycee's Halloween party. It was one busy day but a lot of fun!

Carving pumpkins with Mommy & Daddy

Our completed pumpkins - carved by each of us

Helping uncle "A" carve pumpkins at Grandma's house

Checking out the costumes

Playing at the park - this was just too adorable

August, September & October

August consisted of another trip out on the river, camping, going to the State Fair and playing outside every chance we got!

September felt like it was over after I blinked my eye, I can hardly remember all that we did but at least we had so much fun doing it. We had the first annual Mandler yard game tournament (aka John and Amy's engagement party) over Labor Day weekend, we had such a blast that we're planning a yearly event.

October is one of the boys favorite months - it's combining time. The boys will sit out in the yard and watch the tractors, combines and semi trucks in the field and drive by our house. Ben, our neighbor, let the boys take a ride this fall.



We took the boys to their first play - The Berenstein Bears - Family Matters at Viterbo University








Apple Farm in Wisconsin with the Mandler Family (plus Kylie) and Noah Ryan








Taking a hay ride with Grandma "Choo" (Justin can't quite say Cheryl, so he says Choo)








Hanging out with the Gundry Boys








So excited to be at the Rollingstone Fire Department Open House (or Grandpa's Firestation)








Hanging our catching some rays during our last camping trip

Dreaming of his own fourwheeler at the Minnesota State Fair

We're back.....

And we're back....it has been one crazy Summer and so far Fall has been just as busy. At first I was embarassed with the lack of posting but then I realized that I would much rather be busy and having fun than bored! Plus everyone I know, also had a busy summer.

So, where did I leave off?

After our maiden voyage with our new camper in June, July promised to be even crazier. We went to the County Fair, CJ played t-ball every Sunday night, worked more on our rentals, went out on Papa's boat for my birthday (which is also my Dad's - aka Papa), had Tony and Katie's wedding, went to Wisconsin Dells again with the whole Lande family, and went camping for the second time for Bryan's birthday weekend....wow, I'm exhausted just typing all of that!

Tony and Katie's wedding was such a blast and the hottest day of the year. The boys were still troopers and let me dress them in their suits. They didn't last long, however and changed into shorts and tanks after supper and danced away!

Here's my attempt to get a picture of the two of them:




Here's a picture at Wisconsin Dells. The boys had blast, we really had a great time spending a long weekend after Tony and Katie's wedding with Grandma and Grandpa, Tony and Katie, Paul and April, Dylan and Evan.

Colin's t-ball team, luckily "buddy" (Tyler) and Kylie played, otherwise, I'm not sure Colin would have had much interest in going. It was cute watching him learn to "play" the game and learn the rules and organization. At one point, after he hit the ball, he ran after it in the playing field!

Our family picture, or at least an attempt at one. It turned out pretty well for 95 degree weather and kids that wanted to change clothes.

The craziest thing about our entire summer was Justin's little accident at Wisconsin Dells. While Bryan and I were on a water slide, he stayed back with his cousins and aunts and uncles and just tripped over his feet in the water, when he fell, he bit into his tongue. There was ALOT of blood, crying and tears, mainly because he was scared and no mommy or daddy to help right away. Apparently tongues heal on their own and incredibly fast. It really was amazing to watch his little tongue heal every day. If you looked at it today, you would never know he had a dime size whole in his tongue! Here's a picture:

So that brings us up through July, stayed tuned for August, September and October. The next post will be much sooner that the last gap!