1st Scrimmage Game

So we played a 3 way scrimmage yesterday with the Titans and another team from Anaheim.. we had a great game I think we got 4 touchdowns playing the Anaheim team and 1 playing the Titans as of noon... there was more game to be played, but it ran over later than expected since there were 3 teams playing.. and I already told my friend I would go over and take pictures of their newest addition... I am bummed that I didn't get any pictures of Garrett going up against a Titan, but I did get some shots of him going up against the Anaheim team!

Here he is taking a rest before more playing.. I love these little frozen towels for keeping their heads cool.. they all looked so cute sitting around with them on.

Practice Practice and more Practice

So far Garrett has done a lot of practicing.. tomorrow will be our first scrimmage against the Titans.. and we are so excited!!! I am hoping the game goes well.. they keep score.. so it should make things pretty exciting!!! Here are some practice photos that I got of Garrett.. the first one is from the first day of practice.. the rest are pictures of his 1st practice will full pads on.. tomorrow he will still be wearing the spirit wear jersey.. they are saving the real jerseys for actual game days that will start in September.. until then its practice, scrimmages, carnival, bowl-a-thon, etc.. its been keeping us busy thats for sure!

I am assuming {I am a rookie in all this!} that this is a strength test to see how strong the boys are.. Garrett did the best in the middle... he is a tough little guy {or stubborn}.. or both!

This was the first drill they did before actually tackling each other.. I really like how Garrett is so focused.. like come on kid.. wanna piece of me!

This shot shows Garrett's size difference between him and his team mates.. there is another kid that is on the younger side with him, but he does go up against 7yr olds.. he took some really good hits tonight.. Mark told me he did good.. got right back up and into it.. the last few he tweaked his knee a bit, but seemed to be just fine by the time he got home.. its a part of the game.. he likes to play tough.. here is where he can do it!

So tomorrow.. Titans we are ready for you!!!

His Touchdown Dance

Ok Ok Ok... I said I was done, but then I started looking at football pictures.. and this one is too cute not to share.. look at my little football star.. awww.. so far this has been worth everything we have put into it.. I love watching Garrett be so focused.. he loves every minute of football.. and we couldn't be any happier.. its just so exciting!!!!

Whew we are home {back on July 27th}

or so we thought.. whew.. since we have been home its been one thing after another.. I have my nephew this summer.. then of course the workout schedule.. Mark is back to work.. not to mention football is 5 days a week.. which runs us way past dinner and bedtimes.. but its been great!!! I love every minute of being busy if it means we are busy together!!! This weekend I have been a lazy blogging bum.. so its time to get off this bootie and hit up Legoland tomorrow {thats if Mark doesn't get called into court} I am really hoping that is not the case!!!!!

Saying Goodbye to Minnesota

Its always sad to say goodbye to Minnesota!!! The boys & I have such a great time visiting Grandpa & Grandma.. its so nice to be close to Auntie Lizzy.. we loved every minute we had visiting with you guys!!!! Grandpa & Grandma we will see you in November.. Auntie Lizzy we hope the best for you in your job search.. we will miss you.. and will be anxiously waiting for the news of your next move.... wondering if it will be closer to us or not.. either way.. we hope to visit with you again soon!!!!! Love you guys and thank you for everything!!!!!!!

This was before our last meal in Minnesota with Grandpa & Grandma.. good ol' golden arches!!!

The Welu Farm

It was super nice of the Welu family to let us spend some time checking out a real Wabasso, MN farm!!! Garrett loved every minute of being there!!! He chased roosters.. held a baby pigeon.. watched miniature goats eat some feed.. chased piggies in and out of their pig pin... and the topper of the day was riding in a combine.. well actually driving the combine.. Drew even really liked this part of the farm visit.. we got to pet farm cats.. watch a farm cat kill a mouse.. and a itty bitty baby frog was caught by Mr. Welu.. what wonderful memories we will always have from visiting this farm!!! Hopefully next time we make it to Minnesota they will let us visit again! What I love most about the majority of the pictures is you see the difference in my boys.. Garrett is my farm boy.. Drew is my city slicker boy.. well for now.. that might change!









***My Flickr has the non people pictures.. and facebook has the farm cat pictures***

The Wabasso Family Farm Tour

I am not exactly sure how this farm was a family one.. cause I was stuck way in the back of the van reading, but I did look at the farms as we passed by.. I know Grandpa Lensing has a picture of this house in his old photos.. so he wanted to take a picture of today.. the little Drewski was sleeping so Garrett jumped into the picture with Grandpa.



Garrett rockin Grandpa's sunglasses.. I love this kid!



oh and speaking of love... sigh.. this kid is perfection.. when he is asleep!!!

After our trip to the cities we headed back to Marshall, MN.. we got some passes to the pool so the boys spent a lot of time there.. Garrett as seen in previous posts was brave enough to jump of the high dive.. I did that jump once and I was scared!!!! They also have a really cool water slide that the boys just loved.. and a tot area for the kiddos to freely run around in.. I didn't get a lot of pictures there cause I was worried that my camera would get ruined.. there are always a lot of people there, but that is where the majority of our time was spent.. I didn't get into the pool too much cause at this point my mouth started to really hurt me.. and I didn't feel very good.. who would have thought by the time we got home I would require 2 root canals.. booooo for me!!!!!!

So since I wasn't that into going to the pool... I decided that the boys and I needed to check out the story time in Marshall.. I am so glad we did.. Mark & I had a blast watching the kiddos.. and the kiddos had a blast being there.. the story time is held in the basement of the library so the kids can be as loud as they wanted to be.. so they were able to play with toys.. listen to a story.. play games.. even do a craft.. I would say this was the best story time we have ever been too.. then the kids library area is the whole upstairs of the library... so again they had a toy play area.. the kids could freely run around looking for book.. I loved this area so much that the kids & I ended coming back another day to enjoy it before we left for home.

Cousins {The Oberg Family}

Since Mark and I were going to the Dering wedding with Grandpa & Grandma.. and Auntie Lizzy was at a wedding in Marshall, MN we immediately thought of the Oberg family to watch our kiddos.. I mean look at these 3 boys.. my kids would LOVE to hang with them!!!! So Chris & Tom.. thank you so very much for putting up with us and taking our kiddos for the night!!!

The Oberg boys took our boys downstairs to play hours of hockey in the basement.. when Mark and I tried to say goodbye Garrett & Drew didn't want anything to do with us.. hahahha.. as you can tell from Garrett's face in this photo he decided to get mad at us for leaving him over night the next morning, but I am pretty sure he was just tired from all the fun they had... on the car ride home we heard all about their adventures Aunt Mary came over {they thought she was their Grandma}... they went swimming... Garrett fell in the toilet... they all think Drew gets on the toilet in a pretty interesting way.. they slept in.. and had a mound of pancakes the next morning.. I even heard they got to see cousin Anne.. whew what a 24hrs they had!!!!

Oh and Drew said I could leave him there again tomorrow.. hahahhaha I have one grumpy one.. and one easy one!

Dering Wedding Ceremony

The Dering wedding ceremony was beautiful.. in the most beautiful church.. everything about it was perfect.. during the wedding I wanted to enjoy the ceremony and take in everything with my own eyes. not really behind my camera lens, but I did get a few shots that are cute, but this shot is by far my favorite!!! Actually at this point I was glad I could hide behind my lens.. cause I might have turned into a total cry baby!!! Jay's father passed away right around when he graduated from high school.. he couldn't be there in person, but he was there in spirit!!! They had a flower to represent Jay's Dad up with the bride and groom during the ceremony.. then brought the flower over to Jay's Mom to tie it all together.. I thought this was such a special way to do that.. I love everything this photo represents and I am super glad I got it!

Jay & Laura Dering {Wedding Photo Booth}

This photo booth ROCKED.. I loved this idea.. we all had a blast climbing in here and taking pictures.. I keep pushing the button twice being the rebel that I am!!!! Congrats Jay & Laura!!! Your wedding was "So much fun!" as my husband would put it!

Eden Prairie, MN

After my awesome visit to Iowa.. we packed up and headed to Eden Prairie to hang with the Jahnke Family for a bit before the event of the summer {Jay & Laura's wedding!!!}.. on Friday night we also enjoyed some time visiting with Matt & Kayla.. as well as Sara.. while the boys had a great time running around together in the backyard... Matt was the one to give the boys the idea to run through the sprinklers and they LOVED it!!!! Good idea Matt!!! Garrett, Drew & Ben had a great time hanging together.. you would have thought these kids see each other every weekend!!! Its unfortunate that they live so far away, but I can always hope that one day the Jahnke Family may move back to California, but until then we will have to enjoy every visit we get! We are looking forward to having the Jahnke Family out in September.. the boys have been asking to play with Ben since we left Minnesota and are looking very forward to it!

Iowa Visit

My first stop in the midwest last month {after the hubs and kiddos were settled in Marshall, MN}.. I took off to visit my best friends in Iowa {Shannon & Laura}.. but the main reason for my visit was to meet this sweet little girl Emma Jo! What a little sweetie she is.. such a happy baby.. always gives smiles.. loves to be interacted with.. super alert.. well lets just say 3 months is my favorite baby age!!! They are so chubby.. happy.. the eat and sleep.. giggle with some floor time.. and that same schedule over and over! I had a wonderful time visiting with my friends.. I am super fortunate to be able to swing by to visit them whenever we are in Minnesota.. I look forward to seeing everyone again for Emma's first birthday!!!!!

While I was there I decided it would be a great idea to take some family pictures for the Kasal Family.. it was a humid index of a 106 degrees this evening.. a storm was rolling in.. thankfully they have such a beautiful backyard we decided to grab a few pics quickly.. and I mean it was quick.. the bugs and the heat is something I don't have to deal with everyday.. but I really like this picture of them! I am so excited for you Shannon & Kevin you are awesome parents to Emma.. what a blessed family you are!!!!