North Shore Trip-- Day 2

 Here is the rest of our trip, a little later than I promised but here it is none the less.  Monday morning we had breakfast at the hotel, then we headed off to the Split Rock Light House.  We took the guided tour and got to hear a little of the history of the lighthouse, Jake and I thought it was interesting but the kids were bored on the tour.

The had "actors" that told some of the story of the lighthouse, they had to crank the clockworks that keep the light spinning by hand and the guys showed our kids hour it was done.  150 turns would last for about 2 hours.  

There were no roads to the shore where the light house is when it was built so they had to bring all of their supplies up from the shore.  We braved the 179 steps down to the shore and couldn't imagine having to haul supplies back up that steep cliff.  

Here are the boys about halfway down.

The view from the beach.

While down at the beach we had to take some time to play on the shore......

and in the water....

We had lunch at a cute little cafe on the shore with a beautiful view.  

Unfortunately we hit some really bad road construction on our way home and spent most of the afternoon sitting in the car on the highway....  but we did stop in Two Harbors and walk out on the sea wall for a little diversion.  

We had a great time and will definitely be going back again sometime soon.  

Boys Are Awesome!

Today we had our 20 week ultrasound.  Everything with the baby looks great, and as usual for me baby is bigger than average for HIS age.  Yes that is right we are having a baby boy!  Ashton couldn't be happier.  

This is his super excited face because he gets a baby brother and we are leaving for Utah in 9 days!

Here are a couple of the ultrasound pictures, I will save you having to look at 14 fuzzy black and white ultrasound pictures and only show you my two favorites.  

Then after the appointment we were running a few errands and the kids talked me into looking in the baby section and this is what we ended up with.   This kid is spoiled already.  But seriously I got rid of all of my baby clothes, crib, car seat and all other baby stuff when we moved thinking that we were done have babies.  (well except for one small tote of sentimental baby clothes from all three kids) so this baby is going to be in need of clothes and everything else.  But I am sure we will manage to have plenty of stuff before he makes his appearance in November.

Now for a name.... oh man I have no idea and I know from past experiences it is going to take the next 20 weeks to figure it out.  

Baby bump-20 weeks

20 Weeks!  I am half way!  Well I am probably more than half way, but whatever we will go with half way.  I am feeling so much better, I can actually eat and not be sick.  All of my blood work continues to come back with low results which is fabulous.  Our ultrasound is on Friday and I can't wait to find out what we are having.

North Shore Trip- Day 1

We got the chance to stay in an old train car hotel on the North Shore of Lake Superior.  We went up Sunday night and stayed, it was so much fun.  It was amazing for me to see Lake Superior... I've seen the Great Salk Lake of course, but that is like a puddle compared to Lake Superior.  It felt like we were on the shore of the ocean, except it didn't smell like the ocean.  We stopped at the shore just north of Duluth so that we could go and put our feet in.  

On the North Shore of Lake Superior

Right after this she fell right on her butt in the water.  She got soaked but didn't even care.  

Ashton trying figure out how to skip rocks.  

After this little stop we checked into our hotel.. we stayed at Northern Rail Hotel which is a bunch of remodeled train cars.  I should have taken more pictures of the inside, which was mostly just like a regular place, just only as wide as a train car.  The kids thought it was really cool.

The we had dinner at Betty's Pies.  SO YUMMY! 

After dinner we found Gooseberry Falls State Park...

The kids at middle falls

Lower falls

This feeds right into Lake Superior.  The view from the bridge.

We played in the water and hiked a few of the easier trails.  

After leaving the park we found a little beach that had pink rocks that made a really cool clinking sound as they washed ashore.  We were there as the sun was setting and it was really cool.  The camera died while we were there, I did take a couple with my cell phone....

and Ashton did take this one for us.

That was pretty much it for the first day, day two tomorrow.

Lexie's Adventures

Lexie left for Utah on the 24th of June.  She is spending time with my parents and getting to hang out with her Texas cousins while they were visiting Utah.  I am not sure all of the things that they have been doing, but here are a few pictures that I have gotten emailed to me of their adventures....

At Deep Creek riding horses and four-wheelers on the fourth of July.  

 This picture ended up a little hazy for some reason but that is Lexie and Drew on the left horse, with Grandpa Brent holding it.  Justin and Grandma Vee on the four wheeler, Grandpa Lyle standing in the middle.  Jackson on the other horse, with Rhett holding him and Hannah on the other four wheeler. 

My little cow girl. 

Then today they went to the conference center for a tour.

She had been having a ball and the rest of us can't wait to join her in 2 weeks.

Bedtime Story

Lexie normally reads Abbie a bedtime story every night after they are tucked in and settled for bed.  Since Lexie is visiting Grandma and Grandpa in Utah for the next few weeks, Abbie has been missing her bedtime story reader.  Ashton volunteered to be the reader of the bedtime story and I had to snap this quick picture the first night because it melted my heart so see how cute they were together.  

I am so proud of Ashton because he can read well enough to read a story to his little sister. He has worked really hard for the last year and a half to be able to read.  I am also glad that he is so persistent and kept bugging me to teach him how to read when he was only four.