At the Park

One of the first things we did when we got here was locate a park for the kids to play at.  That was not hard at all.  We are blessed to have LOTS of parks for the kids to play at, this was the first one that we went to.  It was so much fun that we went back a few days later with Jake since he was at work when we went the first time.

Abbie true love is swings. she always wants to ride and never wants to get off.

This four person see-saw was so much fun, Abbie and Ashton loved that Lexie could play with them on it.

And the next day even Jake got in on the fun.

I'm still not exactly sure what one would really do with this thing, but Jake and the kids had a blast trying to stay on it as it went around in circles.   It took some serious upper body strength to pull it off.

Ashton never did manage to make it all the way around, but he had fun trying and never gave up.  I was really proud of him.

He did stay on this one though.  We had a fun couple of evenings at this park, and I have my eye on a few others that I think my kids will like.  

Levee Park

One of the first places Jake took us was Levee Park down by the river.  The kids and I got to see a "real" river.  What we call rivers back in Utah are more like streams here.  This is the Minnesota channel of the Mississippi.  What you can see behind us is a huge island that is technically in Wisconsin, people live on the island and there are even a few businesses.

Then further over is the Wisconsin channel of the river, that bridge isn't as high though, this is the side that is used by the big boats so the bridge is huge.

It was a really sunny day, as you can tell by all the squinting....

Right next to the park is the old train station and some tracks that are really busy, a train came by while we were walking around and sounded it's whistle as it went by.

Ya it was LOUD!

The BIG move

We started on our journey to Minnesota on Sunday the 14th.  We left my parents house at 10:00 am, I had the car packed and ready to go early so that we could take our time saying goodbye.  We headed up I80 towards Park City and of course hit road construction halfway up Parley's canyon.  I thought this in not a good start, but it was really the only construction we hit the whole way, lucky us.  What can you say about driving through Wyoming, but it was flat and dry.  I have to say right now that my kids were SO good.  They are the best travelers, no one complained in the car and I think I heard "are we there yet?" only a handful of times in the three whole days.
We stopped for a visit at Martin's Cove on our way to Casper, which was where we stayed the first night.

 It was okay, it would have been better if we had been able to stop on a day other than Sunday because most of the stuff is closed and they don't let you take the handcarts out on the trails.  Normally all of these little shops are open for you to explore how pioneer life might have been, but because it was Sunday no such luck.

 But we did get to tour the visitors center and hear the story from one of the senior couples that is on a mission there.  It was really cool to hear stories I hadn't heard before while on the tour.

Our hotel in Casper didn't have a pool, bummer, but we got in fairly late anyway so it was okay. But here is a cute shot of the girls in our room.  And I have to say that this hotel was wonderful compared to the one we stayed in the next night, and they were both Quality Inn's...

Those two are so dang cute!

The next day we made our way to Mt Rushmore, along the way we stopped at a rest area that had a playground and the kids got a much needed break.

Mt. Rushmore was pretty neat. There wasn't a whole lot to do there, but we were wanting to get on the road soon anyway so it worked perfect for us.  

Before heading the the monument we stopped for lunch in Custer.  We ate at The Purple Pie Plate, the food was good and the pies even better, but our server was bit of a ditz.  

Then we made our way across the state of South Dakota, again, not much to say there, flat and boring at least it wasn't dry, green very green and lots of corn fields.  It became the running joke in the car to say look another corn field because that was all there was too see.  Kinda like the moose in brother bear playing I spy when all they can see is trees.
We spent the night is a small town in South Dakota, I mean really small, we had to take a dirt road to get to our hotel, which as I mentioned earlier left a lot to be desired.  This place did have a pool which we take advantage of, but the water was ice cold so we didn't swim long.  We were up and at it early the next morning because we new that the sooner we left the sooner we would be home, our new home!
After most of a day of driving, FINALLY we made it to Minnesota and I all I can say it man is it GREEN here.  Pictures really don't do it justice but so very different from Utah.  Our new home is nice and big, bigger than the house we left, but it will definitely take some getting used to.  This is view out my back windows upstairs....

The trees and underbrush literally come right up to the grass.  We have a few squirrels and birds that like to hang out in our backyard.

More pictures to come, but my internet is so ssssllllooooooowwww I can hardly stand it.

Red Wing

Since we are now living in a town named after a boot company, we thought we would do the touristy thing and visit the giant boot.

Size: 638 1/2

We are slowly growing accustom to our new city and surroundings.  I think this place is wonderfully green and beautiful.  I have lots more pics to post, once I find my way out from the huge pile of stuff to be put away.
Here's one more to show you what we have been up to:

at the Mississippi River.

Copperton Park

Yesterday, we were running some errands and Lexie asked me about Bingham High School and why is was named that, and I started explaining what I knew.  Then I decided to drive them out and show them Copperton.  I knew there was a park there and the kids wanted to stop and play for a while, so we did because we really didn't have anything we needed to get done.  The kids had a good time, but once again I didn't take my camera I had to use my phone.  Here are a few pictures of what we did.

The kids had fun playing on playground equipment that isn't your typical playset.  

Baseball Game

Ashton had been asking on and off all summer if we could go to a Bee's baseball game.  Well we finally made it on Monday night.  Good thing we did because they only had one other home game between now and when we are scheduled to move.  It had to have been the longest game in history, at least it felt that way. We were at the ball park for 4 hours...  It was a good game, and the Bee's won so that made it even more fun even if it was sooooo long.  We left the game at 10:30 after the bottom of the 10th inning.  We missed the fun ending in the bottom of the 11th, but all of us were too tired to stay any longer.  Abbie was a lucky, lucky girl at the game.  And she proved that being cute definitely helps... we were sitting on the front row on the first base side (which is the Bee's side) pretty much right behind the bullpen.  We got to watch the starting pitcher warm up and all of the other relief pitchers were sitting around talking.  One particular pitcher walked over while Abbie was kinda leaning over the railing and smiled at her and said "hi"  when she smiled back he grinned at her again and said "you are a cutie."  After most of the pre-game stuff was over he came back and handed her a baseball.  She took it while being really shy, but then she thought that she was way cool with her baseball.

During the 2nd or 3rd inning a foul ball was hit as a grounder down the first base line.  A different relief pitcher went and retrieved the ball after it went back into the field.  As he came back towards the bull pen everyone was cheering for him to throw the ball into the stands for someone, Ashton really wanted the ball and I said "ask him for it" loud enough that he heard me and looked at us.  Then he handed the ball to Abbie, again.  Abbie ended up with two baseballs from the game.  I know that I have never been lucky enough to get a ball from a game and Abbie ended up with two.

As you can see, she really thought she was hot stuff with two baseballs.  We did have a few fights over the balls during the game, but she was pretty good at sharing.  Ashton felt pretty bad after not getting a ball, but at least Abbie shared with him, at least a little.  Abbie's friend ended up being Michael Kohn and he pitched the 9th and 10th innings for the Bee's and did a really good job.  I just wish that I had taken my camera but all I had was my phone.  

Playing in the Rain

A few weeks ago, we had a quick thunderstorm pass through just as the kid were getting ready for bed.  Abbie has been wanting to splash in puddles ever since we gave her these cute rain boots.  Normally I wouldn't say yes to playing in the puddles when the kids were already ready for bed, but Abbie looked so darn cute in her boots that I couldn't say no.  Only Ashton and Abbie wanted to, but I think that they had a good time, even though the puddles were almost dried up by the time I got out there with my camera.

Look at her wild hair.  

Party Time

Tonight Lexie's primary class had a going away party for her. It was really fun for her and helped her feel special.  She came home all smiles.  I was so appreciative that her teacher took the time to do something for her. He is a very busy man. During the planning, her teacher made it seem like it was the "end of the year, but early so Lexie can come" party, when all along it was a going away party for her.

This is the sign that her teacher and all her classmates made and signed for her.

Playing Catch Up

We had a super busy month of June. Some of it I have documented, some I haven't so here is the second half in condensed version.   Lexie had her piano recital.  She has taken piano for two years now and is really good.  She is sad to leave lessons here, but I have already promised to find her a new teacher in Minnesota ASAP.  

This is a picture with her teacher, Taylor, he lives up the street from my parents.  She played Beauty and the Beast for the recital.

That seems like such a long time ago, even though it was only a few weeks.  

Next, Lexie got to go on a real live cattle drive.  Helping my Grandpa move cows are some of my favorite memories from my childhood so I was super excited when she was asked to go.  Man was she ever sore the next day, but I think she had a good time. 

My brother's family was here from Texas for the whole month of June so we spent a lot of time at my mom's house, especially the kids.  They stayed the night as much as I would let them, which was a lot.  

They almost moved in permanently.

Here are all the Taylor grandkids...  as you can see Natalee was against posing for a picture, and Drew is wondering what all the fuss is about.

We made a out and back on the same day trip to Vernal, man I really hate those, I always feel like a have been hit by a truck the next day.  But we survived to do it again another day.

Of course horses were the highlight of the trip, or maybe the 4-wheelers, it depends on who you ask.

Abbie and Natalee riding the horse.  Natalee and Braelee had an unscheduled trip to the hair salon the day before we went to Vernal since they cut their own hair in my mom's basement.  They said they were playing Rapunzle.  They are now both sporting cute little bob's for the summer.  

Last Friday Lisa rented a bounce house/water slide for Josh's birthday.  A little early party, but she wanted Rhett's kids to be here to enjoy it.  My kids had a blast, especially Ashton.  

He played for 8 hours straight.  Even eating lunch one bite at a time between slides.  I put sunscreen on him a few times, but his back was bright red by the end of the day.  But only his back.  

The next day, he wanted to go back and do it again, sunburned back and all.  Too bad it was for only one day.  

I think all the kids slept well that night.

Busy, yes we have been busy this month.  In between all of this I have been dejunking and cleaning like crazy trying to get my house ready to sell.  And us ready to move.  We don't have a move date yet, but hopefully we will soon.  Now for Jake to find us a place in Minnesota.  

Grandpa's Hat

My cute girls. Abbie wanted to wear grandpa's hat, and she looked so darn adorable that I had to take her picture.  

Lexie looked pretty cute herself.  This totally brought out the green in her eyes.