Happy #2 Birthday Zachy!

 Dear Zachariah turned 2 years old Oct. 1st.  Gracie wanted to get him an Ice Cream Cake, so we did.

We celebrated at home on his birthday and then again on the weekend with the Malecek's at Auntie Denise and Uncle Jim's house.

 We gave him a toy music set, but I think Marty liked playing with it just as much as the kids!

 He got his first big tractor from Grandma and Grandpa Malecek.
He immediately went to town and started driving it around.

 The second birthday cake.  I guess he is destined to be a farm boy.

 He wanted so bad to take that tractor off the cake. Gracie enjoyed licking the frosting.



Farming

Well in Southern MN it is farming season.  We are surrounded with the farm families out in those fields harvesting that crop. Cornie-Corn as the kids like to say it.

We went out a got a ride in the combine with Uncle Kevin when he was in the fields next to our house.

Gracie had so much fun she didn't want to come back with me. 

 The goofy part was she liked to watch the back of the combine (the hopper) more than the front where the corn was being picked.  As a kid I always liked to watch the front. I used to pretend the corn was dancing as it went down into the corn head.

 So we left Gracie for a few more rounds with Uncle Kevin and Zachy and I went to the other end of the field to meet them at the end of the row.

 Nothing like a nice harvest sunset to finish the day.

 The weekend before this we were at my Mom and Dad's and Gracie rode the tractor with Grandpa Sohre and Margoe... they were hauling manure! Oh, such a nice scent this fills the air with!

Como Zoo!

Last Sunday we went to Como Zoo with the kids. This is the first time Gracie and Zach have been there. It was a beautiful day and the kids did absolutely wonderful. 

We got there at 10:30am and did not leave until 3:30pm.  I was expecting by 1-2pm during normal nap time for them both, we would start having major meltdowns, but they surprised us. 

 The minute we hit the car seats though they were out like lights!

Enjoying some pudding for a snack.

Gracie and Zach looking for the tiger...

Oh here is the tiger!

Mom and Dad are having a good time too!

Look at that tall giraffe!

 

Walking through the Japanese gardens.

We all had a GREAT day. Lots and lots and lots of fun!

 Gracie and Zach, several days later, are still making the 'GRAWL' noises.

Year Seven!

September 5th was Marty and I's 7th Wedding Anniversary.

To celebrate we got tickets to the play "Wicked" which was playing at he Orpheum Theater in downtown Minneapolis. You know for us people that live a long way form the big city, out in the country, this is a big deal to go to a play in Minneapolis. We had a wonderful time. We haven't been to a big theater like this.  We have only been to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater, which is slightly smaller. It was neat to experience such a big stage and seating areas with the main floor and balcony that is over top of the entire main floor. The play itself was enjoyable as well. It was a good story and it is always amazing to watch real live actors and actresses at work. They are so talented and entertaining to watch.These pictures are of the theater, for those of you who have never been there. To top the day off, I even got flowers. My favorite variety, daisies and roses. Seven roses actually.  Marty worries about when we get into the double digits for years or up into our 20's or 30's... these flowers could get quite spendy. He might have to switch to just Daisies, which are my favorite flower.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY SWEETIE!

MN Army National Guard

Being in the MN Army National Guard isn't easy.  Last week was my Annual Training period for 2010.

Leaving the family for one weekend a month and for up to 2 weeks in the summer is always tough. But it is for my family and friends that I do this.  We need to keep our country safe and lead by example.  We have to give back to what has been given to us by so many other people.  Hopefully me being in the Guard instills a proud set of morals and values in my kids and  the people that know me.  My job on the home front is to get soldiers medically ready for deployment which is critical for the soldier, the state of MN, and the Army as a whole. It isn't easy leaving my family for these sets of times and yes I cross-my-fingers and pray every night that I am not sent on a deployment.  But if my name is called and I am sent, I will be proud to serve and hopefully family and friends are proud to have me serve.  The Army believes in Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.  

(I think I look a little wierd in these pics, but it was the best I could do.)

Thanks to Marty, Gracie, Zach, Mom, Dad, Betty, Joe, sisters, brothers, in-laws, and friends for all the support that is provided to me.  Thanks for helping with the kids when I am away from home!!  I couldn't do it without all of you!

My Soldier of the Year!

In the Guard we say we have our "Family At Home" and then we have our "Guard Family."  Then we have the two families together.  The Guard family couldn't exist without the support of the families we leave at home.  We are so grateful for them!  The top group picture is my "Guard Family." The bottom picture is a picture of the all of us with our families.  My Marty, Gracie, and Zach weren't able to come, but none-the-less it is wonderful to have everyone come together and celebrate our services to each other.  Thank you dear family members of Soldiers. You make it all possible!

Preschool

Our little Gracie had her first day of preschool Monday 8/23/2010.  She will be going Monday's for 3 hrs in the morning.  We had an orientation for her the week before, so these pictures are from then. 

I am sure she will just love going to school. She picked out her backpack herself.  A pink Dora backpack beat out the Princess and Barbie backpack.  I think the backpack is bigger than her!

As I was trying to tell her about preschool she kept asking if Zachy is coming too, and then I would tell her that only 3 year olds go to preschool.  When we met her teacher at orientation that was the first thing she said. "I go to preschool because I am this many (she holds up 3 fingers), Zachy doesn't cause he's this many (holds up 1 finger).  It was so cute.

Melons, melons, and more melons

We have a bumper crop this year of Watermelons and muskmelons.  I think we have picked like 25 muskmelons and still have about 10 left in the garden.  Watermelon are just as abundant.  They are just starting to ripen, but there is over a dozen out there.  I think all the nice spurts of rain and then heat, then rain, then heat has did the job perfect.

Gracie and Zach are probably going to have nightmeres someday of eating melons.

And oh, are they good.  We haven't had a bad one yet.  We have been giving them away to everyone we know, so if you wants some you better come get some!  I am sure we will have enough to continue to share!

Entertainment from Willie

So our latest thing to do with leftover food from supper is feed it to Willie... of course for a few moments of entertainment for us. The kids get such a kick out of this and of course Marty and I do to. Willie is 7 1/2 years old afterall, so I think he does pretty good to keep up with his youthfulness of doing "roll-over" tricks! As much as you annoy us dear Willie with all your barking... we do enjoy you sometimes too!!

Puzzles

One of Gracie's favorite activities is putting together these giant puzzles of Elmo and his friend, Betsy (Her name is really something else, but we can't pronounce it so we call her Betsy). Usually we do it together or some adult is helping her (Grandma, Daddy, or Me). The other day she had all the puzzle pieces laid out on the floor and kept asking me to come help her put it together. I couldn't come right at that moment because I was doing dishes or something so I told her I would be right there. Well, it probably was like 20 minutes before I went over to help her and by that time she had Betsy put all together already. She did it ALL BY HERSELF! I was so proud. She had already started on Elmo, so I just thought I would continue to go about my business and see if she could get him together by herself also. To my surprise she did him too. She put them both together without any help! I was double proud.

Maybe all three year olds are putting puzzles together and I really shouldn't be so excited... but non-the-less I thought it was pretty great she figured them all out.

GOOD JOB GRACIE!

I thought I should throw a picture of Zach in here too (don't want to play favorites you know and talk about one kid and not the other)!

Zach gets such a kick out of putting change in his piggy bank. When I give him some coins he knows just what to do. Maybe by the time he hits college he will have enough in his piggy bank to pay for it!!! Gosh, I can only hope! (I better be finding a lot of spare change).