Cousins...

At the beginning of August, we went to visit my Grandma and my cousin Jenn's kids were there visiting as well.  Took a few pics of them together.

Brayden

Ella, Lexi and Will

Will, Brayden, Lexi and Ella

The boys!

Buddies...

Another late post...these pictures were taken at Alec and Ayden's birthday party at the end of July.  Ayden received a batman costume (turned out to be a little big), so Will brought his costume and new batman belt so they could fight crime together.  So cute.

 Will has since passed his costume on to Ayden as his was getting a bit short.  lol

First Day of School...

Yes, I am a few months behind on my blogs!

The kids started school on September 4, 2012.  Lexi is in her last year at Tullar this year as a big 5th grader and Will went into 1st grade.  So far, so good a month into it.  They of course complain about the homework, but they are having fun seeing their friends again and like their teachers.

This could be the last time I get one of these pictures of them walking to school together since Lexi will be going to a different school next year. :(  Where has the time gone.  Have a great year kiddos! 

Congrats Pete and Jenny!

Congratulations to Pete and Jenny Radies

 on your recent marriage!

Rick was recently a groomsmen in his cousin Pete's wedding.  It was a beautiful small ceremony in Little Falls followed by a large reception, also in Little Falls.  Jenny arrived in style in her dad's collector car.

 Pete before the ceremony.

Rick and Lexi before the ceremony.

Jen asked if I would take some photos of the guys getting ready before the ceremony.  To view all of the photos, click on the link below.  (ignore all of the blurry ones :)

http://photo1.walgreens.com/walgreens/share/p=944281348874298795/l=3215270003/g=3624583/cobrandOid=1009/otsc=SYE/otsi=SAER

Happy 16th Birthday Kal!

Happy 16th Birthday to our nephew Kal today.

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday Dear  Kal...

Happy Birthday to you!

16...where in the world have the years gone!  Kal has turned into such a great young man.  He is a lot like his Uncle Rick in many ways like being a great student, he LOVES hunting and he also loves baseball.  

The earlier years....

Gone are the days of coming to stay with us in the summer and doing our annual Chucky Cheese visit. :)  Happy Birthday Kal.  We love you and are proud of what you have accomplished in these last 16 years.  We hope you have a wonderful day!

Rick, Melissa, Lexi and Will

Six Flags Vacation...

We recently took the kids to Six Flags Great America for the first time.  Rick and I hadn't been there in at least 15 years and before that I must have been about 8 or 9 when I went with my parents.  I am not a real thrill seeker, so I like to stick to the kiddie rides.  My children on the other hand have no fear.  Lexi went on every ride they could. I think the only ride she missed was the newest ride because it broke down and didn't come back up the whole day.  We originally planned on spending one day at the waterpark at Six Flags and the second day riding the coasters, but it was a little cool for water rides, so we spent both days at the amusement park.  

We vacationed with our friends the Fischer family (Maddie, Lexi, Will and Abbie) and our niece Leighten.  It worked out great because the older girls were about the same height and could ride whatever they chose  and the younger two were the same height and could do the same.  I was surprised on some of the rides that Will and Abbie went on, even some of the bigger roller coasters like The Demon, which goes upside down a few times.

Abbie, Will, Leighten, Lexi and Maddie 

Waiting to ride the shuttle to the park from the hotel

This was one of the first rides the kids went on.  We are familiar with a ride called "the magic carpet" at the fair, which this ride resembled.  Not once it started moving though.  Our three fearless ladies tried this one out.  Here they are before the ride began..anticipation was building.

The ride is starting, they are being lifted. Notice the tree line...

This is where my heart attack would begin...slowly tipping them upside down over a body of water.  Then once upside down, they flip them, very fast..three times in a row.  Good heavens.  

Then we were on to something more my speed (and something for Will and Abbie), the balloons.  lol

Josh, Tammy and Abbie

Will and his sweety Abbie.

Leighten, Maddie and Lexi

Will and his "Joshy"

Will and Abbie

We got to ride on the Mystery Machine

Meeting Petunia

Granny!

Group photo!  (don't I look like a line backer..lol)

Then there was this ride..., good heavens.  It didn't look bad at all until you get on and the hell begins.  I insisted on sitting in the middle of Tammy and Leighten, but soon realized that was a mistake.  I didn't have a "holy shit" bar so I had to hold Leightens.  Her poor ribs still aren't probably healed!   Sheesh...I screamed like a little girl. I am such a drama queen.

Now this, this was more my speed.  I nice little roller coaster for me and Will. :)

Just a nice little drop, not feeling like you are going to fall out of your seat.

While we waited for everyone to go on a ride, Will got his face painted like Green Lantern to match the cape he had bought there. He was so cute.  He really took the role seriously and walked around the park with his cape on, shoulders set apart...it was so funny.

A few pics of our room at the hotel across the street.

We spent part of a day (the day we checked out) at the water park at the hotel.

Leighten, Maddie, Lexi and Tammy

Tammy..

A few of the water park from up by the bigger slides and a view of what we call the toilet bowl. You go down a dark water slide and are shot into the toilet bowl where you swirl around until you slow down enough to go down the hole.  This ride is again more my speed than the roller coasters.

Tammy and Leighten

Tammy and Leighten being sucked down the hole backwards..lol

Me and my darling Lexi

Abbie and Will

Will, I mean Green Lantern

The gang with their shades on. :)

This nice looking sky cost us about 2 hours of sitting as the rides closed due to lightening.  The ride in the background is the Raging Bull, another ride everyone but me and the two little ones went on.

Daffy!

Car ride home :)