Minnesota Trip Sept 2011

Here are a few pictures (I got over 100....) from our visit to MN. It was such a blessing to be around so many people we love so much! 

Playing with toys at Great Grandma and Grandpa Revoir's

Fish hanging from the ceiling at the children's museum. 

Children's museum fun!

Oak on the swing at Great Grandma Gerrie's

With Great Grandma Gerrie

On the boat with Dave and Kay

On the boat with Tony and Cali

Happy 80th Birthday Jan!

Patty and Oak

Mike and Addie

Otto and the pirate clip on earring.

Pin the patch on the pirate

Great Grandma Revoir with Oak

Great Grandma Jan with Oak

Grandma Kay and Oak

Bugs galore at Grandma and Grandpa's house!

Budding Naturalist

Cicada Save from capture box on Vimeo.

Otto's 3rd Birthday!

Otto is 3!!!

Otto decided he wanted a REALLY BIG sucker instead of a fancy balloon for a birthday treat.

I have to tell the story of these cars. I took Otto to a specialty toy store the day before his birthday and told him he could pick something out for his birthday. Well, he picked out two turquoise tiny cars and he said he didn't want anything else. I went ahead and grabbed the little bus to add to the birthday vehicles because the two cars only came to $3. So, what do you know... as soon as we got in the van he reached his hand in his bag and gave one of his new blue cars to Eli. My heart melted. He sure loves his big brother.

Grandma Debby and Grandpa Gary sent the boys scorpion suckers... and Otto actually ate his. um puke.

Levi spent some of the day with us!

Here they are making a network of bug pods for the insects.

Coffee shop!

Otto wanted a ladybug cake. yummy.

Happy Birthday to you Otto!!!

Inside Dreaming and Outside Fun!

washtub from capture box on Vimeo.

Oak is now holding his head up well, so I have been putting him in my baby carrier on my back these days. It really allows me to get a lot done and he loves it. 

 The boys have been enjoying their bug pods!

Otto Holding Oak

The boys ask to hold their little brother all the time. Here are a couple pictures of Otto doing just that. There is a video at the end. Oak gives Otto one of his big Oak kisses. So cute!!

Holding Oak from capture box on Vimeo.

Hanging Out

Playing with Baby Brother

Here are a couple videos from some love on Oak moments with Eli and Otto.

Dancing for Oak from capture box on Vimeo.

Party in Oak's Crib from capture box on Vimeo.

Arggggh!

This has been a common scene around here lately. 

Sword Fight from capture box on Vimeo.

lake retreat for a day...

After having the boat in the shop for the last month it now seems to run great. Here are some pictures and a video of one of our last trips out. We went out on a weekday and it was soooo quiet on the lake. We really enjoyed the family time together. We are looking forward to getting out on it more over the next couple months.

Roopie Beer from capture box on Vimeo.

I am actually by myself in this picture... I can hardly believe it. Glad Brian got this rare moment. Wouldn't you know though, half the time I was out there Eli kept asking when I was going to come back in the boat. 

Eli and Otto had a ton of fun turning over rocks looking for lake creatures and bugs.

Oak sucks his thumb. It is pretty cute. He also gets really hot. He seems to be more hot natured like Eli was as a baby. Poor little guy got a few mosquito bites on the car ride over.... uggh! I can't imagine getting bit by a mosquito and not knowing how to swat it.

Eli is swimming some now (with his life jacket on). He is loving the lake more and more. 

Two New Videos of Oak 4 1/2 months

Oak Discovering Toys from capture box on Vimeo.

Love that brother! from capture box on Vimeo.

Oak and Otto

Sometimes I think Oak has the best of both worlds with his two brothers. Otto likes to get down and snuggle and play with him and Eli likes to show him all his neat toys and how they work. It is so sweet to see them play nice together. (That isn't the case all the time....) Here are some pictures of Otto and Oak playing. I had Oak on the floor with me and Otto came over and joined us. 

Otto decided he would chew his fist too....

Showing Oak here his tiny boat. A choking hazard I am sure, but thankfully Otto won't part with it.