Stormy Lake

After being in our new home just over a week, we headed up to Matt's parents cabin on Stormy Lake. It was great to be able to get away from the boxes and never ending list of things to do at our new house. And this was probably the best year we've had up there for several reasons: 1. The kids were old enough to be able to really enjoy the beach on their own and I didn't have to watch their every move 2. We got to spend time with Matt's family as well as having my parents and sister up for a weekend and our good friends Andy and Missy and their son Daniel 3. We now live closer than we ever have and know we can come back as often as we'd like (as opposed to coming up once a year). And I can't help but take tons of pictures while we are up there because everything is so beautiful.....so here goes!

Kartway---it's tradition in Matt's family to go in to town one night and right the go-karts at Kartway and Wyatt had been talking about this since we went last year

Watching Daddy, Uncle Ty, Andy and Missy on the fast track

Race is on!

(Notice Wyatt's face as he was so worried about not getting his seatbelt on in time!)

Daniel's first ride on the skiboat

Miss No-Fear

She would stand at the back of the boat like this the entire time with no concerns, despite the sudden increase and decrease in speed

(Notice my hand holding on to her, which at times was not appreciated)

In past years, Wyatt has been terrified of the boat and would cry everytime we took him on it. But this year he not only came along, but actually enjoyed it and became the newest member of the 'boat crew'. He loved being able to toss the rope out to the skiers and pull it in.

And after watching everyone skiing all day, the kids loved to 'practice'. Despite Wyatt now being able to swim on his own, he still didn't want to try skiing this summer. I'm thinking next summer will be the year

Fishing with Pops and Daddy

Our last night up there was just the four of us and we really had such a great time. We went out for a boatride at sunset and just soaked in the beautiful creation around us.

(I had to include this last pic of Sadie showing her new baby doll "Kenya" how to drive the boat!)

We really had such an amazing time together as a family. No work, no projects on the new house, no TV or internet---it was much needed and much enjoyed.

Home Sweet Home

The kids and I flew out of Columbus on Wednesday, July 29th. Matt still had to work through the end of the month but the closing on our house was scheduled for the 30th, so the kids and I left early and I went to the closing solo. After the closing, I went to pick up at the kids at our good friends' house and take them to see the house (they hadn't seen it before). I was quite excited to show them their very own rooms and let them run around, but they were most interested in the park across the street from our house.

After a bit of coaxing and reassuring them that we could play at the park anytime, we walked in to our very own home for the first time.

Of course Mom and Dad's bathtub was much more appealing than their own!

Our stuff arrived the next morning and Matt got in that evening. So we were able to all spend our first night in our new home together as a family--amidst the mass of boxes! But in between trying to get everything unpacked, we managed to find time to also enjoy time as a family before Matt started work. And the park has been the #1 requested place to go---I am SO thankful that we are directly across the street from this huge park and our neighborhood is filled with great kids and great families.

I had to include this picture----Wyatt's reaction if he doesn't hit a perfect shot and Sadie's reaction (not bothered at all). We're working on teaching him that many things in life take practice but he struggles with not being able to do something correctly the first time he tries it.

We love our new home and new neighborhood. We couldn't have found a better place to be and we love visitors (hint, hint). We've already had several visitors and hope for more soon!

Goodbye Columbus

Despite only living in Columbus for a year, we made some great friends. I was able to help get the Columbus chapter of Side by Side off the ground and made some great friends in the process. I loved being involved in Side by Side in La Crosse and jumped at the opportunity to be involved in starting one in Columbus. Not sure what I would have done this past year without these ladies and look forward to hearing how they are continuing to grow!

Beth Myers (founder of SBS Columbus) and I

Heidi and I

Kelly, Vincent, Sadie and I

Heidi and Emily

Julie, Matthew and I

There were so many people I didn't get the chance to officially say goodbye to, but hope we'll be able to stay in touch as we go forward......and you never know, maybe some of you will end up doing further training or settling here in the twin cities!!