Happy Halloween 2013

A local children's bookstore, Wild Rumpus, offers a lottery each Halloween to win tickets to their Trick or Trolley event. A local author then reads from their book while on a ride on the Lake Harriet Streetcar. The author this year was Nancy Carlson. We  won tickets and so did our dear friends the Capistrant Family and together spent a perfect October afternoon riding the rails.

Sevi, Soren, Tommy and Joey at the Lake Harriet Trick or Trolley.

Sevi and Tommy on the trolley.

Nancy Carlson reading her book on the trolley.

Sevi had a couple of costume changes this year for Halloween, going between a policeman and a power ranger outfit that morphed into a police speed racer outfit. Soren was thrilled with his storm tropper selection this year.

Sevi as an English Bobbie and Soren as a Storm Tropper.

Trick or Treating with neighbors Ella and Esme.

Sevi as some kind of Police Speed Racer and Soren as a Storm Tropper.

Happy Fall

Sevi at St. Kate's in one of their Fall display areas. 

MacPhail Out and About Suzuki Concert

Soren had his first public concert at a local nursing home, Catholic Eldercare. Ironically, this was also a place his grandfather Rupert used to attend for adult daycare back in the early 90's. Soren is front and center, towering over the 3yo twins on his left. 

Big Boy Biker

Siri and Sevi biking around Lake Hiawatha

Sevi mastering hill climbing

One the cusp of turning four, Sevi has mastered the art of two wheel pedal biking. His muse was his best girl Siri, who herself is also a two wheeled pro. I also give credit to starting Sevi off early with a balance/kick bike, which really taught him the art of bike balance. 

Hammock Time with Gramma

Annual Fall Uppgaard Trail Photo Shoot

It has turned into an annual family tradition each Fall to hike the Uppgaard Trail by the cottage and try to get family pictures, or at least pictures of the boys, for our holiday card. It usually means lots of bribing for good smiles. In the past I had pocketfuls of m&m's to dole out with each smile. This year we promised Chocolate Ox Ice Cream (though it ended up being closed for the season!). About 1/8 of the pictures usually turn out. This year I didn't even realize until we were out in the woods that Soren had the biggest dripped yogurt mess on the front of his shirt. Even if we don't get a picture, we now enjoy the hike and tradition that has been created and the picture outakes are just as fun now that the boys interact more and their personalities shine through.

     

Twins Champions Club

 This Fall we were spoiled by receiving tickets from Randy's boss to the Champions Club for two different Twins games at Target Field. Randy took Soren to the Cleveland Indians Game for his first baseball experience. The Champions Club is a fancy club that provides leather comfy seats behind home plate. An incredible dinner buffet, beer and wine, popcorn and nachos, ice cream bar, and containers of candy are all free with unlimited refills. It was an amazing experience to introduce Soren to the Twins with, but boy is he going to be disappointed when he goes to his next Twins game were we will be sitting in the nosebleed section! After hearing about how awesome the Champions Club was, I made sure that I got to go the next time. 

Soren at the Cleveland Indians Game

Soren catching a ball from the ball boy at the end of the game.

Andrea and Randy by the Twins dugout at the Oakland Athletics game.

Back to School

The 2013/2014 school is is back in session. Soren is now a first grader at New City Charter School with teacher Ms Kalli. Sevi is back at the St Kate Early Childhood Center with teacher Patty and Kathy. The transition back to school this year has been a very smooth and happy one for both boys. It helps that they are comfortable and used to their school environments and happy to be reunited with school friends. We are excited to see the growth that will come for each boy this school year.

Back to school haircuts.

Soren on his first day. He is holding up one finger to represent first grade.

The bus picks up right across the street. We couldn't ask for a more convenient stop.

Sevi on his first day back to pre-school.

Sevi in his cubbie. 

Blue Mound State Park

We spent our last summer weekend before school started camping in southwest Minnesota at Blue Mound State Park. We went specifically to see the prairie and the buffalo that live there. Unfortunately,  we never did see a single buffalo even though we biked along most of the prairie. We enjoyed the new camping environment and hiking at the Pipestone National Monument.

Campsite #28.

Soren working on his whittling.

Sevi helping with the dish washing.

Trying to find the buffalo in the prairie.

Waterfall at Pipestone National Monument Park.

The pipestone rock formations were wonderful to hike through.

Pipestone National Monument Park

A few parting end of summer shots

Sevi fishing off the dock

The boys and their floaties.

Sevi's all time favorite summer activity.

Checking out the go-cart Grandpa Rupert built in the late 1970's.

Lindskoog Family Cottage Visit

Mark, Amanda & Max came for a 3 day midweek visit up to the cottage.

The beach was the favorite hangout.

As was the water........

Amanda and Sevi watch the canoers navigate under the bridge.

Soren shows Max a few violin moves.

Kayaking the City Lakes

This is the second year that I have purchased a Groupon from Wheel of Fun Boat Rentals on Lake Calhoun. Last year we did the four man paddleboat, but this year we went for the double kayaks and loved it. After an hour touring Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles and Cedar Lake, we eat a meal at the wonderful Tin Fish.

Annual Summer Height Measurement

There has been a lot of growth happening this last year with the boys. Gramma Anne is doing her annual growth chart measurement on the cottage wall that dates back at least 45 years.

How did it get to be August already?

Lower Hay Lake Highlights

Sevi loves the buckets.

Soren loves any form of spraying water.

The Bonzai Blaster boat from Costco was a big hit this summer.

Sevi just LOVES to jump in the water! 

Big Brother life jacket safety check.

Sevi, our little fish.

Family lake time.

Chillin' in the blow up boat.

Soren's first time as bow man in the canoe.

The water was like glass for Andrea's first solo adventure in the canoe with the boys.

Family Time

From top: Uncle Chris and Alex
Anne and Bob
Sevi, Lisa, Andrea, Mari, Soren

We all loved having our best Aunties Lisa and Mari at the lake for a whole week. They spoiled us!!!
 

Mari and Sevi chillin' 

Flying a kite with Uncle Chris

The evening Sorry! game night with Soren, Uncle Peter and Gramma.

Biking with Uncle Peter from the Pine River.

Soren and Bob and their crazy shucking corn antics.

Bob and Sevi blowing bubbles.


Strawberry Picking

Truck Touch

The annual tractor ride with neighbor Lincoln

With neighbor Tim in his monster truck.

 Music Time

Auntie Mari is also a Suzuki instructor, so Soren had plenty of practice time with her.

Daily jam sessions with the Jamieson - Lewandowski quartet.

Half Year Birthday's!

Whitefish Chain Annual Run for the Walleye Race

Misc. 

Sevi tuckered out at the dinner table.

Sevi Go-carting.

Spinning wheel balloon art. 

Croquet Game 

When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!