Ottertail Lake

Let's back track...mom and dad sent me pictures of Ottertail Lake. Happy Birthday to Steve...he turned 26 on July 9th. Happy 2nd Anniversary to Steve and Libby on July 13th!!! I already wrote about our time there. Short and sweet....I am going to try and stay longer next year with the kids. Looking forward to it!

Ashly's mission trip

Ashly went to Wind River Indian Reservation in Lander, Wyoming as a mission trip with the church. On the way out they saw Mount Rushmore and went to Evan's Plunge, a hotsprings water park. There were 11 kids and 3 adults that went in a 15 passenger van and trailer. There were three other church groups that met there, one from Minnesota and two from Colorado. They got out there on Sunday late afternoon. Monday and Tuesday they did Kid's Club and Wednesday and Thursday they painted houses. Ashly thought Kid's Club was a handful. The kids were wild and didn't listen to them. They had to pick the kids up in their vans and the kids stole their snacks from the back of the van. Ashly also commented on how the houses were not kept up and there was trash all over the yards and in the houses. Ashly thought the best part was painting the houses. Some of the pictures are of Sinks Canyon. "It is where the water goes underground and comes up again into a river" (a quote from Ashly). While they were in Wyoming the kids had to sleep on the floor in the shower area of an old abandoned mental hospital where people had died. They also had many church activities, devotions in the morning and club in the evening. As part of a lesson, the youthworks staff and chaperones washed the kids' feet to wash away their sins.

On the way back, one of the chaperones told the kids that where they stayed was a mental hospital where people had died (they did not know this the whole time they stayed there!) and the girls freaked out!!! To calm everyone down, they had to sleep by the boys that night in the church they were staying at! Usually for church activities, the girls are separated from the boys while sleeping. Girls are pink, boys are blue and they don't want purple!!!


Overall, Ashly got a life experience that is priceless. She enjoyed the trip and learned some lessons along the way. She was not able to take pictures on the reservation, so that is why the pictures are all of the way out there.

Ducky

I was in search of the next step to use for bath time. When Ashly was a baby, I had a ring thing that she could sit in tub so she wouldn't fall. They didn't have much at Babies R Us, so I found this blow up ducky bath tub at Target. I thought it was slightly obnoxious, but it actually works great! Christopher can sit up in there pecfectly so I don't have to hold him up in the bath tub. He likes to suck on the washcloth and kick and splash his legs. I have to admit, it makes for a cute picture!!! He has tried all the Gerber 1st foods veggies: peas, green beans, carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. He loves them all. I am going to keep feeding him veggies for a while before I give him fruit.

Ashly babysat for the neighbor on Monday morning, and spent some time at the daycare today. Other than that she continues to occupy her time with her friends, and usually doesn't come home until 9 at night (either that, or there is a friend over here until 9!).

Fun by the River

We were at Amy's cabin yesterday for Justin's 5th birthday. When I met Chadd's family, Amy was pregnant with Justin so I guess that means Chadd and I have been together for 5 years also! It was a really nice party and a really fun day. The kids swam in the water, Chadd and I took a jet ski ride. Christopher did good outside all day. We brought the pack-n-play for him to sleep in and his exersaucer to play in. The kids also jumped on the trampoline and sang karoake. Ashly water skied and did a great job! She went for quite a ways before she fell. It was only her second time trying and she got up right away. Way to go Ashly! We left before the bonfire, it's much easier to put Christopher to bed at home. Maybe next summer we can be more adventurous with him. Great party Johnsons!!!

Learning to crawl

Well, we might have a little time yet, but he gets in position to crawl. Then he whines because he doesn't move. Then he'll plop his belly back down and just scoot backwards. One of these days he'll get it. Today was the first time I had Christopher ride in the shopping cart sitting up like a big boy. He did really good. I put a blanket behide his head just in case, he held onto the cart and I put my purse on one side of him and he leaned slightly on that...and loved to play and chew on my purse strap. He was pretty content riding in the cart like that, looking around at all the sights.

Ashly is going to babysit Christopher tomorrow while Chadd and I work. I had to work 4 days this week, and we only have daycare for three days. She is having a friend stay overnight and her friend is going to help her babysit tomorrow. I'm sure it'll be more fun that way!

Sister

It's good to have sister back!!!

high chair

There's the new highchair. It matches his activity mat. Christopher tried green beans yesterday and ate them just fine. I think I have a good eater on my hands. Bad sleeper, good eater...I guess I'll take the good with the bad!

Ashly got back from her mission trip. I will tell you all about it when we get the pictures. It sounds like they had a good time, and learned alot along the way. Quite a life experience. Ashly spoke at church this morning about it.

We went to the Chisago County fair yesterday. We watched the parade, looked at the animals, ate some food...and that's about it. It was nice outside.

Sitting up

He's getting the hang of sitting up and scooting backwards. He likes to grab his feet now. He has just slept through the night three nights in a row...what a blessing! I know it's not forever yet, but what a nice break!

Ashly is on her way home today from her mission trip. She will be home around 1pm. Can't wait to hear all about it.

Picture of the Month

I went to Babies R Us today to pick up the rest of our photos we ordered, and I was surprised to find that this picture of Christopher won "Picture of the Month" Kinda fun. It was hanging when you first walk into the studio in a special frame that said that. It's gotta be the dimples!!!



We went to Ottertail Lake at the The Lodge Resort (formerly Three Season's Lodge). This is where my family has been staying for a week in July since I was in high school. We only stayed one night and it was pretty cool outside on Monday and raining....majorly downpouring...on Tuesday. So Christopher didn't get to experience the water there. We basically hung out in the cabin. But since we were there for such a short amount of time, and being that Christopher is too young to be out in the sun, it worked out just fine. One might ask...why no pictures of your trip to Ottertail Lake, Kathy? Oh...THAT WOULD BE CHADD'S FAULT!!!! Yep, I'm gonna blame that one on him! We temporarily couldn't find the camera, but don't worry, when we got back from our trip last night and Chadd was unloading the car, he happened to notice the camera was in the garage on the floor! Well, I should give him credit for finding it at least. Glad we didn't lose it or break it, couldn't live without that.



Christopher is sitting up pretty good, can easily tip over though. Once he rolls onto his tummy he is scooting backwards. And he can roll from his back to his tummy and from his tummy to his back now. Fun stuff! Now we lay him on the activity mat and he's all over the living room rolling and scooting. I knew it was coming! I also got him a high chair today. We've been feeding him in the bumbo chair, but his little chubby thighs don't fit so well in there! So far he has eaten peas and carrots. He seems to like the carrots better.

Chadd's playland

Here's some pictures of the land we bought last year by Ladysmith, Wisconsin. Chadd had a driveway put in with a gate and made a clearing. Last fall he built a deer stand and did some hunting. He plans to have many, many years of deer hunting. Ashly wants to give it a whirl next fall, and I'm pretty sure Christopher will tag along when he gets older.