1990

Here's a picture from 1990. Can you find me?



I had a great 33rd birthday. Thanks for all the birthday wishes.



Christopher and I had our first swimming lessons together. There was a good turn out. Both moms and dads in the water. We went around in circles singing, the kids kicked around a big ball to each other, they played with water toys and we put them on the ledge and counted to three and had them "jump" in the water. At the end, we put them in floaties, and Christopher loved this part. He kicked and kicked and kicked!



After swimming lessons we went out to eat at my favorite restaurant in Forest Lake, 'Za. It was yummy!!! I got a wonderful birthday card from Ashly, she had a bunch of her friends sign it. That was very thoughtful.

Duluth Birthday Fun!

The four of us went to Duluth last weekend with Steve and Libby. We are keeping up tradition, we did this two years ago too. I considered this my birthday weekend since I have to work halloween weekend. We stayed Saturday night at the Comfort Suites in Canal Park. We had a beautiful lake view from our room and we could watch the horse and carriages go by. We went to a couple stores while we were there and went out to eat at Grandma's for supper on Saturday eve.

Aunt Lib highlighted Ashly's hair in the hotel room, just like two years ago!

Our Grandma glasses...strawberry crush and mt. dew, yummy!

Just hangin' out!

Smile!!!

This is why you want to know the people you stay overnight with in a hotel very well. The morning after can be so very scary...hey Steve, halloween is next weekend!

Uncle Steve and Christopher

Swimming fun with Ashly and Christopher.

Thanks to Chadd, Ashly, Steve and Libby for making this weekend fun and memorable :)

On a roll

It was bound to happen. It was only a matter of time. Let the fun begin...

Big yummy carrot!

What a great idea, Mom!!! I bought some of the big carrots and he loves them! There is plenty of carrot to hold onto while he enjoys gnawing on it!

Piano

Ashly played a few songs on the piano even though she has never had lessons. Very impressive. Christopher LOVED banging on the piano. He had so much fun! Grandpa would clap after he would play. Then after a while he would play, turn and look at Grandpa expecting him to clap, then he would laugh and play some more.

This is the very "well used" high chair at mom and dad's. It is the high chair that I used when I was a baby. On one side there, it is hollow, and Christopher kept sticking his finger in the hole. Interesting what entertains someone that age. It was awful cute!

Pumpkin Carving

Grandma Symons and Christopher

Grandma knows how to give really good baths! And Ashly splashed her arms in the water and Christopher laughed and laughed and laughed!

Which one has a bigger smile?!

Glitter fun!

Trip to Langdon

Ashly, Christopher and I went to Langdon to visit my parents over teachers convention. We left after school on Wed. which was about 2:30pm. It was shortly after 7pm when we headed north out of Fargo that it started to snow. We slowed way down, traffic was going 40-50mph. That was pretty miserable with such a long trip. Then when the car ahead of me went in the ditch, I decided I wasn't going to do this anymore. I called Chadd who found me a hotel room at the Days Inn in Grand Forks and we happily stayed there for the night. Then in the morning we drove the last couple hours home to Langdon. Christopher was so happy once we got to the hotel, crawling around, after being in the car all afternoon.

Grandpa and Christopher loved his pickle. He cryed hysterically when we took it away from him when it was almost gone!

Intense birthday moment. My 33rd birthday is October 28th and mom and dad had a cake for me and some gifts. Thanks!!!

Lots of fun places to crawl around and stand up by in grandma and grandpa's house. Christopher had so much fun!

Mom and dad had fun things for Ashly to do too...I'll post those pictures later. She worked on a school project about dad's years in the Coast Guard. She carved a pumpkin and did some art projects. Ashly and I both renewed our CPR/First Aid with mom. Thanks mom!

On the way home, we had lunch with Jennie...the new Mrs.

Good Grades Ashly!

Christopher is now entering a new stage and I love it!!!! BUT...it's hard to get anything done around the house! We have to do something with our recylcing and our garbage. It's just not going to work out to pick that up 150x a day! He'll crawl from room to room now...there's no telling where he is if you don't keep a close eye on him. Chadd's next project is to build a gate for our stairway. I will feel better when that is up. Christopher loves to drink water out of a glass. He will drink out of a regular glass like in the picture or a sippy cup. He's just not good at holding it himself yet, but he's got how to drink it down pat!

The kids and I are off to Langdon. We are taking advantage of school being out for Ashly (teacher's convention) and we are going to spend some time with my parents. I'm super excited! Chadd is going to do a little Doe hunting in Wis. Good luck there, Chadd!!!

We had Ashly's school conferences last night. Way to go Ashly!!! I'm very proud of her...mostly all A's!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Hanten

In the bathroom of the hotel room...so much fun!!!

Beautiful girls...Ashly, Brittany and Jordyn!!!

Congratulations Blake and Jennie!

The three sisters!

Mom and Dad

The Larsons enjoying the reception. A HUGE THANK YOU to Sharon for all your help with Christopher. Chadd and I really apprecited it!!!

The wedding was wonderful. The Bride was beautiful and everyone had fun. We got to Fargo around 5pm on Friday and checked into the Radisson. We had rehearsal at the church at 6pm. Then we had a nice meal at a golf course. Saturday was busy. Everyone pitched in on Sat. morning to decorate the reception hall. I didn't help much since I had the busy boy that didn't sleep well on Friday night for me. What a long night! We used the hotel crib which didn't have bumpers and Christopher kept stirring and would scoot his head and it would press against the metal bars and he wouldn't get back to sleep.

The girls started getting their hair done at 1030am. We sat around the church for awhile after that. Mom and Dad brought subs. It was fun visiting with the photographer. She did my wedding and Steve's wedding. She is getting to know our family very well!!! Pictures started at 3pm. Of course, Christopher spit up his mixed veggies on Ashly's dress and all over himself. Luckily, it wiped right off Ashly's dress and I had a spare set of pants for him.

The ceremony was nice. Afterwards, the wedding party hopped on the party bus, dropped the three junior bridesmaids off at the reception hall, and hit a couple bars. The reception was decorated beautifully and it was so fun to see all our relatives. We even had family that came from Quebec, Cananda. Wow! Thanks again to Chadd's mom for watching Christopher all night for us. On Sunday there was a small family get together for gift opening. Then we made our way back home! It was a great weekend!