Running Aces

We spontaneously went to the horse races last night. The race track is right outside of Forest Lake. It was the first time for us so we didn't know what to expect. It was dollar hot dog, chips and soda night. The atmosphere was kid friendly. Christopher loved running all around outside and you could go right up to the fence when the race was going on.

It rained on and off so we did spend some time in the building.

Chadd had some luck at betting. You can bet in person or on a machine. We purchased "Rick's Picks" for $1 to guide us in the right direction for betting. I think we won more than we lost, but it was hard to keep track with a 2 year old!

Eating

Here's our winnings!!! I think we broke even for the night. What we spent is what we won!

So in that case, a free entertaining evening was had by all!

Kiss Baby Noah

What a sweet baby boy!

After we brushed Christopher's teeth last night and I was getting him ready for bed he said to me out of the blue, "kiss baby Noah." I guess I might have mentioned a couple times (or a million!) yesterday that he had a new baby cousin Noah!!!

Noah

Congratulations to my younger sister, Jennie, and her husband, Blake, for their son, Noah Randall Hanten born this morning at 3:33am in Fargo, ND. He is 6 pounds, 5 oz., 19 inches long. I saw a picture of him on my phone and I think he looks like his daddy! I can't wait to meet him. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chadd's Pickle Factory

Chadd and Ashly went to the Farmer's Market in Minneapolis at 6am on Sunday morning. This is the largest Farmer's Market in the Twin Cities area. This is where the Sunday pickling marathon begins for Chadd because he tried to grow a garden. The reason his garden didn't turn out is the extra hot, humid weather and lack of time to tend to it. He decided that it's not worth having a garden when you can go to the Farmer's Market. I agree. So Chadd's garden days are over (and mine never began!).

Chadd was not easily convinced to buy this hot sauce at the Farmer's Market until he tried a sample! The main ingredient is ghost peppers, which arguably are the hottest chili peppers that exist. He said it's good, not too hot! (well, maybe not too hot for him but I won't even try it!)

Here are the bags and boxes full of pickling cucumbers.

The first step: washing the pickles.

He also bought us some yummy cherry tomatoes. We all love!

And we have plenty of green beans for a while. Yum!

Second step: Chill the cucumbers in ice water. Note: I had to run to the grocery store and buy a 20 pound bag of ice during the process!

Here's the dill backstage in the garage, waiting for it's cue.

Garlic, jalapenos and habaneros

Holy hot habaneros! Do not touch them and touch any of your body parts. Ouch!!! We used tongs.

Ashly trimming the dill. Ashly participated in the whole pickling event from beginning to end. What a trooper! And a great help to Chadd.

The assembly line is ready to go!

Drum roll please.... 51 jars of pickles and 2 jars of jalapenos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The jars are sitting upside down to seal.

Family 5K

The four of us had a great run at the family 5K at Hugo Saturday morning.

Christopher was happy as could be and rode in the stroller really well.

Here we are prerace.

Ashly and I running just in front of Chadd. Ashly did an awesome job and would have really hit it hard if it were track season right now!

Chadd sped ahead at the end so he could get my picture at the finish line! So, here I am! 38 minutes!!!

Afterwards, drinking some water and relishing in the victory!!!! Our goal was to run/walk it in 45 minutes. I was happy we were under 40 minutes. This was my first race ever. I'm no jogger so this was as good as it gets with me!

The giant finish line!

We had subway and cookies and bananas afterward.

Thanks to my wonderful husband for being supportive. I had fun doing this as a family!

Christopher had all sorts of energy after the race, the rest of us, not so much!

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DQ treats later for a job well done!

Boo Boo

Christopher got this hippopotamus from his daycare teacher. He loves it! But the arm got a hole in it. Poor hippo got an owie. So mommy had to fix it!

I couldn't get the band aid off that the daycare teacher put on so that will be there forever, but we got "Potamus" all sewn up!

All better so a little boy can cuddle and love it!

Thank you for the sausage!

We enjoyed the sausage that my mom and dad gave us. Thanks! Christopher had three helpings and said, "Mmmmm, hotdog!" Ashly loves it too!

Hanging out on Sunday evening.