one last trip to flandrau

I took Monday off to spend the day with the kids. Thankfully it was nice enough to do something fun outside, and since Flandrau was the only pool still open for the season, to Flandrau we went! I barely seen Hudson and Paxton for the last 2 hours we were there. Well, I should re-phrase that, I could SEE them, but they weren't anywhere near me. They put their life jackets on and swam across the pool into the deep. They stayed there for an hour at a time, would run back over during break for a snack, and then swam back over for another hour. They found older kids that were willing to play with them and they loved every second of it. Harlow had a fun time swimming with me or by herself. I could tell parents around us were quite surprised at how well she handles the water, goes under and actually swims. If I had to guess though, I'd say they would all agree that buying a snack at the concession stand is their favorite part. Of course!

MN State Fair 2014

Like we do every year, we went to the Minnesota State Fair last weekend. On a Sunday, with a million other people. A million other sweaty people I might add! It was a hot one, with a couple short rain showers, but these kids didn't care one bit.

Before we left the hotel that morning, Paxton and Harlow showed a little love sitting by the window, and my heart almost swelled outside of my chest. OMG, love it!

Hudson was quite enthusiastic as the excited fair boy.

And in Paxton form, he just stood there because he was asked to. Still looking off to the side at something more exciting.

And in Harlow form, she gave me her cheesiest smile. Her and I rode down the big slide together, and I attempted to get a picture or video, but they pushed Paxton down before me and it was all I could do try and catch up to him. I could post the video I got of mine and Harlow's feet going down, but I'm not sure anyone would enjoy that.

We took a family swing (minus Hudson) on this picnic table. I'm pretty sure the guy selling it thought we were sold on it and told us we could pick it up for just $2000 the last day of the fair. We passed.

Waiting patiently for a funnel cake.

She loves rides, but doesn't always show it on her face, so when she smiled, laughed, and waved with her tongue hanging out, I was so glad to catch it on camera.

They love rides too....can't you tell. They only smiled when they were on a ride going mach 10 fast!

Harlow wasn't tall enough to go on this ride alone so I was the lucky one that went with her. Keep in mind that Hudson had just gotten off the ride and said he thought HE was too big for it because his knees hit the steering wheel! I hopped on and got a little concerned about the weight limit! I kindly asked the operator if Harlow could ride alone, he asked if she would cry and I told him that she wouldn't, but he still said no. I must admit, the ride was pretty fun, but boy did I look funny!

We always have to go through the little farm.

Paxton and Harlow kept cool with ice cream cones.

And part of the crew on top of the new bar in the remodeled Heritage Square- Jamie, Zev, Maddi, Lon, Logie, Brandon, Paxton, Harlow, Hunter, and Patrick.

Sid's 6th Bday

Last Saturday we traveled to the cities for Sidney's 6th birthday party (and a hotel stay and MN State Fair...more to come). With 7 people riding in the Pathfinder, we switched things around a little bit and I sat by Paxton, who is always up for making silly faces with me.

The main attraction at the Friederich's house is their pool. The kids can't wait to jump right in. It was an overcast day, not that the kids cared, and neither did I since Regan took care of Harlow in and out of the water. She never let her leave her sight, great babysitter! When we were leaving, I said I felt like I should be paying her for her services.

Harlow sat on this shark and rode it like a horse. Even saying, "neigh, neigh"!

Hudson got brave this year and jumped off the diving board and swam in the deep with no lifejacket or other flotation device. He's just a true swimmer now!

Harlow and cousin Lincoln. I think they'll be great buds when Lincoln gets older, moves around a little bit, and Harlow can boss him around. He's the only cousin she has that's younger than her, so get ready Lincoln!

HAPPY 6TH SIDNEY!

ALS Challenge

The whole Johnson family was nominated for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by Maddi Olson, but the boys were kind enough to take one for the team while me, Jamie, and Harlow sat by and watched! Hudson had been wanting to do it, so he was thrilled when I told him Maddi nominated him. In return, Hudson nominated Grandma Cindy, Aunt Sheri, and cousin Carson. Paxton nominated his friend Brenley Nordby. And Jamie and I will make a donation to the ALS Fund. 

I was surprised by how well the boys took the freezing cold water. They're champs!!

random pics

Looking back in my phone....just a few pictures I never posted.....

Harlow walking the balance beam during gymnastics. 

Mario and Luigi at Hudson's birthday party. These costumes were a very good purchase, well worth Grandma's money!

Doing what they love most, riding their four wheelers at Grandpa and Grandma's house.

And sister looking pretty at Grandpa and Grandma's house.

Unfortunately, this is Hudson. He is obsessed with costumes! Literally, he wears them nearly 24 hours a day! And he's especially in love with the scary and gross ones.

Such a sweet moment caught on camera.

Our one and only day at Flandrau this year. 

I got his picture from daycare, of Harlow carrying her toy phone in her shirt. She learns this from me. I'm always putting my phone in my shirt when I don't have pockets or a purse. I loved this picture!

So....Hudson ran errands with Jamie and they had to get beer for his birthday party at the B&L. Hudson insisted on playing the claw game there, and he won big! An E.T. , some pink stuffed animal, and an Adult Video!!! Jamie told Hudson that it was a really scary movie so they weren't even going to open it, even though Hudson tried convincing him that he promised he wouldn't be scared, he just really wanted to see it. Gross! 

Again, just because she's pretty.

Hudson asked me to take this picture and send it to Uncle Lon, because he loves to make stupid faces and he was sure Uncle Lon would appreciate this one.

Me and Pacman on a ride at Nickelodeon Universe.

Daddy was away so me and the boys baked tiny pink cookies in the Easy Bake Oven.

And one more, just because she's REALLY pretty! Like seriously, ugh, I melt.

fish and dinner

It was the Annual Kids Fishing Contest last night and Jamie took the boys. Actually he took all three kids and I went to pick up Harlow after I got done with work. Us girls had better things to do, like eat! I've been told that Hudsy caught a fish, that Paxton was pretty crabby the whole time, and that all three of them won a prize (tackle boxes and a minnow bucket).

So while the boys fished, me and this girl went on a dinner date to Subway. When I told Jamie I wanted to take her out to eat, he looked at me like I was crazy and said, "You wanna go with just her?" Sure do! I love times like this with just one kid, and I so rarely do them with her. And let me tell you, she was a fun date!! Some snapchats.......

Hudsy's Weekend

We spent last weekend up in the cities celebrating Hudson's birthday weekend courtesy of his godparents, Maddi and Zev. They've made it a birthday tradition to get him a weekend at Maddi's hotel and it has proved to be his favorite gift! And I let him make the final call of deciding to bring Harlow with or leave her home with Grandma, and he was quick to say "She's too wild so let's not take her." Good point buddy, and Harlow happily waved bye to us as we drove away, saying "See you later!".

On the way up Friday night we stopped at his favorite restaurant, Chili's. He can't get enough of their corn on the cob and blue slushy drink!  

Last year Maddi decorated the hotel room and Hudson thought it was nothing short of amazing. He had been asking me if I thought she'd do that again......she did! Balloons and streamers and his very own jar of candy!

A video of him walking into the room. I love how he tries to hide his excited smile, and right away proclaims, "Yep, I got it. I got it again."

We spent the rest of the night and the next morning swimming and hot tubbing.

At Chipotle for lunch on Saturday, Hudson looked at my heaping bowl of deliciousness and said, "I dare you to eat all that!" Ha, dare met and accomplished easily! Probably not a good thing.

On the agenda for Saturday, Mall of America for Seal Life and Nickelodeon Universe (Family passes for both provided by Maddi and Zev!!! Waaaaaay too much, and waaaaay too sweet!!). Hudson was beyond excited and Pax is such a lucky brother getting to tag along.

Maddi and Zev met us for our day of fun. And since Jamie had never been on rides at Nickelodeon before, they even offered to take the boys for a bit to let Jamie and me go on some bigger rides. Of course while they were "babysitting for free" as Zevlen called it (with help from Logie and Patrick too!), Paxton was on the bumper cars and couldn't get his car to work and had a meltdown right there on the ride. But it wasn't anything a little cotton candy and pop couldn't cure.

This was our favorite ride, well at least it was mine. It was the boys' first "big" ride and I was a little nervous for them but they loved it!! Heck, I loved it! I laughed the whole time, which made Jamie laugh at me the whole time. It really took my breath away and gave me butterflies.

I love this picture Maddi got of us during the ride.

Paxton making mean faces at Zevlen.

Jamie talked us into going on the Log Chute but I made it very clear that I did NOT want to get wet!! The first time we went down, Hudson and I sat in front and got considerably wet, especially Hudson. He said he was mad, but we could tell he really enjoyed it, and as soon as we got off he wanted to go again. So the second time I made Jamie sit in the front to get wet and me and Pax hid in the back. Before the ride started, I could hear Jamie and Hudson whispering to each other and giggling. I knew they were up to no good, then on the way down the biggest hill, they hid under the front of the log in hopes of getting me drenched! In the video Maddi took, you can see Jamie hiding and then coming up to check if I got soaked....I didn't, their evil plan failed. 

It was a long day and we got a little silly.

We went for supper (at 8pm!) at Jake's Grill. Hudson ordered his favorite meal of buttered noodles and cleared his plate in less than 2 minutes!

Some snuggling on Sunday morning before leaving the hotel. We went to see the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie despite the PG-13 rating and it was a good decision. Paxton LOVED it! Laughed outloud in the theater and declared it his favorite movie of all time. Even I enjoyed it, we all did!

It was a GREAT weekend!!!!! A million gazillion THANK YOU's to Maddi and Zevie!!!! Hudson is one lucky godson, and Jamie, Paxton, and myself are lucky he let's us tag along! Maybe next year he'll even let Harlow.