Mount Rushmore

I had seen it when I was a kid a couple of times but it was more beautiful than I remembered.  We saw the lighting ceremony the first night since we got there right at 9pm.  And then we went back the next day to really see it and to go to the museum and yes, to make the hike around the bottom of it.  Lots of stairs!  We ate at the cafe and you could see the faces from inside.  Very beautiful!  We also had Thomas Jefferson's vanilla ice cream, and it was delicious!  Then we went to Rushmore cave and my legs still hurt from all of those stairs as well!  But it was great and I'm glad the kids were exposed to all of it.  Then they were able to "mine" for jewels and got some pretty rocks out of it.  And then we shopped and ate treats in Keystone at the base of Mount Rushmore.  We were pretty exhausted by the end of the day.  Well, I was!  The kids went swimming.  Ha!

More Colorado and family

Colorado!

We are in Colorado and having a great time with our family - my brother Chris and his wife Alicia and their five kids: Kyle, Chelsie, Bethany, Caleb, and Connor.  These are our kids' only cousins, so they are in cousin heaven!  Ava didn't know what cousins were but now never wants to leave them.  Jack remembered and is inseparable from Connor as always.  Bethany has a huge dollhouse for Ava to play with and tons of dolls and accessories.  She also made us some bracelets while we were here.  We are here for Kyle's (the oldest grandchild on both sides) high school graduation.  We made it about 5 minutes late after driving about two days.  It was a great ceremony and I'm so glad we came and have been able to be a part of it. It had been about 3 1/2 years since we've been out here and two years since Matt and I have seen them so it's been a great reunion.  Love them all so much!  

My favorite quote from Kyle's speech was when he talked about his family.  He said, "When were together, that's when it's the best."  Sums my feelings up perfectly too.  Kyle did a reading of the poem "The Creation", sang a solo, gave a speech, presented roses to his mom and grandmas, and of course got his diploma.  Then we had a cake reception afterwards.  That was Sunday.  

Monday we went shopping with the girls and then ate at a Japanese steakhouse that night.  Delicious!  The kids babysat the kids so double bonus!  And then we topped it off with Coldstone and a concert by all of the kids.  What a fun night!  Excited for another day today!

Go Twins!

After a sort of quiet week last week, we revved it up this weekend by going to a Twins game on Saturday with our church which meant a trip to the city!  It's always so much fun going there and then to go with a bunch of people from church made it even more so.  We had 16 people in our church group and some of us had family meet us there.  And the Twins won 8-0!  In spite of the cloudy weather, it was a great game to attend!  And of course we had too much junk food!  After the game, we took off to Colorado to attend our nephew Kyle's graduation and just made it after driving two days through much crazy weather - snow, rain, sand, high winds.  But we made it and have enjoyed ourselves already!  Since I used the rest of my storage to take videos, I do not have any pictures but Matt got some so we will get them on here.  Here are pictures from Saturday.  

Jack's Buddy Noah 

My friend Joy's dad's name is on a memorial!  So cool!

Our group

The men after being challenged to dance. Party poopers!

So cute!  This one's for you, Joy!

Ladies Lunch with Colleen

We had our ladies lunch this past Saturday with 19 ladies in attendance.  Colleen Tronson of Metro Women's Center was our speaker.  She gave her testimony and shared her work as the director there as she tries to save babies who are at risk of abortion and also tries to reach people for Christ.  We had a great lunch and time together.  She also presented the work on Sunday to our church.  I loved having her here.  She always helps me so much personally and inspires me to do more for Christ.