Online dating.

Tonight I have some free time to be a blog lurker. Yep, that's right folks, instead of trying to motivate my lazy butt to the gym tonight, I choose to sit at home and waste time on the Internet.

Ahhh......... Work has been VERY stressful these past few weeks. Working with the unemployed breaks your heart and sometimes breaks you. Therefore, I deserve a break tonight.......

During my search, I hit some of my favorite blogs and catch up on their pictures and daily going ons. Tonight, on one of my favorite picture and story sites, my eye caught a link to a new blog. Feeling adventurous, I clicked----started reading------smiled-----and then realized that I may have found my husbands long lost twin.

The blog I stumbled across could have been written by my hubby. Here's a few examples of why:

1. The blogger refers to his wife as the "hot wife." Kirby for some reason thinks I'm the cats meow. (just for the record, I don't think I'm all 'that.' Anyone who can get up, get dressed and be out the door in 10 minutes doesn't get the title 'hot wife' in my book) Anywho.... both of them think highly of their wives.

2. He loves hockey and has many posts about hockey. Check!

3. He's got three kids..... hey-so does Kirby! Check!

4. He's got a talent for writing... Kirby=writer=check!

5. If this guy hunts and/or fishes......it's a sealed deal.


Doesn't it seem odd to know that such a connection could be made over the Internet? It's like Miracle on Ice all over again.........

I'm not quite sure how to introduce them, I might need some help from a famous photographer/mom/friend/former parent of a student that Kirby has in class help. (Hint-hint JJ) (Don't you think that they could be friends?)

What would people do with out the Internet?

On a side note........ LOGAN is on his 5th day of wearing big boy underwear! I actually think I may have purchased my last box of diapers without even knowing it. Sigh, a chapter is closing.....

Brett who?

Yesterday afternoon we came upon two free tickets to the Vikings preseason home opener. Kirby decided that since I always complain that he gets to go to all the big events that I should go this time and take Tyler with.

Right before I was getting ready to leave work, I received a phone call from a very excited boy,
"Mom, you and me get to go to the Vikings game tonight, aren't you excited?"

I have never been to a Vikings football game before so it was exciting to check it out. Here we are in our seats, with a Dome Dog and a coke.

Just waiting for the action to begin......

Wahoo! Here they come! Tyler spied Brett first.......

Tyler not quite sure if it's okay to clap for Favre or not.....

The Vikes in action. This is one of the two series that Brett played. If you look close, he's in the middle of the picture rolling out.

Later on we shared a big, and I mean BIG tub of popcorn.

It was a very fun night! Sometimes when the unexpected things pop up last minute it makes it for even a better time. Tyler and I talked and joked and made fun of other people (I know that's not nice but how can you not at a Minnesota Vikings game?) and enjoyed all the hoopla that surrounded the game.

Gooseberry Falls and Camping.

Last weekend we went camping up at Gooseberry Falls State Park with our friends the Rud's. If you haven't been to Gooseberry Falls I highly recommend taking a trip up the shore sometime.

Arriving early Saturday morning, our first goal was getting a camp site! It was first come first serve for the non reservable sites and we needed two. As luck would have it, our plans worked out perfectly.

After setting up camp, we took the kids to the falls and had a good time taking photos, throwing rocks and taking it all in.

The children out numbered the adults this weekend. From left to right... Luke, Logan, Matthew, Emma and Tyler.
The little ones exploring a fallen tree.

Tyler working on his BOND impression.

Emma.

Logan.

All three!

Me and my logie bear......

Emma and Matthew spent lots of time together. At one point they were holding hands over a bridge and fighting over who had the top hand.

Tyler enjoys going off on his own and exploring the sites. The fog rolled in late this morning as he was out on the rocks. At one point, I couldn't see him through the fog at all.

Throwing rocks was number one on the fun list!

While the rest of us had PB&J's for lunch, Kirby and Tyler had some sort of bagged military meal. Here they are opening and cooking their lunch.

Home Sweet Home.

After lunch we went for a hike up the falls. There are tons of spots to swim and play on the rocks. The Daddy's and kids liked to find slides. Here are all 4 of them taking a turn.

Logan and Daddy relaxing in the pool.

Papa Bear and his two cubs.

Saturday night the rain came and came and came. I think every time I woke up it was raining-hard! We got up and packed up and headed up to the Lighthouse. While everyone else went up for a peek, Becky and I enjoyed some quite time on a bench in front of the visitors center.

Here they are.......

We zipped down to Duluth and stopped down at Canal Park. The weather had finally turned around and we were able to watch a HUGE boat go through the Canal and under the lift bridge. I think all of the kids loved this moment.

Logan and Emma just had to be in the water even though they had just slept in it.

Logan taking a rest on a rock.

Emma Roo!

Tyler decided he could stand it no longer and took a dip in the lake.

It was a great weekend. Camping is a lot of work but fun for all. It's fun to be able to do stuff with our friends and their kids now that everyone is of walking age. I hope is to make it a yearly event (right Brent and Becky?)

Oh to be a flamingo.........

We took our annual summer trip to Como Zoo a few weekends ago. I love this zoo. Probably because number 1: It's free and number 2: who doesn't like looking at animals?

The first animals we observed were the flamingo. I think in another life I would enjoy being a flamingo because pink's a great color and you have long legs, what more could a girl want?

Here's the "Krew" checking things out. Kirby was more interested in the ducks floating by and thinking about what a nice muskie bait they would make and then his thoughts turned to duck hunting I'm sure.

Second stop was the orangutan's. They have a baby this year and boy was it cute!

Next stop: the kids favorite: the seals.

Logie bear checking out the tigers and eating some cotton candy. Yes, I bought my children cotton candy-what fun is a day at the zoo without a treat?

This animal was the crankiest animal we saw that day. J/K Tyler.

Emma and Logan really liked the monkeys. Do you like Emma's impression?

All three had a good day and now were patiently waiting for the rides.

Back in the old days when I was a young kid, I think that the rides used to be free. I could just remember that because I never saw my Dad pay for anything but.... We splurged again and bought $20 worth of tickets which actually lasted us a good amount of time.

Emma driving her car.....

Logan having a good time.......

This is where Tyler spent most of his day.

Emma and Tyler on the swings. I was a little unsure if Emma was ready for this ride. We had just watched them stop the ride to let a little girl off who didn't want to be on the ride. It started and Emma was just screaming and turning red! I couldn't tell if she was having fun or not but she hung in there and kicked off her flip flops and had a blast.

I made Kirby go on the choo choo train with Logan Thomas Choo Choo Train (This is what Logan calls himself when we ask him what his name is. Isn't that funny?)

Again, Tyler enjoying the day. :)

Emma and Logan sharing a ride together.

Emma and Tyler were going soooo fast on this spinning ride. I could barely watch and thought for sure she was going to puke up blue and pink cotton candy. But, she was fine once again but Tyler wasn't...........

Logan bear loves to drive!

It was a beautiful day, a great family outing and we even ate at a restaurant that Tyler had never been to before. That was a feat in it's self! I really enjoy these days and our trips out and about the state. Como Zoo has some fond memories for me and being there with my Dad and family.

Why the long face Gunner? Maybe some day they will let dogs come to the zoo too. Thanks for staying home and guarding the house. We can always count on you.

What about......

nights 2, 3, 4, and 5? I guess I kind of left you all hanging by not posting what we did the other nights/days we had to ourselves, sorry!

What did we do...hmmm, hard to remember now. I guess the thing that sticks out most in my mind is ALL the questions Logan asks. Really, the kid was non stop! His little mind is just going and going and he has lots of things he is curious about. It made me realize that Emma and Tyler must field alot of his questions so I don't notice it as much but man did I get the full dose this week. :)

I also think Logan really, really enjoyed the one on one time. (okay, so did I) He's rotated back and forth between sleeping in Tyler's bed and Emma's bed, has played with both of 'their' stuff and hasn't had anyone yelling at him to leave it alone, he's been KING of the pantry and fridge, and has been able to pick which playground to go to and which book to read everynight.

Saturday we got up and took a trip to Target and Menards and ate at Arby's for lunch. It was so nice to see that he's growing up a bit and can handle being out in public without needing constant attention and direction. Sniff-sniff.......my little boy is growing up.

Tonight we took a trip to the playground, again. At one point I was down and the ground looking up at him and the thought that crossed my mind was, "I'll never get to see this stage again. He is the last child that I will watch be two years old, three years old, etc." Then I started thinking about college and wondering how much that bill will be in 15 years........

I know I've said this before but, spending one on one time with your children is a wonderful thing. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, you really do miss out on some precious time with them. I miss Kirby, Tyler and Emma but I am thankful for my time alone with Logan, my baby.

The crew comes back Tuesday afternoon......... football starts next week, the pool is on it's last few weeks of being open, and we just got Emma's kindergarten class list is the mail. I think summer is coming to an end!

Night 1

*Eleven hour work day, pick Logan up from daycare. Answer the question, "where Emma? where Daddy? where Tyler?" 5 times each. I think he realized something was amuck.

*Dinner of chicken nuggets and french fries on the living room floor watching Dora. Forced to do the chicken dance with Logan, Dora and Boots.

*Trip to Walmart for milk. Come home with milk and a plastic wheel barrel toddler size.

*Phone call from Daddy, pj's, ice cream cone and bedtime for Logan AND the wheel barrel.

*........alone time, total control of the remote and a sleeping dog at my feet.

It was a good first day.

Time alone with Mommy......

This week is Kirby's annual Canadian fishing trip with his college pals. He leaves on Wednesday and this year he is leaving me with just one child. Yep-that's right, one child.

Tyler AND Emma are going up to Warroad to spend a few days with Papa Tom and Grandma Rose and Uncle Tator Head. Emma is so excited she can hardly keep counting down the correct number of days.

Kirby asked me, "What are you going to do with all your free time?"

I think Logan is going to be a little nervous about being the only child. He's only been in this situation for one night before and now he's facing 5 days without any siblings around.

What will I do with my all my free time? Most likely spoil him rotten with one on one attention, quiet dinners for two and endless trips to the playground.

Oh, and I bet even Gunner will get some attention more than he's used to this week also. :)