3 Years!

A few pictures from Campbell's birthday...

Ice cream for breakfast - what a way to start a birthday!

On to finger painting and play dough.

A great surprise visit from our friends K and baby D at lunch. We got to see them one last time before they headed overseas. Campbell was very excited about having a picnic at the new park with dinosaur steps.

Daddy got off work early so we went to check out Chaska's community center pool and splash pad.

Campbell and Blake both loved it! I'm really glad Gabe was there to help out because it was kind of a maze through the building and through the pool area to get to the outside splash pad, and the pool was too deep for Blake, but that didn't stop him from trying to dive in. Fun to go someplace new though.

Campbell wanted macaroni & cheese for her birthday dinner, so we got take out from Noodles and headed to Bryant Lake Park for another picnic.

Cake! 

Delicious! 

My baby girl is 3 today. Don't tell her I called her that though because she told me the other day,  "I don't like it when Daddy calls me his baby girl. I'm not a baby."

I liked the sound of 2 1/2 better. 3 sounds really old. How can my baby be so old already? Cliche, I know, I know, I know.

She's been telling everyone for weeks that "I'm 2 and a half and my birthday is August fivth (she can't quite say it right) and I'll be 3 on my birthday!"


We feel very blessed to have such an amazing daughter. She has such a wonderful personality - she's so talkative, energetic, happy, considerate, imaginative, and as well behaved and patient as can reasonably be expected out of a 3 year old.

Some random things Campbell has been up to lately: 

She loves dancing and singing and she's been making up her own songs/lyrics lately that are pretty hilarious.


She is a wonderful big sister to her brother and a great helper with "the baby" as she calls him.  I'm amazed how more times than not she will give up a toy that she is playing with and give it to Blake if he wants it (aka he's screaming for it). The other day she said that she'd wait for a toy Blake had until he was done because he doesn't play long with toys (I've been saying that to her forever, so it was really awesome to see her remember it). She let him play with it for a while and when he was done and moved onto something else she took it. It was as smooth as smooth could be. At the moment, I felt like the scene should have paused and someone (probably an ECFE teacher) should have come knocking on the door and awarded me a parenting trophy. Of course, I would have given credit in my acceptance speech to Campbell for being so patient and thoughtful to her little brother. A minute later, I was snapped out of my blissful daydream by the kids fighting over some other toy.

She's really into Thomas the Train lately and it's pretty funny how when we're driving around she'll say that Rosie or Percy or some other train is giving us a boost when I accelerate. And whenever she hears a train horn she'll come up with some story of what train it is and what they are up to.

Campbell has pretend siblings who she's always talking about. It started out with a sister, Sissy. Now there have been 2 big sisters added: Alex (who appeared after cousin Alex came to visit this summer) and Ang-a (who came onto the scene when Angie babysat overnight). The other day she called Sissy's parents (they all have different parents, which doesn't quite compute since they are her sisters, but I'm cutting her a little slack) to see if Sissy could come over and play. She also has added a bunch of unnamed older brothers.


I get periodic emails from BabyCenter on various development topics and I just got this one about pretend pals, which I thought was appropriate: "this development is common and very positive. In fact, it's a healthy sign that you have a creative child. Imaginary friends are great for kids — and are another sign that this year is one of the most magical of childhood."

I couldn't have said it better....it is magical.

And I'm stealing this thought from a friend's blog (The Three Skooges) that I follow. Hope you don't mind, Erin, I just thought it was just perfect for the way I feel, too. She wrote that she wanted to bottle up this age and save it forever and since that's not possible, just do your best to savor every moment.

I love you Campbell!

3rd, 4th & 5th

We had a train themed family birthday party at Olcott Park in Virginia for Papa Stan who turns 85 on the 3rd, I turn 32 on the 4th and Campbell turns 3 on the 5th. I've enjoyed sharing parties with Papa Stan all my life & it's fun to have Campbell's birthday right in the mix now, too. She sure does liven up the party so I don't mind that she gets all the presents. :)

Gabe and I worked late into the night on the train cake. It turned out great! I'd like to keep making the kid's cakes. It's fun to come up with a theme and see it through.

Campbell approved.

The birthday kids. Velura surprised us by making a Thomas cake.

Blake was crazy for the pinata. I had to tear him away kicking and screaming so the other kids could take a turn.

2 Week Vacation

Gabe's work has a new policy that employees have to take 7 days off in a row each year, so we decided to take advantage and Gabe took 2 full weeks off. Gabe couldn't remember the last time he had that much time off.

We began our vacation with a stop in Melrude for the Annual parade & Spaghetti Feed that Ginia-mom & Papa Stan help to put on. The parade was perfect for the kids. It went about 100 yards in front of the Melrude Town Hall. A couple fire trucks, a lot of 4 wheelers, and some antique cars. There was a ton of candy, and someone was even handing out popsicles for the kids.  Afterward, they had a bunch of games for the kids. It was perfect.

We convinced Campbell to join the pie eating contest. She was the only girl and the youngest by several years. It was hilarious how the boys shoved their faces into the chocolate & whip cream pie, while Campbell took had a much more dainty approach - she dipped her finger in and took little licks. Needless to say, she didn't win. 

The beginning of the vacation coincided with Uncle Troy, Aunt Lora & Cousin Alex coming to visit from Singapore. Campbell could barely contain her excitement to see her cousin again. I believe it had been over a year and a half since we had seen them because they hadn't met Blake yet.

Blake meeting his godfather, Uncle Troy

It's not too often all the cousins are together. They had a fun walk through the woods with Grammy at the cabin.

Blake hanging out with his Godmother, Aunt Lora. 

Cousin Alex and her Uncle Gabe

Awesome Chinese PJ's from Troy, Lora & Alex. Blake looks hilarious in them. Campbell also got a purse that she carried around with her the full 2 weeks.

Cousins packed in the back row. We all piled into 2 cars and headed out to the Vince Shutte Bear Sanctuary.

Half of our group got the last spots on a bus to go see the bears. So we waited...and then it started to storm.

It was lightening, so they closed the park. We didn't get to see any bears. It was close to an hour drive one way to get out there - ARG! But, we had great company and plenty of catching up to do!

Campbell fell asleep on my shoulder while we were waiting. I don't think she's done that for YEARS, she was so wore out from all the playing with her cousins. It was so sweet.

Campfire back at our cabin.

We took out a pontoon and putted around the lake for a few days while Troy, Lora & Alex were in town.

We stopped in for a visit at the Baker's cabin. Gabe's dad & Mr. Baker have been friends since they were kids. Then as adults, all of their kids would see each other each summer at the lake when the Baker's would come up for a month. They have the greatest old cabin. They have a bunch of chipmunks that they feed, so that provided a ton of entertainment for Campbell and a little Baker grandson (who was about Campbell's age) while the adults visited. Cousin Alex caught a bunch of fish with a net and hot dogs as bait with a Baker granddaughter.

Alex is a great driver!

Campbell really looks up to her older cousin Alex.

We were very sad to say goodbye, but we had a great visit and got to spend a lot of time with Troy, Lora & Alex. We can't wait to see them again!

Once they left, Gabe went full gear into working on the cabin. My parents & grandparents came the next weekend to help out. 

Blake got a mustache drawn on him. Poor guy - look at those innocent eyes, has has no idea why everyone is laughing at him. At the end of the 2 week vacation was Gabe's annual Mustachio Bashio fishing trip with the guys. I think Gabe took the 2 weeks off work just so he could try to grow a respectable mustache.

Papa Stan gave Gabe a bunch of wood that he had sitting around. Gabe took it to get milled during the vacation. Here Deb & Papa Stan are working on sorting out the different types of wood. Mostly birch, but some ash, oak & pine as well. It sure is beautiful wood and fun to know that Papa Stan cut some of those trees down himself.

Ginia-mom keeping Blake entertained in the corral.

Jim came up to help Gabe for a few days. They did a lot of hard work digging footings for the deck & screen porch. They also worked on venting. That glue that you use to put together the pipes is nasty stuff. I can't believe Jim keeps coming back to help....Gabe wouldn't have been able to get it all done without his help & we really appreciate it.

One gorgeous summer day the Tez's boated over & we went to the sand beach for a picnic. It was a great break from the pressure of trying to get stuff done on the cabin.

Papa John came over to help pour the cement footings. It went surprisingly fast - they got it done in an afternoon - a hot afternoon. What a difference it makes having a cement mixer, electricity & running water. And even better, this time the barge brought over a pallet of cement bags and dropped them right where we needed them with a bobcat. For the cabin footings, a lot of the mixing was done by hand - that's not easy! And once the cement mixer got hauled over, they had to hook up a generator for the power and haul water from the lake by hand. With a lot of help from friends and family, Gabe had over 200 sixty pound bags of cement delivered to the main land dock, loaded them into boats, crossed the water without sinking, and hauled them out of the boats up the hill to the footings.

Some great sunsets.

Blake crawled onto Campbell to give her a hug.

Blake's first attempt at escape from the corral. It was pretty interesting watching the progression of him trying different ways to make his great escape.

Another try.

Success! I'm outta here!

 It was a really nice vacation. It was a good balance of having fun as well as getting a lot done on the cabin. I really felt like we had been gone a long time. The following reinforced that feeling: When we got back into town our garage door opener in the garage was full of spider webs. And, the roar of an airplane flying overhead kind of surprised me. That noise is common in the City, but not in the North Woods! 

Campbell & Blake-isms

Blake is saying more & more words

• Eeze (cheese) Regularly says that when I take a picture - think that means I take too many pictures?
• Eers (cheers)
• Diaper. I can't remember how he said it, something like "di-r", but Papa got him to say it.
• Ni-ni (night night)
• Da (dog, dad, down)
• Dat (that)
• Ah-dah (all done)
• Mom (He said it very clearly tonight, usually it's just 'Ma' or 'Mum-mum-mum-mum' and he mostly says it when he wakes up and calls me from his crib.)
• Ma (more)
• Dada (He yells that sometimes when he's excited to see Campbell,. Not sure what he means, but it will be interesting to hear what he calls Campbell - that's a tricky one to pronounce.) -
• Nana (Deb has gotten him to very clearly say that when playing peek-abo with him.)

Some things Campbell has said lately. Some funny, some embarrassing, some confusing, and then those that I'm amazed at how she picks up on things:

• When I grow up, I want to be just like my dad.
• Campbell: How do you shake hands with a unicorn? Gabe: Very carefully. Campbell laughing: What a second, unicorns don't have hands! 
• Who are my real parents? (Where did that come from!?!?)
• Campbell blatantly stated to my friend during a picnic as my friend is drinking a Coke: Coke isn't good for you. (That one totally came from Grammy.)
• Campbell at breakfast one morning: Orange juice kinda gives you sugar. Me: How do you know that? Campbell: I know it all by heart. (Thinking for a minute.) I don't like it when juice gives me sugar. Sugar can be bad. (Nana...any guesses who that came from? haha!)

4th of July Weekend

We started off the holiday activities on Saturday morning with the Mt. Iron parade. Gabe & I took Campbell while Nana & Papa kept Blake because it was his morning nap time.  The parade was perfect - we only had to park a block away, we got a perfect non-crowded shady viewing spot (it was getting HOT HOT HOT already), the parade was super short, there was tons of candy, and Campbell got to play at a park afterward. What more could an almost 3 year old ask for?!?

It's a Snort from Are you My Mother?

After the parade we packed up and headed to the cabin. We had a little detour as the boat ran out of gas - very luckily it was right in front of Gabe's parent's cabin. Blake stayed for a nice comfortable air conditioned nap (did I mention it was HOT HOT HOT?!?!) while we went to drop off our stuff at our cabin and then raced back to the beach at Grammy & Papa John's to cool off.

Blake and I woke up to torrential rain on Sunday - it was crazy how hard it was coming down (our boat almost sunk) - and super loud in the main room that isn't insulated yet. Blake worked on the electrical while Daddy & Campbell slept in.

Happy 4th of July! Party at Grammy and Papa John's.

Blake spent the most of the day yelling at dogs and chasing them around.

And carrying around big trucks. 

We went to Oakman family party and had a great time visiting with family that we don't get to see very often. The kids had fun playing together at the beach & getting tons of prizes out of the pinata.

Now this is the life! Campbell kept asking Gabe to put up the "ham-mom-mock", so he did on Monday. So comfy! Papa Paul came up to stay with us & it was great to have help with the kids. He caulked the shed door again (did I mention Gabe had to rip off the old door because it wouldn't open in the spring?) and Gabe kept working on the pump. Super frustrating that it's still not working, but he'll get it! Gabe was about to jump off the dock to try to retrieve the filter basket (a part of the pump) that had blown off in the water and noticed 2 huge muskies right where he was about to jump - like about 4 FEET each! I was squeamish for no good reason about jumping in the dock before  - so now with a good reason, I won't be doing it again any time soon! Gabe is nonetheless fired up to get a muskie rod.