MALL OF AMERICA TRIP (part one)

We got the grandkids and went to the Mall of America

our first stop for the day was Nickelodeon Universe

Known to my granddaughter as Dora Land

What a Grandmother won't do for her grand son

He needed a ride on the Big Trucks

Yes once again grandma hd to go with the little ones on the train
The parents went on this one


We took a break for lunch at the Rainforest Cafe
They have a jungle theme and water falls and fish tanks
It storms evey 20 minutes with lightning and thunder
The babies took it pretty well
We still had American Girl and Legoland but that will be another blog

BIRTHDAY AT THE COTTAGE....

Birthday Girl:
Madelyn Grace Stumbo




My granddaughter is visiting from Washington State and her birthday is this week so we had a little party for her, she is two. We mad a seperate table for her and her sister. It was a tinkerbell party. We all had great fun.












One of the games I chose was an egg hunt because they are never here for Easter. I think they really liked it. There were so many eggs they fell out of their little buckets.

Hunter..age 11 months was the only guest and he napped through a lot of the party.His birthday is next month but the girls will be back home so I think the guests will be grandparents and aunts and uncles.

WAITING TO SHARE.....

MY GIRLS....

It is so much fun watching my adult children interact with each other, they even revert back to some of there old ways when they were kids.

It has been a fun visit. Michelle and her family will be leaving for a family reunion on Thursday and then back to the grind.

They may come back for two days on their way back home.

I am waiting to upload pictures from our visit but I am so slow at this particular task and make errors along the way. Hope to post some soon.

VISITORS AT THE COTTAGE....

Here is one of my "signature breakfasts"
When you stay at the cottage
I call it
Carmel Apple French Toast

My grandsons
Carter--6months
We nicknamed him "bubba"

He will be a football player

and Hunter--11 months

We nicknamed him "monkey"
He will be a basketball player

AROUND THE COTTAGE......

The grandchildren are

visiting from Washington
State. The children belong

to my oldest daughter

Michelle.

Alyssa will be 5 in

October . She is the first

Granddaughter and grandchild

Madelyn is her sister and

she is the second.
She will be two next week.

We are having a birthday

party for her on Sunday.

Grandma is Having fun

with her girls Iwish

I could bottle their
energy. I could sure

use a little extra.

The baby is Carter ,

6 months Brother to the girls,

fourth in line of grandchildren

Hunter is third and 11 months

He is son to my baby daughter
Mary Rose, they live here

in Minnesota

We walked to town today
and visited the coffee shop

The girls had ice cream,
cotton candy, the boys are

to little so they had baby snacks.
My son Michael, Oldest of

my children, came also. His

wife is due Sept 19( fifth grandchild)

We ended the day with

a little shopping to the

local grocery store for

paper plates, cups and

deli chicken and jos jos

I realize this is not the usual supper you recieve when visiting WobegonCottage but I was tired.

I find my self happy when they come for a visit but just as happy to see them return home safely

My mother-in-law use to say that and now I know what she meant. I love them dearly but trying to keep up with their energy level is difficult. One of my faults is I like a neat and organized enviroment which is impossible to keep with all the little ones playing and all the meals to prepare ...oh yes...the clean up is constant.

I really am enjoying the visit.

NEBRASKA TRIP ..coming home

This was our last stop on our way home.

a riverboat casino. A storm was brewing

and we found shelter there for about an

hour.

They had this crazy looking dog outside

so we snapped a quick pic before the rain

started to fall. The wind was really starting to blow

The river was beautiful so I just had

to take one more picture.

I am glad to be home.

NEBRASKA TRIP ....day 2(family bar-b-q)

This is London one of three dogs

who live with my brother

and sister-in-law

(my husbands brother)

Here is one of the many

attractions in Omaha Nebraska

This is the largest furniture store

in America

I enjoyed looking

The start of the family bar-b-q

Pauls brother Pete did the ribs

and he did a very good job.

We also had the ususal foods

we are at his nieces' house

her daughter next to me and Martha

our sister-in-law and husband Pete,

Pauls brother

I could go on but don't want to bore everyone with all the family photos

This is the last one.

Pauls nephew painted a

self portrait, we thought

is was quite good.

He is going to study art

at omaha university

TRIP TO NEBRASKA...day 1

This is where we stopped for breakfast.











It was very foggy when

we left Wobegon at

5:00 am. Paul's family
loves casino's.
So once a year
we make the trek.
We were only in
there about
an hour(includes eating)

and when we came out
the fog had lifted.
I think next year I will have to

bring abook to read . The smoke

really affected my sinuses and

I had a hard time breathing.

My first visit to a casino was

when we moved to Minnesota

to help care for my

husbands parents.
(not really my thing)

I go along for support and to

hold the purse strings very

tightly. LOL

A few of the sites along the

highway. There was

definately more then just

corn fields to see.

I was happy about that

and the weather was pleasant.

Speaking of weather...

Where is summer??

We are only reaching 63 as a high today where we

usuallyhave 90. I thought we had global warming

It must have missed wobegon country.(Minnesota)

I thought this teepee thing was

interesting I am having a snack

so the look on my face is eating a snack.

We finally arrive at the Hotel

and then off to therelatives to visit.

Supper at the casino buffet.

Crab legs and prime rib.

Very good

BACK FROM NEBRASKA....

I arrived home safely with my box of chocolates SEES candy. We are unable to get it here in Minnesota so I purchased a box while I was in Nebraska. I was also able to get a box of Krispy Creme Donuts..not many of those made it home. We are in the middle of some severe storms and tornado warnings so I will continue blogging my trip this weekend. I won't have the baby then but will be getting ready for the next round of visitors. Paul's (hubby) sister will be leaving Friday and my daughter and family (3kids)will be arriving Sunday.

ROADTRIP...NEBRASKA

Well we are off to visit my husbands brother who lives in Omaha, Nebraska. I flew in there once on my way to Council Bluffs Iowa for a wedding but never have visited the state. I do hope there is more to see then corn fields, well the family of course, but I was thinking on the drive down. I am missing my families reunion in Washinton State . How I would love to see Cedar Pond and how everything has changed from the last time I was there. Maybe pick some berries or enjoy the water..oh well, enough of that. It will just have to be a weekend in Nebraska. I am sure it will be a good time visiting with my hubbys family. Be safe and have a nice weekend to all.

Little Alice from Wobegon Cottage

FOURTH OF JULY ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

We started the day at my son Michaels house with yard games and a potluck and a bowl full of Washington State cherries.

We went to the fireworks on the Mississippi River
The people are Pauls sister Cheryl and friend Sandy jo
Mary..my youngest daughter and her husband Nate and baby Hunter and in front of them should be my oldest son Michael and wife Karla with baby Rolfzen waiting to be born in Sept.

The Family waiting for the fireworks to begin, Hunter was getting restless

Grandpa bought him his first snowcone

Hunters first fireworks show sitting in mommys lap.

SUNDAY IN WOBEGON

This is the catholic church here in wobegon. I do not attend here but it is a pretty building.

PSALM 33:12

What joy for the nation whose God is the LORD, whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.

1TIMOTHY 2: 1-2

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

ACTS 17:26-27

From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries. "His purpose was for the nations to seek after god and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him-though he is not far from any one of us.

COLOSSIANS 4:2

Devote yourselves to pray with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

1THESSALONIANS 5:17

Never stop praying.

Here are a few verses from todays bible talk at church. It was a prayer service about our nation and how important it is for us christians to keep on praying for our leaders and all those around us....very informative and moving. Even though we might be concerned who is in office or how our country is moving in the wrong direction we must remember "all authority comes from God"

I feel challenged to pray more. I hope you do the same.

ONE NATION UNDER GOD...

VISITORS IN WOBEGON......

My sister-in-law is visiting from California. This is a really good meal. Talipia, Spinach salad with artichoke, hearts roasted sweet peppers , pinenuts, feta cheese, Baked beans, Rosemary Herb Frenchbread. It was my first time eating Talipia and now I know why everyone else is eating it. I am now a believer and will be buying some next week. It was a lovely meal I thoroughly enjoyed, a bit like dinning in a fine resturant. I will now encourage my niece Autumn to have that Talipia pond she mentioned awhile back.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO ALL!!!!