Dylan turns 2...A parade of pics

Do you like it????

I finally changed to layout to my blog. I have been wanting to do it for awhile and spent countless hours trying to figure out how to download the FREE funky ones that I am able to see on everyone else's blogs, but no luck. So I have to go with the "plain jane" ones. Oh well. At first I thought that I stick with the masculine colors, but then I thought "this blog shouldn't just be about Dylan". So this is me...PINK. I love pink!

Life has been pretty busy these days. I am back in school. For as much as I complain about school, I have to say I really do enjoy it. Back when I was 18 and trying to figure out what to do with my life, I had decided that I didn't want to go to school, I just wanted to work at Carlson Craft until I could figure out what I wanted to do. But dad had said if I didn't go to school then I was completely on my own!!! So technical college was the route I took. The only thing I regret about not going to a four year right away, is that I didn't get to live the "dorm" life and meet tons of interesting people. I was a hermit that was always afraid to go out without my boyfriend. So if I wasn't with him, I was moping about wishing I was with him. HELLO LOSER! All in all it worked out though because we did end up getting married! So I finished my two years of tech school and off to work I went. Which brings us here today..I now have 10 years of work experience under my belt and am trying to obtain my four year degree in Finance. Is this the road I should be traveling??? Who knows. But I am more ready now to go to college than when I was 18. I have a bit more self worth and a lot more understanding of how things work.

Besides school, September is a busy month with B-day's. Ryan's is on the 13th and Dylan's is on the 9th. Ryan decided that he wants a B-day party this year, so Dylan doesn't get one. JK The plan is to have Dylan's on the 14th and if people remember Ryan's then they remember! It's kind of funny, Ryan's mom said that when he was growing up, he had a poster on his bedroom door that said "He who dies with the most stuff WINS!" So as you can imagine it is hard for Ryan to share anything, but this year he is going to have to share his B-day celebration with his son.

Dylan is getting more active everyday. He is such a jabber box!! I love it. His favorite thing to do these days is watch SHREK. Not just three times a day, but four. I am tempted to take the TV out of the toy room. But I don't know if I could deal with the temper tantrums.

Well that's it for me. Everyone have a great week. Sorry no pics... Next time though.

My Dad's story

My dad was asked to give a speech at the Truman, MN Memorial Day Service. He and 6 of his classmates/friends were drafted all at the same time. One of them happened to be his best friend, Ronnie Karau. My dad and the others made it home, but Ronnie did not. Please watch this touching video...and dad I am so glad you came home...and were able to share this story!!!


Please leave comments for my dad to read. I know he would appreciate that.

Skydiving and other random events

So my mom and her friend Peggy decided that they would like to go skydiving...so they signed up. I told Ryan about what these crazy gals were going to do and he said "Sign me up too"...so I did. They had an amazing experience and all said that they would do it again. (Try not to stare at Ryan's package)

Before


Before



After


Ryan's crash landing


Mom's landing with her "heart-throb" instructor Geno


Peggy in toe...camera crew in all


We went to the fair. Dylan loved going on all of the rides. We went with his friend Sam and his cousin Miranda. They had a blast of course.




Lisa Sands (Olson) stopped by for a visit. This is her happy little guy Jack. He is such a good baby...and Lisa is such a good mommy!


While Lisa was over, Gen & Sam and Heather & Austin stopped over for a visit too! Look at all of the boys. So cute:)


We have also been hitting the local water parks this summer. Austin and Heather joined us on our last trip to the Fairmont Water Park.


Two more exciting announcements to share...Heather is still cancer FREE and Shanny is having a baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It just doesn't get any better than that!

4th of July

We spent the 4th down at the St. James campground. I know we didn't go far, but it was so much fun. We partied, we swam, we ate and we watched some fire works. Funny how holiday's just get better as your family grows.

Here is Dylan lounging by the "water park".


Dylan, modeling his Winnie the Pooh speedo.


Dylan loves to be naked, so when we stripped off the speedo, he decided that he wanted to play a little bean bags before getting dressed.


He loves sparklers!!!


The Goossen's brought along a hammock. It was so comfortable and Dylan just loved relaxing.



Dylan's new fascination is baseball. He is actually pretty good. Here is a video of him attempting to hit the ball. Of course when I decided to video it, he didn't really get a hold of it, but here is a clip of his attempts.



Something that I truly enjoy #2...Boot Camp. First I love complaining about going, but then once I get there and I start to sweat I just love it. Only problem is on the days I don't have it and don't do anything at all. I really need to get myself motivated to get to the gym. Why pay for it if I am not going to use it right??? It's hypocritical of me to complain about not having any money when I am just throwing it away.

#3 Talking to and about my brother. Over the week end he drove from NC to WA and didn't get lost. He started his new job today and loved it. I hope that he continues to love it. He had a conference call with Martha Stewart. How cool is that!!! I couldn't be prouder of him. I am sure that the people that I work with are sick of hearing me brag about him, but his life just seems so darn interesting. Not only that but he is so easy to brag about. I can't wait to go and visit him in WA.

Well sweet dreams to everyone. Bye

Camping trip #2

Well this week end we decided to venture out to the Reid campground aka Randy and Bonnie's. It was Railroad Day's week end so Great Grandpa and Grandma Reid decided to come camping too. The RR Day's parade ended up being a bust due to the weather, but Ryan's softball team took home the 1st place trophy from the softball tournament. Here are just a few pics from the week end.

Kind of a scary looking sky when you are thinking about sleeping in a camper.


Like father like son...


Dylan is kicking back and watching a movie in the camper.


Dylan and his new power wheels.


Just hanging out in the camper.

So it's been awhile.

So what's new here. Well I was in a wedding....It's always great to get together with my girlfriends. It's funny how times have changed. The majority of us were gone by 10 p.m. We were all geared up for some heavy drinking, but that didn't quite happen for some of us.











































We sold the boat and bought my parents camper...We spent our first week end of camping at Camp Dells in Waterville, MN. It was Bullhead Days. We didn't quite make any of the festivities, we spent the week end swimming, coloring, playing uno and of course eating.



























































Let's see what else...Mom, Dad and I are all in Sadie's Boot Camp. I am so going to miss it when it's all said and done. It only lasts eight weeks. I just never realized how out of shape I really was...am!

Dylan of course is growing like a weed. His favorite things to do these days is playing baseball and basketball, riding the four wheeler, helping mom water the garden, watching POOH and playing with his cousins Mimi and Mimi. (That would be Sammy and Miranda). Everyday it's something new and we just can't believe all of the things that he comes up with.

Ryan is still the same o' same o'. Working and playing.

As for me...I am on a quest to find things that I truly enjoy. It is going to be a long journey only because there is so much out there I haven't done. So wish me luck and I will keep you posted on my progress. So far I have found that I truly enjoy camping. It's nice to get away and have my family all to myself. Selfish maybe; but they are just too fun!

I promise it won't take me as long next time to update the blog.

Just a side note...

If you want to watch a good tragic love story, you must rent "Atonement". It is by far the best movie I have seen in a while or maybe have ever seen. I enjoy movies that really make me "feel". It has been two days since I have watched it and I am still a little heart broken and disturbed. I will definitely have to buy that one.

A trip to the Tatertot Hotdish pad.

A couple of weeks ago, the three of us went to visit the new baby at the Theobald residents. I also wanted to check out the new house and see the dogs. Cuz everyone knows how much I like dogs...

Here are Dylan and Sam playing on the couch...still friends.














Dylan and Sam still playing on the couch, but this time Scuba decided to join in and make them laugh hysterically...Still friends.














Here they are again much calmer and looking cute...still friends.















Here is the bloody nose that Dylan gave Sam. It was a left hook. Actually we really aren't sure what happened. They were goofing around on the floor, Dylan was being a big cry baby and Sam was just wanting to play. Sam stands up shoves his finger up his nose and it starts bleeding. I was the only one that witnessed it, so everyone else thought that Dylan had punched Sam in the nose. That wasn't the case at all. It was kind of funny though and will enjoy sharing the story with the boys when they get older.














They are still friends.

ECFE

So every Thursday night Dylan and I attend ECFE class. It gives us a chance to play together and for me to watch him interact with other kids. There is also a point in the night when moms and dads all congregate in a separate room and talk about what's new with our kids.

By far Dylan's favorite things to do are driving the cars and going down the slides.

Here is Dilly in the purple Barbie car.















And here he is playing cop.















I thought this one was cute. He has his nose pressed up against the mesh.















No Dilly isn't that short...Austin is just that tall.















Here is a picture of Miss Madelyn Malmgren. That would be Luke and Brooke (Rinne's) Malmgren's little girl. She is such a cutie and a very good girl.

some pics to tide you over