Pinehurst Park, Cloquet

Max and Cole had fun with their beach toys. Too bad we donated a shovel to Pinehurst Park.

On Tuesday, the boys and I met our friends Amanda and her two kids, Max and Lila, and Jess and her two kids, Ben and Grace, at Pinehurst Park in Cloquet. We had never been there before, but we will definitely go back! It is a manmade lake with a sand beach, kiddie waterslides, concessions, picnic tables, a huge playground, and grassy areas. We had a blast! Between the three of us moms we had six kids between 8 weeks and three years, so we were very busy keeping sunscreen on everyone and keeping track of everyone! We set up a tent in the shade for the three babies (two months, four months, and six months!) and took turns playing in the water with the big kids and rocking babies in the tent. We had fun, but it was a lot of work and hauling gear! We will return....but not TOO often. We need to recover from our first trip!

Apostle Islands -- August 2009

Ryan and Cole joined Grandpa and Grandma Sharrow on their sailboat in the Apostle Islands last weekend. Despite a fairly severe thunderstorm Saturday night, they had a great time and enjoyed primarily cooperative weather. Cole loved throwing rocks into the lake, as usual, and riding in the dinghy the most. It looks like they had a blast!!!

Just some fun pics

Hiking on the trail Ryan made behind our backyard
Here Cole is feeding Bailey some raspberries they found!

Cutie patootie.

Wow! Cole actually smiled and looked at the camera!

Grant seems to like having his picture taken.

All clean!

The boys and I are enjoying our last couple of weeks together before I head back to work. Of course, they don't know that that's the plan. Yet. Cole loves going to Miss Nora's house where his friends are, but we have become quite attached to each other over the summer so I think the transition will be hard on him this fall. He was not thrilled when I dropped him off there a few weeks ago for a day when we had the closing on our house refinance....I don't think it's going to be pretty.

Late July 2009

Making homemade pizza. Cole liked rolling out the dough.

This pesto looks gross but it was delicious!

Happy Boy!!!

Lots of smiles from Baby Grant

At the Children's Museum sitting on a bench made of bones with Ben. Cole, smile! Throw me a bone!

My lillies

More smiles from a very happy baby who is just starting to use his Excersaucer

Throwing rocks into Lake Superior on Sunday night - July 26

Big Boy Undies!!

Bren, Nicole, Erin, and Me at Bren's baby shower. Somehow I didn't get a picture of Laura, Kirsten, Bren, Erin and me on my camera....I will have to get one from one of you! =)

Here are a few pics from the end of July. Cole has been busy using the Big Boy Potty and wearing Big Boy Underwear! So exciting! We had a very busy week last week. Last weekend we had a visit from Grandpa and Grandma Iverson. They stayed with the boys Saturday night so Ryan and I could have a dinner date at Pizza Luce. Tuesday the boys and I went to the Kaleidescope show at the library, which was a comedic juggling act this week. We met up with my friend Jess and her two kids, Ben and Grace, and with Miss Nora, Miss Nicole, and the kids there. We had a blast! Wednesday Jess, Ben, and Grace met us at the Children's Museum where we had fun exploring and learning (Jess and I are both teachers -- poor kids) and having lunch out. Then Wednesday evening we went to Wednesday Night at the Races, which was at Bayfront Festival Park this week. Cole ran his little heart out with about one million other kids ages 4 and under. Thursday we made our weekly trip to the Gymnastics Academy for open gym time for toddlers and then had lunch at our friend Josh and Amanda's house with their two kids, Max and Lila. Whew!! Sunday we had my friend Bren's baby shower at our house and had a blast getting ready to welcome Baby Schomberg who is due August 26. Busy, busy, busy!!

Milestone Mania!

This week we are celebrating two major milestones in our family. Grant is now able to roll over unassisted, and Cole is Champion of the Potty. As of this moment, he has had zero accidents today, and even used the public toilet (ew) at Target today in an emergency. Yesterday we had to leave the Gymnastics Academy after only a half hour of playing due to a potty emergency in which the public toilet simply wouldn't do. Unfortunately, the drive home proved to be a bit too long to wait, so we actually had to pull over on the side of the road and Cole took care of business in the grass! Believe me, it was better than having to deal with an entire bladderful on the carseat. YAY!! We are so proud of our boys and their accomplishments. Now we just need to get Grant to start sleeping through the night....

Congratulations Uncle Scott and Aunt Mikala!

Just before the wedding (but after the tantrum) when we still weren't sure whether or not this whole "ring bearer" thing was going to happen.

Touch and go at this point. Will he put down the bear and walk down the aisle holding little Madison's hand?

Dan (Ryan's cousin) and Soon-To-Be Aunt Stephanie


No way. He is actually doing it!!!!
You would be surprised too if you had seen the knockdown drag-0ut tantrum he threw.
Actually, I think we have video of it.Are they not the cutest things you have ever seen??The ceremony. G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S.The happy couple, Scott and Mikala

Cole gettin' jiggy with it at the reception

Cole and Dana tore it up!

Taylor (Ryan's cousin) took Cole for a break from dancing to throw rocks into the water.

Another break with Taylor

The morning after the wedding....They crashed right after breakfast.

Jumping on the trampoline with Dana at the house we rented in Paradise Valley --
not a bad backdrop, huh?
Hiking to a cave
These dogs are Ryan's cousin Jason's and his wife Kathi's (See September 2007 blog posts for their wedding)
Amber and Cooper
Ryan's cousin Jeff reading a story to Cole (and to Buzz)

Yellowstone National Park

On Saturday, July 11, Ryan's brother Scott tied the knot, making Auntie Mikala Hancock a part of the Sharrow family. The nuptials took place in Big Sky, Montana at Moonlight Lodge. The weather was perfect and the event was beautiful. The trip ended up being quite an adventure, with a 17+ hour drive on either end (with a two-and-a-half-year-old and a three-month-old) and two visits to the Bozeman ER. We left Wednesday night and during the drive I suddenly acquired a nasty fever and sore throat, and upon arriving in Bozeman we realized I needed a doctor. The only option after hours was the ER. After receiving Penicllin for Strep, we were on our way. The next day, while driving to Big Sky for the wedding rehearsal, I suddenly started having severe abdominal cramps. We left Cole with the extended family to attend the rehearsal and dinner and the three of us headed back to the Bozeman ER to find that I was suffering from kidney stones! After getting a prescription for pain medication, the rest of the trip went fairly smoothly except for when Grandpa and Grandma's car broke down and had to be taken to the car dealership while they found a rental. Other than that, smooth sailing. Oh, and the severe, major, over-the-top tantrum Cole threw when it was time to put on his tuxedo. But after three of us held him down and forced him into it, he was finally able to stop screaming, thrashing, and foaming at the mouth in time to walk down the aisle in perfect fashion, holding little Madison's hand. Priceless.

We had a blast visiting with family we don't often get to see as people arrived in planes, trains, and automobiles from all over the country. Congratulations Scott and Mikala!! We are so happy for you!!!