2011 RePlay

January

 Although I know we must have done many exciting things in January I seem to have lost those pictures. I know we took pictures because Jaten Rae came for a visit with her family and Margaret can't be around her without taking at least a few pictures. We went to the Winter Carnival, froze our feet at the Grand Day Parade and toured the Bakken and did school work.

February

 We had a visit from the Johnsons. Had tea parties. Went bowling, went ice skating and did school work.

 March

 We traveled to Bemidj and attended the annual winter retreat at the church there. Where we sang songs, listened to others sing songs, watched a play, heard good preaching and had good fellowship. Harrison attended a one day band festival, we did school work and were involved with other church activities. Beatrice had a frenectomy done and we finalized our decisions about braces on the children's faces.

 April

 We went on a hike at one of our favorite spots for the first time this year. We played Pooh sticks over the little crick. We did school work. Harrison was in Honor band one Saturday, he was honored by Grandma and Grandpa, Keren and Irindee coming to be in the audience for the evening's concert. We also were honored to have the Cobbs be our guest one weekend. We took the first bike ride of the year.

 May

 Beatrice made the decision to have Christ as her Savior and to follow Jesus for the rest of her life.
Gregory turned into a six year old, he chose to have a pyramid cake and asked his friend Walter to come with his family to make the day more special. We went camping at the Wilderness and had more visits from the Johnsons, among others. We did a little school work, but the weather was getting awfully fine to be committed to wholly to the books. We rode bikes. We took a walk to Cub in a down pour so Martha bought shampoo to use on the way home. We try to keep the neighborhood entertained.

June

 On Travis' birthday the girl's had their music recital. Margaret played beautifully on her violin and Beatrice did amazing on the piano. We did a photo shoot with the soon to be newly weds. We went to Feed My Starving Children a couple times. We went to Sharon Bluff Camp for a week. We visited Grandma Cleone. We played with Pandas for a week at VBS. We finished the Life Group year. Travis got a basketball hoop for the kids to play with their friends at. It has been well used. We took a canoe trip on the hottest Sunday.

July

 We had a blast with our neighborhood shooting fireworks and visiting on the fourth of July. We went to Bemidji and had wonderful fellowship with our dear family who live there and joined us there. Pay Day was the board game of the summer, the boys played it most every day, taking breaks to drive Henry crazy with wild nerf wars through out the house. We went to the zoo. Took a canoe trip. We packed bags at Feed My Starving Children. All four of my offspring played in the Junior Horseshoe league this summer.

August

 My little brother married his Molly Bea. 

 We toured the Landmark and took a picture for old times sake. It was one of the first places we toured when we moved to the area.

 We went to our first Twins game and said that was enough.

 Took a trip down the Cannon River. And packed bags at Feed My Starving Children. Took bike rides. Cleaned our teeth and put braces on them. And we had friends and family come visit us!

September

 Margaret turned 11. We did FMSC. We started the school year. We went camping at our favorite camping spot. We took our final canoe trip and bike rides for the year. We had family and friends visit. We sang songs, we read stories, we prayed. Life Group started up for the  year.

 October

 Beatrice turned eight and Harrison turned 13! I grew older. We played bocce ball. We worshiped the Lord. We learned about bridges and arches and concrete. We took a short trip.

November

 We went to the Minnesota History Museum for like the 5th time this year. We celebrated all of our blessings on Thanksgiving. We harvested the last fruits of our garden for this year in the form of carrots. They were great and we were pleased. 

December

 We traveled a round about route to Indiana by going to Bemidji first to watch Keren perform in the Christmas Carol-so well done. We got to spend time with our grandparents! Such a treat. They are such great people. We have been so blessed to have them in our lives. 

We got to spend time with other great folks too and we are so Thankful for that time. Margaret drove the Polaris all by herself for the first time. Harrison had a Christmas concert with his band. Beatrice drew a thousand pictures. Gregory showered love in many ways, I hope he keeps his sweetness. We dreamt dreams, laughed laughs, cried tears, hoped hopes and shared memories. 2011 has been a good one.
Thank you for sharing it with us,
~Anna

Fall Memories

Going back in our memories to October and our family trip to the Father/Son Retreat up at Flaming Pines Youth Camp. Don't be confused by the name father son, we weren't and took it as a family event and all of us went. Actually we girls had responsibilities there. The guys needed fed so we helped cook for them. While the guys spent most of their time learning about geo-caching, we spent most of the time baking and preparing meals. We all had a good time hanging out with old friends and making some new friends.

After Sunday morning services we had some free time once we had loaded up the van and cleaned out our cabin. So we went on an adventure. With a kind guide we went to the sand hill.

It looks steep and it is! And now we have sand in our shoes. Gregory found some tools to help him up the incline. It was pretty much straight up and down! The view from the top. Travis, summit-ing again, after giving Gregory a final boost up.

Coming down if you didn't want to run head first it was fun pretending you were walking on the moon! Your feet slid right through as you floated down. Beatrice's favorite way to help was holding Mr. Cody.

~Anna

My Memories of Jackpine 2010

As fall comes into view each year we take a journey to

Northern Minnesota

Near the little town of 

 To enjoy times in God's amazing world.

We pass through quaint towns

 We go under beautiful skies,

 Pass by neat art work we only get to see once a year.

 Get water at an artisan well

 And wait patiently in the chilling breeze for our jugs to fill.

 We won the prettiest campsite "award".

 Bundled under lots of layers to sing around the camp fires with 

 some of our dearest friends and family members.

 Some visited the afternoon away,

 While others built cities and conquered villages in the sand.

 At night we sang and listened to more great sermons in the waning hours of the night. 

Some fell to sleep in awkward shapes.

But woke refreshed to see another morning to sing around the campfire!

Some of my favorite memories are of camping! Do you have good memories as well?
~Anna