Melhus

Melhus

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Riverfest and Camping Trip!

Last weekend we went with some friends to Parkville's 41st annual Riverfest. We had a great time walking around, trying different food vendors and listening to an outdoor concert.
Avree and her flower balloon



The next night we decided to take Avree camping for the first time. Matt and I like to camp but haven't camped for a long time. I actually think the last time we camped was when we lived in Ames.
The kids loved the fresh, open air and loved running around. Avree sure slept good that night and didn't get up till 9 the next morning!

The dads and kids


Lindsay and Wesley




Since Avree did so well with camping, we for sure will be going more this fall!



I just had to throw in a couple random pictures of Avree. I love these photos of her... This is her new favorite thing to climb on. (This was Matt's rocking horse that he rode when he was little. Made by Matt's papa)


Avree and I are headed back to Iowa tonight for a couple days. Can't wait to see family and friends.
Hope everyone is doing well!

Trip to Des Moines

A couple weeks ago Avree and I decided to spend some time in Iowa while daddy was gone on business. We stayed with baby Jack, Aunt Shelly and Uncle Jay for a couple nights. We got to see Grandma Hansch for a night and then one of the days we went to the Iowa State Fair with Grandma and Grandpa McCulla.

"Where's Jack's ear?"

Give Jack kisses



Iowa State Fair


Avree by her brick at the Iowa State Fair


Avree is all about holding baby Jack, but when she's sick of holding him (after 2 seconds) so just pushes him off of her. haha

Shelly and I decided to try out one of the rides at the fair....

It was scary than what you think.

While we were back, we also went to the Des Moines Zoo with one of my friends and her kids.

We had a great time back in Iowa, but it sure was nice to get home and see the boys.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

60th Wedding Anniversary

Last weekend the whole McCulla clan all got together in Grinnell to help celebrate my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary! We had a great time and couldn't be happier for them. They are such important people in our lives and how awesome to have been together for that long. So happy for you grandpa and grandma McCulla :-)

"How old are you?"

Grandma and Grandpa with the great grandkids (minus Jack)

Aunt Linda was also celebrating 60 last weekend.. her birthday!!

Matt and Jack

Look at that face..

Avree has a shoe fascination right now. She loves taking people's shoes off and putting them back on. She can do this for hours!


We asked our friend (who also took our wedding pictures) if he would come and take some professional pictures of all of us. So we actually got everyone there, (well accept Katie and Dustin. Who live in Chicago) sitting still and looking!! YAH! We haven't gotten any proofs back but when I do, I will post a few.
Matt, Avree and I also took some family photos after we were done with the big group ones. (I think the last time we got professional photos done was last summer when Avree was 3 months old!) I hope they turned out, cause Avree was sure ready for a nap by that time and didn't want to sit still and look at the camera.
All in all, we had a great weekend with family!




I also wanted to share with you some great photos from last week. One night we were hanging out on the deck and Avree wanted to get into her pool (we were just in it that afternoon) and I didn't feel like going upstairs to get her another swim diaper. So we just took off her regular diaper and put her swim suit bottoms on....




Ha-Ha. Most of the bottoms she has, whether it's her shorts, jeans or swim suits, are usually too big for her little body. We of course got a "crack" out of this and had to grab the camera. :)

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Avree's new wall and riding her "horse"

We decided to make Avree her very own wall, to do whatever she wants on it. It is a magnetic, chalkboard. I just really hope she can distinguish the black chalkbaord wall with my painted tan walls!! Oh boy :-0


I decided to take a wet paper towel to wipe off the wall, so she could start from scratch... Well Avree thought that looked like more fun.. So she walked around the house with the paper towel, "cleaning". (That's my girl)

Grandma Hansch got Avree her very own horse to ride, whenever she wants. At first she didn't know what to think about it. She just liked pushing the ears to hear it make noise. Then one morning she grabbed it and "got on". It was so cute and funny cause she was 'galloping" around the living room.


Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Spur of the moment getaway!

Friday afternoon I call my dad, hoping to convince him to come to KC and watch Avree for us Saturday night but he said he couldn't cause they were in the Ozarks for the weekend. Then told us we should join them and Van Wyk's (Erv and Val). I thought about it for a sec and told him I would have to discuss this with Matt. (Who had just gotten home about half hour before this phone conversation.) All I had to say was Ozarks and he was in. :-) We packed our bags and headed 2.5 hours to Lake of the Ozarks. We had a blast and are so glad we decided to go on this last minute trip. It wasn't a bad drive at all!
When we got there it was right around dinner time, so we all jumped on the boat and headed to a restaurant on the lake. We weren't very impressed with it to say the least. It took forever to get our food and finally after the food arrived, it wasn't that good. Bummer!

She loves books!

Hanging out with dad

Saturday morning we woke up and us girls (besides Avree) went to the outlet mall. A perfect time to go shopping, cause the weather was a little cloudy and it was raining off and on. We found some awesome deals.
That afternoon we headed back to the condo and the sun was out and we were ready to head on the water. We drove to this cove that had a cold water springs. Seriously, freezing cold stream that flowed into the lake. So of course we had to get out and swim down it. It seriously takes your breath away. Then tried to find a calm spot to go skiing (which was hard to find). Matt went first and did great, only fell a couple times. But of course forgot to take his wedding ring off and I bet you can guess what happened!! Yep, he lost it in the water! He felt pretty bad about it and was hoping I wouldn't get too upset :) (Oh well, what can ya do??!!)

Avree loved sitting on Erv's lap while he was driving


Swimming by the cold stream area


Family Picture on the boat

Matt skiing

Grandpa McCulla skiing

That night for dinner we wanted to try this "cave" restaurant. (It was literally in a cave.) It was 40 minutes away but we wanted to try it out and see what the talk was all about. Well we should have gotten there a lot earlier, cause we waited for about 40 minutes to get seated and another 2 hours for our food!!! Yep, 2 hours! We went with 6 other people, so there was 12 total, plus a baby. It sure was a long night, but great food. We didn't get back to the condo till mid-night!! It was neat to see the restaurant, but it was a place that, you've been there once, there isn't really any reason to go again.

Daddy and Avree looking through the window at mommmy. (outside the cave restaurant)

Grandma and Grandpa McCulla inside the cave





Sunday we (or maybe I) slept in, had breakfast and out the door again. We got in the boat and headed to this outdoor church service. It was so neat. It was a business that opens it property up to a group of people that sing worship songs and has a pastor do a short sermon, all while sitting outside in the sand.
After that we headed back out for another boat ride and some more skiing. I finally tried skiing for the first time and I will have to say, it was fun. I got up the first time but didn't stay up very long. But I was proud of my self for trying it and getting up!! :-) Barb, my dad, Matt,Erv and I all went skiing. Everyone had a blast and what a great day to be out on the water.

Driving the boat again...

Erv showed her where the horn was... bad idea.. that's all wanted to do. haha

Grandma McCulla skiing

Me skiing for the first time!

Life jacket kept riding up on her face.. haha


Avree was getting a little sleepy



All in all, we had a fantastic weekend! Thank you Erv and Val for letting us join you at the condo!!




On our way to and from the Ozarks, we went through this small town called Tightwad. Population 63!! Matt had to stop and get a picture.