Cheerleading

Ellie went to the YMCA cheer camp last Saturday and then got to cheer at the Austin Packer's Football game last night.   Here's a little video of the fun she had.  She is the 2nd from the right. 

PS.  I used my new Sony Handycam to make this video.  I was going to buy a Flip video but the guy convinced me I'd want the zoom of this camara for being a mom in the stands.  I think he was right.  In a couple weeks Ellie dances at the game so let's hope I get a video of that too.

Too Much Rain



 Austin got plenty of rain in the past couple of days as much of the southern part of MN did.  Today it was simply too much and we had some flooding.  No school today- I couldn't have gotten to work or Sam to school without some detours.  We live above where it floods so we are all good.  We did take Ellie and Sam on a couple of drives to see the water as this was their first flooding experience.  Let's hope for no more in a long time but we did move to a town with quite a flooding history.  The pictures below are from a park only a couple of blocks and down the hill from us.





Just below Skinner's Hill

More Skinner's Hill

The park on a nice day.

The park with too much rain.

Football has begun!

Austin Packer's biggest fans!

The team and coaches are hard at work!
* We have started the season with two losses but we improved from week 1 so it can only get better.  The kids and I along with other family members blew away last Friday, last night we got soaked and left before it started.  The game was later cancelled so tonight the kids and I enjoyed perfect weather at the football game.  As Sam says- Go Packers but not the Green Bay Packers! 

School Year

Yes, it really did happen- summer vacation is over.  I started college the last week of August and school/work for everyone started last week.  We have managed to get up and out of the house pretty smoothly each morning. The kids are at different schools so Dave takes Ellie and I take Sam.  Now that's some team work.   Ellie is in 3rd grade and loving it.  Sam started kindergarten and thinks it's great.  As you'll see in the school pictures mom is not pictured.  This mom has some issues when her "babies" go to kindergarten.  I held it together until right after I dropped Sam off at school.  I drove with tears a few blocks and then got it together to start my new assignment of co-teaching pre-k to four and five year olds.  It is going great so far.  Dave's response to how his week has gone- long!  I'm guessing his teenagers are not as cute as my pre-k students.  This week I start my second college class, Ellie starts piano and Just for Kix dance classes.   Yep- never a dull moment at this house.

End of Summer

                                 We spent one of our last days of summer enjoying "Chop's Lake" aka Lake Zumbro.  It was a beautiful day with fun had by all.   Thanks also to the Link family for hosting a picnic!                                                                 

Get on my pole fishies

                                                                                                          

Uncle Tony, Uncle Colin, and Sam

Grandma Mary, Mom, and Ellie

Fishing with Dad

Laura, Ellie, and little Hayleigh