Book Store & Science Museum

We went to visit Wild Rumpus which is a book store where they have lots of cats, chickens and other animals running around as well in cages

We went to Fort Snelling where the Mississippi & Minnesota Rivers meet and the kids had to have their pictures taken with one of the guys dressed from that time period

Everyone trying to pick up one of the cannons


At the Science Museum

Kids will be Kids

Como Zoo & Park

Nathan in fireman boots

Have we mentioned that Nathan likes Police?

Josh won his sister a care bear at the basketball shooting contest

Then he had to go back and win his brother a basketball just like his!

Kaytlann getting ready to ride the swings

Nathan ready to put some fires out!



This video is of Kaytlann riding the Frog Hopper which she loved and rode at least 7 times!

The Children's Museum

Josh with his buddy and mentor Ronald

Kaytlann makes some food for Daddy & Mommy

Kate thought that hanging the laundry was fun

Nathan was excited to find a police jacket to match his police hat

Kate in the turtle shell

Nate in the turtle shell

Kaytlann meeting Clifford

Nathan making the boats go down the stream


Josh made Kaytlann her ant "ears"

Kaytlann making bubbles with her magic wand

Mall of America

Our first day in Minneapolis, we went to the Mall of America where they had an underwater aquarium and they have changed their indoor amusement park to be Nickolodeon themed with lots of fun rides for the kids. Nathan & Josh were not into the rides as much as Kaytlann - she had no fear!!

Daddy & Nathan were able to meet Sponge Bob who was the only thing Kaytlann was afraid of!

I love this picture of Dan & Kaytlann, it shows how excited she was to share this time with her Daddy!

Josh & Kaytlann in front of the Dora ride

In front of the Rainforest Cafe

Cave of The Mounds

For vacation this year, our destination was Minneapolis/St. Paul. We stopped half way out on our drive at a place in Wisconsin called Cave of the Mounds where we got to see the cave and then the kids were able to go sluicing. This is a picture of the whole family in the cave.

Nathan was sluicing for fossils with Dad's help

Kaytlann was looking for gemstones and found this huge crystal


Josh was looking for arrowheads and found at least a dozen in his sluice

A picture of the kids in the beautiful flowered landscape

Relay For Life

We had our Relay For Life event in Hicksville in June and my sister-in-law Michelle was awesome and took some pictures for me. We had Kevin Sharp performing (a country singer and cancer survivor who was big in the late 90's and sang Nobody Knows But Me) He is an awesome guy who loves his fans and was gracious enough to sign autographs and pose for photos for several hours after his performance.

This picture is of my nieces Hayley & Hannah, Kaytlann & Kevin (in the purple shirt) with two of his band members.

Kevin with the girls

Kevin performing at the fairgrounds in Hicksville


My Mother-In-Law Pat and my Sister-In-Law Linda walking the survivor lap

The first lap - to honor all of the survivors

We had two cakes made and donated by local supporter Pam Bailey who created flags with all of the names of the survivors for our Relay in Hicksville

Cake # 2