Fall 2013

We visited the Arboretum with Accredited Investors for their annual fall picnic. Josh and Jesper checked out one of the Goldy statues around the park.

Jesper and Sam had a great time exploring the "natural" playground.

For even more toddler fun, just add water. :)

Playing in the dirt with Sam

The greenhouse has spray bottles available to water the plants. Jesper was pretty excited to try it out.

Sam and Sarah at the greenhouse

Sam and Jesper watering plants

We played outside as much as possible this fall while the weather was nice. More big wheel time!

Papa Ron and Grandma June came to visit in late September. We went to the park to feed the ducks and geese and play for a while. Jesper loves the bulldozer.

Puzzles with Grandma June

Jesper had a blast playing with his Grandma June and Papa Ron

"I'm a goofball"

While my parents were here, we went to Minnesota Harvest's apple orchard near Jordan, MN. They have great facilities for kids - including this wagon ride that Jesper really enjoyed.

Jesper was even more excited to ride the trailer out to the apple orchards. He didn't really want to get off to pick apples; he just wanted to ride the trailer and watch the tractor.

Jesper's first pony ride. We weren't sure if he would want to do it once he actually got on the pony, but he was all about it! Not a trace of fear, and a huge smile on his face the entire time. He even chatted with the lady beside the pony most of the time, "I'm on a pony!"

Loving the pony ride

The orchard even had a petting zoo - sheep, goats, and chickens

We met up with my extended family - Darlene, Cindy, Cari & her little boy Ezra - at the apple orchard

Daddy and Jesper

Jesper also got to "drive tractors" at the apple orchard. What a fun day!

I got this picture from Josh while I was on a business trip to Chicago. I accepted a new position at Novus in September as a "strategist" on the Walgreens account. I'm doing much of the same things as I was doing, but am also in charge of managing the workload for a team of AEs and one AA.

We welcomed a new addition to our family this fall - a fish named "Rainbow"

Potty training boot camp was the first weekend in October. We went through LOTS of laundry, but Jesper has been in underwear ever since. He's doing great and is (finally) starting to tell us when he needs to go, instead of us telling him.

The firefighter open house in October was something Jesper was looking forward to for weeks. "Dad is going to take me to see the firetrucks?" he asked us every day for about three weeks.

Jesper got to spray a firehose...

...and sit in a firetruck. It was a pretty special day!

Josh and I went on a date to the Leaning Tower of Pizza and a gopher hockey game in early October.

Jesper helping Dad bring in the trash containers

Playing in the leaves!

"Rake it again, Mommy!"

We had to wrestle him to get this costume on, but once he saw that he looked like a firefighter, we could hardly get him to take it off. Jesper thought it was so cool!

Ready for Halloween! Jesper came with me to my office the week before Halloween and got to go trick or treating at our annual Halloween office party. He came back with loads of candy and asked me the next day if he could come with me to my office again. :)

On Halloween, I had the day off and went with Jesper to his Halloween party at school. All the kids dressed up and went trick or treating at the other classrooms. 

"Remember to say 'trick or treat' and 'thank you.'"

We also painted pumpkins. Jesper requested the pink paint.

Enjoying a Snickers bar after a successful Halloween run.

Summer 2013

It was a busy summer! Since it's already almost time for the holidays, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

First taste of strawberry shortcake! Verdict: loves the shortcake, but not so sure about the strawberries.

Papa Paul's Corvette is cool!

I went to my first Twins game at the end of June with Novus Media. What a view of the skyline!

Jesper and Grace playing at the splashpad

Jesper loves to splash in the water! And he usually finds a friend or two at the park.

Riding on the old lawnmower with Dad. Afterwards, I asked if it was fun or kind of scary. "Kinda scary" Jesper said.

First weekend without Mom and Dad. Jesper went to hang out with Nissa and Brian while Josh and I visited Chris and Lara.

Big wheel =  hours and hours of fun. Most of the summer was spent on this toy.

Enjoying the sunshine with Dad on 4th of July. We washed cars and played with the water hoses.

The Edina 4th of July parade. Jesper was as enthralled with some of the small dogs around us as he was with the parade.

Jesper moved into his "big boy bed" in early July. He wasn't so sure when we started talking about the idea, but he climbed right into it on his first night and adjusted right away. However, it took him about a month before he realized he could get out of it by himself. :) Then we had a few midnight visits when he would walk into our room at 2am and say "Hi Guys."

We had a big storm in early August that knocked down trees, power lines, and even blew a hole in our neighbor's fence. Thankfully, we didn't have any major damage in our yard.

Playing trains

"I look like Daddy!"

  

We had a great time when Lucas and Lindsay Bucl and their boys Carter and Jackson came to visit. Jesper had a blast playing with the boys! In this picture, Carter and Jesper are watching some cartoons on the iPad.

Visiting the Minnesota Zoo with Becky and Ben Pitzl and Lindsay, Carter and Jackson Bucl. The farm was Jesper's favorite part. He got to go into the goat pen and play on the tractors.

Driving tractor at the MN Zoo

Splashpad at the MN Zoo. Probably the last year we can do this in a swim diaper, huh?

On our way to Minnehaha Falls. The train was out of order at our stop, so we were able to take a bus and a train down to the park. The three little boys with us were pretty excited about the public transportation.

The Bucls - Lucas, Lindsay, Carter & Jackson

Family picture at Minnehaha Falls

We visited Joe and Becky Pitzl's family cabin in Glenwood, MN in mid-August. Jesper and his friend Ben Pitzl are ready for breakfast and a fun day!

Sarah, Brandon, and Sam Jones joined us on Friday. We spent lots of time on the boat.

Becky and Ben Pitzl

Dinner at a lakeside restaurant with the whole gang

Josh and Jesper in Grandma Millie's apartment pool. Grandma Millie was moved to a nursing home in mid-August because she was no longer able to care for herself.

Papa Paul and Grandma Gail came to visit at the end of August and we took another trip down to Windom, MN. Jesper and his 2nd cousin, Henrick, saw some older boys with a remote controlled race car and watched, fascinated, for about 20 minutes.

Jesper playing with his 2nd cousins, Henrick, Anja, and Soren

STREET SWEEPER!!

Playing hide and seek in Windom with the cousins

Swimming in Cottonwood Lake with Grandma Gail

The cousins with Grandma Gail in Cottonwood Lake