Second Annual Aslehoff Vacation :)

Once again we had the VERY BEST summer vacation with our great friends, the Eckhoffs, at Craguns Resort in Brainerd, MN. We, the Aslesons just for the record, arrived before the Eckhoffs this year. It might have been because they stopped at urgent care on the way up to get medication for Landon's eye infection...but that didn't matter to us-WE STILL BEAT THEM. That was the first and most likely the last time we will be able to say that.

It didn't take the kids long to change into their swimming suits and hit the water while the adults unpacked. Our cabin was located about 100 feet from the water so we were able to watch the big kids while getting settled. A perfect set up!

Once we were all unpacked we sat down to begin enjoying our week. At about this point in the vacation Melissa claimed, "Quack, quack this cabin back." Jeremy, knowing a little bit about a lot of things, eyed up the cabin next to ours and claimed last year that it had more living space than the one we were in. I honestly thought he was smokin' something because they were the exact same price and looking at them they appeared to be exactly alike. But, of course, Jeremy was correct. It had A LOT more kitchen and living space. So, quack, quack it's our again next year!

One of many pictures taken this week to add to their wedding table.

Cara and her super serious/concentrating face. It's hard work getting the sand in the funnel.

The kids enjoying one of many delicious dinners. I'm going to say it again...the Asleshoffs produce some adorable kids :)

Getting ready for the first of many nights of s'mores.

The kids loved that they cuold be playing in the water when it was dark. "You may as long as you don't get your clothes wet." Notice how everyone followed the rules. Who am I kidding, of course they would get wet playing in the lake!

Once we were all unpacked I realized I only brought the girls one swim suit. Who brings only one suit on a beach vacation? So, the boys took the kids to feed the ducks while Melissa and I ran to Target to get some items we forgot. Thank goodness it was the end of the season because I was able to pick up 2 swim suits for under $7.

Darren was so proud of himself that he thought of getting a picture of the 4 together. Nice job, D!

Play dough was such a great 'waiting for lunch to be ready' activity.

You'll have to look closely, but there is a fish on the end of Brynn's line :)

Me and the "little kids."

We bought Cara her own fishing pole, but we didn't even need to break it out as she was super content just watching Brynn and Peyton fish.

Brynn, Peyton, and Cara playing 'train' by the fire.

We only had to break it out once, but You Tube sure came in handy with 4 hungry and tired kids while Melissa and I got lunch ready...and the boys golfed.

Just another to add to the table...

Boating sure tuckered this guy out!

We decided to rent a pontoon this year for part of our vacation. The weather was so beautiful that we really got to take advantage of the pontoon.

Like father, like son!

Each of the kids had plenty of time at the wheel.

" Fat man in a little suit!"

Melissa, Jeremy, Darren, Peyton, and Brynn all took turns jumping off the back of the pontoon into the middle of the lake. Landon even decided to join in after a bit. Unfortunately, Cara didn't want to so I volunteered to stay on the boat with her. Thanks, Cara because the others said the water was freezing!

Everyone except Cara all wrapped up after getting out of the water.

Beach Babe!

Stud!

Lovin' the glasses, Beaner :)

Craguns also has an outdoor pool that was super warm. Brynn and Peyton perfected their "cannon balls" here.

Me and my favorite ladies - L.O.V.E.

Just like last year, Cara was super content playing in the sand.

The Eckhoff boys have not trouble napping on the boat.

Eating ice was a favorite past time of Cara and Landon.

This was their other favorite past time. Landon loved riding in the stroller and Cara loved pushing it. A perfect pair.

Mmmmm, s'mores!

It's a messy job, but someone has to do it :)

On Thursday Darren had to head back to Farmington for work so the rest of us spent some time in Nisswa. It was the perfect way to spend the day. We found this wooden train that the kids spent a good half hour playing on.

Then we hit up a historical town complete with a little school house.

Finally, we took a horse drawn carriage ride before heading home.

I am lovin' the box Brynn found to collect acorns in :)

Brynn and Peyton spent plenty of time jumping off the end of the dock.

Landon loved watching the fish!

Cara watched Brynn and Peyton having so much fun jumping off the dock she thought she better try it too. Once she hit the water she wondered why she thought it was a good idea...

Darren got the two girls dressed after swimming this day...notice any thing strange?

Two families' shoes!

Bill, the fire wood deliverer fire starter guy, let Brynn and Peyton sit on his gator again this year.

The park a couple cabins down from us had really low swings that were perfect for teaching Brynn how to pump. She figured it out the first day and never turned back. I love that I now only have to give underdogs to one child.

An attempt to get an annual picture. We decided we should have tried any other day than minutes before we all left. I'll have to remember this tip for next year.

I love dock pictures with a lake in the background!

Introducing Charles Paul Parks

Charles Paul Parks was born August 15, 2011. What's better than one nephew living 1o minutes away? TWO!

I always forget how tiny newborn babies are...however, in the three months since his birth he has packed on the pounds. I sure wish I had a recent picture of him. He is CHUBALICIOUS!

Aunt Jennie and the two Parks boys!

Love

I love having siblings...and I love even more being an aunt to a bunch of great kids! Whenever possilbe my family will find an excuse to get together. Now that the kids are getting so much bigger it is becoming more and more fun. My extended family is very close so I was able to spend lots of time with my cousins. I am so excited for Brynn and Cara that they will get to grow up close to their cousins as well.

This picture was taken less than 24 hours before the 7th grandchild on my side of the family was born. We'll have to go back to the drawing board to capture another one with all SEVEN grandkids.

Emry Lynn (2 months), Brynn Tressa (4 years 5 months), Nolan Otto (3 years), Henry Dennis (22 months), Aubrey Mae (2 years), and Cara Noelle (2 years 2 months).

No more tonsils and adnoids!

After some discussion at Brynn 4 year well child visit we were referred to an ENT due to her excessive snoring. We finally made an appointment with the ENT in June and he agreed with our pediatrician that she most likely had sleep apnea and her tonsils and adnoids should be removed. The summer went by and I realized we better get it done or I would be missing at least a week of work when school started. So, August 5 she went in for her first, and hopefully only, surgical procedure.

Here she is looking pretty cute in her gown waiting for her "turn" in the O.R.


I even got to get all suited up and carry her into the anesthesia room. Once we got into the room she became very scared, but it sure didn't take them long to knock her out!

Coming out of surgery.

Brynn LOVED that she could ask for a popsicle any time she wanted and they would not hesitate bringing her one. I am pretty sure she had at least 5 in the two hours we were there before we got to go home.

She even asked the nurse if I could have one! She is so darn sweet!

Her legs worked fine, but she sure thought her wheel chair ride out was pretty cool :)

Pudding...on the couch?!?! I could get used to this surgery thing!

Once Darren got home from work I sent him to the store to get Brynn some more Tylenol. The bottle on the right is the size I usually buy...the bottle on the left is the one he came home with because, "It was such a great deal!" I honestly thought we would have that bottle of Tylenol for years to come. Turns out when you give your patient Tylenol every three hours (day and night) for a week straight you go through it pretty quick.

Overall Brynn did very well post surgery. It took a full week before she would eat anything, but being hungry didn't seem to bother her a bit. Other than the eating thing and waking her up every three hours for medicine she was back to herself the day after surgery. AND, she no longer snores...at all. It's a miracle!!

Summer 2011 Part II

In an attempt to get caught up on the blog I lumped the end of the summer together. Here's some of the highlights from the beginning of August.

The girls and I met two of my best friends from college in Rochester. The original plan was to meet at Oxbo Zoo, hang out there, have a picnic, and head home at nap time. Well, of course, it rained the day we planned on meeting. We decided since it took all summer for us to get together we better not postpone it. We ended up going to the House of Bounce then out to lunch. Although it wasn't exactly what we had in mind we sure had a great time watching the kids play and catching up.

The two "newest" members, Prailey and Samuel.

Holdyn, Brynn, and Cara sure loved every part of the House of Bounce!

The slides were a big hit!!

Oh, boy that Samuel is adorable and such a good little boy.

Cara was even in a good mood much of the day.

The adorable Prailey was also a very good girl!

Brynn and Holdyn became good buds at the "arcade." Holdyn showed Brynn the ropes with all the gun games. I can honestly say I never thought I would see Brynn with a gun in her hands. And no, Holdyn didn't pump her...she woke up with a swollen eye for some reason that morning.

We can always attempt, right?

We also got to take a trip to Chetek, WI to see where Grandma and Grandpa Minnick spend much of there time. We felt pretty special because not just anybody gets invited to the lake.

We even got to spend some time on there pontoon drinking beverages.

A big shock to us all, but Grandpa even let Brynn drive his boat! She enjoyed every bit of it...and even got to practice her left and rights a bit. Or as Grandpa kept saying, "Your other left" or, "Your other right." He must have made her a little nervous because she is usually much more accurate than she was this day.

The girls even got to play (or so they thought) some slot machines while we stopped at one of their favorite bars.

Another highlight was taking the golf cart down to the lake and to the parking lot. Who knew golf carts were so exciting?

Right down the road from their park model was a little park that the girls spent plenty of time at.

Helping Grandma get lunch ready.

I blogged last year about our neighbors amazingly awesome pool that John built completely on his own. From digging out the hill with a bobcat he later sold, to building retaining walls, and laying every single tile in the pool. The project took an entire 5 years, but was well worth the wait. I am in awe of his work.

Once Cara found the bowl of cheese ball she parked herself and didn't not move for quite some time. Brynn must have smelled them when she was swimming because she eventually got out and joined Cara in polishing off the bowl.

The older neighborhood kids were so good with Brynn and Cara after it got dark. They played limbo, tag, and few other games. A very fun day/evening spent with our neighbors.

Right before school started I convinced Darren that we should go to Wabasha and check out the National Eagle Observatory. I have heard great things from a few people who have visited. Darren did not think it was nearly worth the drive, the girls thought it was pretty cool though.

Our eaglets!

The best part for the girls was playing outside in the water before we left.

Henry Dennis got to spend some time with us when he became a BIG BROTHER to Charles Paul Parks (who will be debuted in a later blog). We planned on having Jenny Paul and Claire Bear over and our neighbor Chloe joined us as well. It was busy, but a fun night with all the kids.

After Tommy picked up Henry Dennis to bring him home the girls spent some time up in our bedroom watching a movie. We still had the T.V. in our bedroom from when Brynn had her tonsils out. Jen and I just needed a little quiet time (uninterrupted conversation) before they headed back to Cottage Grove.