July 25th RRD Annual picnic

The RRD Annual picnic was held on Saturday July 25th at Lake Charlotte Park in Long Prairie. It turned out to be a pretty nice day though the clouds looked like it was going to rain at any moment. We had a nice turn out, about 300 people. Stan and I were both committee members. 

Getting ready for the picnic. Arlene helping get things set up. 

Gavin poses for Mica, my boss. 

Jaden at the playground. 

These 2 are a barrell of monkey's. 

Stan helped out with the games for employees and their guests. 

Gavin and Jaden couldn't wait to jump in and find quarters during the money pit game. Jaden pulled out $4.00 and Gavin got out $1.5o. The kids love this game!

4th of July

Stan and I had Friday, July 3rd off for the holiday. We enjoyed going to the beach on Friday and Saturday.  It was great to just relax!

We headed to City Park on Saturday to swim, read and grill.  Jaden loves to swim and showed off his new skills he learned at his swimming lessons. He tried so hard to catch up to the ducks. 

Saturday evening we headed to Casey's to play mini golf. Grandma just took her swing and is watching to see if she has a hole in one. 

Jaden knew his way around the course and seemed quite the pro. He had been there recently with Mom and Dad.  

Jaden and Hannah waiting for the fireworks to start. We found a spot to watch fireworks along Lake Darling, across the lake from Arrowood Resort. The Rinnickers were there which made Jaden very happy. Jenny is Jaden's daycare provider and Hannah is his buddy. We waited  2 1/2 hours for those fireworks to start.

Memorial Day Weekend Home visit

Stan and I went home to Pittsburgh for a quick visit Memorial Day weekend. Because Erin had to work that weekend, we ended bringing Jaden along last minute. The plan was to leave Thursday at noon. Since it was Jaden's last day of school on Thursday afternoon, we postponed leaving until after his school party. Stan was called to the High Council and their first meeting was that Thursday night. He couldn't miss that first meeting, so we didn't get on the road until 10pm Thursday night. Never again! Long trips to Pgh must start early morning, by the time we got to Chicago at 5m, we were both exhausted!  We got into Pittsburgh late Friday afternoon and stayed with Lynn and Gary. We were so happy to spend time with Gary before he left for Texas to help Justin and Claire move to Pittsburgh. 


I was so excited to be able to spend time with Michele on Saturday. Michele and I worked at Shields Chiropractic many years ago. Michele is married now and has a sweet little girl named Bella.  Jaden and Bella took a moment to pose at the park. Jaden and Bella played at the park while Michele and I visited. I've known Michele since she was a teenager...she has always been mature beyond her years.  Stan and I were able to visit with Dave, Theresa and Autumn Shields Saturday evening. 

Lynn, Mom, Lisa and Arlene enjoyed Sunday afternoon visiting and catching up!  Laura was unable to make it, she wasn't feeling well that day. We missed you Laura!  We ate too much as usual!  I love my family so very much and can't wait till we can go back...but seriously considering flying next time.  Not long after we got back from our trip, Mom fell and broke her tibia (knee) while washing her walls. 

We promised Jaden we would stop at a waterpark on the way home. He was so incredibly good the whole trip and in the car. We stopped in Madison WI at a Holiday Inn, they had a really nice mini childrens waterpark. Jaden had a lot of fun!

Old men!

Jaden and Gavin took a bubble bath on Saturday. I asked Jaden what we should caption these photo's and he said, "Old Men". These boys make Grandma laugh!

Jessie and Gavin will be moving April 28th to the cities. Jessie got a job at Floyd's Barber Shop in Minneapolis. It is a new and happening barber shop with rock music and big screen TV's. Jessie is very excited about her new move. We will really miss Jessie and Gavin!

Easter Sunday

Stan and I thought we were going to have a quiet Easter Sunday. Erin worked a double shift and Jaden was with his Dad. Eric , Amanda and Daxton went to Fergus Falls with her family. Gavin was with his Daddy. I was hoping to not have to cook and go visit friends from church for dinner, but Jessie had no place to go. I wanted to keep our Easter dinner simple, so I headed to the cities Saturday morning...by myself to the Honey Baked Ham store and bought a ham and side dishes. While I was in the cities I went shopping at the Albertville Outlet. I had a great day... all to myself.

When we got home from church Sunday it didn't take long to heat up the ham and fixin's.  By evening it was quiet no longer, we had James, Jen (friends of Jessie), Eric, Amanda, Daxton and Gavin.

After Dinner Jessie and Gavin dyed easter eggs. Gavin was more interested in putting the stickers on his face instead of on the eggs. 

Daxton is 3 1/2 months old already. Where does time go? Daxton and Grandma posing for the camera on Easter Sunday. 

Let our voice be heard!

Stan and I can no longer stand by and remain silent over the direction that our nation is heading. We are so concerned that our current elected representatives are ignoring the United States Constitution. We will be writing our local representatives to let them know how we feel! We may even participate in a local Boston Tea Party on April 15th.  We hope that our family and friends will raise their voices of concern as well as the government continues to waste money, expand government and over step into our lives! My Father was always against government being to involved in our lives. The current administration is doing just that! I want to share with you just one concern of many that we have. Glenn Beck recently interviewed (March 27, 2009) Michelle Bachmann, a Congresswoman from Minnesota...Go Michelle!

Glenn: I want to talk to you a little bit about Timothy Geithner. Explain to America what is happening with how close we are to having Timothy Geithner being able to SHUT down PRIVATE businesses if they feel it's a threat to the economy?

Congresswoman Bachmann: Well, it's very close. That's exactly what was before our committee today. As if there wasn't enough on the treasury secretary's plate, he wants to broaden his power to a level never seen before and it's President Obama that's giving this directive. So this is at his directive that now the treasury secretary would have the authority to come in and essentially nationalize the private business before it's at the point of failure. He would be able to go and nationalize it and then also reset all of the employee wage contracts. 

Glenn: Your question was so fantastic. Where in the Constitution do you have the right? How did he answer that?

Congresswoman Bachmann:  He did not give me an answer regarding where in the Constitution it is. So I repeatedly went back to the same question, "Not there. Where." He was saying congress passed a law that said and I said, no, not that; where in the Constitution. Because he raises his right hand and takes an oath to the Constitution as treasury secretary, as I do as a member of congress. Everything we need, to everything we do, needs to be in accordance with the Constitution. 

Be educated about what is happening in our country. If you are concerned, raise your voice!

Happy "3rd" Birthday Gavin! March 13th

We celebrated Gavin's 3rd birthday by going to the Mall of America in Minneapolis on March 13, 2009.  In the center of the Mall of America is one of the largest indoor amusement parks, Nickelodeon Universe. Gavins's Mom and Dad, Grandma and Gavin's cousin Jaden had a great day and were pretty exhausted by the end of the evening. Grandpa Thompson was home sick and missed all the fun.

 Gavin riding the carousel. He had so much fun, he didn't want to get  off the ride!
Gavin and Jaden loved this ride. It is the Wonder Pets flyboat. The ride would go up high and would drop suddenly.

There was no fighting on who was going to drive this train! They both enjoyed being passengers.