Mall of America with PJ

I'm just going to post pictures and caption them to keep from being redundant.

PJ, Logan, Savannah, and Sierra went on this thing. PJ climbed to the top in a matter of minutes. Logan got to the top and pulled on the air horn ropes (but it didn't go off). Savannah went up several levels. Miss "I can't wait to climb on that thing and get to the top" made it all the way to level 2. ;oD I am so proud of her for even attempting it.

Sierra on the bumper cars.

Sierra and Logan

 Logan at the top pulling on the air horn ropes.

 Savannah                                               Logan                            PJ
Their faces say it all. They were having so much fun.

 Sierra and Shelby - "Mama, enough with the pictures," Sierra says.

Shelby enjoying a not so scary ride.

PJ on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Do you sing when you read that?) Ride that I will NEVER get on again. EVER.

Getting a treat.

Sierra taking a break from walking and enjoying the view.

Shelby walked up to me with this on and said, "Don't shoot. It's just me."

Shiloh in the wolf hat.











I hope you enjoyed these. Have a wonderful day!

PJ's Visit

On April 12th (Logan's birthday), we picked up PJ from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.  What a joy to have all 6 of my "babies" under one roof again. It did this Mama's heart good. His first day here, we went a-visitin'. We went to Great-Grandma Kuhlman's for a couple of hours. (Sorry you had to go to work early, Uncle Rick. Maybe next time.)

The kids always enjoy visiting with Grandma Kuhlman. She tells such delightful stories about Grandpa Keith and Uncle Tom when they were little boys.

Poor PJ was exhausted. He had worked until around 9pm EDT Friday night and was up around 5am EDT Saturday morning. Shelby didn't mind. She stayed next to him most of his up here.








Then we went back to Grandma Cole's for the night. Bryan decided it would be more restful for everyone if we stayed an extra night there. Which was wonderful! (Thank you for your hospitality, Grandma Cole and thank you for the wonderful food, Grandma Cathy!)

When we arrived at Grandma Cole's, she, Grandma Cathy and Grandpa Keith were watching Frozen. That got all of my kids' (including the big one) attention. What a wonderful site!








On Sunday, PJ splurged and bought passes for Nickelodeon Theme Park at Mall of America. Since he wasn't going to be here for anyone else's birthday, it was his birthday present to everyone. It was a great time. They (and I) rode roller coasters, the bumper cars, the carousel,  and the confounded Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle flippy-do ride. But that's another post. I forgot how much fun it is doing stuff with all the kids.

 I MADE them ride the carousel so I could play with my camera. "It's so lame, Mama."

Why riding the bumper cars is so much fun to them, I haven't a clue. Riiiiigggghhhhttt! Shelby is in the car with Shiloh in this one but after this ride was done, they ALL ran around to do it again and Shelby got in her own car that time.

And then there was this confounded thing...

You will never, NEVER, see me on that thing again!!! I did not realize my feet would be dangling. I was kind enough to leave out the picture of me holding on for dear life. That was the one time in my life I was even tempted to yell "GET ME OFF OF THIS THING" before it even started good. I do not like this thing! However, my kids (from L to R: Savannah, Logan, & PJ) and husband (not on this time) loved it as much as I hated it.

The rest of the week was pretty boring. Bryan & Logan worked, I cooked & cleaned, the girls & PJ hung out and watched TV (PJ got them hooked on the TV series Psych), and we BBQ'd. Friday, we went to Wal-Mart and got a basketball and football, and then kidnapped the Hackensack KuhlKids's for pictures. The adults came over afterwards and we just hung out.

Saturday, ALL the Kuhlmans and Barts were here. It's the first time since all of Keith's & Cathy's grandkids and kids have been at the same location in about 17 years. Well, at least since Lori & I quit having babies ;oD and my "baby" is 10. It was a great time--cold, but fun.

Sunday was Easter and we went to church with the Hack Kuhlman's and Bart's. Came home and grilled. Made sure PJ had everything packed.

Monday the 21st, I took him back to the airport. :-(

I can't wait to have him visit again. Did I mention how much I despise that TMNT ride?!? 

Organized Chaos

Let's see. Logan turned 17 on the 12th. OMGosh where did the time go? We spent the weekend in the cities because we picked Logan's birthday present up at the airport--PJ! We hadn't seen him in 2 years. A quick trip to Grandma Kuhlman's and Aunt Mary's to visit was made. We had family pictures made on the 19th. Easter was the 20th. PJ went back to the airport on the 21st. Logan has been working. Bryan has been working. I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I take the kids to the cities tomorrow (May 1) to pick Grandma Mary up from the airport. May 4 Sierra gets baptized. May 5 Grandma goes BACK to the airport. I come home. I sleep for a week. LOL

           We even got to visit with Great-Grandma Kuhlman.

                   All my "babies" at the Mall of America.

                              The "bad" family picture.

Ice fishing with the Walker KuhlKids

Late this summer, I purchased a 5 gallon paint bucket full of ice fishing gear for $5. It included 7 poles, 3 tip-its, a couple of ladles, etc. The kids couldn't WAIT for the lake to freeze over enough to go ice fishing. The day F I N A L L Y came. Without a shelter, they didn't find ice fishing to be all that fun. LOL

Look how excited they were!

They had to drill 6 holes with a hand auger.

They were very tired when done.

Shiloh and Sierra got the first holes, therefore

they got the first (and only) chairs.

Shelby doesn't look so excited after waiting

 for a hole for 30 minutes.

Savannah taking it easy and trying to stay warm.

After the first trip ice-fishing with all the kids, Bryan decided he would get himself a "little" birthday present. He bought himself the ice-fishing setup: an ice-fishing tent, a gas powered auger, and a 4-wheeler.

Now, he's just taking one kiddo at a time for some much needed one-on-one time.

(And I don't "have" to go unless I want to. ;-) )

Shiloh & Shelby going for a "ride".

Shelby's birthday present to herself

While at Grandma Cole's around Christmas, we decided (after much begging from 4 girls) to take the kids to the Mall of America. We went to eat at Bubba Gump's (yummy!) and then to walk around MOA. Someone (named Mama) thought it would be fun to take the girls to the American Girl store. Shelby decided then and there that she would be getting an American Girl doll for her birthday. She saved her Christmas money and her birthday money, shopped the magazine she picked up at the mall, shopped the website, and generally drove everyone in the house nuts talking about all things AG. In January, we shopped on-line and she purchased her doll. She has been making doll clothes with any and all material found, found patterns on Pinterest, etc. That doll, although still nameless 3 months later, goes everywhere with us! She is as much a member of the family as the dog is. 

Shelby and her nameless AG doll

Shelby was the "special child" this year. She got to go out for french fries at Hardee's on her birthday with Mom, had a turtle cheesecake for a birthday cake, ANDgot to go out for breakfast at the Outdoorsman Cafe in Walker with Dad & Mom for eggs benedict and hot chocolate and whipped cream (after her birthday because Dad wasn't home ON her birthday),

Yup, she's spoiled! Happy 10th birthday, Shelby Lynne. You are officially TWO HANDS FULL!