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!

Where does my Mopar and Chevy loving husband work?

Ford?! Are you kidding me? LOL "A diesel doesn't know what brand truck it's in," he says. Yeah for Ford. Bryan is now working just 30 minutes from home. He's home every night and leaves for work every morning...we have a "normal" routine! Woo-hoo!!! It's been a while but we are enjoying every minute of this new-ish experience of having the Dad home every night. Can I just say it again, "YEAH FORD" (but I'll continue driving my Chevy ;-) )

(And YEAH for uniforms!)

One very spoiled KuhlDaddy

This is the first year in a looooong time that Bryan has been working close to home and was actually home ON his birthday. It was also a wonderful day for grilling :-) so we spoiled him a bit. We put beer "in ice" for him, grilled steaks, made him a pie, and just spoiled the Daddy. Yeah for working close to home and being home every night!

Even Hemi was waiting to wish Dad a Happy Birthday.

Mmmmmmm...T-Bones

Shelby and Shiloh making deviled eggs

Before we could cook, we had to find the grill.

Ice cold Linnies

Winter Fun in February 2014

What do your children do when the weather is warmer than it has been in 2 months? Mine get to go outside and sled, snowboard, and ski! Oh, and let's not forget about the snowball fight! What a fun way to break in my new camera. ;-)

                                 Shelby "going faster"

                 Shiloh helping Sierra up while Shelby laughs.

                    Shiloh falling. :-)

 

      Sierra's "happy face"...I love this face!

                                     Shiloh "posing".

                        Shelby taking time out for a picture.

                                                                      Snowball fight!!!!

All in all, it was a great day. **Savannah was inside. She wasn't feeling very well.

Spring (?) Fun

Today was a beautiful day. A lovely 45 degrees F, sunshine, and snow in the forecast so we took this opportunity to get outside and get moving, take some pictures, and take Hemi to the park. Lots of fun was had by all. It's been a long winter and the day was a nice break from sitting on the couch and watching movies. "Mama, we need to do this EVERY day," was said multiple times.