Old 52

Andreas has been telling me about this store in Sabin MN that has over 300 different kinds of bottled soda. So today we decided to go check it out. It's only 15 minutes away so it was a quick journey. It's a cute little place called Old 52 General Store.



Not only do they have an unbelieveable selection of old school soda and some international bottled soda, but they have flavored fountain soda, candy from way back when and vintage toys! It's a really cool place. Check it out sometime!







Checking out some inventory






These were some of our selections:






And of course, candy cigs



We sat around the kitchen table and sampled everyone's pick. I'm not a big soda drinker so after about 6 little samples, I was about ready to barf. WAY too sweet! But what fun place!

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

2nd day of school is over. Our new routine is going well. And soon Emma starts preschool and 2 of the 3 girls are in dance. We are going from a do whatever-whenever attitude to tightly run ship around here! And it's going surprisingly well!

Eden has bedtime by 8:30 and she is sleeping in her OWN BED. This is nothing short of amazing since she slept in Hanna's bed all year last year. She is also walking to and from school alone. Since her incident in Denmark, she has been so afraid of being alone so these two things are major for her.

Hanna is showering every night before bed to try and help her fall asleep faster. It wasn't uncommon for her to go to bed at 9:00 and still be awake at 10:30 or later. Her doctor suggested we try a big glass of milk and the hot shower to help her relax. I told her we'd give that a try for a few weeks before we had to resort to any sleeping meds. She is also amazing us all by getting on the treadmill for 20 minutes in the morning before school. Last night she even asked if she could do it in the evening in addition to her morning session. This is shocking coming from a girl who thinks walking from the couch to the bathroom is too much work.

Emma is also going to bed by 8:30. She has never really had a bedtime. In the past she has just gone to bed with me, falling asleep in our bed and if we didn't feel like moving her, she'd stay there all night. Well, it's a new routine for her as well. I have been putting her to bed in HER bed and then I lay there and we count sheep (for real) for a little while and soon she is fast asleep.

We are eating healthfully (all of us), the girls don't get sugary snacks or cereals or any crap during the week and then we splurge on our cravings a little on the weekends. Hanna is on a "diet" since the doctor was a little concerned that she is already at her adult weight for her height. But she is handling it BEAUTIFULLY. I am really so very proud of her. I think she will have a complete transformation of self-esteem by Christmas at the rate she is going.

I have to admit that I had my doubts. I didn't think ANY of this would work. I thought it was all too much for us to take on at once but here we are, taking it one day at a time and really succeeding together as a family. I hope it lasts!

Andreas is a workin' man. We try to enjoy a cup of coffee together after dinner and have a conversation about our day but with 3 kids and a dog to contend with, our words get lost in the jumble. We hope to spend some quality time together when we are in our 50's.

I am trying to be the glue that holds it all together. I sometimes feel like I'm being stretched a little thin. By the time the kids are all tucked in, I'm usually falling on my bed, ready for a 9 hour coma.

And now I need to run to the bank and the gas station quick before I cook dinner. Always on the move!

Last day of summer vacay

The laundry is all washed and folded. Well, almost. School clothes, shoes and supplies are all bought. Snacks ready. Schedules looked over. Plans for our new structured life all in place.

Sigh......

I am looking forward to some structure. Really. I am. But I will also miss those hot, lazy summer days. I am SO a summer person. But I love fall. It's so beautiful. The crisp cool air means that going for walks with Lizzy will be bearable. And winter, of course, is beautiful. Spring is exciting. New life, knowing summer is coming. All the seasons are great in their own way, so I shouldn't mourn the end of summer too much.

I am also filling out registration forms for Just For Kix. Eden and Emma will be dancing this year. YES, I am actually signing them up for an activity outside of school. Shocking, I know. I have avoided it long enough. Poor kids haven't done anything really. And it's all because I just don't like the thought of carting them all over town, each kid on a different day, different place, all months of the year and forking out all that cash to boot. (dang, that stuff can get expensive!)

Hanna tried a few things: ice skating, swimming, girl scouts, soccer, uh....I guess that's all. Not a lot. I feel guilty about it in a way but then again I think, you know what? My parents didn't sign me up for everything under the sun and I don't feel deprived or slighted because of it. It's not like I'm worried that if I don't start them out playing basketball at the age of 3, they'll never make it in life.

So, we'll try this dancing gig for this year and if all goes well, it should be an activity they can enjoy until they graduate high school!

Not sure what Hanna will join this year. I am trying to get her to join basketball or volleyball. Two 1-1/2 hour practices a week at her school - that she can walk to AND it doesn't cost a dime. WHOO-HOO! But she sounds less than thrilled about either sport. So, for now I'll try to make it sound glamorous in the hopes that she'll cave. haha...

And I'm also going to get Emma registered for preschool. I am a procrastinator. That's just me, like it or not. I pondered whether or not to wait another year but I think she's ready. Plus I think Eden really benefited from 2 years in preschool. Now let's just hope I can still squeeze her in!

And what will I do to keep busy then? Well, there are no shortage of things to get done here, let me tell you! 3 kids, a giant hairy slobbery dog and 3 levels to this house keep me moving ALL the time. It's no wonder I'm ready to snore by 9pm!

Farewell summer vacation!

4 more days 'til school starts

Going to miss these fun summer days.

National Lemonade Day

The girls have been wanting to have a lemonade stand ALL summer long. But whenever the mood strikes, we never have cups or lemonade ingredients. So while reading a parenting mag at the doctors office a few days ago I came across an article that said August 20th was National Lemonade Day. What a perfect day to have a stand! We got all the necessary items and they set up shop. It was cute.








Eden's jar-o-cash. I think if they would have run it through the evening they would have got more business. But they still made $13.70...pretty good I'd say!

Duluth: series 1

The falls

















Yes, I know that was a lot of waterfall pictures, most of them looking alike, but they were so beautiful that I didn't want to miss any angle!



Split Rock Lighthouse













Some coastal scenery
















Nature trail














Betty's world famous pies. We didn't know why they were world famous. They were good, but not out of the ordinary good. No offense, Betty.