It's been a while...Again!

The last couple of weeks have been a little busy (at least that is the excuse I will use this time for not updating sooner:) I started to post this on Monday. I got the pictures all uploaded to the site, but couldn't find the time to sit down and write about them. So, I finally found the time today (in between cleaning and laundry it was a welcomed break!) Nothing terribly exciting to report, but here is the last couple of weeks in a nutshell!

Every year we make a trip to Duluth to the indoor water park. So, last week is when we went for this year. We got a really good deal, and were there for 2 nights and 3 days. The kids love it, and this year was our best year by far. The 3 bigger kids were ok to do the "big" slides by themselves, and Nessa for the most part was able to play in the kiddy water park alone. We were able to sit on the side and watch her. Of course we made several trips up and down the steps doing the big slides with the kids too. We even got Nessa to go down a few times with me! Then after a very wet few days we came home extremely water logged! We look forward to the trip every year, but it sure is nice to be dried out again!

On our way home we stopped in North Branch at the outlet mall. I found several fantastic deals. I got clothes for the kids for next winter for just a couple of dollars each. I got Phil some Khaki's in his size (36 length is hard to find at most stores) for just $6 a pair! I got some stuff for my self too of course, but came home with 4 GIANT bags of clothes for right around $100...I love finding great deals like that, so I am trying to convince my husband that I should continue shopping so I can find more deals, but it is not going so well...Yet!

So, I know I have posted on here before about us going to a different church in town and how much we like it. A couple of weeks ago we met with a few other couples from Riverwood and started a young couples Bible study. This past Monday was the first one. We hosted it here so that we didn't have to find a sitter. We had a blast, it is so much fun to get together with other people our own age with the same beliefs and values we have.

The kids too love the church and are still very much enjoying AWANA. Belle has finished her first book and has reviewed it and moved on to the second one! Carson was sick (and still is) last night so he couldn't go, otherwise he would have finished his book last night. They have memorized so many verses we are so amazed and proud of them for their accomplishments! Austin is still working to finish his book, but he is in the older group and his book is a little bigger and tougher than the other kids! He is getting very close to finishing it up too!

Ok, so I have no idea why my pictures aren't cooperating today, so here they are in very random order...

Our annual picture with Tiki Tom and Tina.

Austin had a basketball tournament last weekend down in Dodge Center. They played 3 games and ended up getting 5th place. Though out the whole day he made a few baskets! Here a couple of shots that I took...

Girl Scout Cookies!

Belle has officially started selling Girl Scout Cookies. If you would like to buy some give us a call or drop an e-mail. She is so excited to start selling.

Funny Teeth!

Belle had a loose tooth last week. It wasn't quite ready to fall out, so for two days she walked around looking like a hillbilly with one tooth hanging in the middle of her mouth. It eventually did fall out, because she was chewing on one of Nessa's strollers...Whole other story. Anyway, look at how funny she looked. I will have to take a picture of what she looks like now without any front teeth; it is almost as goofy!




Nessa got ahold of Austin's teeth from Christmas. She walked around pretending to be a monster...She does look awefully scary!

My Site Has Launched!!!

Check out my website. It just launched today! I am super excited, but still have some changes that I want to make. Let me know what you think!
www.rachaelgergenphotography.com

Happy New Year!

On New Years Eve we wanted to take the kids someplace "fun". We thought about a movie, but Ed and Paula are taking them to a movie on Saturday. We thought about taking them bowling, but we did that last week. So, I decided to check and see if something was going on at the Mall of America. Sure enough, they were having a New Years Eve celebration in the Nickelodeon Theme Park. They had lots of things for the kids to do. They had a giant "beach" that the kids could dig for shells in, and then cash them in for a free ride(there was no shortage of shells either)! So, we did that a couple of times. There were many Nick characters there that the kids could meet. Then there was a count down at 10. ALL the kids got noise makers and it was Noisey!!!Then during the countdown...Slow count down...A character came out for each number, they also threw beachballs and streamers out. Then when they got to zero they let a ton of balloons fall from the ceiling and the ball dropped. The whole night cost us $18 and that was for supper! Wow, I sure got lucky finding a good deal!

FINDING THE SHELLS

All the kids with "Sharky" from Underwater Adventures, Nessa wasn't to fond of him!

They got to meet and pose with Dora and Diego(Austin was too big for this)

Nessa with Blue. He was the first character we saw when we got to the park, she ran right up to her and gave her a hug!

Nessa trying to see the characters come out during the countdown (my point and shoot really does not shoot ver flattering pictures!)

Austin attempting to help Carson see.

On New Years Day we took the kids over to the pool hill to go sliding. It was so nice outside we were able to stay for a very long time. The kids had a blast...check it out!

All bundled up!

Trying it backwards

Train

The kids went over to the church for awhile this morning to play on the snow mountain with the neighbors. Today is also Austin's 10th birthday! We are going to go shopping this afternoon they all got some money for Christmas and are anxious to spend it. Then we are going to go out for dinner tonight.