Air Venture ~ By Micah

Hi, this is Micah blogging, I wanted to tell you about my trip Oshkosh Wisconsin.

We left on July 28th and came back July 31. We made the ten hour drive with dad's cousin Todd and his son Peter. We stayed in some dorms that looked like a prison cell. The beds were comfortable but there was no AC. We went over to Wal-mart to buy some fans, towels and sunscreen.

We walked 18 miles in the 2 days that we were in Air Venture. They had a night show were there were some airplanes that had fireworks they would shoot out when going inverted and while doing all sorts of tricks. One thing I learned was I want to be a pilot.

Here is a picture dad took of me standing by a marine or navy airplane.

I think this painting is cool

Dad took this picture of me by this airplane because this plane is exact same as the wallpaper on his computer.

I'm really grateful that I got to go on this trip because dad is usually really busy.

Rob's 20th High School Reunion

Hosted by Chris and Leah Swenby at their lovely home. About half of their class showed up; it was fun for all of them to catch up.

Haas-MacCullam Wedding~Omaha NE

Such a pretty grotto for this beautifully simple wedding

Emma and Creed were so suprised when they saw their cousins from VA came to the wedding and stayed at the same hotel.

Emma, JoAnna and Lydia

Stephan and Creed

Love this shot!

The Groom watching his Bride coming down

The Bride Naomi, eldest daughter to Rob's sister Val, whom just arrived home from an extended mission from Kyrgyzstan.

presenting Mr. and Mrs Dan MacCullum

the middle two ladies are Naomi's sisters Jessica and Rachel

Beautiful!

Emma's room grows up...

I guess, I don't have a before pic. I searched but didn't find one :(

I repainted her walls and furniture all while Micah was gone to Bible Camp; I think I was trying to stay busy.

It turned out really nice. She is pleased.

Father's Day Flight

Rob's Day was spent doing the things he loves...playing at the playground :)

hanging with his boys

teaching this handsome young man the love of flying...

Doing a pre-flight check

before taking up his precious cargo...

but, I got to admire the physic of my favorite pilot.

Lifetime Vision Center

The place I dropped a wad of $ on these two smiling lovelies today!

E had been telling me for a couple of months that things were starting to not look as clear as they once did; Creed had a screening earlier this year that showed he had a slight weakness with his eyes. He has a stigmatism in his left eye. Hopefully he will grow out of it.

Last week I took them to the dentist and he told C to keep that thumb out of his mouth...and he has! He is growing up so fast! I am proud of the way he sets his mind and does it.

I sure hope we can get him used to his new spectacles, it is hard when there isn't a huge difference with or with out them.

One Summer Saturday

Pictures can be deceiving.

Micah is not this kind of big brother.

They were watering the whole court, to give drink to the dragon flies that have swarmed our back yard. It was so fun and encouraging for the kids to watch them fly down catch a sip of water and fly off noticeably refreshed.

C being very diligent with his duty of watering the court.

During their "break time" they splashed around in the pool.

This was as close as C would get to the cold water.

What happened to my little boy and little girl? They are so big! Their laughs are the same, the play is the same; but their friendship has grown right along with them.

Tollefson Family Summer Challenge

I wanted to focus on 1 thing this summer, table manners. I know I really dropped the ball in this area when M and E where small. I won't make excuses...it is bad! M eats his food like it is going to run off his plate if he doesn't inhale it in 5 minutes and E can't sit still in her chair if her life depended on it. The floor around them is filthy and half the time their food is everywhere but their plate. M doesn't think forks and spoons are necessary and E never uses her napkin. This is a reflection on me and my parenting, so I had to do something about it. I am not the best example, this I know!

There are 10 weeks in this summer vacation, so the Tollefson Family Summer Challenge is to take 1 table manner and focus on it all week in the hopes that by the end of the summer we will have wonderful table etiquette. I also set in place 2 main rules for each meal; 1. We all remain at the table until everyone has completed their meal 2. We all pitch in with the clean up. These 2 rules have been wonderful so far. The conversations at the table have been so fabulous and C is really enjoying his chore of taking care of his plate after each meal.

Here is a list of our 10 Basic Table Manners:

1. Use a napkin-keep a napkin on your lap, use it to wipe your mouth

2. Eat slowly-wait a few seconds between bites

3. Keep your mouth shut-swallow before talking

4. Eat with a fork-not your hands, do not use your won fork to serve food to yourself

5. Sit up straight

6. Elbows off the table, wrist and forearms are ok

7. Keep fingers our of your mouth, and nose, no licking fingers or picking teeth

8. Be considerate, don't reach, ask, wait for others to be served

9. Save noises for later

10. Say thank you to whom ever is serving

*As a side note from last weeks manner #1 sitting with a napkin in your lap, keeps E in her chair. Success already!

End of the School Year Activities

M and E participated in the Guest Fest Musical

E was very efficient with her music in hand,

M was hit and miss with his music in memory :)

E running the long jump at the Perham track meet

The kids Spring recital "The Good News Cruise"

M's first on stage appearance dance.

The confetti that E wanted to bring home with her to put in her scrapbook. I told her we would use the descriptive word confetti in her scrapbook along with a picture :)

This is their last week in school. Only a work day on Wednesday and picnic on Friday!

I am excited for the Summer!

Brotherly Love

Tollefson style :)

First of Many?

E's new "job" this Spring has been hanging with C and putting him to bed while I take M into baseball.

When I got home that first night I found this list on the counter:

Hey, whatever works. I personally am not a "list person" but, it is my guess this list is the first of many to come for my darling daughter. So proud of her!

Spring in MN means...

Having snack out on the porch

riding bike with new training wheels

making plans in the sun

walking to the bridge and throwing rocks

This Spring has been lovely.

Supper Guests

Last week we had plans for our super great friend Dean to come and share in a rare Spring supper with us. He bought a helicopter this past winter and is in the process of flying lessons with good pal Martin from Austria. Well, when you are learning to fly plane or helicopter, the more hours the better...

Our supper guests arrived in...you guessed it...the helicopter.

OH BOY, the excitement around here was INSANE, the kids were excited too. Rob is a nut when it comes to flying anything, it is his passion.

Rob came in, "Mom, can super wait while Martin (the instructor) gives rides?" How could I say "no" to such a big kid that had stars in his eyes?! I couldn't!

I got to go up too. I was nervous that I would have a yucky feeling in my stomach, but it wasn't bad at all. Better than going up with Rob in our small Champ.

Air shot of our farmstead.

Creed and Martin

Uncle Dean and Emma.

Dean is our crop pilot. He is such a man of God and we are always so encouraged by him. Normally, he is busier than a one legged man in a butt kicking contest this time of year, but due to a late planting season, he isn't doing much yet.

What a night to remember!

Swimming 2011

The kids WERE NOT excited about swimming this year, save Creed! M and E are both in the deep end and they both have the same EXCELLENT teacher-but he is scary tough. I will be honest, I bribed donuts at the end of EACH day.

Creed was living his dream these 3 weeks! This was, after all, his potty training motivation. He had a great teacher and actually jumped off the diving board, twice!

Emma, tried with all her might, but came up a bit short this year. But did end up enjoying the session more than she thought.

In the end the boys both passed into the next level, leaving E to did it again.

The good news...they are all EXCITED to do it again this summer.