The Rest of August

Yes that is Tuff in the picture above working as a bartender.  Actually we volunteer Wednesdays and Fridays to open the club house at our local golf course The Vintage at Staples.  

Its only a three hour shift from 7am to 10am so Grace usually catches part of her morning nap on volunteer duty at the club house.

We have stayed put for the month and taken advantage enjoying our family.  The other day Tuff, Finn, Beck and Bo raced three 100 meter dashes.  I documented all three for you to watch below.  






The picture below is from post races and they are ready for more.   Uncle Tuff makes working out fun.

Some more family fun at my sister Heather's house.



My niece Emma and Grace.

A trip to Dinosaur Park with my nephwes Soren (on top), Lukas (climbing) and Bjorn (refusing to take picture).  Of course Mother Hen II was there to watch Grace.

A great photo of the group at the park.  My grandpa Rueben stopped by to hang out for a bit.

Great Grandpa Rueben and Grace.

Last Friday through Sunday was our town of Staples annual festival called Railroad Days.  Tons of things going on including a car show, chili cook off, street dance, and parade.  We checked out a few things Saturday.

Tuff and Grace outside the chili cook off area.  We voted for the spiciest chili.  Yum.

Auntie Dana and Uncle Greg came to enjoy the festivities as well.

Dana made Grace laugh.  When she laughs hard enough it causes her entire body to melt into the person holding her.

Grace and Oma (my mom) during the Railroad Days festivities.  They were working the Sacred Heart School garage sale, a very big fundraiser for the school.

Also on Saturday Tuff's family drove all the way from Montana to Minnesota to get some hay for their horses.   The majority of Montana's hay is burnt up from all the wildfires.  The little hay that is around is going for $11 a square bale.  In Minnesota it goes for around $2.50.  So they made the trip. 

Checking out the hay quality with Shawnee (Tuff's niece), Tuff, Melody (Tuff's mom) and Amara (Tuff's niece).

Strapping down the hay for the 670 mile drive.

Tuff and his dad.

And of course the group photo.

And now for the latest from Grace.  Tuff and Tuffette below.

Just after a swim at Brad and Bobbe's.

Favorite lounging position.

Loves to get her hair brushed (yes she has fuzz on top of her head so we brush it).

Sleeping with daddy.

More Tuff and Tuffette.

Are you talking to me?

I thought so!

Senior Pic Remake
Please scroll down to view the senior pic and the propped senior pic remake.

 

 

Stay tuned as we'll be making some life changes soon.  Love you all. 

August thus Far

August we have stayed put at my parents house in Staples, Minnesota for the most part.  We had a small trip to Princeton to visit my brother and family and also to Hugo to visit my friend Krista.  In the picture above Grace's cousin Soren tries out holding her.  

Grace has really taken to rolling over.  Her first few rolls were in the end of July.

I just had the realization not too long ago that I am a stay at home mom.  Well guess what?  With neither of us working, Tuff is a stay at home dad.  How lucky is Grace?

She loves feeling textures of the clothes she is wearing. 

Bathtime with Mother Hen 2 (cousin Bo).

We often hang out at the local coffee shop, Stomping Grounds Coffee House, to chat, read, work crossword puzzles, internet time, whatever.

Friday the 10th Grace got her ears pierced.  Even with these adorable sparklers in her ears she still gets called a little boy daily.  Must be the bald thing.

Every Sunday night in Staples throughout the summer a different musical artist is featured in Music in the Park.  We took in a local band last Sunday with my little sister Cydney and Mother Hen 2.  Grace digs live music.

Our little ladybug.  Scored this cute little outfit at a local garage sale.

 

Lately we've been getting in a lot of golf.  When Grace falls asleep for her long afternoon nap I'll often walk nine holes and push the stroller along.  Last Saturday Tuff and I played in a two person scramble and won our division.  Its the first time we played together on a two-man team and it was so fun.  

 

 

Grace was a big hit at the awards ceremony for the tournament drawing the raffle tickets.  Whichever ones stuck to her slimy hands were the winners.

About every other Friday the course has Fun Night.  Each time there is a different game.  There is never a dull moment out here in the summer. 



Every Monday night is ladies league golf and I play with my sisters and neighbors.  Below is a picture just before tee-off with my two older sisters Dana and Heather.

Other than golfing Tuff goes fishing on the little river my parents live on, the Crow Wing River, which eventually flows into the mighty Mississippi.  Below is our neighbor Mark and a huge small mouth bass for the river. 

Tuff's walleye loot, enough for a weeks worth of suppers.

 Another river fishing adventure, this time with our neighbor Nick.

Here's a cute video for you all to enjoy:

We still need to make a decision on our next step in life and hope to come to some conclusions soon.  Keep us in your prayers as we continue on this adventure.  Love you all.