The Chosen one!

Let all the Sci-Fi geeks bow down to their new leader. The chosen one has been revealed.

(I have edited this copy so that my identity can not be you know what. I like my identity to be mine, not someone elses.)

So as you might have noticed, I found something interesting on my birth certificate last weekend. I was quite surprised when I saw my birth number. I really have no idea what exactly a "birth number" is but at this point I don't care.

For those of you who don't know what I am referring to, just never you mind. You'd just roll your eyes if you found out. Just let me revel in my geekness for a little while.

Planting Trees

I am sure that most of you know that my mom has been a teacher for many years. Over 40 to be more exact. This year she has decided to start her much deserved retirement. Well, she is still working her other job but she had officially retired from teaching.

We wanted to do a little something for her to celebrate this accomplishment so we decided to give her something that every teacher loves to get, an apple. (Well, an apple tree anyways). Hopefully there will eventually be apples as well. Congratulations mom, happy retirement. You deserve it!

Then Avery did a little earth worm wrangling after we planted the trees.

And finally, an "Only in Minnesota" item. We went to watch the parade celebrating the Alexandria fire departments 125th year and saw a little something that you can only see in Minnesota.

A snow plow in a parade in June.

Summer Vacation

(Grand Portage)

Here we are on our summer vacation. The brown building in the middle is our hotel. Right smack on the shore of Lake Superior. Gorgeous place.

Here is Avery on the beach skipping stones. The galoshes are a must since the water is still close to 40 degrees.

Avery is having a fun time in the hotel, especially this comfy chair.

Overlooking the waterfall at Grand Portage. Just to the right is Canada. Yes, we were tempted but with the election coming in a few months I think we can hold out just a little longer. (Especially after the political goings on last night!!!)

The back pack was a great buy. These hikes would not be possible without it. Avery has been having a blast with it too.

This is some guy Erin and Avery met.

Temperance River

One more relaxing night in Grand Marais. Then we're going to finish off the vacation with Grandma in Alexandria. What a wonderful time(despite the cool temps and a little bit of rain).

Arkansas

Who knew Arkansas could be so pretty.

I know something else that's pretty. Or should I say, someone else. On a sad note, two minutes after this photo was taken Avery took a spill and got her first REAL boo boo. A nice big bandage and a few kisses on the knee from mom and she was all better. She sure played it up the rest of the weekend though. She didn't want us to forget that she had a boo boo and it hurt. I showed her the scars on my knee from all my boo boos and she felt a little better.

We spent some time at a hotel in Eureka Springs. The hotel has ghosts but it's all good...they were friendly. All the talk of ghosts got Avery on the hunt for the unexplained. She swears up and down that she saw a UFO while we were on the balcony so we had to look for it in the telescope.

How's that saying go? Take time to stop and... pet the sow bugs?

Mom's are great!!!