Minnesota Zoo & Medtronic Trail

We spent the day at the zoo, and we were so thankful for the "splash pads" on such a warm day! We enjoyed visiting the exhibits, although our teen girls wanted to tour the zoo by themselves. So, we only had the boys with us today. Guess who sponsors the "Minnesota Trail"? Eric's new company, Medtronic! It has always been my favorite part of the zoo, and now I can love it even more!

Yard Work Day

We spent half the day doing yardwork, but at least the weather was nice!

Berry Harvest

Our berry patches ripened while we were gone camping, so today was berry picking day! So far, we've picked over 3 pounds of berries. The fun is just beginning...now we can decide how many yummy ways to use up all the berries!

Camping Trip July 2018

Thanks to Independence Day falling on a Wednesday, Eric was able to take some extra time off, and we went camping for a few days. We tried a new campground, and we were able to pitch our tents right next to the lake! There was a nice, clean swimming area for the kids just a stone's throw away from where we set up camp. The weather kept us on our toes, but we had plenty of pleasant times the first couple of days. We also got to visit with Eric's brother and sister-in-law while they are vacationing in Minnesota. It was so good to see them, and the kids enjoyed spending time with their aunt & uncle, since they only get to see them every few years or so. Making memories!

Lake Fun

It started out cloudy and a little chilly, but our afternoon at the beach just got better and better as the day went on! The sun came out, the boys started catching fish, and we all enjoyed a summer day of simple fun!

Shopping with Dan

Only one out of our six kiddos wanted to go shopping at Costco with us today. They missed out! But, we're bringing yummy things home for them to enjoy.

Ship-shape Shelves

I'm so excited about my new shelves, built by Jerry Dale Crafton and Eric Crafton! They re-purposed some wood that was left here on our little hobby farm, and now I have shelf space for all of my house plants! We also now have plenty of space for our family's collection of ships. It's great to have hard-working men around who create such beautiful things for me to enjoy!

Our Homegrown Chickens

Today we filled 3 big freezers with our homegrown broilers and soup chickens! The first picture is half of the birds, which were butchered this morning. The second picture is one of our chest freezers, filled to the brim! The total weight for all birds was 445.5 lbs., and should be enough meat to feed our family of 8 for almost a year. We're so glad Jerry Dale Crafton was out to help! He's also working on other projects with Eric, which I'll post about later this week. I thank God for blessing us so abundantly!

Happy Birthday, Tom & Troy!

Happy 7th birthday to my dynamite duo, Tom & Troy (T'n'T)! It has been so much fun watching them grow! They may be twins, but they're definitely individuals with unique personalities. Tom is my laid-back, calm boy who gives the best hugs! Troy is my go-getter who always wants to do everything himself. They're both loving & sweet, and I'm so glad God blessed us with such wonderful boys!

Beautiful Blooms

We have some recent blooms popping up to add a little color to our yard! Chives and peonies are eye-catchers!

Tae Kwon Do

We registered all of the kids for Tae Kwon Do this week! Their first lesson was today. We're looking forward to many years of fun and challenging physical education!

God's Refreshing Promise

After a hot day of yardwork yesterday, God treated us to a cooling rain and beautiful rainbows! He knows just what we need to feel refreshed!

Lilac Love

Our lilacs are in full bloom, and their sweet scent sure lifts my spirits!

Happy Clucks

This is the best time of year for our laying hens! We can let them free-range again, and they reward us with some of the tastiest eggs. They also eat a lot of the little weeds that try to grow in our yard. Win-win!

Top Notch Tulips

We get more and more tulips every year! They must love the shady, cool side of our house. If it weren't for all the pine trees everywhere, I'd think we were in Holland! ;-)