Halloween 2013

 The results of our annual Residency Pumpkin Carving party. Kathleen's (freestyle) owl won the prize this year. 

 Soren dressed as a bumblebee and went trick-or-treating at Lund's with his friend Jonas the Monkey.

 Driving cars, eating cookies, happy kids.

 Painting followed by sink bath.

 Ouch! My family knows me too well! I came home from school on my 30th birthday to find our yard filled with Halloween lawn ornaments. If you know me, you know of my dislike for said lawn decor (thanks for nothing Paul Goddal). Later that night, everyone!!! came for a surprise birthday party. Well done, family! 

Scenes from October

 Airplane popper, rain boots, check. 

 When you dad is in residency...you know the hospital well.

 So much time spent playing in the water table.

 Soren ate all of my bleeding heart blossoms (well, sampled then spit out).

 Filippo! 

 Pippi and Soren in the toy cupboard at Nana and Papa's house.

 Best friends Henley & Soren on daily trip to the library and playground.

 Raking leaves, rolling in leaves. 

Right before the chicken (Doris) took the mango and ate it. Soren was not pleased with the situation.

The Annual Canada Trip

All of the Johnsons were able to make it to our annual fishing extravaganza at Savant Lake, Ontario this summer.  Our journey in wasn't quite as epic as last year (no rain, no lightening, no stuck Mule) and we even all got to ride on a vehicle! So this marked the first year that no one hiked in, and maybe we've all become spoiled now.  But I'm sure next year we will roll up our pant legs and gladly trek through those puddles if need be, because this trip is worth it. The boys (I originally meant the little boys, but thinking back, I think ALL the boys) loved the crazy ride on the ATV. The ladies...we hung on for dear life...we went up and over rocks, logs, through (really) deep puddles, around giant holes...and it was a seriously awesome adventure. We arrived at the camp ready to fish.

The boys played outside a lot, on the playground, in the boats, and on the Mule.  Bliss.

Soren discovered a deep love for Bushes Baked Beans. 

Micah tried out his new kiteboard gear in the "agua dulce" (freshwater). It went...well(ish). Not enough wind on that particular day, but it was fun to try!

Some highlights were relaxing a lot, eating fresh walleye twice a day (once fried, once grilled), eating hush puppies and amazing onion rings a' la Chez Owen, seeing these loons and their babies, hearing Soren's version of loon and sea gull sounds (he's good!), cousin play time, sleeping a lot, breathing crisp, clean Canadian air, and being with family!

End of Summer in Photos

A photo recap of July and August...not in chronological order, but as Cormac taught me long ago, "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit."  (Thanks buddy.  That's come in handy many-a-time.)  Here is Zach and Micah after finishing the Warrior Dash on a really, really, hot and steamy August day.

 I didn't tell them at the time...but I think there was horse manure in that "mud" pit at the end....

Soren taking his dental hygiene very seriously.

Continues to be a favorite book.

Gratuitous selfies = always a good time.

 Greenest grass ever, thanks to water-boy.

Takes "bay-bee" for a ride.

Toddler heaven thanks to a Craigslist score.

He lasted awhile, but nap time snuck up on us during Ross and Ann's wedding bike ride.

A walk to the park with cousins. 

Opening Gopher game with Courtney and Zach.

And then we braved the State Fair during Labor Day weekend. Whew!

The Helping Hands wasn't tooooooo busy. Soren liked gathering the eggs. 

Painting has been a big hit. Sometimes it gets on the paper, too!

'Twas a wonderful summer indeed!