Renaissance Festival

At the end of September we took a trip to the cities to spend a day at the Renaissance Festival. It was not a trip that was on a whim. We knew we were going to be going to the Renaissance Festival this year even if it killed me. Starting about about April of this year I staring working on Kent and my Renaissance attire. My plan was to make the girls dresses as well but I ran out of time. Making these outfits was not easy and at times was down right not fun. I did it because I have sewed for a while but it was time for me to go outside my comfort zone. I didn't feel comfortable jumping into a wedding dress so what better place to learn difficult techniques but on a costume?

Lord Kent and Lady Alicia

Princesses Mia and Isabelle

Grandma Maureen and Mia

"I still can't decide which one tastes better!"

The girls and I riding an elephant. Those animal are very huge and can at any moment freak out and pummel you, so needless to say I did not enjoy the elephant ride!

Hanging out by the jousting arena

My butt looks big because I am wearing a "bum roll" which is basically a pillow that you tie onto your butt to make it bigger. I don't understand why women did that back then but I did it because it was the style. I didn't want to be a Renaissance nerd! Anyway, this is me and my Prince Charming.

This September Mia started her first year of Sunday school. She was very excited to attend since she has been talking about it since last year. She has been doing very well and always has stories to tell us about what she learned in Sunday school

Out on the Farm

In early September we went to my parents for the weekend.

Kent Isabelle Mia and Maxi the cat
Mia, Grandpa Richard, Grandma Aloha, Isabelle and Maxi

Itasca State Park

In the beginning of August we went up to Itasca State Park for the weekend. The weather was nice for the most part. The first night we were there it rained while we were sleeping and the thunder was so loud! Everytime the thunder would boom, I would squeeze Kent a little tighter. I am surprised he was able to breathe!

Mia hanging out by the tree at our camp site.
Isabelle
The Girls playing in the water
Alicia and Kent

Daddy and Mia

Daddy and Isabelle
Mia showing off
Camping in the 21st century...
My portable kitchen that Kent made for me. It worked pretty slick.
Sunset at our camp site

While playing trac ball I ended up smacking Isabelle in the eye with my ball catcher/thrower thing. I had decided that I am not very good at the game being I lack control while tossing the ball.
Her nice bruise.
While we were down by the water I was just messing around with the camera and took these pictures of some flowers. I thought that they looked pretty nice.

July Wedding

At the end of July the girls and I went to Bismarck to my cousin Heather's wedding. Kent was unable to come because he was working on the siding and we had decided that once he was finished with the project that we would put our house up for sale. So it was very important that the siding and windows got done as soon as possible. We has a great time at the wedding seeing everyone and dancing.

Me, my bother Mike, my sister Kayla
Brecken, Owen, and Mia all the same age. We try to sit them down at every family function to snap a picture.
Isabelle
Mia and her blue slushy. While dancing she hurt her mouth so we drove to DQ to get a slushy to make it "all better".
Kayla and Isabelle Dancing

Grandpa Richard is having a little too much fun!
They don't get out too often.
Grandpa and Grandma even out lasted the three year olds! Mia and Brecken down for the night.

My brother Mike as Michael Jackson. He knows how to do some break dancing moves so the DJ talked him into doing this. He had some fun with it.
At the dance they played "musical men". This is some chick sitting on my brother. I told him I was going to show this to his wife Tonya as blackmail!
Grandpa Richard jamming
The morning after the dance Mia and I went on a morning adventure in the park before Isabelle woke up.
I don't think she is awake yet...

Projects

This summer Kent put vinyl siding on the house and put in new windows. Doing it himself was a big job and it took a big chunk of the summer.

Kent said this picture made him feel like he hired out the job. We got butt-crack and a tatoo in the same picture!
Backyard
Mia's window