Happy Happy Birthday

Part 3: Live From Little Sand Lake

OK, so it was more than a week ago, but who’s counting?

The final recap in this series is mostly some pictures (there are many many more on our Flickr page). It was hiking (on trails and in the baby Mississippi), beaching it, reading, relaxing on the lake, swimming in frigid water, slip n slide, hot tubbing (with goggles), camp firing, birthday partying, and lots and lots of eating. Genuinely good stuff.

Happy Auntie

Love you Nancy. Happy 50!

Happy Birthday Mommy

We surprised Jaim with cupcakes from Queen City Bakery and the new camera the girls recorded a special pair of messages on. Now on to the anniversary…

Finally Some Bad Axe Photos

We got home a couple days ago from our best vacation ever. As you might imagine, been busy digging out at work and in the yard. Still much to do, in fact…We spent a week at Isle O Dreams resort on Bad Axe Lake, near Park Rapids, MN. Check out the slide show below, and everything on Flickr.

The day before we left for vacation, I took Hope and four friends camping. Crazy, I know. And it was fun. It was a busy day–I went to a birthday party, a funeral and a wedding, and packed for a week’s vacation. And went to work for a few hours. One big day, yes.

Happy Fake Birthday

Mesa is fake six years old today. Her birthday is actually June 15, but since school is out by then, the Kindergarteners are celebrating her birthday today! She’s treating them to “dirt cups” complete with sugary gummy worms. Sweet.

PS-Happy real tax day to all of you grown ups.

Birthday and a Sicko

So this time it’s Influenza B. Jaim just called from the doc’s office with Hope. This shit is crazy–she missed a week of school three weeks ago with type A. And threw in a short bout with the “pukes” in between just for good measure.  Pile that on top of pnemonia and mono, and it’s been a rough eighth year for the Hopster. The good news? No asthma attack this time.

Oh, and it’s my 32nd birthday today. No fanfare, just good family time. Some late breakfast, a dash outside into the spring snow, some fabulous (though super sugary) caramel birthday rolls by Hope (before she got sick), and a little Wii Sports. And some paint shopping, minus the kiddos. I got a fabulous new hat, some real, natural maple syrup (my fave), and a family pass to the Zoo (I smell a little self-serving gifting). And lots of love. Year 33 looks good.

Mayo and Pumpkins

Sounds like a really interesting sandwich. Actually, it’s about the Mayo Clinic and some pumpkin sellers. Plus some bonus coverage of Montrose Homecoming…

We went to Rochester, MN this past week to see the Vascular surgeon we’ve seen once before. Hope has an hemangioma (a malformation of veins) that we’ve been watching closely since she was born. We’ll be heading back to Mayo right after Christmas for surgery, and then a couple more times later in 2009.

Thanks to the Wickses for putting us up (and putting up with us) in Zumbrota. Michael was a great entertainer for the girls! They built a Lego zoo, and torchured the cat (I think the cat liked most of it).

Grandpa Denny grew a bunch of nice pumpkins this year, and gave them all to the grandkids. Hope, Mesa, Zoey, Riley and Ty hosted a pumkpin stand Saturday on Main Street. They sold 41 pumpkins–thanks to the girls running down the street to harass nearly everybody (with coaching fro Uncle Nick).

It was Homecoming this week in Montrose, and this year was a big deal for our family. Jenna was up for coronation (she looked beautiful, but didn’t get the crown) and cousin Craig Healy was named King. Kayla was a first grade attendant, and Grandpa Denny was chosen Booster of the Year by the senior class. Denny also starred in a hilarious skit at coronation–I have video and will try to figure out how to get it online soon! All three of our girls were in the parade–Hope and Mesa each with thier class, and Zoey was Ty’s sidekick in the Jeep. As always, more pictures on Flickr.

Cram-packed Week plus Happy Birthday Grandma

It’s been a hectic week 2 of July around the Bartmann place–been running non-stop. Here’s the run down: Hope’s swimming lessons, t-ball, softball, Mesa and Zoey’s swimming lessons, a funeral, city council/daycare meeting, and a birthday party. In the spare moments, it’s gardening, baths, a little reading (and even some blogging). Oh yea, and then there’s those pesky jobs. Geesh. We need a breather. Too bad Jaimie has to work this weekend…

In the happy news department: today is Grandma Knox’s 88th birthday. Most of the local clan gathered at the nursing home this evening for some cake and ice cream (and some Wii bowling). We’re especially proud of our five year old for making the right choice. We planned on missing Grandma’s birthday party because tonight was the final night of Montrose t-ball–which means the annual potluck-barbecue-water-fight-party. When Jaim picked up the kids from daycare this evening, Mesa said “Mom, don’t you think it’s more important to go see Grandma on her birthday than to go to our t-ball party?” She then convinced her little sister to skip the hotdogs and water balloons. Pretty cool.