Male Bonding

This is what I found when I walked into the playroom one evening last week:

My favorites all in one (close) space.

Two-Year Picture Flop

We hired a photographer to take Aidan's two-year pictures last Friday.  I'd spent so much time coordinating outfits and preparing props (his favorite books, red ball, painted a metal "A" red, borrowed an antique Dude Racer from a friend, etc.) so things were supposed to go perfectly...just as I had planned!

Ha.

Yeah right.

When we first arrived at the park, I unbuckled Aidan from his carseat and thought Brian was coming around the otherside of the Jeep to get him out.  I proceeded to get Leo out of the back, leaving the front passenger door open so I wouldn't forget the diaper bag.  Suddenly I hear the photographer (a young, sweet gal who doesn't have toddlers yet) scream.  I look to see Aidan tumbling out onto the ground from the passenger seat.  Thankfully, I caught him just before he hit the ground head first, but he was still very shaken up.  We calmed him down and proceeded down the trail for "just a few" family pictures (because, this is Aidan's two-year shoot).

By the time we were done with those (just 15 minutes later), Aidan decides he's done altogether.  His cooperation, smile, and happiness are gone.  What about my props?  ALL the props that fill the back of the Jeep!?  I had planned and prepared, but alas, God had other plans for our photo shoot.  Aidan spent the rest of the time either clinging to Brian or screaming & crying (this is so unusual because 99% of the time he's the happiest, most content, agreeable child).

We were so disappointed.

On our way home, I remembered the list of poses that I'd seen on photography blogs and realized we hadn't done any of them.  I also lamented the fact that we hardly got any with Leo in them, none of Aidan & Leo, and none of Brian & me (all of which I'd wanted but forgot about when our son started melting down).

So sweet Brian set up the camera when we got home to take our picture (Mr. Fuss was napping peacefully at this time).  Unfortunately the tripod didn't work:

Gotta love thick theology books!

 Best husband ever and me.

Lovehimlovehimlovehim.

 There's my Leo-man!

(He chased down a senior girl getting her picture taken while we were at the park earlier that day...I've never run so fast in my boots OR seen a senior girl jump up so quickly.  It was so embarrassing...oh, and this happened because we forgot his leash.  Yes, we had all the props and outfits for Aidan but no leash for Leo.  What. A. Day.)

(We totally crashed after this picture.)

Although God deemed it best not to grant us a cooperative two-year-old, he did give us warm(er) weather, sunshine, and just a tiny bit of wind (for Iowa).  Now I'm praying that the photographer got a few good ones...

****

I'm lovin' my mums.

 This is the first fall I've purchased mums, and I LOVE them!

The pumpkins are from Ms. Margaret (church organist); she let Aidan pick all these from her garden!  Doesn't she grown amazing ones!?

Here's the boy peeking out to see what Mama's doing with the camera.

(Yes, he was in a much better mood this day - back to normal now that pictures are over.)

Favorite Chore

Aidan loves to feed Leo.  It's become his favorite chore (not that he has many!).  Yesterday, he enlisted some help.

 I was surprised to see that he scooped the food onto the floor instead of the dish...

until I saw what he was up to.

 "Johnny Tractor help feed Leo," he'd say.

 Oops - when Johnny had filled the dish, we started the process over again.

See the patient dog in the background?

Yay - Leo.  You're the best.

All done!

Yay Johnny and yay Aidan!

What hard workers they are.

Updates via Instagram

Life has been so fun, full, and busy lately!  Today I'm trying to catch up on housecleaning, blogging, laundry, phone calls, bills, etc.

Here's what we've been up to via Instagram:

Brainerd Trip

 Sat on the Blue Ox in Nisswa

 Hauled the boat to Whitefish

 Brian had a work day at Caribou.

 Date night!  Thanks, Mom & Dad.

We had drinks at Poncho & Leftys after Brian whooped me at mini-golf.

 Game & puzzle night with the family.

Poor Dad, he ended up having to finish this all by himself, but it didn't take him long.

 The road to my parent's house on the Mississippi River.

Boating!  So fun.

The "Everyday"

 Aidan loves to see himself in the camera.

 My garden is horrible this year.  I've gotten some lettuce and six cherry tomatoes.

Next year, I'm going to need manure.

 Aidan and I head to the Clear Lake Library every other Thursday to return our books, find more, play in the boat, and put puzzles together.

 My music man loves to dance, sing, and play piano!

Brain and I have been sitting outside late - chatting, reading, or talking on the phone.  I LOVE summer weather!  I haven't been to my 5:30 am exercise class for three weeks because I stay up too late with my night-owl husband.  But I'm OK with that; it's summer, right?  Besides, I have a Leo Lund who needs to be run everyday!

Part of Brian's everyday - sharing the gospel and performing marriage ceremonies.

Birthday & Anniversary Celebration

 Yesterday, we went to Fairmont after church to celebrate my 30th and our 8th anniversary (August 1).

 Aidan was the best helper; he blew out my candle on the first try!

He even helped sing, "Happy happy you you," to his mama.

 The lake was super gross and green so Grammie got out the pool!

 John Deere - his favorite.

Thanks for all the fun, John & Sue!

Hancock County Fair

We had fun at the fair!  Our church people were so immensely generous and gave us tickets to everything - from the rides and beef supper to the pork supper and the bus races!

 All the babysitters wanted to be at the fair so we kept our little man out later than ever - 10 pm!  He ate almost the whole time so that kept him happy.  ;)  Actually, it was the buses and watching crazy "Mr. Roger" from church drive in a 13 school bus race.  Aidan would shout, "Go go go!" or "Broken. Stop," if they crashed.

 Friends from Swea City came to join us.  Thanks, Larsons!

 I'm so thankful to Mary for accompanying Aidan and me to the fair while Brian was performing a wedding.  We loved walking through all the buildings.  We even convinced Aidan to ride the Berry-Go-Round.  "I out, out, out, OUT!" was heard about halfway through the ride.

 Iowa's finest.

 Stockcar races!

I hadn't been since junior high; my dad would always take me.

Such fond memories!

 Shutter speed was too slow - he had just been sitting there.

 Tractors or cows?  I'm not sure which was a bigger hit.

Train races.

These were hilarious.  The bus races were fun too.

I've also been baking!  I loved all the recipes from 100daysofrealfood.com.  However, I've decided that I'm not going to be a real-food-Nazi.  I'm going to eat it whenever possible, but I'm not going to think twice about eating out or eating food that is offered to us.  Thanks, Sarah, for the suggestions!  We don't have Trader Joe's close, but we do have Aldi!  I call it the granola store - but I guess that's what I'm becoming!?  Oh please no.

Lastly, today is "Gotcha Day" for my darling, super-stinky Leo.  On the right side of my blog header is a picture from one year ago today.  We picked Leo up from the breeder at the St. Cloud Rest Stop on July 30, 2011.  Love you, Leo Lund!

Happy Birthday, Leo!

Happy first birthday, sweet Leo!

In honor of his big day, Leo ate some special treats and was treated very special.

We sang Happy Birthday.

Rib "Cake"

Singing to Leo.

Leo let Aidan blow out his candle!

This afternoon we ventured to a nearby state park so that Leo could swim!

It was such a beautiful and perfect day - no bugs or humidity!

Leo had a blast fetching sticks in the water.

Aidan enjoyed wading and going down the big slides!

Our camera battery died so the following pictures are from Instagram.

We also stopped at the Clear Lake DQ to get Leo a vanilla cone.

I think Aidan enjoyed his cone the most.

[In case you're wondering what Aidan is wearing, it's my tank top.  He face planted into the water at the lake and, being the novice mom that I am, I didn't have a change of clothes along.  Aidan thought it was funny that he had to wear Mama's clothes!]

What a perfect day!

Happy first birthday, Leo Lund!

We love you and are thankful God has given you to our family!