Drive-in Fun

We've been wanting to take the boys to the Drive-in movie theater for a while now and it finally worked out last wekeend. We went with Helen and her kids and had so much fun! It takes about 45 minutes to get there so we left early, picked up some Subway, and were on our way. We decided to get there early to get a good spot and eat our dinner there. We met Helen there at 8pm and there was a huge line already.....over an hour before the movie even started. I guess it's been a long time since I've been to a drive-in cuz I had no idea how involved it was. People were practically tailgating in the lot. We almost didn't find a spot up close enough, but finally did. We pulled out the back bench in the van and turned it around for the kids to sit in. They were showing a double feature of Despicable Me and The Sorcerers Apprectice. The first one got started around 9:15pm. We had our cooler with lemonade and snacks and a whole bag of popcorn. The first movie ended at about 11pm and the next one started about 15 minutes after that. The boys actually all stayed awake through both movies. We didn't leave until 1am. Course, they were all asleep before we got out of the parking lot. That was so much fun, I think we'll have to do it one more time before summer is over.

Dragon Boat Festival

A few weeks ago we went to the Dragon Boat festival at Lake Phalon.
This is our second year going and it's pretty fun. There's a lot of booths and Asian things for sale, but there's also the entertainment of watching the boats or seeing some karate displays.
We brought a cooler and had a picnic lunch in the midst of a ton of great smelling food.
The kids got to color a hacky-sack at the Target booth and get a bulldog tattoo.


They also got the chance to paint a glass vase for an art fair that is coming up in Mpls. later next month.




The best part was when Jay and the boys got up and learned a traditional Japanese dance. It was pretty funny watching them try to figure it out, esp. Tanner...he just kept walking around the circle looking at everyone like they were crazy.


My favorite thing was that there are so many little Asian girls walking around for me to watch and daydream about. It was a little surreal to realize that next year when we go, we'll have our own little dark haired girl. I can't wait.

My new nephew

I'm sooooooo excited to say that I have a new little nephew, Bennett Anthony. He's actually already 2 1/2 weeks old, but auntie Jen hasn't gotten her butt around to blogging for weeks. But it was not for lack of excitement.
Pat and Lindsey have waited so long for this day and I couldn't be happier for them. They will make wonderful parents!
Little Ben sent them on a whirlwind 2 weeks ago when they found out they had been chosen to be his parents by a birthmother, and chosen, of course, by God to be his mom and dad.
Within hours they were on their way to Texas to meet their new little guy. Mom actually got to drive down with them, 23 hours straight and I don't think they slept at all.
They met him that night they arrived and have been in love ever since. It's always amazing to talk to first time parents becuase you can tell that they 'get it' now. Everyone knows that you love your children, but until you have your own you can't even fathom just how strong a love it is. You would walk through fire for that child the instant you meet them. Pat and Lindsey now know that love and I couldn't be happier.

Sweet Ben arrived in this world on July 12th weighing 4 pounds 9 oz. and is absolutely beautiful. The new family is on their way home as I write and I'm beside myself with excitement to finally meet the little peanut.