Otter Tail

We live in Otter Tail County. The highway signs have otter silhouettes on them and government signs have the same otter images. One of the many many parks in town has a larger than life otter statue. It really is gigantic. Here are the kids at their first visit to the otter.
A note to the grandparents who may zoom in to see the kids better, yes, Brother is wearing Sister's shirt and yes, he's eating an ice cream cone. Moments like this define and distinguish my parenting from Hubby's. Neither of these would have happened if he were around. Brother thought it was so funny to pretend to put on Sister's shirt earlier in the day so I actually put it on him. He thought it was the silliest thing and didn't want to take it off when we headed out for the PO Box. It actually came in handy when he had the ice cream cone and most of it melted on him. I just removed the shirt and all was good.

Praise Jesus for apps!

I inherited my husband's iPhone, much to his dismay. (I really do feel bad about this knowing he thoroughly enjoyed this Father of All Phones and the unlimited data plan that we will carry to our graves since it was grandfathered in and no longer offered.) BUT, I'm taking good care of my new phone and using it to take lots of pictures, which is a happy bonus. Annnnnndddddd, I discovered this morning that Blogger has an app! Yay!!!! Now for even more photo and memory sharing!!

I know I'm not in Kansas anymore

The days are longer here in the north.  The sun is up by 5:30 am and it's still light out at 9:45 pm.  I noticed that right away, when we visited our new town.  One thing the locals enjoy is horse shoe tossing.  I don't know the technical term for it, maybe there's a fancier name I don't know about.  Anyway, it's 9:45 pm right now and I just finished brushing my teeth to climb into bed and hear the distinct clanking of metal on metal from the neighbor's yard next door.  The two factors, longer day light and horse shoe tossing, combine to form a unique pre-bedtime ritual for us newly Northerners.

New Scenery

A few pictures of our new scenery.  I've been overwhelmed by the many many changes and haven't sent pictures as I'd hoped.  Here are just a few pictures from our new home, a combination of moments and spaces.

This is in the alley behind our house.  There is a sidewalk from the garage to the wrap around deck and a sidewalk off the deck to the sidewalk in front of the house, much better for bike riding but she wanted to go on the gravel.  It wasn't so easy.  

Biking up the street.

We spent Tuesday afternoon at a nearby playground and Brother watched this truck haul off a tree.

In our backyard.  

The front of our house from the west.  

The front of the house from the east.  It's difficult to get a good shot of the front.  

Back yard.

Back of the house.

This is looking out the front window, from the living room. 

Our new town

We live on the edge of lake country, I've been told.  I don't actually know much about this area of the country so I'm asking lots of questions and am eager to learn.
Our little town has 5 or 6 lakes in the city limits alone with hundreds in the surrounding county.  The lakes really are so pretty & unique, much different than the ones I'm used to in Kansas.  Here are a few pictures of Lake Alice.  It's in the center of town and a 4 block walk from our house.  How blessed we are!

Dusting off the blog

I've thought for some time it would be good to dust off the blog.  2012 has been a year of change and growth for our little family.  I believe it started with two prayers.  "Lord, make me bold" and "Less of me and more of you, Lord".  Spoken sometimes together and frequently individually, these prayers have led us to Costa Rica, to Minnesota and many spots in between.

I want to capture this journey and allow an outlet for the words I have rolling around in my brain.  I suppose the grandma's will also enjoy hearing about our everyday goings-on and seeing pictures of the kids.  Our day-in-and-day-out hasn't really changed much but the scenery has.  Here's to a new chapter and new beginnings! 

Over the River and Thru the Woods....

....to Grandmother's house we went.  Last week the kids and I spent a couple of days with my parents.  It was a nice trip and we all had fun.  But, traveling with two kids is so much work!

Enjoying sitting in a high chair for cereal time!

A trip to the Natural History Museum with Aunt Jennie & Grandma

Meeting Uncle Nick

Meeting Aunt Blanca and Cousin Gabriel

Playing piano & singing

Whew!  Time to go home!