Fulton Fisherama

Every year, the Fulton's get together to celebrate summer. This year, we decided that Jack would get to go with Mom to the Fisherama and Annalee would stay home with Dad and have a bit of a long weekend together. Jack and I headed North on Friday night. After a rough night at the farm, no one knew if we would be heading further north or heading home. It was determined, however, that once Jack had a bit more sleep, that he was feeling well enough to continue our adventure. Thus, we headed to Grand Rapids.

It turned out to be a fabulous weekend on the water. We fished, we swam and we played in the water.  We are so lucky that our family has so much lake property on Lake Pokegama. Though we are selling my grandparents house sometime soon, there are three more houses on the lake that play host to this ever growing event and we really do count our blessings when we go up there.

Jack had a blast playing with his cousins!

We headed over to my grandparent's house to pick up one or two last little items before it sells. I am guessing this is the last time we will ever be there, so I took some memory photos for me.

And, lastly, though she did not come with this year, Annalee loved her shirt! 

Summer is here!

It is summer, people! What a wonderful time of the year to be a kid! Jack's tball season is nearly over, Annalee has started swimming lessons and Ryan's playing tons of baseball and softball. Nighttime activities are keeping us busy!

Jack has been accepted into a full day preschool in the fall, so he is getting pumped for that! Nearly everyday, he asks if he is going to school yet. Not today, little buddy, but soon! I am looking forward to him being in a classroom, learning with kids his own age and gaining some new friendships. I am a little anxious about letting him go, but know it really is the best thing for him. Full day, five days a week is going to fill his brain up with so much knowledge! That being said, the little girl is a little bit jealous that she will not be attending with him. It will be good for both of them, though, to have some time away from one another. My hope is that it makes their love for one another stronger (that happens with siblings, right?!).

We are heading out on a week-long vacation after July 4th, renting a cabin in Wisconsin with some of Ryan's friends from high school. I am looking forward to a summer week away from work, just hanging with my little people. Ryan is looking forward to seeing his old buddies and reminiscing about the old days (they are getting so old!). As soon as we get home from vacation, I am proud to say that Ryan will be starting a new job! He will be working downtown, so will be taking the bus to work most days and it seems like he is looking forward to learning some new tricks and meeting new people.

That's about it. I have tons of things I want to do with the kids this summer, but am being realistic in knowing we probably won't get to them all. We are having a blast just hanging out in the back yard, playing in the littlest pool in the world and throwing the ball for Tippi.

Dancing babe

She has my moves!

Heading North

We headed north this past weekend to celebrate Jack's birthday at the farm. The kids got to feed the lambs, collect eggs, talk to Pumpkin Pie and hang out with Grandma and Grandpa. Not much to report, other than it was a bit cold and everyone was tired much of the weekend.

He's four, people!

As a followup to my last post, here are Jack's four year stats:


3'5.93" (83.9%)
40 lb 9.6 oz (83.9%)


They no longer do head circumference, instead they take blood pressure and check the kid's eye sight and hearing. Jack thought the hearing test was a game, so that was fun!


He had to get a couple shots, but don't worry, he got to go to the grocery store afterwards for a doughnut. This choice of treat after the doctor really solidifies the fact that he is my kid. Because who wouldn't want a doughnut as their treat choice?!?

Jack's birthday

Our little buddy turned 4 on Sunday!  We didn't do anything big for the day, but we played like crazy! He wanted pancakes, so we brought him to Perkins, where he immediately decided he wanted grilled cheese instead...with bacon. That seems like a good breakfast, right? From there, we went to the park, played, opened gifts, played, went for a bike ride on his new bike, played and invited our Oleson cousins over for cake. Then, we played some more. Jack's favorite gift was his bike. He has known for awhile now that it was coming, but when he actually saw it, his reaction was priceless. He stared, made his funny excited kid noises and said "I told you so, momma! I told you I was getting a bike!" Well, buddy, you were right.

We had plans on Saturday night to take the kids to Frozen on Ice, but Jack got sick, so Annalee and I had a date sans boys. She loved it! And listening to the Target Center echo with all the little kid voices singing Let it Go was probably the most adorable thing I have ever heard.

Just for good measure, here is a photo of Annalee being loved up by her daddy. These two are such hams.
Have a great day!

Fulton

My Grandma Anne passed away last week. She died less than a month after my Grandpa Max. Five weeks to the day, the Fulton clan was back at St. Joseph's Catholic Church saying goodbye to another of the family's leaders. I have so many feelings about her passing. Some are thankful that she is where she wants to be; with my grandpa. Some are angry because death has a way of making me feel that way. Most are just sad. In our family, there has been tension for years about things that I was too young to grasp when they were happening. I still do not fully comprehend the pain that the adults in my life were able to cause each other and I don't know if I even care to understand them now that she is gone. The past is in the past and forgiveness and moving on after old feelings were unearthed for some are going to have to be the next steps taken on this journey.That being said, I loved my Grandma and am quite sad that she is no longer around to chat with. I wholeheartedly believe that she, my Grandpa and my dad are watching over us and having a good laugh together about the folly's we find ourselves in down here. I also think my dad might be shaking his fist at his brothers and sister, wondering how he is going to adjust to dealing with both of them with so little time to adjust! Ha! That is a funny thought.
To all who have offered condolences to my family, thank you. Everything is fine and we have some wonderful memories that will keep their memory alive. And this summer, I plan on kicking ass when it comes to finding four-leaf clovers and will dedicate each of those little treasures to Anne Fulton's memory.