Minnesota's Fifth Season

Happy tummies at the table.

Sweet corn season is in full swing in Minnesota.  We stayed just long enough to sink our teeth into the first batch.  In fact, the majority of our last two dinners consisted of the good stuff.  There's nothing like a batch picked right from the field...makes me hungry just thinking about it!


Liam and Grandma busy husking.



My uncles Gary and David getting their fill.



My Uncle Scott and Dad



Naptime Entertainment

Right now the house is completely quiet.  Twenty minutes ago, it wasn't.  Jon took Liam to see the new Winnie the Pooh movie, so I put the girls down for naps.  They usually spend a couple minutes "talking" or fussing before settling down, but today was a different story.  As I was finishing up the lunch dishes, I heard a shriek coming from the girls' room.  What I figured out was Ellery's laughter continued for a minute or two, so I headed up the stairs to see what was going on.  Peeking through the crack in the door, I couldn't help but giggle, too.  Marin's chubby little fingers were wrapped around the crib and she was jumping up and down then launching herself backwards onto the mattress, causing her sister to giggle uncontrollably.  I watched her cycle through this little routine for about five or six times before sneaking back downstairs.  They both must have reached the point of exhaustion around the same time, because the next time I went to check on them I found  two little girls sleeping soundly.

Our Animal Lover

This little girl was so, so happy everytime Cowboy came in the room.



Looks like we have a little animal-lover on our hands!



Family Love

One of my favorite things about Minnesota is that it's filled with lots of family love.  In fact, spending time with our relatives is, hands-down, what makes our visits so special.  We always have a chance to see siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins...whoever happens to be around!



Ellery loves her great aunt, Rima.



Cousin Lisa with Marin.



Liam had fun with his great uncle, Scott.



Great aunt and uncle, Mark and Lori, made it to Owatonna, too.



Ellery is Uncle David's #1 fan!



Thanks to Uncle Patrick for letting us move in for a month.



Liam had fun playing with Uncle Nathan.

Remembering Grandma

 

On Saturday, Jon and I took the kids to the Waseca County Fair, and on the way home, stopped by to see my Grandma Moline.  As we were leaving, Liam flapped his wrist and gave her his special little goodbye.  She mustered up the energy to return the wave.  I kissed her cheek, told her I loved her, and we left with heavy hearts.  We knew that Grandma's time on earth was growing short.  Mom said that just that morning Grandma said, "I'm going to die.  I love Jesus."  An hour later, my Mom called to say that Grandma had just passed away.  What a gift to be able to see her just an hour before she met Jesus face-to-face.  Today we said goodbye, remembered her life, honored her memory, and rejoiced in the fact that she is now at home in Heaven. 

 

Edith Ann (Peterson) Moline, age 87, died at her home in Morristown, MN, on July 16, 2011.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July 21, 2011 at First Baptist Church in Faribault with the Reverend Daniel D. Mead, officiating. Interment will be at Meadow Ridge Memorial Park, Faribault.

Visitation will be held at Boldt Funeral Home, Faribault from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 20, 2011, and also for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

Edith Ann was born on June 12, 1924, in Cambridge, MN, to Andrew Gustaf and Anna Edith (Wilson) Peterson. She accepted the Lord as her personal Savior and was then baptized at age 10 at First Baptist Church, Cambridge. She graduated in 1942 from Cambridge High School, attended Bethel College in St. Paul, and graduated from Lutheran Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing, Minneapolis, MN in 1946. She married Girard (Jerry) Reuben Moline, Harris, MN, at First Baptist Church, Cambridge, MN, on January 4, 1948. They raised a family together until Jerry's death on January 15, 1972, at the age of 51. She worked as a registered nurse throughout the years at Rush City Hospital, Mora Hospital, and private duty at St. Lucas Hospital in Faribault, Faribault Manor Care Center, and Faribault Regional Center. She retired from the Regional Center in 1988. Edith Ann was a member of First Baptist Church in Faribault. She served her church for many years as organist and pianist and in various children's and women's ministries. She will be remembered for her love of family and friends, for her love of church music, and for her love of serving her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In 1998 she enjoyed a trip to Sweden, the land of her heritage.

Survivors include her children: Gay (James) Martin of Owatonna, MN; Girard Scott (Rima) Moline of Jefferson City, MO; Garith (Gary) (Noemi) Moline of Yucaipa, California; Mark (Lori) Moline of Shoreview, MN; and David Moline of Morristown, MN, who cared for her the past seven years of her life. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Susan (Jon) Bushwar, Nathan (Amanda) Martin, Debby (Jeff) Crain, Patrick Martin; Erik, Michael, Lisa Moline; Jessica (Micah) Boerckel, Justin, Jeffrey Moline; and great-grandchildren: Liam, Marin, Ellery Bushwar; Avonlea Crain. She is also survived by her sisters Mary Lou (Dale) Johnson of Huntsville, AL and Margaret Froelke of West St. Paul, MN, and her husband's sister and brother Arleen Tillman of North Branch, MN, and Willard (Pete) Moline of Harris, MN. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews as well as cousins.

Edith Ann was preceded in death by her husband Girard; mother, Anna Edith Peterson, and father, Andrew Gustaf Peterson; brother, Walter Peterson, and brother-in-law, Francis Froelke; mother and father-in-law, Reuben and Eva Moline; brother-in-law, Royal Tillman, and sister-in-law, Mildred (Millie) Moline.

 

July Night in Minnesota

It's a chilly night tonight in Minnesota.

So we made a fire.

And relaxed, and talked, and laughed, and just sat there staring at the flames.  And relaxed some more.

Yay for summer nights, a fire pit, and family.



Wisconsin Weekending

We spent the weekend in Bayfield, Wisconsin...one of our favorite towns on the south shore of Lake Superior.  On Saturday morning, we went to Big Top Chautauqua, a big tent show in the middle of the woods outside of town.  We were part of the audience of the live broadcast of the NPR radio show, Whad 'Ya Know?

 

Jeff and Debby  before the show.



Marin found a friend.  Josie was a little girl we met that swept in and entertained and played with the babies during the entire show.  Pretty great to find a babysitter on site.

In the afternoon, we went to Madeline Island and found a beach for a dessert picnic.  And then it was back to Bayfield for a fish boil and evening stroll around town. 

Liam and Grandpa on a ferry over to Madeline Island.

Ellery liked the boat ride, too.

The girls did not like the sand at all, so they were happy to stay on the blanket.

Liam did not have a problem with the sand, though.  At one point, it covered every inch of his body.

Marin catching some rays.

A view from the park.

Aunt Debby and Liam headed to Lake Superior.

Beach bums.



Avonlea Grace and Grandpa.





Another trip to the candy store for Grandpa and Liam.

Bayfield at sunset with my hubs.

I could really get used to spending weekends at the lake.  A great time was had by all!

Liam' s Week

If Liam was writing this blog, this is what he'd say he's been doing this week...




Playing on the church playground across the street...

 

With my cousin.

Going to a Twins game...

While Mama stayed with the girls.

Going on rides at the Mall of America and dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.

 

Playing with Uncle Patrick at the park.

One Year Check-Up

Before we left for Minnesota last week, we took the girls for their one-year check-up.  Both look great and are right on track.  They're both very mobile...Marin is walking, and Ellery, our cautious one, can walk across the room, but once she feels a wobble, falls to her knees and switches back to crawling.  Their personalities are really starting to develop, and, oh my, how different they are! 



 

Ellery is our sensitive, careful, and gentle little one.  Her smiles are as soft as her dark locks.  She loves to look at books, climb on any and everything, giggle, and talk.  Her favorite foods are cheese puffs, yogurt, and peaches. 

 

Marin is our free-spirited who is quick to throw back her head with a toothy grin.  She is a curious explorer who loves to play patty-cake and peek-a-boo.  Marin is an extrovert who loves being around people.  She blows kisses and raspberries to one and all.   

A Small Town Fourth of July

After living in a huge metroplex for ten years, I have to say small towns really know how to celebrate the 4th of July--parades, celebrations, fireworks--the whole sha-bang!  This year we had a picture-perfect Fourth.  The weather was gorgeous.  The kids (and some men) went swimming.  We celebrated the Avonlea, Marin, and Ellery's first birthday.  Jon grilled yummy burgers and hot dogs.  Grandpa bought Liam a bag of fireworks.  We joined the rest of the city of Owatonna and enjoyed a pretty impressive fireworks display at the fairgrounds.  Couldn't ask for a nicer Fourth of July!