West St. Paul Days



Susie's High School Graduation

[Sigh] We always knew this day would come ... once upon a time Daddy helped change diapers for all these kids; today the youngest one takes her first step in the great big world.

Isabella wasn't feeling well :-( so Mommy stayed with her and Daddy and Aubrey deployed as the away team.  After the obligatory 10 minutes of shyness Aubrey took to Amber's boys like a duck to water, and the boys sure enjoyed having someone new to play with!



A week after riding Daddy's H, Matti tries her hand at riding Uncle Lars' H.

If you didn't grow up on a farm, it's possible you might not understand the true unbridled adventure that comes with the exploration of a drainage ditch.

Isaac declared himself king and said Matti could be queen, but she designated herself Princess.  Aaron ... well we didn't really determine what he was but he enjoyed it anyway.

Inside Reference:  This rock used to sit under the spigot at the farmhouse

Among Matti's new pals was Jenny's little friend Oscar.

Ohhh Daddy does NOT approve of this...

Inside Reference #2:  the pot-bellied stove from the basement now resides comfortably in the shed

Unfortunately Susie wound up in the back row ... these photos were the best I could do from the audience

The closest we could get of a picture of Matti frolicking in Auntie Jan's fantasy garden

This was more the norm:  Matti and the boys joined at the hip

Susanah and Ethan, 2012 graduates!

The magic of Photoshop could probably stitch the three of these into one decent photo.  Anyone?

Awww ... Susie and Grandma

Zeva, Riley's new little sister.  Love, love, love the Shepherds

All the girls are graduated!  Done!  Outta here!



Memorial Day at Da Farm

Matti takes a drive on Daddy's H Farmall.  Just sitting, not really driving, no need to contact CPS.

Uncle Darin has an International too!

The Beaner tries her hand at s'mores

Matti's first time fishing at Lake Shetek!

Mommy and Ella visit the family gravesites in Luverne

The girls check out the new hayrack.  Just need some hay and we'll be ready for hay rides!

Matti shows Daddy the heat in a pickup baseball game

...and this one's so stinkin' cute we just had to include it.

Oh the girls are so sweet.  At the train park in Tracy, they think these are steering wheels.  "Drive drive drive!  Drive drive drive!"

"Mommy, why doesn't this guy say anything?"

The girls check out the engine and the coal car

The train park was closed on Memorial Day, but the engineer just HAPPENED to drop by and just HAPPENED to be available to give us a train ride!  Needless to say we made a nice donation.

This little train last ran sometime around 1950.  The engineer took it into the shop and gave it lots of TLC over the winter, including a new engine and custom decals.  Now she runs as good, or maybe even better than new!

Steady winds mean a great day for flying the Elmo kite!

And one more picture of the Beaner because she's so stinkin' cute

Ella brought all her babies over to listen to her play the piano