Life Up North

It has been such a crazy summer, honestly I think if the federal goverment gave out an award for families that use the most time possible in a three month period we might just win!

We have a million things to share from the summer, from vacations to new discoveries and so on, but honestly we haven’t had the time.  I’m not just saying that…

One Friday I came home from work, the whole family went up to lake vermilion, emily met with a couple, then the next morning emily finished working on pictures, her mom and abbie stopped over, we got in a car drove back to vermilion shot a wedding till 9 PM, came home, processed photos till 2 am…then, we went to bed, emily got woken up at 4:30 am, she went back to processing and then I woke up, we took the dog to the kennel, emily did some orders, then we packed up and drove to a family week in Ely.  Came home early friday unpacked, emily left for a senior session, leslie and I took the van in to get a hitch.  She came home, edited the session, we came home, I made some updates to our home computers, she uploaded pictures, while that was going on we packed bags and filled up the car.  She called clients and delivered pictures, then we came home got sparky and drove 4 hours to Cannon Falls!

Are whole summer has been like that honestly…but we have been so lucky and so have the boys, we can’t wait to tell you guys about all the fun and great people…

So come back soon….

OOOOH one last thing, our blog reached 5 Years OLD…5 YEARS!!!!!!

John for the Law Family!

Just a few photos to share, we are having a fun summer so far.  it’s going by so fast, but such is life, right.

These grass photos were from a while ago, but i had to take a photo of Before/After of the lawn.  It was a busy week, so I didn’t get to the lawn right away, and one time when we pulled up to the front of the house, Leslie said "Mom you better mow today, b/c our house is starting to look very junky, just look at the lawn".  So I mowed.  :) 

looks a little better, those dandy flowers sure grow fast! 

somewhere in ND.  I can’t remember what town, Oh I think it’s Glendive.  We drove into town a bit to see if gas was cheaper, but didn’t find another gas station, but did see the JD mower parked by the bar.  Isn’t that a riot!  Love the small towns.  Love them.

I’ve always wanted one of those photos of John and I, my 5 yr old son did a good job with the walking away photo….LOL, on our trip in Yellowstone.  Harrison was having a good time with the little camera.  He’s pretty good.  He was directing us on where to stand and everything, where did he learn that from?

i love how the sun is hitting the tree tops.  the view up from our campsite.

i have tons of stories to tell about our trip, but this was the best.  My feet needed lotion, so Harry rubbed my feet with lotion, and gave me a foot rub, it was the sweetest thing, no one else wanted to do it, and then he said I’ll do it.  Then Holden wanted one, so he gave Holden one…then he said, "I want one"  It was adorable….

a common scene when i turned around…..sleeping with headphones.

  a few of the birthday boy on his big day!

Bud and Abbie stopped by on their way home from Canada, it was so much fun to see them…..we went to pick strawberries and fishing on monday morning….so much fun.

he did the whole "Pretend to Eat" thing for me.  Such a riot that Zabe is.  Love that kid.

this fishing didn’t quite measure up to Canada, but the boys had fun, Thanks Bud.  He even had to make a home aid stringer, that Bud can do Anything!  so cute.

I could just kiss that face all day long!  He loved being with the boys….thanks for the memories! 

Happy Birthday Harrison

We are just in awe that it has been five years, but that being said we are so glad your part of our lives and we love you so much!

Our vacation to Yellowstone and Storyhill Festival

http://www.dotphoto.com/go.asp?l=llaw%40resau.com&P=&AID=5329890&CID=569670&T=1&E=Y&ILD=4447379

here’s a link to some photos from the "Hot Chocolate story post"

the boys got to spend the day with Grandma Law on saturday.  We had a wedding in Duluth, here is one story from the day.  Grandma really has a gift of writing, i love reading the stories, b/c they are so true!  Oh the life of having three boys, i love it.

Best story of the day as told by grandma law

We were walking the ½ mile of the trail at Lester Park and it started to rain hard.  Leslie asked me if we were going to go to a coffee shop.  He would like some hot cocoa to warm up.  Now mind you he has been christened several times in lake superior and now rained on…I suspect he’s cold. I say, I’m not sure I know where a coffee shop is but I could use a cup of coffee myself.  Leslie says, “It will feel good to feel warm inside.”  I suggest, “There was an Arby’s near where we got lunch to go…should we stop there.”  “Well,” he replies “if they have hot cocoa.” 

So we piled into the jeep for at least the fifteen time in a day (due to running to jeep for rain often) and I back track the map and we are at Arby’s.  Leslie is still holding out for a coffee shop.  There is a holiday station there and so I decide to get gas first.  When I jump back into the car Holden announces that they’ve decided to go to Arby’s…since he and Harrison would like a shake and they think they will have hot cocoa for Leslie.  I chuckle to myself…no way in hell I think but you know you go with it. It’s 5 and I think should I buy dinner. Suppose John wants to take them to dinner…then they might not sit well while he waits to eat…and so I say, “Let’s get a snack …do you guys like mozzarella sticks?”  Oh wow I’ve hit pay day here.  Mozzarella sticks for everyone.  Now we are inside Arby’s and the discussion begins….how many mozzarella snacks do we need.  We decide 2 for $5.00.  Then Harrison and Holden decide Vanilla shakes. I want coffee.  The only thing we don’t see is “hot cocoa”…it is after all the first day of summer.

So I say to Leslie…”if they don’t have hot cocoa what do you want?”  My usual move it forward explanation of a situation.  Leslie ponders and finally says, “Yeah, I’ll take pop, but I want to ask for the hot cocoa.”  We make our way to the counter.  Leslie immediately asks,” Do you have hot cocoa?”  The clerk is stunned and says “No” and clearly watches Leslie face just sink.  “I’ll have a small pop then” he says so resigned that you would think Nestlé’s is never going to make hot cocoa again.  When we get our order I don’t get a pop cup so I ask and the clerk hands me one.  Holden, the eagle eye accountant immediately notices as we are sitting down that we did not pay for the pop.  I say “Perhaps we got it free because they didn’t have hot cocoa.”  Holden shrugs then states emphatically that we were not offered free pop.  Meanwhile Harrison notes that we only got one box of mozzarella sticks.  I say…the bigger serving had more mozzarella sticks and the clerk suggested I change the order.  No one argues. 

Immediately I realize, as the sauce is opened and sticks are being engulfed. that this is shades of the cream cheese wonton dinner at the Chinese restaurant where the three of them ate 36 wontons and we carried home their dinner in little white boxes.  More mozzarella sticks are needed.  We confer that they shouldn’t eat too much more since they will be having dinner with dad and he will be mad if they don’t eat dinner.  We decide on one more small order and Holden insists we pay for the pop.  Leslie wants to order and pay.  Holden remarks “This will be a mess, Leslie never gets it straight, who knows what will happen…let me do it.”  Now you’d think I’d listen to Holden but no I forge on….”Leslie asked first if he could pay, he can explain about the pop and order.”  So up goes Leslie with his cup of pop…he needs more…and he’s at the counter talking for the longest time.  Finally the clerk comes over to the table while Leslie is standing at the front counter.  Holden explains it to him, shows him the receipt where we did not pay for the pop.  The clerk nods and goes back to the counter.  Meanwhile Leslie has dashed to the bathroom.  The order of sticks and change are sitting on the counter….the pop does not have a lid.  Meanwhile at the table, Harrison is singing. “I like this song.” he says and I go “you know this song?” Yeah it’s xxxx by xxxx (sorry I didn’t catch it but I’m sure if you ask little zune he’ll tell you.  Finally Leslie makes it to the table with the side order of mozzarella sticks.  They are gone in a flash.  Now Harrison and Holden go to the bathroom.  Everyone is sitting at the table and my watch says 5:30.  I think…ahhh what to do.  “Well lads, I go, let’s head close to Perkins and find that park we went to last fall.”

Now Harrison says “I’ve been sick and I shouldn’t be drinking milk” and Holden says he has a headache from the shake. Leslie asks if I can turn on the heat in the jeep.   I’m thinking oh lord, John’s going to have three sick kids on his hands and the one who still wants and needs hot cocoa is going to ask for it all night.   I have finished my coffee.  I could use a double shot of espresso over ice…but instead we clean up and head for the car.  Leslie is saying how he doesn’t think he’ll go to an Arby’s anymore since they don’t have hot cocoa.  He is not giving this up for a second.  I’m thinking next picnic…I’m bringing hot water and hot cocoa mix.  The phone has a message…we are being summons to Perkins…I wonder if they would have had hot cocoa?

All I can say is for the next how many ever years I live, on the first day of summer…I will always be sending Leslie, where he is…at least in spirit…a box of hot cocoa.

i love my camera.  you can do anything…

i love you guys, where have those three years gone.

you both are thee sweetest things, we are so blessed to have you in our lives.  you are the best mom and dad to the cutest z around, and the most loving auntie abolicious and uncle bud.  thank you for all the fun memories, and happy three years together, many more to come. 

love you both very much.

the laws

john, em, holden, leslie, and harry

  one very faithful blog reader sent the boys a gift.  Thank you so much, they were so excited.

They can’t wait to use it outside for their lemonade stand.  They’ve used it a few times inside already.   Thank you so much for thinking of them, that was very sweet of you! 

father, husband, brother, hubby, daddy in the world!