First Visitors!

Today I received my first visitors to our new house.  Jax came down with his mom and aunties.  They brought me a beautiful housewarming basket of wine, cheese, raviolis, chocolate goodies and coffee mugs. We had lunch and hung out for a while.  I don't know how its possible but Jax is even cuter than the last time I saw him!  Indi was very interested in him when he was snoozing on the futon. I had to guard him from her as Cbass was convinced that Indi thought he was a baby kitten and that she wanted to drag him away by the scruff of his neck up into her cat tree so she could nurse him and clean him...

Thanks for coming ladies and for bringing Jax and the goodies!

He's Here!

Thursday morning Jax fled the womb for the world.  Weighing in at 8 pounds 6 ounces mom was glad to get him out!  He is so precious I can't stop petting him!  He and mom are doing well.  Praise the Lord!

35 Miles Closer to Tucson

As many of you know the Midwest (and much of the rest of the country) is undergoing a freak heat wave.  We were lucky enough to be moving in the middle of it this passed weekend.  Saturday afternoon we arrived in Rochester to unload our moving truck in 100+ degrees.  I heard on the news this morning that yesterday's temp was 115 when you factor in the heat index- SICK!  Let me state for the record that Arizona's heat IS A DRY HEAT and much more bearable than this Midwest summer!  

Despite the heat we are settling into our new house and area very well.  Rochester is around 120,000 people which seems po-dunk next to the Twin Cities, which boasts a population of over 2 million, but I really like this town.  It has most everything you need and nothing is very far away.  Matt has traded in a 25 mile drive (one way) to work for a 3 mile drive.  Our new home sits in the southwest side of the city with many stores close by and countryside not much further away.  This town is very manageable and the area is very pretty with many hills and trees.  I think I could get used to here...

Levi the Twin's Catcher

Living far away from my family for the past 12 years I have missed most everything having to do with my nephews and niece. Fortunately we were here for baseball season this year and got to see most of my nephew Levi's games. Towards the end of the season he started playing catcher and he is so darn cute in his catcher's uniform! Here are some pics from the championship tournament from this passed weekend.

Our Next Project

Summer Nights at the River

My sister Regan lives by the St. Croix River and she often takes her kids to the beach to swim.  This is the spot where she and I baptized each other about 10 years ago after we became Christians.  Tonight we went to this beach for an evening BBQ with Regan's family and my other sister Jamie and a couple friends, the Bransons and Jane.  Matt grilled us up some burgers while the kids swam and buried themselves in sand. Good times!

Baby Lundstrom En Route!

We recently had a shower for my sister Regan who is pregnant with child #4.  She surprised me in a great way with the news of the baby the week I moved up here by taking me out "shopping" for the afternoon but really she took me to her ultrasound appointment.  When she told me where we were I screamed in the car!  As many of you know I don't want kids myself but I am totally excited about my sis having another baby!  He is due to arrive July 21st.

Madre McReynolds Visit

Shortly after Matt's dad was here visiting we got a visit from Matt's mom, Sandi and his niece Ariana.  Ariana is 3 and half and so this was her first trip.  She was very excited to go on an adventure with her NaNa to see Matt and Dana.  She did very well on the plane and handled being away form her parents.  They were here for just over a week.  We took them to Rochester, Stillwater, shopping, to the movies, to the park, Como Zoo, and swimming at Regan's.  The weather was hit and miss and the pool too cold for their Arizona blood but all in all we had a good time.  I was very excited for Ariana and Liberty to meet as they are the cutest girls in the world and I am not just saying this because they are my nieces! 

Midwest Severe Storms

My mom lives in northwestern Wisconsin where she also owns a cabin.  We all planned to go up to the cabin for the 4th of July weekend.  Friday night severe storms swept across Minnesota into northwestern Wisconsin.  The severe storm hit my mom's town, Danbury around 7PM.  My mom and Joe had just left the cabin and were driving in the car when the black sky let loose rain, thunder, and incredible winds.  "Straight line winds" is what the news said afterwards but I wonder if there wasn't a tornado hidden in the storm too.  The storm ripped trees out by the roots as well as chopped many off halfway up and twisted others.  By the grace of God my mom and Joe were okay as well as her house and cabin.  Her car and garage roof each suffered a tree but the damage was minimal compared to what it could have been.  The sons-in-laws all headed up over the weekend and helped Joe with cleanup, chain-sawing trees until the blades could take no more.  They worked hard through heat and because my mom's house was out of power for 3 days it was a real challenge to get water.  The worse part is that Joe's dog died in the storm.  He was in the house and it seems he dropped dead from fear as he was extremely afraid of thunder.  Joe is very sad as he had the dog for 9 years and took him everywhere with him.  We are going up again tomorrow to continue the clearing.

Padre McReynolds Visit

As usual I am way behind on my posting.  We have had a number of visitors in the past few weeks, plus some birthdays, a baby shower, and hoedown in Cowtown (a big family get together with my dad's side in Hastings).  On top of this we are getting ready to move and have been in the process of buying a house.  To say the least we've been busy and have busy weeks ahead.

Matt's dad was here for 4 days in early June.  He helped us move up here in January and returned in summer for a proper visit. A few places we took him while he was here were Rochester, White Bear lake, downtown Stillwater, Roma Market, and to see the Mississippi River.  There were baby Canadian Honkers everywhere while he was here.  We consummed much wine and cheese and had a grand ole' time.  Here are some pics. As you can see this Arizona native found June in Minnesota to warrant a jacket!

at White Bear lake

Lift bridge in downtown Stillwater/St. Croix River

eating in downtown Stillwater

cheese plate

honker babies