BEST WEEKEND EVER!

We just had one of the best weekends ever!  It was so much fun and full of memories!  Collin & Carter are going to look back at this post (because one day it will be in a book) and think - "Nice mom, best day ever and we weren't included?"  Boys, you were included - we love you, we cuddled you, but you weren't physically at the events...most of them.

Turns out Collin can wiggle himself DOWN his bouncy seat...looks like we'll always have to buckle him in now :)  Aren't you proud that I captured the picture BEFORE helping him up!

Daddy spending some serious bonding time with his boys at Papa Don & Sharon's house...All 3 were watching the Vikings!

Saturday, August 25, 2012:
RACE DAY!  We signed Callie up for the .8K (1/2 mile run) at the MN Zoo!  She was so excited to run, and that she did :)  She ran and ran!

Auntie Heidi, Tyler & Trygg ran the 5K.  Had Josh and I known we could have ran that first - we would have and then did the 1/2 mile with Callie...oh well, next year :)

Callie was giving Auntie Heidi a high five after her race!

Who looks this good after running!!!  Callie sure was proud of her auntie!

The Bredlow's!  Trey was at his Grandma Marlene's house!

The McRae's before Callie's big race :)

And we're off!  The horn at the beginning scared her, and then the huge herd of people...but we stepped off to the side, waited for the crowd to pass, and then we started on our way!

She literally ran the entire way too :)  We were so proud!

She even passed a couple kids...she is a smart runner too - keep your pace :)  Don't go too fast or too slow -just right in the middle!  As long as you keep running!

Crossing the finish line!  You can see Auntie Heidi was there to congratulate her!

After her race snack with her cousins!

Our registration got us the race, tshirts and admission to the MN Zoo, so we walked around for a little bit.  She was most excited to see the monkeys, but in all honesty - the bears were by far the best!

Here's why:

 Oh yes, I captured that picture!  Here's a short video of their fight!

Callie having her picture taken with the leopard...she loves the zoo and all the animals.  Turns out, going in the morning is the best -the animals are so much more active during the morning.

Saturday afternoon and all of Saturday evening, Josh and I were at the MN State Fair ALONE!  Josh's dad & Sharon took the kids for us all day.  It was very nice to get away with just the two of us for the day.  We figured we walked close to 35 miles that day - we were exhausted.  We quickly realized that we are actually very old :-)  It was about 9:30 PM, we didn't want to leave, but we were too tired to walk anymore...so we went home :(  Well, back to his dads!

Sunday, August 26, 2012:
We took Callie to the State Fair!  She had a BLAST!  First we went to the Little Hands Farm so she could explore :)  Today was all about Callie and making sure she had fun!

She did such a good job gathering food for the animals, driving a mini tractor, planting seeds, milking the pretend cow and picking fake apples!  She loved it!  She even said, "I'm good at this" haha :)

Next stop was the Home Depot booth - they have crafts that kids can build each time.  We showed Callie all of her options and she chose the helicopter!  She and daddy did a great job building it together :)

So proud :)

Next up - face painting!  What little girl doesn't enjoy having their face painted!

 I let her pick out whatever she wanted!  I just made sure the design didn't cover her eyes!  I must say, my daughter has good taste!

Rides...oh the rides!  Josh and I have the uncontrollable need to spend money on tickets for rides and games!  Callie had a BLAST - and for the most part enjoys all the rides :)

She's also big enough to go on all the rides...ALONE :(  It's so hard to sit back from the gate and watch her.  I'm not going to lie, I'm surprised this whale didn't break away and swim off on his own!

She wasn't too sure of the swings.  She looked motion sickness, but never threw up (thankfully)!  She's so brave!  That swing literally could have detached and went flying off into the air...so brave!

Next ride is with daddy - the hot air balloons that spin in circles only to be moving in circles!  Oh and Daddy gets motion sickness too...but I get sick from spinning, so he had to go :)

After the fair, we headed over to the Bredlow's house for Trygg's 7th Birthday Party!  It was so wonderful to celebrate with them.  This was the first celebration with any of the Bredlow boys...EVER!  Some of the pictures below won't have any descriptions, but most of them are self explanatory :-)

Party Theme: Angry Birds.  This was Heidi's backyard, the boys LOVED it!  This was hours of fun :)

 Claire, Callie & AJ found a nice shaded spot to color and paint :)

Callie has really taken to Claire & Tyler...man does she love these two :)

Her buddies!

 Gramma Diva Queen - that's what she calls her!

 Kisses for Grampa :)

These shirts ROCK!  I love that they all match!

I know I included a lot of pictures!  More write ups would have been fun, but I'm not on my computer often and wanted to get this posted!  Enjoy our WONDERFUL, AWESOME, BEST weekend you've ever read about :)

McRae Kids at their finest!

I thought it might be fun to showcase my kids at their finest!  Also to share in some of the fun things we have been doing this summer :)

Callie loves these goggles!  She doesn't wear them as much as she did, but Auntie Heidi got her hooked :)  She's so funny!

Callie is very supportive of encouraging her brothers during tummy time!  You can see just how pissed Carter is in this picture -but it's so cute!  She sure loves her brothers!

Callie also enjoys showing her brothers new and different toys!  She was trying to get Collin to enjoy soccer, but I believe he was telling her that we are a basketball family :)

My friend Shannon Branstad welcomed her firstborn daughter: Alaina "Lainey" Violet Branstad.  She is absolutely beautiful!  I am so proud of John and Shannon for bringing her into the world!  She is PERFECT!

Callie likes Shannon and wanted her picture taken with her :)  So sweet!

Callie and I with Lainey :)  AH - I can't believe how much bigger my boys are already - and they're only 2.5 months older than her...

The happy family!  Great job you two!  PERFECTION!

This picture makes me chuckle!  My boys are 2.5 months older than she is...and they were both smaller than her at birth!  Birth weight L-R:
Carter 5.8 lbs, Lainey 7.2 lbs, Collin 6.0 lbs  Man I have porkers :)  LOVE THIS!

Couldn't forget about my little miss!  Shannon, I am so excited to watch our children grow together!  Collin seems to be the one who has taken the most interest in her, so I think he's going to put his mack daddy moves on your Little Miss - I'd love to have her as my daughter in law :-)

Hanging out in the front yard while big sister does her thing...dancing!

Callie taking a snack break from her dancing :)

While Josh was putting together my new kitchen table, Callie got to eat in front of the TV.  I didn't want her crumbs all over the floor, so on a beach towel she ate!  She was also watching some cartoon!  I love how in tune she is here...TV really does reel a kid in...

There's more precious than a sleeping baby - but when that sleeping baby is cuddled in with your hubby = PERFECTION, PRECIOUS, LOVE LOVE LOVE!  My heart is exploding here!

I was trying to teach Callie how rainbows are formed.  It was the most perfect day too - sunshine, the perfect gray cloud full of rain - the rain came down yet there was still sunshine....so I took Callie outside, in the rain to look for it!  We immediately started running around having a great time :)

Trying to show her which clouds the rain was coming from :)

Take that Collin :)

Carter was trying some tummy time.  He is getting so close to rolling over.  Collin is so quick with the rolling over that I'm constantly flipping him back to his tummy!  It won't be long until he's rolling over all the way...

Melissa Retterath came to visit with 3/4 kids!  Alia & Kota are also twins, so it was nice to talk to her about life :)  The kids sure had fun playing with Callie!  

Just hanging out together!  Carter really liked Kota (Callie on the other hand...!)

The Girls outside!  Man they played hard :)

My friend Evelyn arranged a play date for us to meet at the park!  Callie loves her daughter Natalie -they have so much fun together!

Even Collin & Carter were able to enjoy the nice weather (darn ants...great weather)

Snacks taste better when you're in a tunnel with a girlfriend!

Smiles :)

Trying to get a picture of these two was near impossible!  They would hug each other so tightly that they would tip over and fall to the ground!  Haha - they are so cute!  When we first arrived, Callie and Natalie ran up to each other screaming each other's names!  It was so cute!  Then the girls were being chased by Natalie's big brother, Cooper around the play ground!  I have not heard so many little screams of joy, giggles and sillies from two little girls!  They had a great time :)

My former building Principal and friend, Jean has triplet grandchildren!  I know a lot of the McDermott family already, but when we announced twins, we had an immediate connection with her son Tony & his fiance Lindsay!  They have four beautiful children!  They were in town from CA back in July, so we were invited over to have a play date/talk about Multiples!  It was so nice to chat about the present, the what ifs, receive advice on so many different topics & areas!  And to see just how happy and beautiful Lindsay is!  She's given birth to a total of four children and is still stunning!  She still has her sanity and her and Tony are still going strong :)  I enjoy seeing this bond in couples!  Thank you both for the fun times...it's crazy how many kids can be in one picture that is of only two families :-)

Of course there are always many more fun times to be had at the McRae's!  We have a very fun filled weekend coming up, so I will be sure to include a blog post about it!  Stay tuned!  Until then, enjoy your family, hug your kids and never - EVER turn away a kiss from your children (or your husband!!!)