Our weekend getaway!....

first stop - Timberlodge in Owatonna! We were hungry and had to stop somewhere before we hit the Medford outlet Mall!! :) We left with very full tummies! ;) he he

our hotel - La Quinta Inn and Suites. And yep, we were staying on the 16th floor!!! What is stranger yet is that there was some people from Mt. Lake staying at the hotel across the street from us at the Staybridge hotel, and then another couple from Mt. Lake actually staying at the same hotel we were at, but we never saw them. They saw us one time as we were going into the elevator! Now that is a small world!

One of the things we told the boys we would do is get them a wristband at the Mall of america so they could ride all the rides they wanted too.. Josiah opted for the hotel swimming pool, so I stayed with him while Martin and Isaac went to the Mall. Isaac had a blast going on the all the rides, or repeating some of them 3 or 4 times! He had a great time! Josiah never regretted his decision, although he sure was tempted by it when we went back the next day and he saw the Nickelodeon guys all over the place!

Isaac on one of the rides! and yes, this is a picture of a picture - we didn't have to spend the $15 or whatever the cost is for the picture! We got it anyhow! ;)

Martin has always wanted to see the "spoon with the cherry" at the Walker art center, so we went here on Saturday morning. It was a beautiful day to be out on the grounds seeing all the beautiful displays they have there... It was a little chilly at first, but warmed up and was a great way to start the day!

Saturday afternoon we decided to see a movie at the Mall of America. I chose "The time travelers wife" and Martin and the boys went to see "GI Joe"... needless to say, I would've chosen that one too if there wouldnt' have been a "chic flick" to see.... So the guys had time after my movie started and before theirs did, so they went down to legoland to build! this is what they came up with! Isaac's car is on the left, Martin's is in the middle and Josiah's is on the right! The yellow pieces on the boys' cars are the axles so the cars could be hooked up together, so when they made them go, the whole car moved! The boys LOVE lego land and we can't go to the Mall without letting them buy something there with their own money! They love that place!

Our latest family picture..... This is taken outside the theatres on the 4th floor of the Mall.... Believe it or not, someone from Mt. Lake was in the Mall to and we had them take our picture! how crazy is that?! :) We had a great time there, as usual and can't wait to go back there!

Hope all of you have a safe Labor day weekend! :)

Ratzlaff Reunion - Oregon 2009

Kathi made this at the beach.......

Dad taking a snooze on the Amtrak

us girls being goofy! ;)

a Blue Angel we HAD to get a picture of while we saw the Spruce Goose at the Evergreen Museum! ;) (Isaac is very into the Blue Angels!) sorr for not posting a picture of the Spruce Goose - its so big that I had about 10 pictures and didn't even have the whole thing on camera!

Isaac at the Pacific Ocean! :) This was his first time seeing and being at an ocean and he had a blast! You will notice by his shorts that he didn't care if the water was freezing cold (which it was!) or not - he went in - clothes and all!!

Isaac and I at the beach - again, notice his clothes! He's completely soaking wet! and the water was seriously freezing!

This was the passenger van that my Aunt and Uncle rented while all 30 of us were there visiting them..... This was later named "the Eventide van" because most of the time it was all the guys in there and with Uncle John driving and most of the Uncles wearing caps - it looked like old people were being carted around! :) Hilarious! ;)

Of course what is a trip to the beach (Lincoln City to be exact) without visiting Mo's chowder house?! It was delicious and had a great view of the beach!!

Kathi and Brandee getting pedicures from their daughters! ;) too cute!

Isaac, Connor, Hailey, Cole and Logan (don't know the other boy) playing at the beach...yes, they acted as if they have known each other all their lives - seeing the kids play together was a real treat! :) Makes me wish we didn't live so far apart!

The falls we went to see at Silver Creek Falls - it was beautiful here!

Isaac and I behind the falls!

Isaac standing "in" one of the 'caves' there...we were pretty sure bats probably nested up inside there somewhere cuz we couldnt' see the end to it...

this was a picture that Isaac took while we were on the train going through Glacier national park... Isn't it breathtaking?! (keep in mind that we were on the train when this was taken, but the train had slowed down while we were going through here, so a picture was easier to take, but we have plenty of photos that didn't turn out because they were too blurry) Also, many say that Montana is God's country - and this picture certainly makes you see why they call it that...

although you can't see this very well, Isaac got a perfect shot of the monument marking the Continental Divide.. This time the train was going full speed and it was a VERY lucky shot that Isaac took and actually got this monument in the picture!

These are just a few of the pictures from our trip...We had a fabulous time there and can't wait for the next reunion!! :)

Madison Claire Haden

She's here!!!!!!....................Madison Claire Haden arrived today, July 23 at 4:27pm....Madison weighs 6lbs. 7oz. and is 19 1/2 inches long......

We are very excited for her arrival and can't wait to spoil her! :) As soon as pictures are available (and I have the parental consent to post them), you will get to see her...And I must admit, that even via picture phone, she's VERY cute!!! :) So far she has long fingers and toes and has light brown fuzzy hair!!! :) :)

She's beautiful and we're so proud to welcome her into our family!! :) Now if only Christmas were the next holiday - we'd all be much happier! ;) hehe (obviously we don't get to see her til then, except for her grandparents, who will be seeing her in a couple weeks - lucky ducks Grandpa Kevin and Grandma Michelle!)....we have to wait til December.....


And tomorrow at this time, Dad, Isaac and I will be on our way to St. Cloud to get on our train....The train leaves EARLY Sat. morning at 12:40am, and we'll be riding with my Aunt Darlene and Uncle Duane who will be getting on the train in the Cities about an hour or so earlier....We plan on having lots of fun! :)

Like my Aunt Pauline said - "we'll be coming by 'trains, planes and automobiles' - literally!"

Have a safe trip everyone - we'll be seeing you all in a few days!!! :)

Hugs! ~
Michelle

2 weeks and counting......

The famous Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum is home to the famous Spruce goose!!!!

Silver Creek Falls!!! - isn't it a beautiful site?! :)

2 weeks til vacation that is!!! Isaac, my Dad and I will be travelling by TRAIN to the Ratzlaff family reunion in Salem. Oregon!! :) We leave Friday, July 24 at 12:40am and will arrive in Salem on Sunday, July 26 around noon.....

We'll have a Day at the Beach (lunch at the world famous Mo’s Chowder House, ice cream at Tillamook Cheese Factory, and walking on the beach), Golf, Day at Silver Creek Falls (picnic amongst the areas tallest trees and gorgeous water falls), Shopping, Bocce Ball, Volleyball, Eating, Horse Shoes, Talking and anything else we can think of.

Yes, we are VERY excited!!! :)

Another exciting thing is that one of my Aunt and Uncles will be on the same train as us, so we'll have double the fun going to Oregon!!! :)

Ever since I told Isaac that we were going by train, he's been asking me what time it is in Salem .... "so its' 5:00 there right Mom?" (knowing that they are 2 hours behind us).....Its been cute to see his excitement to spend time with me and Grandpa and I must say that I'm equally excited to be on this trip as well! :) What a great way to spend time with one of my sons and my Dad! :) And of course all my wonderful Aunts, Uncles and cousins whom I dont' get to see very often.... I'll be sure to post pictures when we get back!

Hope your families are doing well.....

PS - by the time I post again, my niece Krystie and hubby Mike will have their baby girl in their arms and will be experienceing parenthood for the first time!!!! :) :) Another exciting thing happening very soon! (she's due Aug. 1st)

Love to you all! ~

Michelle

The men in my life!.....

Josiah, Isaac and Martin - the most important men in my life!!! :)

The men again - don't they look sharp?! :)

Josiah loves to climb in this crazy looking tree! ;)

Isaac in the same tree!!!

Isaac next to his pine tree in our front yard

Josiah next to his pine tree in our front yard

Mowing Uncle Ron/Aunt June's yard

Without having the boys here to tell me why they took this picture, it just looks like a stump with bird poop on it, but I know there was something else in this picture and that's why they took it! Otherwise, its a neat picture of a stump if you like that sort of thing.

If you look real close, you can see the bunny the boys found in the grove at Uncle Rons'......and yes, they did more searching for things out there then they did mowing, but that's ok....It was a fun afternoon - weather was great and the boys were occupied while we were busy mowing....

Isaac in front of some bushes.....can you tell they enjoyed themselves? Martin brought his camera along, and suddenly the boys were off into the grove with the camera....they came back with these great pictures (there are plenty more of the grove, but I didn't want to bore you with them)...

Josiah trying to hide amongst the bushes...

A 'pathway' in the grove. So green, beautiful and peaceful.....The boys said we need to come back here this fall and get our family pictures taken in here somewhere, so I guess we'll have to talk to Uncle Ron and Aunt June about that.

Isn't this tree beautiful? Its so gigantic and is the first tree that welcomes you to their place.....By the way, this was/is my Grandparents place. And once my Grandfather passed away (when I was 5), and my Grandma moved into town, my Uncle Ron and Aunt June took over the family farm. Its beautiful. I have always loved it and have fond memories of coming out here to play with the baby kittens, chasing their dog, Tippie, and going into the barns to see the pigs....Even going into the hay-mow on occasion....Unfortunately, times change and there is nothing in the barns but birds and wondering cats now.....

Ok, so the real reason for bringing the camera along were to get some pictures of these beautiful baby kittens that were born out here......The mama is an orange and white cat (who wants to be petted, but hisses at you!) My Dad has been feeding her lately and has finally been able to pet her while she's being fed and our boys got to hold one or two of the baby kittens. (I think she had 4 of them). But this is where the kittens can be found and they were here when we first got to the farm (a gray one and a orange/white one ~ whom we've already named Stanley cuz he looks like our first cat that died).......The boys saw them, but couldn't get them to come out from their nice hiding spot. Then the lawnmowers were started, and the kittens were never seen....We did see the mama cat running out of the machine shed where the food is kept, so we know she was there......

Even Isaac helped mow.

I helped mow......

And Martin was on Uncle Ron's rider getting the lawn al nice and pretty.....Too bad we can't kill those darn dandelions though, man are they terrible!

And by the way, Uncle Ron is my Dad's youngest brother.......He's my Uncle, but is a Great Uncle to my boys......We've had great memories out here getting a cat from them 2 years ago - our famous Cadillac! :) He came from Uncle Ron/Aunt June's farm and is the best cat ever! He is very mellow and loves to be lazy!!!

Travis and Bobbielee's wedding - May 16, 2009

Travis and Bobbielee - finally married! :)

Travis' truck and motorcycle. For their honeymoon, they were going to the Black Hills and then going to take their bike out for some day rides too. Guess they even went to Devils tower, Wyoming! :) They had a beautiful time out there and now its back to reality! :s

The men in my life! ~ Isaac was a gift carrier and the rest of us just attended the wedding....however, Josiah had to wear his suit there, so he looked pretty cute too!

Me and my beautiful pregnant niece! :) Isn't she cute? (although I must admit that this is a horrible picture of me - it makes me look like I'm the one pregnant and not Krystie!) UGH

Mother's Day - May 10, 2009

When I came home from the Race for the Cure on Sunday, this is what I all had waiting for me!!! The mini carnations are from Martin and the boys and the single rose was from Isaac (thanks to Uncle Pat!) and then all the beautiful cards I had from the boys and Martin....It was a great thing to come home too!!!

Team Mary for 2009 are: Lisa Nelson Hurlen (Mary's sister), Joley Hanson (good friend of Mary's), Patty Espenson (Mary's best friend), Lona Nelson Baumann (Mary's youngest sister), and myself......We were all so pumped to be here in honor of Mary. I do hope that everyone felt Mary's presence that day because I know Mary would've loved to see us walk for her!

my new friend, Cyndy (and her sister to the left of me). Cyndy and I started talking Sunday morning at the hotel's breakfast area. She shared her story with me and I told her a little bit about Mary Nelson Clerc who we were walking for.........Then, I found her again at the Mall of America (among thousands of people), and had to get our picture taken. We both knew this was a "God wink" for us to have found each other again so we exchanged phone #'s and email and we've emailed everyday since the race! Cyndy just got diagnosed with cancer last year and has had a double mastectomy ......her vibrancy in life is amazing and she knows that God has called her to do wonderful things because of breast cancer, although somedays its not easy to remember that. I am so thrilled to call her my friend and love visiting with her!! Can't wait to see you next year Cyndy!!!

The Minnesota Vikings were one of the sponsors here today too, so of course we had to get our pictures taken with some of the cheerleaders! Go Vikings!!!

Amazingly enough, I happened to find Jena, Martin's cousin from Medford, MN there as well. She happened to be just a couple people in front of me in a line that morning!

This was on our way to the Start line and yes, we made if on the big screen!

The starting line - finally!!! The race started at 9:00, but with all the things they had outside for you, we didn't get going until 9:45, and the streets were still completely packed!! I've heard they had 45,000 people there that day!! And it took us 1 hour and 15 minutes to walk the 3 miles - not bad considering all the people that were there too so you couldnt' really go do much but go the pace of the crowd...

These were some people right away along the route that were there to help cheer you on! I don't know about the other gals in our team, but this group got my emotions going - it was just their cheering for you and then I heard "go Team Mary" which was us and I got some tears. Its a very emotional day......By the way, only the survivors wear pink at the race......And believe me, there was a lot of pink worn .....it made me realize just how many people breast cancer affects which is just crazy. Men were there supporting their wives, kids and adults were there supporting their Moms, sisters, etc........I heard there were some men there who had had breast cancer as well, but I never saw any. But it affects them too..

And at the finish line! - 3 miles later - We made it!!! :) We had such a glorious time! We all made plans to go back again next year!