Cabin burn.

The cabin on our lake property was very much rundown.
There was not much of a roof with nothing left to salvage.
So I worked with the Community College & the Mission Fire Dept.
to get a night set up for a control burn.
It was a great opportunity for them & for us!

When we arrived that night it was a big production.

Lots of fire trucks, police & students learning how to put out fires.

It was pretty wild & neat.

Thank goodness there was a light mist in the air and no breeze,

because when they let the whole cabin become engulfed

embers flew everywhere & all over.

Now we just have a hole with a lot of ash in it to clean up

which will be taken care of in the spring when we do a lot of

excavating work.

November.

Our sensitive, responsible, loving eldest turned 10 on Nov. 1. 

He had to get putting his legos together right away before school.

He's a lego fanatic!

He wanted to go out to eat at Culver's for his birthday.

The manager specially made strawberry custard for him too!

He was one happy guy.

Grandpa Eddie stopped by & we celebrated his birthday too!

We're so thankful he's still on this earth to celebrate.

70 years old!

We had a birthday party for Brock & Adler with family.

Aunt Lisa brought a big chest of legos that the boys could play with 

for as long as they wanted.

It sure made their day.

We heard Uncle Joe shot a big buck 

so the kids & I jumped in the van & we drove to the farm to see some action!

Vance loves when he gets mail.

Especially when it's his High Five from Uncle Joe & Aunt Erin.

My sister invited me to go with her to the CMA party at the St. Cloud Convention Center.

We had a great time!

Viv's hair was getting a little long & straggly.

So it was time for her 1st trim!

We set up a playdate with the Erickson's since we don't get to see the boys

at church anymore.

It was a great time with friends, pizza, beer, bowling, & lazor tag!

Vance has really been a BIG help around the house while the boys are at school.

He helps out with anything Viv needs or wants 

& he even loads & unloads the dishwasher, folds laundry

& puts it away & keeps his room picked up.

He's teaching his brothers what hard work looks like!

Having some Fudgin Delicious in town.

The creamiest, richest ice cream around!

Having fun with Kalina.

ECFE storytime at the Big Lake library.

Thanksgiving with the Johnson's.

Thanksgiving with the Herdina's

We always have to check out the guns at Fleet Farm.

Belle & her 1st frosty paw treat!

She loved it as much as Olivia always did.

Making gingerbread houses at Becker Community Center.

So much frosting & so much candy!

Vance & his preschool class.

Duluth.

Every year we try to bring the kids to Duluth in the fall.
And lucky for us, every year Luke has been able to find a conference
he can attend so the rest of us can tag along for free.
Now that's a vacation!
For the past 2 years my parents have been able to join us too.
We left a day early so Luke could come with us to Gooseberry.
We learned from experience last year that going farther north past Duluth
is better at the beginning of the trip versus the end of our stay.
(*and we learned from experience to never EVER stop at the Culver's in Two Harbors!)

Our sweet kids enjoying the park.

We love that dangerous trail that wraps around the falls!

We walked the trail to where the falls met Lake Superior.

It was beautiful.

Luke took the kids down to the water to skip stones.

Grandpa Wayne trying to make it across without getting soaked!

Contemplating whether he should join the boys or stay safe on dry land!

Day 1 in Duluth we stayed in a big suite & the kids even had bunk beds.

Enjoying Canal Park!

The water was so calm.  We've never seen Superior like that.

(Just a week later a big storm rolled in & demolished the boardwalk)

Watching the big ships with grandpa.

Standing under the lift bridge as it comes down.

Viv was not sure about all of that!

It was calm during the day & calm at night.

The horse & buggy would go by regularly 

& we would play on the grass all night.

Then we'd end the night with smores!

Hanson's were also at The Inn on Superior too

so we had a good time together.

It's a beautiful new day & we're up early climbing on the rocks!

Grandma Yvonne thoroughly enjoyed herself laying on the beach & picking rock.

Grandpa & Viv checking out a big ship that is departing.

Relaxing on the lawn.

Having some appetizers & playing games.

What a view!

Having fun with the Hanson's in the hot tub.