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family fun days, day #1

Well hello again! It's me, Alden! I have much to share from the two packed days my family kept calling Family Fun Days. They have been on the calendar for a while and greatly anticipated by everyone. You will simply be amazed at how much Mom and Dad decided to pack into these two days. In fact, they would probably say it was a leeetle bit too much. But all in the name of family fun. First, we went to the Minnesota Zoo.
Did you know this is my mom's favorite part of the whole zoo? It's just this little exhibit in Discovery Bay where they have the sea horses, jelly fish, twig fish and things that don't even look like they're alive, but they are. She freaks out about the twig fish every time. Have you seen those before? They're incredible!
Then we walked the tropics trail. Hattie seemed to be very taken by the flamingos and ducks. She just loved watching them down in the water. Dad told us we are going to order a few ducklings with our baby chick order this year, which should be a good time. Ivar asked why we would get ducks and Dad said, "to eat!" So that's exciting.
We spent a lot of time watching the fish, and even saw the scuba guy feeding the fish. I just couldn't believe the different designs on each fish. It looked like a group of children had taken turns coloring each one, some with polka dots, some with stripes, some with both. Mom got inspired for an art project with the big kids...
Then we ate a lunch Mom packed. We were trying to do this trip on a budget and this was a great way to save money, though no one was actually hungry for their sandwiches because a big bag of chips had been consumed on the tropics trail...
And now this is so fun. It turns out my dad is really great at stir stick sculptures! No one knew of this special gift! He just whipped these fancy things up and wowed the whole family. (As well as the lady who was waiting to dump her tray into the trash while we took this picture.)
And then we got to the hotel. We stayed at the Country Inn and Suites across from the Mall of America, right across from the Radisson Blu. It was so great! We loved this place! We got an early check in and Dad took the big kids swimming, while Mom tried to put me and Hattie down for naps. And let's be honest, Dad definitely got the better gig, because Hattie and I were like, "wha? you want us to just lay down in this new room? Lady, you crazy." But mom is really persistent. And I do love a good nap, so eventually, I just gave in. Hattie took a little more convincing, but Dad came back and was able to get her to settle down too. Then we woke up and it was time to head to the Mall! Hattie was sort of crabby, so she got a cookie. But I was just so thrilled!
We walked across the parking lot, across the frontage road, up the elevator to the sky way, through a parking garage, by the Blu, through another parking garage and right into Lego Land (with a quick detour to the Local Honey shop..which nearly killed my brother Ivar...)
But then Ivar and Elsie got right down to business. This destination had been discussed at length, what they were going to purchase, what they were going to build. My brother Ivar has just been introduced to Stop Motion Animation and is super into writing scenes for his legos.
And while everyone played with Legos, I worked on my stretches and tried to increase my overall flexibility.
Then we were off to the rides. Elsie chose to go on the Carousel with mom, and really wanted the white horse with the roses.
And Ivar chose to go on the roller coaster for his ride. I don't think he had thought through the whole thing fully. Dad said he was laughing and hooting for the first part and then the ride got very intense and he looked over and Ivar was completely still. Dad said, "are you okay?" And Ivar said, "too. much."
But then it settled down again and by the time the ride ended Ivar said he loved it and gave Mom a long, tight hug to prove it.
We went and ate at the food court, followed by dippin' dots and then went back to the hotel so the whole family could swim. I just stayed in the stroller and kept working on my flexibility, but Hattie hung out on the stairs and Mom played with Ivar and Elsie, but mostly a 5-year-old whose grandpa was talking to my dad about karate. Her name was Ellie and she'd jump into the pool, right by Mom, and pop up to blurt, "I can't swim!" So mom would help her to the wall, where she'd monkey around to the ladder and position herself wherever Mom was, jump back in, pop up and yell again, "I can't swim!" Over and over and over. It was kind of a riot, and kind of patience-inducing.

Needless to say we all went to bed pretty easily that night. We were tuckered! And we had to get our sleep for another full day of family fun ahead...

John Deere Groves, welcome to the farmily

Last Monday I found a John Deere on Craigslist that was from the 50's, a 620. Rory went to check it out and that was the same day I called my Uncle Jake to ask his thoughts. Later that night Rory and Uncle Jake talked and Rory said, "what would you put a guy like me in?" And Uncle Jake said, "A 3020." That was exciting to us because moments earlier, my brother-in-law Jedd had texted Rory, "You need to look for a late 60's John Deere 3020."

Two trusted farmers agreed. We felt so grateful to have our ship pointed in the right direction! That was all on Monday night. Wednesday afternoon a new listing popped up, a John Deere 3020 from 1969, wide front and runs on gasoline. We were floored, because the price was right, the location was 90 minutes away and after months of combing Craigslist, this was the first I saw of it's kind.
Thursday morning Rory drove up and met Myron, drove the tractor and met Myron's HUGE Scottish cows with sharp horns and hair in their eyes. And he bought the tractor. We are just so thrilled at the thought of all we will be able to do in our field because of this tractor!

Today Myron delivered the tractor and parked it in the barn. It started up beautifully. And as he drove it into the barn I said, "we have so much red around here. It really had to be yellow and green."

the brothers and the sisters

These kids are my constant companions and I love them with my whole, entire heart. We are celebrating this week because we all are healthy for the first time in 2018! This is an age and stage where toddlers sneeze on babies, babies stick everything in their mouth, and when germs pass easily from one to another. So we hunker down, read lots of books and snuggle. And ice skate on plates on the tile. I found the girls skating like this after we watched the German ice dancers on youtube. (The only five minutes of the Olympics I have seen! Crazy!)

hattie joy for a monday morning

Hattie got this darling little sweater set from her big cousin Madi. It is just on loan, and mostly just for this photo shoot because I don't believe I want to be the one who gets a stain on this super adorable ensemble! So the two of us went out on this glorious afternoon and took some pictures with the assistance of the cat.

Tonight at dinner we did our usual family check-in, "Hey, hey, what do you say? What was your favorite part of the day today, Hattie?" And she answered, "Anah. Mom." Anah means outside so we all knew that her favorite part was this special time together. Me too, Hattie Joy.

hattie at worship

hattie worship from Becca Groves on Vimeo.

I was raised in a church where we did not raise our hands during singing. So it took me a while to get used to being in churches where they do this freely. It felt funny for a season, but now I really appreciate this part of Sunday worship. It feels right to me. That said, I have a lot of friends at this same church who sit quietly during the songs, many who don't raise hands, and others who flat out dance. What I like about this church is that the body is free to worship how they are most comfortable...and that is going to be different for everyone.

So I'm a hand raiser. And Hattie is starting to raise her hands too. Every Sunday she wants to be held like this, with her feet standing on the chair in front of us, swaying from foot to foot to each song. Watch her hands during this quick video. Rory showed this to me after service and I was so grateful he captured it. It is a very sweet and incredible feeling to watch your kids worship the Lord.

Elsie sort of twists her skirt from side to side during each song with her hands held palms up right in front of her. It's cool to watch them come into their own. And then it's so fun to all be singing the same songs at home, all day long, because the same ones are replaying in all of our heads from a great morning of worshiping together.