Summer Cruisin'

There's something about going fast with the wind whipping in your hair, that feels so good! There's something about going fast, with the wind whipping in your hair - in the summer - that feels the best! Grandpa Ray knows all about it. He will rarely pass up the opportunity to drive one of his summer toys and feel his stylish silver hairdo blow in that summer breeze.

Lucky for us, Grandpa Ray has championed sharing the experience.

The Kids Each Drove the 3 Wheeler Around the Block a Couple Times

Tyler is Learning to Drive the Boat

The Rest of the Crew (and Ginger the Dog) Got Some Sun in the Back of the Boat

Aaahhhhh....summer. Feels so good!

It's All Fun and Games in Good Ole Mitch

Last night, 11:30pm, we returned from our long weekend excursion in Minneapolis to this Mitchell house....our Mitchell house....

But something was not right. Aaron's car, that we had left in FRONT of the house, on THIS Mitchell street, OUR Mitchell street, was NOT in front of the house upon our return.
We left the car in front of our house, on our street, safe and sound, when we left Mitchell at 4pm on Wednesday, July 22.

At 11:30pm, on July 26, we concluded 2 options for the missing vehicle:
1. Someone decided to steal it
2. Someone towed it, as the street appeared to be refinished

As we walked up to our front door, we found this note stuck in the door:
Apparently someone placed this in our door sometime AFTER 4pm on Wednesday, July 22. Taking a closer look....
All cars were to be removed from the street by 7am on Thursday, July 23. Unfortunately the 12-15 hour notice, was not sufficient for our cicumstance - being we left out of town.

There was no note as to what happened to our car, where they took it, or how to go about finding it. That would have to be tomorrow's project.

BUT....luckily for us, at 11:35pm, as we pulled on to THIS Mitchell street:

We saw our car - the silver Saturn - in front of THIS random Mitchell house

**Please note, this was NOT our street, or our house. The street and house...completely random.**

The car did have a bright orange note:

Reading as follows:
Apparently in Mitchell, Police Tows must be similar to hide and seek. If you can find your car, you get to keep it!

Lucky us....we were the winners of this round! Good ole Mitchell. Always full of adventure!!!

The Frog and It's Subjects

We found THIS absolutely adorable Tree Frog today. He was looking in at us through the window this morning. We couldn't resist spending the day with him. He found temporary housing in the bug house. We watched him spring and suction. Pretty schnazy little guy.

After we watched him for a while, it was time to take him out and give him some attention. Nothing like bringing out an amphibian to bring out some personality in people. 3 kids, 3 very different reactions:

1. Kenna LOVED Froggy. You can't tell as much here, but wanted to hold it and carry it around all the time. She was very gentle with Froggy.

2. Tyler - he liked Froggy ok. This was his only touch encounter with Froggy. After this, he just looked.

3. And Brittney....the picture says it ALL. This was an actual reaction I caught on camera.

Froggy was released back into his natural habitat this evening. We hope he had as much fun with us as we did with him!

Life on the Prairie

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all"

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

The sweet, simple things in life - like running in the open prairie, getting dirty with cousins, playing like children, exploring with our hands, learning, laughing, loving. Sweet things that we sometimes take for granted, but bring us such joy. Joy that creates and captures memories.

Through her books, Laura Ingalls Wilder has shared memories of her family's sweet, and often challenging life on the prairie in the 1800's, with the world. These books have offered great insight into that world - an insight that our family has grown to love learning more about.

With Brittney visiting, we couldn't pass up another visit to DeSmet, SD, previous home the Ingalls family, for more exploration of the 1800 prairie life. This was our first visit to the Ingalls Homestead property. It topped all our previous visits to DeSmet.

We explored the Homestead, went to the pagent, and camped on the Homestead property. We experienced full immersion into the prairie life.

These Kittens Were WELL Loved

This Old Tetter-Totter was Located Outside the School House


Inside the Chanty House - A Demonstration of Spinning Yarn - Kenna Helped


In the Shop - The Kids Made Corn Dolls, Rope, and Twisted Hay


At the Barn - They Rode Horses


A Covered Wagon Ride Took Us Out to the School House - They Allowed Each Child the Opportunity to Drive the Wagon

At the School House, the Children Dressed in Prairie Clothes, Sat in Desks, and

Were Taught by the Teacher

I wonder...what would I have been like in the 1800 prairie days? What would my story have been...what would your story have been?

Baseball Bashes

This is is what a group of 10 - 5 year olds, 2 - eight year olds, and a three year look like playing tee ball....at our 5 year old's birthday party!

Tyler is 5!!! Of course...we have been doing some serious celebrating. Since we love a good celebration, we had 2 - a family party and a friend party. Tyler's passion for baseball made his summer birthday celebrations easy - baseball all the way.

We began the week celebrating with family on his actual birthday - with a picnic on Nate's rooftop and to the Twin's game. Thanks to Nate for sharing his rooftop patio with us. Thanks to the Twin's for kicking some White Sox bootie!

Then tonight....the friend party. We had a ballpark, ballpark food, and ballpark activities. Tyler loves his friends. Tyler loves his baseball. It was a perfect night.

There Was Baseball Decorating - Created by Mom

A Backyard Ballfield - Created by Dad

A Reading of Rocky the Rookie at 2nd Base

Warm Ups - Look at the Concentration of these Rookies

Of Course, There Were Baseball Cupcakes

Singing of Happy Birthday


Goody Bags for All

Thanks Friends for a Fun Night

The family party started at Nate's Rooftop Patio. It was a perfect location, a few blocks from the Metrodome.

We Enjoyed a Picnic on a Beautiful Day

More Baseball Cake - This Time a Baseball Cap and Ball

Then to the Game to Watch the Twins Beat the White Sox 13-5

To Top Off - The Kids Got to Run the Bases After the Game

At age 5, Tyler is full of passion, heart, enthusiasm, care, and love for his friends and family. He has learned to be a great friend, a caring big brother, and a loving son. I can't wait to see what the next 5 years brings to our lives with him in it! Happy Birthday, Ty -Do!

Little Gymnast

When did our baby girl get so big? She takes her own classes, does her own activities, and makes her own little friends.

She LOVES her gymnastics class!!! It is especially fun for her because she spent an entire year watching her brother get to go, but she wasn't old enough yet. Now she is...and it is her very own. It doesn't hurt that she looks pretty cute in her little leotard.

Well Rounded

Those of you that think the Kahl and Thomas children don't have a shot at becoming anything except athletes, need to watch the below video. It's official - these kids are well rounded!

4th of July in Small Town USA

There are many things that small town America does well. Admidst these things done well, I think one of very best is - the 4th of July.

Inwood, IA is one of these small towns. The 4th in Inwood is a true celebration, a coming together to acknowledge and share in what makes our country great. Celebrating with the people of Inwood is our family's tradition, and has also become the tradition of some of our friends. It is a tradition we look forward to every year.

As kids are starting to get a little older, and more kids are added to the mix, the 4th develops a whole new excitement and wonder. It was sad to say goodbye to friends and family after such a fun weekend. We are grateful for such fun times of memory-making.

A few pics to recap the weekend:

Tyler, Kenna and Luke Thomas at the Inwood Parade

(we waited a long time in the rain...but it sure was fun)

Kenna, Tyler and Sophia Whitney at the Parade

The Whole Group of Friends (less Elise, Ben and Jacob) after the Fireworks

Luke Loved Throwing Rocks in the Puddle at the Haugland Farm

Sprinkler Fun on the 5th

Tyler and Kenna Cheering on Luke as He Takes the Plunge through the Sprinkler..GO LUKEY!

The Tree Ate the Golf Ball - Luke, Kenna and Tyler Looking for the Ball (many hours were spent running and playing in Grandma and Grandpa Kahl's big yard)

This is One of My Favorites....it says, "Hey Get me out of this Pen of LITTLE Kids"