LietzauFamily

I’m always surprised (even after 12+ years of living in Golden Valley) how many critters we have in our neighborhood.  It seems I’m always seeing something new.  Here’s a few that we’ve seen this summer:

Oops - he ran away when I tried to get closer

The albino squirrel visits us a lot.  Just when I start to worry something has happened to him, he pops up in our yard again.  This time he was peering in the egress window at my while I worked on the computer.  When I tried to take a good picture of him he ran off.  But you can tell he does indeed have pink eyes!

Something hit the window - what is it?

Another day, Gabe and I were upstairs in my room when we heard a loud whump!  Something hit the window, and hard.  I looked out the window and down below but didn’t see anything on the patio so I figured it must have flown off.  A few minutes later Gabe started shouting, “A BIG BIRD!!! I SEE A HUGE BIRD!”  And sure enough – he was perched up above the window on the roof and you could just see his tail feathers.  I went outside to get a better look:

It's a huge hawk!

It was a hawk – a very big, yet still juvenile hawk.  A pair of hawks nested on Sweeney Lake near Jacquie’s house, and it looks like one of the young ones is trying out his hunting skills on our block.  We’ve seen him many times around our yard – on Gabe’s swingset, below the bird feeder with a squirrel in his grasp, and sitting in our maple tree out front.  I don’t mind him; I think he’s pretty neat looking.  Just don’t go and scare all the song birds away now!

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck?

Mr. Woodchuck is a newer visitor to our yard, and I’m not so sure I care for him.  About the time he started showing up, I notice my side yard by the tomatoes was all torn up with holes and tunnels.   Now, I’m not sure he did it, but something is wrecking the lawn, and it’s something bigger then just a little shrew…  Woodchucks like to live under sheds and in wood piles I’ve heard, so I’m going to have to clear those out to discourage him from staying around.

Check out the gallery below for more photos of the critters in our yard.

Critters

Pictures of the critters in our yard.

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Gabe and I have season passes to the SLP Aquatic Center.  I wasn’t sure we’d get use out of them (and we may not, compared to other families) but they are working out perfectly.  Since we have season passes, I never feel obligated to spend “all day” there to get our day pass’ worth.  If we feel like just going for a couple hours one night, great!  Weather turns south, no worries!  It’s kind of nice.  And so is the park:

Gabe figures out what the wheel does.

It is a zero depth entry pool, meaning it gradually deepens from zero to 24 (or 36, I’m not sure which), but is deeper yet after the ropes and in other areas of the pool.  It has slides for little kids and bigger kids, and plenty of sprayers, fountains, and splashy things.

Do you like my hat?

Lily loves to hang out in water (with me) and splash and kick, while Gabe runs all around having a blast.  One of these times I need to get Mike or someone else to come with me so I can take Gabe on the bigger slides.  He’s not sure strong enough of a swimmer to do them completely on his own, and I can’t leave Lily on her own either.  Next time.

Gabe at the SLP Aquatic Center

SLP Aquatic Center

Gabe and Lily at the SLP Aquatic Center

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Gabe and I went fishing last night at Jacquie and Carol’s.  We went for a canoe ride with Jacquie; I was in the front, Gabe sitting on a tackle box in the middle, and Jacquie in the back of the canoe.  We went to Hidden Lake rather then Sweeney Lake – Hidden doesn’t allow motorboats so it’s better fishing, at least at the time of day we went.  We caught so many fish!

Fishing on Hidden Lake

Jacquie and Gabe’s poles were set up for crappie, and mine for blue gill and sunnies.  It turns out that’s where it’s at – as fast as I could cast I was pulling in fish!  So we switched over Gabe’s pole, and he was catching them too.  End of the night, Gabe caught the biggest crappie and sunny, while I caught the most fish, as well as the biggest fish – a nice small mouth bass.  Almost caught a wee little pike but he jumped off.  There is a nice variety of fish in Hidden and Sweeney Lake, and I look forward to fishing again!

Fishing on Hidden Lake

For the Fourth of July weekend we went out west to Kristen and Chad’s cabin.  Technically it was the 5th, but we were celebrating the Fourth, so that’s what I’m calling it!  The Scheuneman’s lake cabin is very fun, on lovely Lake Mary out near Winsted, MN.  It was a good day – warm enough to play on the beach or in the lake, but not so hot the grow- ups (who didn’t go in the water) were nice and comfortable.  We did get a spot of rain – but it was a two minute sprinkle that helped cool things off, and it was instantly sunny again.

I have to thank Kristen for these photos.  We didn’t bring our camera, but she had great one and took wonderful photos of everyone.  Especially Lily.  She’s a cutie:

Lily on the Fourth

Gabe mostly played on the beach making elaborate sand and water contraptions, Lily sat around looking adorable,  bonding with Maisy and Austen (those two couldn’t get enough of her), and getting cuddles from the grandparents.  We did get to take out the boat, and Gabe got to ride in the tube.  He loved it (as long as it didn’t go fast enough to get tossed out of the wake!).  It was a lovely way to cap of the Fourth weekend.

Fourth of July 2010

We celebrated the Fourth of July at Kristen and Chad's lake cabin this year.

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If you’re just joining us, go read Indiana Trip (Part 1) before you start in on this post.

After the super hot day at Holiday world, the weather turned a bit cooler, and we ended up with great weather the last couple of days.  It was cool enough we could finally hike the trails without soaking your clothing with sweat.  So Katie, Tom and I tackled the parks trail system – and we did them all!  Oh wait, *technically* we did not do ALL the trails – we did not do a quarter mile, paved, handicap trail that ran around a picnic shelter.  That trail aside – we hiked every trail (and a few offshoots) and it was lots of fun.

Hiking at Harmonie State Park

The trails go through some very nice forest – made of a large variety of trees – beech, oak, maples, sweetgum, redbud, sassafras, walnut, and many more.  It feels very undisturbed and natural – vines, mature trees, ferns and smaller woodland plants, and vast gullies and ravines.  Even the trails themselves were in the process of being reclaimed by the forest – trees and limbs down across them, a bridge that had collapsed, and sign posts that leaned against trees instead of standing next to the path.  Some people may not have liked that, but I thought it added to the adventure.

Hiking the Trails

Hiking the Trails of Harmonie State Park

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The last nights we were all there we had a big cookout between Katie & Tom’s and Kelly & Shelby’s campsites.  We pulled all the picnic tables (and another site’s too) in a half circle, and then set out all the camp chairs for the other half, circling the camp fire.  Lots of yummy food, and good company, made this a great night.

The whole family together for a cookout

We got someone across the road to take a picture of everyone (which turned out really nice – I’ll replace the Myrtle Beach one on my wall with this one).  Once it got dark we tossed a lantern up in the trees and then played cards long into the night.  I’m sure the neighboring sites probably didn’t like that, but it was the last night for all us there anyway.  So much fun!

Cookout

The whole family together for a cookout

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On Saturday, our last day, we packed up the cabins and campers and headed home.  Our little family, along with Katie and Tom, made a stop along the way at Grandma Nita’s.  Grandpa Joe, Travis and his family, and Susie were there too.  Grandma made a pretty little doll blanket, and her sister Marcia made an old fashioned doll for Lily.  After a wonderful supper of soup made from veggies from the garden, we headed down to the barn.  Susie, Katie, and Gabe all went for a ride on Splash, Grandma Nita’s Tennessee Walker (because Splash is such a nice horse to ride).  Susie worked out all the jitters and calmed Splash down, then led Splash around while Gabe rode.

Gabe riding Splash

Gabe was pretty nervous at first (”It’s so high up!”), but he settled down and loved it so much he had to go a second time after Katie.  After the horse rides, we headed back to the house, and Grandpa Joe gave Gabe a ride on his motorcycle.  Two firsts in one night for him!  We hung out and talked until way too late, then hit the road at 6AM for Minnesota.  A wonderful ending to a wonderful trip!

Grandma Nita

Photos from our visit with Grandma Nita and Susie

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This June we went to New Harmony, Indiana and stayed in the family cabins at Harmonie State Park.  It was hot – upper 90’s – and it was humid.  But it was fun to see everyone, and neat to share with Gabe things I did when I was a kid, so all and all a good trip for us.  We ended up with lots of pictures, between my camera, Katie & Tom’s camera, and some Grandpa Joe took at Grandma ‘Nita’s.  I want to give a big thank you to Tom for letting me have a copy of the pictures – he was the most on the ball of all of us to remember to actually USE a camera!  So a big chunk of the photos I’m going to share are ones he took.

Around the Campground

The first group of pictures are ones that didn’t really fit into a category.  Shots from around the campground of things that caught our eyes, or cute kids, or what-not.  Lily ended up in a lot of pictures (cute little baby!), as well as snakes, for some reason!  Kelly, I”m surprised at how few shots everyone got of baby Shelby.  I did take some – but they ended up being little blurs as he ran by, bounced up and down, or was swung from our arms on a walk.  Very few turned out!  He just doesn’t hold still anymore.  Maybe next time.

Around the Campground

Photos from around the campground at Harmonie State Park.

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On the second hottest day (nearly 100, full humidy, and super-sticky (what were we thinking?)), a few of us explored the town of New Harmony.  Grammy K, Katie, Tom, Lily and I walked all around town.  I’m happy to report that the Labyrinth is doing really well – thicker and nicer then ever.  The town itself is picturesque with great historical buildings and homes, lovely gardens, and quaint shops.  Definately a good town to walk around (but maybe not when it’s that hot (are you sensing a theme yet?)).

New Harmony toll bridge

Either I’ve forgotten it, or we never went across it when I was a kid, but there is a GREAT old metal bridge.  It connects the town of New Harmony to Illinois, spanning over the Wabash River.  It’s amazing – so high, and old, and kind of rickety looking.  You have to pay a dollar to cross it – but it’s so worth it.

New Harmony

Pictures taken exploring New Harmony, Ind.

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On the HOTTEST day of the trip we went to Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana.  Yep – Santa Claus is the name of the town.  It’s next to Christmas Lake, and every store and street has something to do with holidays.

Amy, Gabe and Lily with Santa Claus

It was a good day to go to Holiday World because it has a HUGE water park with the longest water ride and the highest water ride in America (so their signs say).  We didn’t go on either – but we played in a fun kiddie water park most of the time which helped us stay about as cool as we could.  We ended up with a hot sticky baby though, and had to head home early.  On the way out we saw the diving show – and they had somebody who set themselves on fire, and jumped 60 ft down into a tank of water.  It was actually pretty cool!

Holiday World

Holiday World in Santa Claus, Indiana

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There you go – that’s about half the photos from the Indiana trip.  I’ll add the rest soon!

Lily! Lily! Lily!

Click to make bigger.

Lily’s nearly 9 months today (next week).  But we went out of town to Indiana before I got a chance to upload these photos onto the website.  So let’s take the way-back-machine, and jump back a few weeks, and check out Lily at her 8 month birthday.  The biggest change in the last couple months is how well she sits up, rolls around, and interacts with everything around her.  She’s very talkative – and more then just mamamama – she’s got some ba’s and ga’s and lots of silly growls, trills, squeals, and other “sound effects” that can’t really be described.  She’s also is getting her first teeth – the two on the bottom – so lots of drool:

Drooly baby!

Thankfully these ones are not bothering her too much.  She’s a bit more cuddly, and a bit less content to just play on her own when we are at Jacquie’s and working, but other then that, she’s taking them in stride.  She does chew everything you give her though – chomps down on spoons, ni-nights, your fingers!  Still sleeping through the night however, so that’s good.  And boy, does she ever adore her big brother.  Which – right now – he thinks is pretty cool.  I’ll remind him of that later when he can’t stand his annoying little sister!

Lily at 8 months

Photos of Lily at 8 months of age.

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More photos and posts to come – lots of things to catch up on!