Vacation in MN part 3: Gideon’s Birthday Party

Gideon turned 3 while we were in MN. The day before we had to head back to Colorado we had a big birthday party for him. It was so fun to have cousins and Grandpas, Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles, and friends there! We have really missed that since moving to CO.

On Gideon’s actual birthday we let him open one present. A new red strider bike!

His party was several days later. The birthday boy and his presents. Could he be any cuter?

Gideon had a big audience while opening presents!

The boys love the book 1001 bugs to spot. Titus is sick and tired of reading it to them. So we got 1001 things to spot on the farm for Gideon for his birthday.

And he got a new whale!

He also got a big bucket of ocean animals, and that was a huge hit with the other kids.

Blowing out his candles! I can’t believe he is three! Happy birthday Gideon!

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Vacation in MN part 2

Even though our vacation in MN was for a sad reason, we did have a lot of fun with our friends and family. It was wonderful seeing all these great people again! The kids did not want to go home!

Faith loves kitties. And she loved all the kitties at Grandma’s house.

We got to visit our good friends the Axfords! 😀 The kids haven’t been to their house in over 2 years, but they all had lots of fun (and the mommies did too!!). Here are the Axford and Penner children:

And one of Faith and Ede! They are only about 5 months apart in age!

Daddy bought Faith a very cute outfit while in MN. It was so cold there she wore it almost every day!

We also had lots and lots of fun with cousins! Some of these cute kids are first cousins and some are second cousins!

Silly picture!

Faith really had a hard time in MN. Her stranger anxiety is still really high. She didn’t want anyone to hold her or really get close to her at all. She fell asleep and I passed her off to Aunt Tessa who got to hold her for about 5 minutes before she woke up.

Vacation in MN part 1 Maverick and Faith

While in Minnesota I got the chance to take these adorable pictures of Maverick and Faith. Maverick and Faith are first cousins and a few days short of exactly one year apart. And boy are they cute together!

It took me a little bit to get them to sit together. But they did!

And then Faith tried to take Maverick’s hat. He would have none of that!

Too bad they are first cousins because these would be so cute at a wedding! 😉

Saying Goodbye to Grandma Penner

Grandma Penner was so special to us. She was a sweet and loving lady, always happy to see anyone that walked through her door.

Grandma and Gideon

I distinctly remember her calling me granddaughter at a bridal shower I took her too years ago. Both of my grandmas have been gone for a while now and it was so special to be called a granddaughter again.

Titus, James, and Grandma

 We are going to miss Grandma very much. But we know that Grandma believed in Jesus for eternal life. We know that she is with Jesus and we will one day see her again. And that is comforting. She had a beautiful service, full of flowers and songs.

Titus was honored to be one of the pallbearers.

Great granddaughters picking flowers at the grave site.

Titus and his cousins/siblings that made it to the funeral.

It was a cold and gray day. But Grandma is rejoicing with Jesus.

Grandma left behind 6 children, 20 grandchildren, and 23 great-grandchildren. A true legacy.

Easter in Minnesota

We ended up being in Minnesota over Easter because Titus’ grandma died and we were there for the funeral. First the boys colored eggs at Grandma Sharon’s house.

This was really fun for them because we didn’t do it last year (Juli winning Dutch Bliz in the back).

The eggs:

Faith eating her Easter candy:

Sadly we had to hunt for eggs in the house. But the kids didn’t care.

Faith had a pretty hard time in MN. She is so scared of people. And for some reason she really doesn’t like my brother Levi. She cried every time he walked in the room.

After my parent’s house we hopped over to Titus’ parents house and we did it all over again (minus the egg coloring). Looking for Easter baskets

Faith and a kitty:

Cousins! I tried to get Gideon and James in here but they were too busy eating candy.

Family picture. The children’s clothes were given to them by someone in the church. We don’t know who, but it was so so nice of them to do that!

Happy Easter!