The Miracle of Birth barn at the Minnesota State Fair. We were there as a lamb was born!  This was our first (and probably last!) visit to the Minnesota State Fair.  Nathaniel won tickets in a library raffle!

Annabelle in front of the Children's Hospital Simulation Bus!  My friend Karen (see next picture) runs this program at Children's Hospital.  Her team travels around to hospitals and clinics and provides training on how to care for the specific needs of child patients.  Many regular hospitals specializing in adult medicine don't have the training to care for children, especially in an emergency situation.  A very cool job (and an amazing woman leading it!).

My friend Karen showing Annabelle how to do the Hemlich maneuver on this dummy!

Nathaniel loved all the farm equipment at the state fair.

Sunday, September 2...the Splatter Sisters performed at our church to kick off the fall programming.  

Annabelle out on Bryant Lake for a last paddle boat ride for the season.

9/4/07...Annabelle on her first day of 4th grade!

9/5/07...Nathaniel on his first day of kindergarten.  He was moving so fast - this was the only picture that didn't blur!

Nathaniel's favorite part of school is the bus ride home!  His words the first day of school, "I loved it - I can't wait to go back tomorrow!"

Nathaniel and his friend Chad.  Chad lives on our street and is also in Nathaniel's kindergarten class.

9/9/07...Nathaniel looking at a model farm display at Eden Prairie's Sunbonnet Days.

Annabelle and friend Jenna at Sunbonnet Days playing an old fashioned game called "graces" I think.

Positively perfect!  Annabelle and Jenna tied for the blue ribbon in the costume contest.  They are standing on the same stage that just a few weeks before they performed "Hansel and Gretel".  Jenna went on to win the prize for best overall costume!

9/12/07...The potato harvest was plentiful!  We dug a big bucketful from just 9 crowded plants.  Everyone should grow potatoes!

Annabelle digging a potato...click here to find video.

The biggest potato

The crop!

9/14/07...At the John Deere Pavilion in Moline, IL on our way to the Pumpkin Festival.  We love Moline and the Radisson there!

Fun with the fountain on a chilly day!

The 2007 Pumpkin Parade!  The theme was "Pumpkins go Hawaiian". Left to right are  Ganan, Noah (my nephews),Zeke (my cousin), Nathaniel, Annabelle and Jacob (my nephew). click here to find video.

The biggest pumpkin weighed in at 634 pounds!

Annabelle and her great-great Aunt Marilyn.

All the cousins playing at the Brecher farm!

At Ackermann's Pumpkin Patch.

Annabelle and Aunt Elizabeth

Nathaniel watching a combine cutting corn across from my grandparent's farm.

The cousins playing at the farm.

Nathaniel and Jacob playing together with rocket balloons.

My grandma all foxed up for a wedding!

Ganan, Nathaniel and Annabelle.