Minnesota, Ontario, Dells, Madison WI or BUST!

SO you know we are leaving for a very long Bertino/Hudson family road trip! And you also may know how pissed off Dan gets in the heat! Put 3 weeks of luggage, and 97 degrees and you get a very pissed of packer! I always love watching him get ready cause he totally freaks out! He was first determined not to have a car top carrier for fear of everything getting wet through storms, but after trying to pack with out it..yeah right!
So he repacks with now stuff on top. Everthing fits without and inch to spare! Hysterical! I mean, really, 3 weeks with a 4 year old and all he requires, plus camping gear, fishing gear, golf clubs, scooters etc...dear god!
We leave first thing in the morning! We have such an awesome time and dont expect any less! We are shooting for Dan not to go in the hospistal mid trip this year, as we are still paying last years hospital and ambulance bills!
Wish us luck and say a prayer for safe travels! I will update as adventures happen! As for our Hank, he is staying here at home to guard the house with my sister in law!

Once Upon a Bash

THere is a new place in Maplewood called Once Upon A Bash, where you can have birthday parties (stupidly overpriced) or just have open play during the week. Two of my friends and I met there with our kids this morning to play. We werent sure what to expect. It was basically a big room that had little sections. One part was a kitchen and grocery store with a picnic table, a block section, a reading stage, playdough etc. It was cute and for 5$ a kid it was entertaining. At one point Dora even showed up but that was short lived because Alicias twins DID NOT LIKE DORA! She left rather quickly. Evan spent the rest of the time worried if she was really gone! It was adorable. It was nice because we were the only people in the place.

Hanks Look Out

So, as you know we own a half dog half horse named Hank the Tank. Well, one day Hank decided he didnt want to be on the deck anymore, he scratched up our screen door to get back in. Since then, (like 5 months ago, not a priority)when the sliding door is open to the deck, he pokes his head through for fresh air and to see whats gonig on! We really need to get that fixed, but it cracks me up!

The Knight Of Water

Yesterday I filled up coles tiny pool (yes hes been playing in it since he was 1) so he could "swim." He always makes up some sort of game to play with himself. I had the water gun and was spraying him and he then remembered that Allie had given him a knight dress up thing for his bday. So he put it on to shield him from the gun I was shooting him with. Then he built some sort of contraption to hide in. Great imagination!

11 week visit!

Today I had another checkup! Cole and I were very excited to get to hear our "galloping baby horse" on the doppler. The dr. says everything is great, right where it needs to be. Baby Bertino's heart rate was strong and I have gained 2 pounds! Gonna lay off the oreos a little...apparently the reduced fat ones arent helping!
We leave Friday for a 3 week vacation adventure so I had to ask a few questions. THe first was if I could eat smoked salmon. HE SAID YES! Music to my ears because in Two Harbors Minnesota there is the best joint where we buy smoked salmon and I didnt think I was going to be able to eat it! He said in moderation!
My next question was if i can zip line while we are in Ontario. That was a big fat NO! Atleast I was 1 for 2!
SO July will bring another heart beat check, then the sex check in August. I am the only one that thinks its a boy. Literally everyone else says girl!

Smell the Roses

Yesterday my mom and cole and I headed to one of my favorite St. Louis spots! The botanical gardens! I mean, it's perfect! Cole can play and watch the fountains and I can look at the beuatifullnes...is that a word? and we always have a great time and take great Cole pictures! He has such a blast in the fountains and the kids playground!

Tessas Rainy Day

Today was Tessas bday party! It was supposed to be hot and sunny and thunderstorms in the evening! Well, so much for that! Right at noon (the start of her party at the park) it came a major storm! Thunder, lightening...the whole nine yards! THen it quit for like 10 minutes and another even bigger storm came though. THere were a whole lot of kids and people under one awning! However, after the guys bbq'd in the rain, and lunch was over it lightened up and the kids could play and get muddy in the puddles! It was a great time even with the storms! I cant believe Tessa is 1!

A Pet For the Day

Yesterday when I got home from lunch, Cole came running out to show me his "new pet." While Dan was mowing he saw a baby bunny hopping around the yard, so he and cole got a box and put grass and rocks in it. No they didnt touch the bunny...they used a shovel! He was so cute! Cole asked if we could keep it, but I told him the bunny needed his family. (in hopes Dan hadnt chopped them up) I remembered recently seeing a hole in the backyard, so i went to the back and uncovered the hole and inside were 2 more babies! So we turned the box over and the baby bunny hopped right back in his hole and snuggled!