"My Crazy Kids"

Marcus and I are together at the only geocache I managed to find on the extensive trail system in Huntersville this weekend. The outdoor recreation was a blast but very tiring.   Father and Son fun By Allan Olson On Saturday morning Marcus and I headed out early we had to be in Park Rapids for the geocachers bi-annual ditch picking event. We met with a large group of people just south of town and started visiting before we headed out gathering garbage. With the large group of people picking up ditches including some young kids who didn’t mind the running it took only an hour to get the two mile stretch done about half the time it was expected to take. We visited some more and headed back to Park Rapids one of our group needed to pick up someone else and there just happened to be a geocache nearby that several of us needed to get yet, from there we headed to the deep forest of Huntersville. For those who haven’t been geocaching most geocaches are within a sma...

Marcus found this geocache tucked in between the rocks on Friday afternoon on the Paul Bunyan trail. It was a fun but tiring outing for the kids and I as we managed to log 20 geocaches for the afternoon entertainment. It was a great way to get out and enjoy some fresh air after a long winter. Photo by Allan Olson. Easter Weekend By Allan Olson Once again we were spoiled by some pretty decent temperatures and a chance to play in the great outdoors. With the kids off of school on Friday and mom heading out of town with a friend I made a short day of work on Friday so I could play and of course someone had to watch the kids since they tell us we can’t leave them at home. So Friday afternoon about 1 p.m. we finally hit the geocaching trail it was four kids and dad – there was no telling how long we could’ve been out there if I hadn’t controlled my impulse and they knew it. So they asked how many I wanted to find, I told them more than 10 but I had 16 on my list...

With more colors to choose from now that their room is clean and more fingernail polish was unearthed the girls painted their finger nails Monday morning before school. Of course that also distracted them from getting their socks and shoes on. Spring Cleaning Frenzy By Allan Olson Cleaning wasn’t an ideal way to spend any weekend but we did it anyway. It was time to take care of the mess downstairs beginning with the kid’s rooms. My wife decided that it was best that we tackle the girl’s room first and do it together. I think if I would’ve realized that it was going to take as long as it did – I would’ve called in sick. Friday evening we dove in and started tackling the mess we were armed with garbage bags and ready to get the work done. The process was simple if it was broken or not working it was garbage, if the dog chewed on it – it was garbage, if we felt the items were too young for them it was also garbage or if the girls decided they didn’t like it anymo...

Finally, a warm weekend! It was a beautiful spring day on Saturday – perfect for attending an indoor geocaching event and later heading out after a geocache. We made our 615th find on this spot, and our geocaching partner Fargnot made his 14,098! This event was fun, and finding the cache was fun; overall, it was a fun weekend. By Allan Olson It was bound to happen sooner or later – the tide finally turned on Minnesota’s weather, and it is making some of our snow melt away. It actually is starting to feel like spring outside, and we gladly took advantage of the change. Thankfully, things started off much better this weekend than the last; we learned that my wife’s uncle is making progress toward a recovery – something that has brought much excitement for the family. We are hoping he continues to mend. After school on Friday, I took the kids to the library. Back at home, the kids were required to do some work – folding laundry, cleaning the living room, working ...

Watching a show and using their dog for a pillow was one way to spend the afternoon on Sunday A Busy Weekend By Allan Olson It was a busy weekend for us. While we didn’t plan to do much, sometimes life throws curveballs that we can’t just swat away. On Friday we received word that my wife’s uncle had suffered a massive heart attack and was air-lifted to Grand Forks – not a good way to start the weekend. We discussed some options, lined up a possible sitter for the weekend, and then decided not to leave. On Saturday morning it was all planned – my wife and I were finally going to go on a real date, since she has let me know that some of the “work dates” that I’ve taken her on don’t count. The original plan was to go to an early movie, followed by a geocaching event at a Bemidji restaurant (where we would enjoy some appetizers), then go to another movie, and then have a very late dinner. Those plans were altered before we even left the house since we couldn...