Category Archives: grandpa

Camp Koch at the lake

June 19, 2014

Camp Koch. Camp? Well not what you’re thinking. I’m not getting Ivy into training for “How to be a Koch.” (What would that be like, by the way…) Rather, Camp Koch is a serene lake retreat getaway at Lake Madison with enough waterfront beach property to fit all of the Kardashians. The lake cabin is right at the tip of Peninsula Point so they are lucky to have beach on both sides of their property. The beach is one thing, but then they have the most quaint little cabin that is just perfect and snug for when you have to get indoors. Which in our case, was ALL day on Saturday :( It was 60’s, rainy, and cloudy, so we were locked inside. Nonetheless, we were happy to start a cozy wood-burning fire and relax. Thankfully, Sunday was spectacular, so we rushed outside to show Ivy what Camp Koch was all about. I can’t wait for her to be running around here swimming and jumping off the dock! What a perfect place for a kid to go in the summer, she’s so lucky. Thank you Emmie and Papa!

So here I was, with the in-laws (John was in Vegas, WHAT), just eating, laughing, playing, and watching Ivy enjoy her first time at Camp Koch.

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Don’t worry, Grandma was right behind her!

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Sundays with Grandma

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What’s this lake thing, Mom?

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Precious morning snuggles with Papa

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Fireside playtime with Emmie

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Camp Koch Cabin

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Reunited and it feels so good

May 18, 2014

This last week was a REALLY good week. We had our last days of school and I get to be back together with Ivy again all day every day! Pretty sure I started my summer break countdown before my students did :) We celebrated by heading down to our cabin in Yankton with some friends for the weekend. While I was celebrating, Grandmas were not. Betsy, John’s mom, and my mom Caleen have been taking care of Miss Ivy while I have been at work, and Ivy has become their little pride and joy too. I am so thankful that Ivy got to spend time with her Grandmas! My mom was the more calculated one with her being the nurse, on the other hand, Betsy was her free-spirit self getting Ivy accustomed to all sorts of things and getting plenty of action. Either way, Ivy was in fabulous hands. For the Koch’s, Ivy filled a void that they needed after a tough year last year. Dan would have his morning bottle-feedings and rock her to sleep before he left for work, while Betsy would take her to stitch group on Thursdays and share her with all of her friends. The last couple months while it has been nice, I had to drop Ivy off at Hardee’s to meet Betsy and Dan with their morning walking group. It was so funny each time bringing her in there, she knew all of the women and would always give each of them a big smile greeting. Ivy got plenty of attention, that’s for sure. Plus, with Ivy being with Grandma Betsy, it was nice for John and his brother Jimmy who would often stop over for lunch or sometime during the day to see Ivy. I think Betsy had a visitor every single day. Good for Ivy because she likes to be in the action! It would certainly keep BOTH of them busy! Ivy and I are looking forward to trips to Lake Madison with Dan and Betsy and spending time at Camp Koch this summer. Betsy has it all set up for Ivy! Now for swimming lessons in June!

Here are some funny pictures that Betsy would send me

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Hi Mom, just having fun with Gramma BetsyIMG_4868

Daily Readings

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Uncle Jimmy, multitasking at its best. Ivy’s not impressed.

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Visiting the Butterfly House with Kristi and the Sweeney Girls

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I don’t like tarantulas!

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Smiles at Grandpa!

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Reading cookbooks

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Lunchtime with Daddy

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Drums don’t belong in your mouth silly girl!

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Sniffing lilacs

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Ivy wouldn’t be a Koch if she didn’t have a sweet tooth! MMMMM

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“I LOVE CHOCOLATE!!”

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Silly girl


We spent Saturday at the lake with Shannon. Finally some sun!

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Shannon’s going to be Ivy’s Pediatrician in October!

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Summer looks good on you baby girlIMG_4920 IMG_4921

First time touching the sand. She loved it! But not the cold water, EEK

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Gammmy gam

April 15, 2014

Betsy and Caleen, Ivy’s grandmas, sure take some good pics. The best when I’m at work and I get these. Love it. She sure does have fun with them. They say she’s ALWAYS SMILING. That’s my girl :)

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Grandpa Dan loves his morning baby time. Rock-a-bye baaaaaaby

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Got my knee pads on ready to crawl

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Betsy’s knit group is teaching Ivy some skills

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Time with Grandma

March 20, 2014

Ivys still hangs out with one of the grandmas each day while I’m at work. She seems to really enjoy it! And they do too! Both grandmas have her quite busy with a lot of play time! Lucky me to get cute pictures of Ivy from them throughout the day

IMG_4268Sweet baaaaaaby
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Big cute eyes

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???????? No words

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Love her funny smile

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Adjusting

January 29, 2014

Ivy’s off to Grandmas each morning, I’m at work. Blah. I miss being around her every day, all day. But it’s time for grandmas to get some QT with her. Jealous. The good thing about it is that they send me daily photos of her. It makes my days at work tolerable! Grandma Betsy even got her to laugh! What the heck!!! John and I haven’t even gotten her to do that yet! I guess I need to increase my crazy faces and obnoxious baby talk. Seriously though, Ivy, come on, aren’t we funny too?!

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Look at the sweet Ivy blanket Grandma Betsy knitted her

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Dress up

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IMG_4123The sweetest

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Grandpaaaaa