Week 30

Earlier this summer, our neighbors asked if we wanted to go camping together.  Derek and I had been thinking about going this summer since we didn't have a big summer vacation planned and we hadn't been in a long time (3 years!).  We were disagreeing on where to go camping- Derek wanted to go up north (3 or 4 hours away) and I wanted to go super close (20 minutes) in case the weather sucked and we wanted to go home.  So when our neighbors who hadn't been camping in 15 years asked us, I won the disagreement and we went super close.  I am so glad we did!  Punky was still able to go to a birthday party (at a horse stable!) on Friday night.  The boys left early to set up camp and the girls met them there after the party.  Maybe next year we will be brave enough to go farther away.

We ate our meals separately, but on the first morning our neighbors made sausage.  Punky was over there in a second flat.  No go on the granola bars and grapes we planned.

The kids had fun around the campsites.  They played card games, played pretend like school and zoo and basically hung around.  We did get quite a few "I'm boreds" which I found funny and annoying.  I kept saying "Do whatever you want!" but I guess they are used to more structured time.  I don't know and I am going to be sure to ask my parents if I said "I'm bored" while camping as a kid.  

We spent a good chunk of the day at the playground and the beach.  I'm so thankful there was a nice beach for the kids to swim.  Our campsite was well shaded and had a nice breeze, but it was a hot and humid weekend regardless!

He needed some help with his goggles

We came back from the beach, cleaned up, ate and went to a family program about Native American skills.  We had a campfire and s'mores.  The kids wanted to tell ghost stories and the only partially remembered one my Dad told when I was little.  "Whoooo's got my golden arm?"  Anytime my Dad repeated that phrase I would be so freaked out!  So I did a little googling, found the complete story and told the kids.  Yikes- Buddy and the other little brother were so scared!  They had a good laugh about it in the morning but they were so so so scared that night.  Why do I find that so funny?

Buddy fell asleep during the campfire

The number one good thing about camping so close to home?  We were home and unpacked by noon.  We all showered, went to Chipotle, did laundry and Derek and I took naps while the kids vegged out.  Perfect!

Week 29

Another great week!  Where is this summer going?  Mid July already- ugh!  

I didn't pick up my big camera, so here are some iPhone photos.

Buddy'sports sampler class started t-ball last week.  It's fun to watch him practice batting!

Derek lost his wedding ring at a job site last Friday.  He spent two hours that night searching the area with a metal detector and came up empty handed.  He was back at the site on Wednesday for work and decided to take another peek.  He found his ring!  5 days after losing it!  He thinks it originally sunk into the top layer of sand on Friday but after the rain over the weekend the sand washed away and allowed his ring to peek through!  It's not his first time losing his ring- he sure is persistent in finding it (and lucky)!

I taught the kids how to play War.  They've played multiple games all week.  

We skipped soccer on Thursday evening because it was raining and I just didn't want to sit in the rain and deal with two cold and wet kids.  They only cancel for lightning but come on, they are six!  

So, we went to Minions instead!  Buddy really wished we could've seen Jurassic World, but he did really enjoy Minions.

We went to the zoo on Friday with my old coworker and her son.  The kids enjoyed making a new friend!

We finally bought Buddy a big boy bed.  He was getting awfully big for the toddler bed.  And since he is nearly the same size as Punky, he definitely deserves it!  He was so excited to go to sleep tonight!

Week 28

Since we aren't going on a long vacation this summer, Derek and I decided awhile back that we wanted to spend a day in Duluth.  We checked our calendar and had one free Saturday the entire summer.  Thankfully, it was a gorgeous day.  Our plan was to get up early and head to Duluth, eat a picnic lunch, sight see, eat dinner and head home at bedtime.  We kept our plans a secret from the kids until that morning and have since dubbed the day "Family Fun Day".  We hope to have many more in the future! 

Our first stop was the Alpine Coaster at Spirit Mountain.  We'd never been before, but we will definitely come again.  It was sort of expensive for what it was, but we had no other plans to spend money, so we went for it.  

I read about Chester Park on TripAdvisor, so we headed there for our picnic lunch.  Afterwards, we did a small "nature hike" and saw some pretty waterfalls.  It was getting pretty hot, so we didn't push the kids too far since we wanted them to keep going all afternoon.

At this point, I wanted the kids to remember that I was on this family fun day too.  I am the primary photo taker, so most of the time, I am not in any photos!

I figured out that if I want to get a pretty picture of Punky, I need to let her take a silly one first.

We headed towards Canal Park for the rest of the afternoon.

We let the kids put their feet in the water and we all had fun tossing stones into the lake.  It wasn't too long before Buddy waded out a little too deep and the bottom of his shorts were wet.  Then, Punky took a tumble and landed completely under water!  Good thing we brought extra clothes!  They went all in after that!

We changed clothes and walked further down the beach.  The kids actually listened this time and didn't go in the water.

At this point, we were all so hot.  We decided to get ice cream at this cute stand right by Grandma's.  We were there two years ago and the service was terrible.  It was the same this year, so we are definitely not going back.  Punky wanted a slushie- they don't sell slushies anymore.  Why is it on the sign?  We had to list three flavors of ice cream before they actually had one of them.  Why is it on your daily menu?  Buddy asked for a "sundae on a cone in a cup".  Derek and I were confused, but rushed, so we just ordered him a vanilla cone.  Oh my goodness, did he flip out!  We walked for three blocks to get to DQ and we still didn't know what a "sunday on a cone in a cup" was.  Buddy didn't want vanilla, anything drizzled on top, a cone or a spoon.  He wouldn't describe it to us and to this day we still don't know what he was talking about.  He got a vanilla cone at DQ and was perfectly happy.

We at supper at Fitgers and then headed to Enger Tower where we got to see a barge leave the harbor through the lift bridge.  The kids had no clue how big that boat was since we were so high up and it looked super teeny.  Oh well!  We headed for home around their regular bedtime.  Both kids fell asleep in the car.

We were all exhausted today and didn't completely nothing all day.  I hope we can have more Family Fun Days in the future!

Week 27

Buddy learned to ride his bike this week!  No training wheels!  He said he wanted to try it and off he went.

On Friday, we went to CC for the annual 4th of July celebration.  Everything about the weekend is the exact same every year, but that is what I love most about it.

On Friday, we spent the afternoon outside with everyone- talking, playing bean bag toss, etc.  It was a nice easy-going day.  We headed to Maynard for burgers.  They were setting up for the street dance while we were there and the kids had a good time dancing to the sound checks.  Punky had some wild moves.  One of these years, we will have to let her come to the street dance, but I suppose 6 is a little young!  This year we brought the kids back to grandmas, put them to bed and went back to the street dance for a few hours.  

This year for the kiddie parade, the kids' cousin L and 2nd cousin P joined us!  Our theme was "Great Grandma's Garden".  Punky was a flower.  Buddy was a bumble bee.  L was a frog and P was a garden gnome.  The kids all did so good!  The two little ones stayed in the wagon the entire route.  And the two big ones waved to the crowd and walked the whole way.  Derek and I were able to stay on the sidewalk since Auntie Amber was pulling the wagon.  Next year, we want to pull the kids on a small float (4 wheeler with a trailer).  Since there will be two new babies next year, it'd be easiest for everyone to participate!

We followed the parade with a picnic at Great Grandma and Great Grandpa's.  It is always one of my favorite meals of the year and this year did not disappoint!  There was a nice breeze in front of their house to make the heat of the day not feel as bad.  When we got back to CC, the kids went swimming.

After a late night watching fireworks, everyone was tired and fell asleep quickly!  Sunday was a lazy morning and then a drive back home.  Back to reality tomorrow...  I wish this summer would slow down!