More Cousins and the Teddy Bear Band

John and Ronda hosted a picnic at their house to spend more time with our family from Texas. D and M both loved getting to know their cousin Michael better. They had a great time playing with him on the sports court in their back yard and invented a new game--stuff the basketball under your clothes. Michael helped D to score her first goal (and hold a stick for the first time). Michael's high school hockey team won state this past year in Minnesota and he will be attending Colorado College this coming fall. Maybe we can see him play in a game there when we go out to visit Steve's family in Colorado Springs! Hip hip hooray! D made it to the letter Z! There was a miscommunication about the time and place we were told to pick up Chino and Mercedes from the bus station (we were told St. Paul at 5:45, they were in Minneapolis at that time waiting for a bus to take them to St. Paul, which arrived at 7:10), so we had some time to kill. We were close the the state capitol, so we got out and let the kids run around a while. D striking a pose. It was "Touch-A-Truck" evening as part of Rosefest on Sunday. The kids got to go in a fire truck, garbage truck and this tractor. Part of the evening festivities included a family favorite--the Teddy Bear Band.

Rosefest Parade and Fort Snelling

We went to the annual Rosefest parade on Monday. D got so excited when she finally saw the first group coming down the road.



M spots a police car.



Waving the flags they got at the parade.





D getting "vulcan-ized".





Our homeschool preschool group went to Fort Snelling on Tuesday. We practically had the place to ourselves...I'm guessing because we chose the hottest day to go to a place with absolutely no trees or shade. It was H-O-T!



Inside the circular tower.





Playing with toys children would have used during this time period (a wooden boat) and doing the laundry. The kids were totally wet after this, but the cool water felt so good on such a hot day.



We asked questions to one of the actors at Fort Snelling.

Playing with the Cousins

My mom and dad hosted a picnic so the family could see our cousins and aunt and uncle from Texas who were in town. D and M enjoying their time in the water at Grandma and Papa's.



M went fishing for the first time ever. He had a blast touching the fish before throwing them back in. Papa helped him reel in sunny after sunny.







D enjoyed catching fish, too.



D went on the inner tube behind the boat with the big girls (cousins Maddie and Ana). Unfortunately, once out on the open water, the tube flipped over and they got trapped underneath. Ana rescued D out from under the tube, but I think it will be a while before she gets back on one again. She refused to go back on it for the rest of the boat ride.



M and Andrea observed from the dock.



Here they go!



D and I go for walks a couple of evenings a week for some girl bonding time and some exercise for me. After a fun day in the sun, on the lake, and playing with cousins, D actually fell asleep a little over half-way through our walk. She never woke up once the rest of the night! What a tired little girl. Notice she is holding Oso and Cinderella princess shoes, which she insisted on wearing on the walk.

Good Times at the Cabin

D and the letter Y. We're almost there!



The theme for VBS this year was super heroes of the Bible. Someone from the church individually sewed capes for all of the kids who participated (there were over 230 kids each day!). The kids loved their super hero capes and got to decorate the letter for their name, which was then ironed on.

My little super heroes.







The kids invented a new game at the cabin called "Let's Take a Nap." I kind of like this game...



The turkey has left the building! Yeah! The turkey's out of the house...but look where it landed. Up at the cabin. I guess it will feel at home here as there are many turkeys on our property. And at least it's out of the house. But you can see that thing from every room in the cabin!



I took some other pictures of the interior of the cabin because I don't think I have many posted on here.


Kitchen (can you see the turkey?)


Looking at the living room and kitchen from the entryway (can you see the feathers?)



Another view of the kitchen.



The living room.



The bathroom saga. Just when we think we might be ready to get this project finished (having a place to shower and bathe, that is), something else comes up. Steve is working on getting the plumbing ready and felt it would be easier to just tear out the wall to work on it and then put up new sheetrock. Too bad I just painted that wall! The bathroom with a wall (and a hardworking man)...



...and without a wall. Steve got most of the plumbing done this time at the cabin. Unfortunately, once he was done, he decided we need to move the plumbing around a bit to make the place where you turn the water on a little higher. So, he will have to un-do and re-do most of what he got done this weekend the next time we go up. Ugh.



D really wanted her picture taken on this giant adirondack chair outside our local grocery store in Danbury.



Mister Lounger. M was just hanging out in the pool. You can also see the new board Steve put on the deck.

Let's Have Fun

D made an alphabet train.



M doing his puzzles.



D and the letter X.



I love that smile.



We had some guests stay with us last weekend from Guadalajara, Mexico. They are here for the Pelican Rapids missions trip our church does every June. This is Mercedes' third time here staying with us, but it's the first time she's come since getting married. Her husband, Chino, is joining her on this trip and the kids just adore him. I think they make have worn him out before his busy week up in Pelican. Here Chino is posing with D before her dance rehearsal.



D's tap class is dancing to "Let's Have Fun", a Caribbean-style song.



Recital day! All dolled up and ready to perform.





D with Chino and Mercedes after the recital.



This past Sunday our neighborhood had its annual block party. Everyone gets together for food and chit chat. They arranged for the firetrucks and firefighters to come by so the kids could get a tour of the vehicles.



Aren't we cute in our matching shirts? VBS started this week at our church, so we all got to dress alike in our "Super Hero" t-shirts to start the week off.



D also attended a birthday party this past Saturday. She really loves the balloon they let her take home from the party! Yes, she's clutching the balloon string in her sleep.