Summer Fun

We went up to the cabin this weekend and spent some time at our friends' cabin in Grantsburg, WI. Their two boys are the same ages as D and M and do preschool with us. D and M had fun splashing around the shallow water and D loved hanging out on the large tube.







She also attempted to climb a tree when we looked away for a moment.



The "Let's Take a Nap" game strikes again.



Some pictures of the progress of the cabin shower/bathroom.



The reason we had to take out the wall--so Steve could get out from behind the shower after installing it.





Yeah! Pushed into place (for good this time!) There's still a lot of work to do though...



On Monday we visited our newly remodeled library that just opened over the weekend. Here are the kids outside in the children's reading garden.





Here are some pictures of D playing soccer.





On Tuesday, our preschool group went to Como Zoo. We had fun in the butterfly garden--one even landed on my bag.



The highlight of the trip was definitely the Sparky the seal show.



That evening, the kids and I met my friends Terry and Dan and their kids (ages 8 and 12) who were visiting MN from Alaska at Snail Lake Park (Steve had a softball game).







Our little fashionista.



Taking a swing at t-ball.



My friend had Tim Mahoney play at her husband's birthday party. I've never quite seen D and M cut a rug quite like they did that night. Here D is teaching M how to twirl her. Future ballroom dancers?

Fire Fighters and Pilots

Our preschool group took a tour of the Roseville fire station on Tuesday. They must be very brave indeed, as they let my children hold an axe!





Even though it was an incredibly hot day, one of the firemen got all of his gear on for us to see.





Sitting in the firetruck.





Petting the dalmation.



After the firestation, we headed over to the Harriet Alexander Nature Center. They had a room full of things for the kids to touch and play with, like these animal puppets here.



Finally, we went to one of the new playgrounds at Central Park. The bouncing pogo sticks were a favorite.



On Wednesday, we met Steve for lunch at one of the wading pools located near his work. It was a great day to cool down in the pool.







Our brother-in-law Bill was able to spend some time with us today as his flight today took him to Mpls and didn't fly out again until tomorrow morning (he's a pilot). We went to Nelson's in Stillwater for ice cream--our favorite and the best deal in town.

4th of July

We went to my parents on Saturday to celebrate the 4th of July. Here are the dads relaxing...



...and the cousins playing together.



The kids had such a fun time pulling each other on the green raft.



A future job directing air traffic?



D trying out the new water wings.



Playing with Daddy on the green raft.



Papa took the kids out for a pontoon ride and they both got to drive the boat.





Cute cousins!





M and sweets are kind of a dangerous combination. First, here he is with a chocolate covered cupcake (love the goatee!)...



...then with red velvet cake. Yikes!



Sparklers!





On Sunday, the fourth, we hosted our annual 4th of July party and headed to Central Park for fireworks at dusk. D quickly made friends with one of the older boys and they held hands as they walked to the park from our house. Cute!



D thought the fireworks were very loud and kept worrying that M would be woken up by them at home (our neighbor came over to stay with him while he went to bed).

Great Harvest

D took it upon herself to carry up and fold all of M's laundry. The pile may look a little messy in the picture, but she actually did carefully fold (as best she could) each piece of laundry, underwear included! M kept coming over and wanting her to play and she kept telling him "No, I can't! I'm busy folding the laundry!"



On Tuesday, we took a tour of the Great Harvest Bread Company in Linden Hills. It was neat to see all of the equipment they use to make such large quantities of bread. I especially loved seeing all the giant equipment, like this dough hook...



...and these mixers.



Peeking in to see rising dough. M could have easily fit into that mixing bowl.



Tuesdays are their slow days, but they still had plenty of loaves going 'round and 'round the Ferris Wheel-like oven. Mmmm...hard to resist anything at this store!



After our tour, we headed over to the Wild Rumpus bookstore (super cool--live animals walking around everywhere!) and then Sebastian Joe's for a little ice cream treat and a ride aboard the turtle in the outdoor garden.



That evening, we went to go watch Steve play his softball game. M is so happy to have a mitt and ball just like daddy!



On Friday, it was quite warm out and we turned on the sprinkler to cool down.

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.