First Day of First Grade

D got to choose whatever she wanted to eat the night before first grade. Her choice...homemade macaroni and cheese and broccoli.

M wanted his picture taken too.

D and her friend.

D's first grade teacher, Lin Laoshi.

Made it through the first day of first grade.

State Fair 2012

As is tradition, we went to the State Fair at the end of the summer. We got tickets for the kids to go on rides for the first time.

Grandparents and Saints

Steve's parents came to visit us for a week in August and got to join us in Steve's work party at a St. Paul Saints baseball game. The kids loved getting their face painted and "tattoos."

Gary took the kids on bike rides around the neighborhood almost every day they were here. The kids loved it!

Summer Soccer

The kids played on a summer soccer league for kids aged 4-6 (perfect!). They had a lot of friends on their team. They both loved playing soccer and being on the same team.

They always wanted to be the goalie.

Annivesary Retreat

We celebrated our 8th anniversary by going to the Inn at Timbercove in Ashland, WI. We went there for our honeymoon and returned every summer until we got the cabin, so it had been a couple years since we'd been there. My parents watched the kids so Steve and I could have a relaxing weekend. My favorite thing to eat for breakfast in the whole wide world. Brazilian pancakes. When Tina publishes her cookbook, I will be the first one to buy it so I can get this recipe!

We stayed in the Guest House.

Their two dogs Dolly and Jim accompanied us on walks in the woods and mealtimes on our porch.

Hammock Haven...'nuf said.

Love the view.

We went to Bayfield on Saturday and ate a picnic lunch by the harbor.

Visit from Texas

My cousin Ana and Aunt Terry from Texas spent some time in MN in early June. D and M loved playing in the water with Ana.

We spent the next weekend at the cabin with Chino and Mercedes. She taught me how to make the most awesome dish, enchiladas verdes.  Num!

 

 

 

Chino helped Steve put up new screen on the porch.

 

 

Can you tell which side they worked on?  What a difference!

M made ramps for his cars with the leftover pieces.

 

 

Going 4-wheeling with Chino.

Chino and Mercedes heading out for a spin.