okoboji, the fourth, and a wedding

We had three big weekends in a row.  The first was our annual family gathering (my family) at Okoboji.  As always, it was a lot of fun!

The kids had fun in the kayaks.  Reggie could only go forward, so his cousin had to keep pulling him back into shore.  Lydia and her cousin Audri baled out when they noticed they were sharing their kayak with a spider!

It's a tradition for Bryan and my aunt to go on the go carts together.

The following weekend we were at Bryan's parents' for "The Fourth". (We came home and were in the cities on July 4th.)

The weather hasn't quite warmed up yet Up North, so the swim session lasted 13 minutes.  I know this because the adults placed bets on how long the kids would last in the pool.

Uncle Adam gave the kids rides on the four wheeler.  The kids informed him they like riding with Uncle Matt better because he gets them up in the air.

 Everyone tie dyed shirts.

 Even Bryan.

MeeMaw took the kids on the "wild moose chase" behind their house.  She had each kid plant a pine tree. She wants to see how many years it will take for the trees to outgrow the kids!

Oops!  I didn't get a picture of Reggie by his planted tree.  Next visit!

Can you tell the shirts were my idea?

We watched the fireworks at one of our favorite places - on the field of the St. Paul Saints stadium!

The third weekend was a wedding!

Even though neither Bryan nor I are from big families (we both have 2 siblings), we have 15 nieces and nephews!  My sister's youngest daughter is the first to get married. 

She had a beautiful traditional wedding and the reception was at a venue called "Hole in the Wall".  It was a very nice, rustic place on a gravel road. 

We liked that we were able to stay the night there.  There was also a game room and it was free, so the kids were in heaven!

But we all agreed the cake was the very best.

Congratulations Michaela and Michael!

spotlight on Reggie

Last day of 1st grade

We are approaching the end of baseball season - 1st grade is "coach pitch".

I like the seasons we have fallen into with Reggie - fall football, winter wrestling, spring/summer baseball.  We will see how his interests change, but are sure we will be spending a great deal of time in our camping chairs.

Reggie loves geography and learning about states.  I'm pretty sure he has read at least one book about every state.  Here he is doing a puzzle.  He hates puzzles, but he did this one, because it's a map.

 The first week of summer while Lydia was at gymnastics camp, the boys and I had a chance to visit "new" parks.  It was fun to explore a part of the city we rarely visit.

 Reggie participated in two weeks of camp through the Young Scholars program in our school district.  The Young Scholars program offers advanced learning opportunities to students who are underserved in traditional high potential programs.  The first week was all about water and the second week was all about plant and animal systems.  He had a lot of fun!

I like this picture because we were having a picnic in a shelter at a park we visit regularly.  Brett always wants to sit in the sun so he went and sat on the path.  Pretty soon Reggie joined him, and then Lydia.  I was left sitting in the shelter alone. 

Where's the best place to picnic? Together.

spotlight on Lydia

Lydia is excited that she has clearly passed the 48 inch mark and will have no trouble going on rides and slides this summer.

Poor Lydia will never forget how she spent her last day of 2nd grade.  She still talks about how she missed her 100th day of school in Kindergarten.

Lydia wanted to give gymnastics another try, so I signed her up for a mini-camp the first week of summer through community ed.  Parents were not allowed to observe, so this was the closest I got.

I can be proud because I let my kids have screens everyday.

Sandwiched between two boys, and not very nurtured by her mother, this little one barely ever acts like a princess.

These two have an endearing connection

Feed My Starving Children meal packing event

All the important events in Lydia's life: Reggie's adoption, getting two guinea pigs, learning to ride a horse, one guinea pig dying, and learning to play Minecraft.

Ride your bike to school day!