Friday, June 30, 2023
Festivities
The past two weeks have been filled with lots of swimming, biking and reading. The girls lucked out when we ran into friends, Lily and Violet, from school while visiting Lake Elmo park. We also found some new swimming holes on White Bear Lake. Birch park and Chautauqua park seem to be our new favorites. We can bike to both easily. We had to give up our old favorite, Willernie beach, this year because the lake is too shallow with the lack of rainfall. Thank goodness we can bike further distances and the City of White Bear is working to make a bike trail that goes all the way around the lake. Next year we will have access to the downtown and all the beaches using the trails.
Over the weekend, Erin and the girls attended the Swedish Maypole activity at a farm in Scandia. We toured all of the historial buildings to learn how the Swedish people lived when they first came to America. The girls were fascinated by the story of the Tomte told by one of the historians. Erin was impressed she got to stand in the oldest functioning church in Minnesota. The church was made with no nails and the boards were put together in a Lincoln log like fashion. Following our building tours, we participated in a variety of activities. The favorite activity seemed to be making flower crowns with wildflowers. Coming in a close second was running with the metal hoops followed by milking the cow and wringing out clothes using an old fashioned tool. Everyone was impressed by the amount of Swedish we were hearing families speak as we passed by different groups. We had to leave the Maypole ceremony a bit early due to rain, but we got to hear the Swedish National Anthem and some songs in Swedish.
Unfortunately, the Canadian wildfires have made it hard to breathe outside for the last week, so we have had to make due indoors. We walked at the indoor ice arena and found some free bowling tickets for kids to pass the time. Hopefully, the ash won't last all summer.
Saturday, June 24, 2023
Belated Birthday
Emma decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday at the sand castle building contest on White Bear Lake this year. She invited three friends to build with her. Analise decided to have her own team, including her friends Ellie and Emily. Both teams worked hard for the entire time given. Emma's team created a porcupine with tons of quills. Each girl told a fact about porcupines when they presented to the judges. Analise's team built Old Jerusalem. When they presented they talked about all the key places within the city. Emma's team ended up getting 3rd place for the "Creatures" category this year and Analise's team got 1st place for "Castles" category. After the judging, we all walked over to Cup and Cone for some ice cream. We were lucky it was a clear sky day and everyone had an enjoyable time. The girls hope they can get their friends together again at some point this summer.
Saturday, June 3, 2023
Spring 2023 (but really ending winter and then hitting temps in the 80s)
Both girls continue to take figure skating and gymnastics year round while picking up some other sports based on the season. This spring the girls participated in Girls on the Run. This was Emma's last season before she starts middle school track.
As a family we like to take hikes and be outside as much as possible. We managed to fit in a few bike rides before the heat came as well as a trip to Trollhaugen for a high ropes course.
We are not sure where May went. The weekends just zoomed by. We celebrated Aunt Sharon's 70th birthday and Uncle Michael's wedding. Aunt Sharon was able to get almost the entire family together for the event. Michael had a perfect day for his wedding. The celebrated at a distillary. The girls enjoyed the games they had set up for kids to play.
At school, the girls participated in their yearly Chronological Quest. This year Emma was Hera and Analise was Mumtaz Mahal. Hera's costume proved difficult to keep together and the morning of the presentation, Emma had to make some quick repairs. Analise insisted on having a "real" Indian dress. Luckily, Dan had a friend from work that helped us out with her request. Grandma Kathy helped to add a headpiece and jewelry.
Emma performed in the band and choir this spring and Analise's class put on an Alice in Wonderland play. Emma enjoyed playing "Star Wars" and"Mary Poppins" on her clarinet as well as singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." Analise was a flower that talked back to Alice while in Wonderland. Both events were fun to attend.
Emma moves into middle school this next year. She is nervous but also excited to move onto the next level. They had a nice graduation ceremony for her where they told her strengths and gave her the name of a Bible character that they believe represented her personality. Emma was given the name Joanna for her strength and independence. Emma also earned an award for Latin and joined the 97% and above excellence group. Emma received 97% or better in all of her subject areas.
Once again we attended the school picnic to wrap up the year and Analise had a third grade end of the year party at a friend's house the following day.
Into "summer" we go! In the next few weeks, the girls will attend Circus Juventas camp, the "Descendants" play at Stages theater, and an art camp where they make beaded picture designs.
This year Emma is planning to have her birthday at the Sand Castles and Creature contest on White Bear Lake. We'll see what they create. Emma's friend Abby will be moving to Montana at the end of June. We are hoping that we can visit them when we are out at Yellowstone in August.
Two seasons this year- Winter and Summer
With this winter came lots of snow which meant we got a few more days of winter activities. The whole family made it out downhill skiing at Wild Mountain and we even got a sled dog training experience in through our local library.
For Analise's birthday this winter, the girls decided to try snowtubing on a giant hill. Analise brought Tessa and Emma brought Svea. After a few bumpy starts on the tow rope, they were off and running. A couple of hours later, their arms were getting tired and we decided to call it a day. The weather was perfect and much fun was had.
While it was still cold out, we helped with Manna Market and Feed My Starving Children in Coon Rapids. The girls helped box food for 700 families at Manna Market (donated food from supermarkets across the metro) and made meal kits for children in Central America. We hope to return to Manna Market this summer to help even more families get what they need.
There were a few days days off of school where Emma and Analise were watched by Grandma and Grandpa Walczynski or Erin's friend Joy. Joy took the girls sledding at the Como Zoo and then they did artwork together over at her house. Grandma got a nicer spring day and was able to visit Grandma Kubacki's memorial bench with the girls.
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