Lots Can Happen in a Week

If you could have seen the bunnies and the emu!  This past Wednesday we attended the Washington County Fair and were filled with many amazing sites.  We started by roaming through all the rides and pointing to our favorites.  We stopped for an amazing camel ride and to check out the chickens and bunnies.  There were bunnies, ducks and chickens of every size and color in the barn.  The girls were able to pet their favorite long haired baby bunnies.  As we slurped our malts from the dairy barn, we checked out the sheep, goats, cows and wild animals.  Emma was brave enough to pet a crocodile.  We saw wallabees hopping around in their pen as well as the biggest owl in the world (for real the sign read largest owl in the world).  After seeing all the animals, each girl decided on two rides they wanted to go on.  Emma went in a giant bubble and walked on water, Analise tried out a ride with cars and one with planes.  Because the fair was not well attended, due to cold weather that day, the ride conductors even let the girls go on a few rides for free.  Emma and Ani tried out the fun house of mirrors and saw their bodies morphed into a variety of shapes, and Daddy tried to win our family another goldfish.  No luck this year.

 The bunnies are blending into their surroundings

Be brave...he's a wiggly one!

Towards the end of the week, Mommy and Emma packed up their gear for a weekend at Girl Scout Camp!  Mommy was excited to take Emma around her old stomping ground at Camp Lakamaga.  When we arrived we found out we would be in the Lockbre cabins with two other moms and their daughters.  We excitedly trekked all of our bags out the site and set up our sleeping bags and pillows at our favorite bunk bed.  After unpacking a few things, we joined the other campers for some getting to know you games and smore roasting.  We sang and danced to silly camp songs and read books using a flash light late into the night.  The next morning we ate a pancake breakfast and were surprised when Emma was picked to be the lead for the color guard in the flag raising ceremony.  Emma walked proudly and helped to lift the flag to start the days events.  

 Emma and Bella cabin mates

Bunk bed extravaganza 

Leading the flag ceremony

After the ceremony, we headed to the lake to kayak on the water.  It was windy and started to rain so we only stayed out for a bit.  For every paddle forward we were pushed two steps back.  After we beached the kayak, we headed for the lodge to pick up a scavenger hunt.  We clomped all over the camp looking for animals, plants and natural wonders.  Mommy helped Emma see what platform tents look like and Emma got a chance to use the latreens, the scariest part of camp for Mommy when she was a young girl.  Now they spray the potties down with orange scent and they don't have all the spiders partying it up in the corners.  After our hunt, we went to the art hut to make a journal craft.  Emma made a book that used her camp name, "Artzy" and Mommy made a journal for Analise.  We decided Analise's camp name would be "Chuckles" because she makes us laugh.

 Raising the flag

Emma at my old campsite.  All of the platform tents have been taken down.  A sad day for Mommy.

We rounded out the morning with some archery lessons by the Mary Randall Troop House.  Emma and Mommy got to shoot three arrows each. Mommy hit the target twice and Emma got her arrows very close.  After target practice, we attended lunch of subway sandwiches in the dining hall and then went off to play some field games with friends.  There was a new game we learned where you hit a ball around an octagon and try to jump out of the way before the ball hits your feet.  Biking was in store after some field games.  Emma made her first attempt at riding with no training wheels.  Mommy held onto the bike only enough for Emma to feel what it was like to wobble.  Even though she did well on the trail, riding on the grass proved to be the best way for Emma to learn.  Hopefully we can find a field at home where she can practice.  

Fun new team games

After biking, we read from our Judy Moody story and then returned to the art lodge for some button making.  Mommy made a peanut butter jellyfish button for Ani and Emma made an "Artzy" button for herself.  Once buttons were finished we played a full group mystery game where we had to figure out who stole the dessert that we were supposed to have for dinner.  Each girl got a notebook and had to go from camp leader to camp leader asking them for clues.  In order to get a clue the girls had to sing a song, tell a fact or share some interesting information with the counselor.  Emma and Mommy quickly figured out who the culprit was and even had time to spare.  All of the girls chased after the counselor who did it (it was quite the ambush).  

Artzy making her journals

The evening wrapped up with a spaghetti dinner and brownies.  After helping to clean up dinner, the girls sang a few more camp songs, lowered the flag and said their farewell to friends.  As we headed home Emma drifted off to sleep.  Mommy realized she left her lunch container at the camp as well as some extra snacks she brought.  After parking in the garage, Mommy turned around to look at Emma.  She was completely out and had drool sliding down her chin.  We will have to go again when Analise is old enough to attend the Mommy and me event with us.  

Blue skies, bike rides

The weather has been perfect for outdoor adventures this past month.  One evening, Mommy and Daddy took the girls to Como Pavillion for dinner and a theater performance.  Once Mommy checked in with the theater performance group, she realized that the show was going to last longer than a young child's attention span.  Luckily, we discovered some push pedal bikes that could seat the family.  We took a couple trips around the lake on our bike while the girls chowed down on their ice cream.  As we tend to be known for our boo-boo abilities these days, the evening could not be complete without a mishap.  Tonight's mishap was Mommy convincing the girls it would be fun to wade out in the pool next to the waterfall like other families were doing.  As soon as Analise stepped into the water, she slipped and her dress was drenched on the bottom.  Thankfully the bathroom had some air dryers to help Analise move beyond her feelings of "wetness." 

Dress is all dry.  Ready to bike!

On July 29th, Mommy, Daddy and Emma took students from third through fifth grade on a bike trip down the Gateway trail.  The day was perfect for biking and the group came well prepared with snacks, lunches and water bottles.  We completed a twenty mile trip with a picnic and hike in the middle.  We even finished early and decided to spend some time down by Silver lake beach.  The group ended their trip at the Dairy Queen.  Because the event was such a success, Mommy plans to do another ride next year with the possibility of an overnight at William O'Brien State Park.  

 Bike Trip Group Summer 2018

 Playgrounds, Beaches and Ice Cream...Who could ask for anything more?

Braids and Birthdays

The girls attended many birthdays this summer and Mommy learned how to French braid from our Spanish tutors.  Mommy definitely needs a bit more practice with her technique but she was really proud of her first ever French braid.  Below are some pictures from Camille's birthday at the nature center.  The group read nature books, did a scavenger hunt in the garden and made flower pots to take home.  Emma and Mommy built a fort in the Discovery Center after the party was over. 

 Mommy's first braid

 A story with a garden theme

 Emma designing a flower pot

 Olivia and Analise making flower pots

Our amazing fort had a door in the front and back.  Our roof was made of sticks that were then covered in pieces of bark we ripped from a dead tree.

Helicopter Ride

Although our first attempt at going up in a helicopter was a flop, we managed to go out on a beautiful Sunday afternoon for a ride during the Stillwater Lumberjack days.  Originally, Mommy and Daddy had reserved a spot on the helicopter for a date night.  However, rain and wind caused the helicopter to be down for the night.  After much disappointment and frustration (having to run after the truck as it drove away from the landing pad), Mommy was able to talk with the company and get them to not only take up 2 people but instead 4 people if we came back a different day.  

As we drove into Stillwater, we thought we might be running late for the ride again due to traffic and blocked off roads for the parade that we had not expected.  After making a quick detour around the parade, we arrived at the lift off spot just in time.  Analise and Mommy went up first, followed by Emma and Daddy.  Analise was very fearful of the loud noise and rotating blades.  However, Mommy convinced her to go up and get over her fear.  She bravely wore a headset and held onto Mommy's hand with the death grip.  When we lifted off into the air, the flight was smooth and peaceful.  Analise mentioned that the objects below looked like toys and began noticing many things like cars, houses and pools.  Before landing we saw a hawk flying alongside the helicopter.  The pilot said it could be a problem if the bird got too close.  Thankfully, we landed safely and were able to see Emma and Daddy go up for their ride.  Daddy and Emma both enjoyed their trip.  Daddy mentioned he was a bit frightened having no door on his side of the helicopter but had made it beyond his fear just like Analise.  Next up...flying somewhere in a plane.

Vacationing in July

Everyone was off on vacation during the end of June and beginning of July.  Mommy went to Colorado with her teammates from Matoska, and Daddy took the girls to Madison to celebrate the 4th of July with grandma and grandpa. 

The girls also got to hang out with Michael and his girl friend, Ashley, as well as Becky and her boyfriend, Shawn.  While Mommy hiked in the mountains, the girls took bike rides in a neighborhood parade, spent plenty of time on the boat (and behind the boat on a tube) and time at Uncle Mike's house.  The girls were excited to see grandma Jan's new cats, but to their surprise, the cats didn't really want to come out and visit.  On one of the last days of their vacation, Emma was able to pet the orange cat named Cheddar and tease him with a feather.  When Ani was asked what her favorite part of the trip was, hands down it was the Fourth of July popsicle and going behind the boat.  Emma's favorite moment was petting Cheddar.  Some day that girl will own a cat.

Mommy's trip had many adventures with people getting altitude sickness and needing to buy oxygen (thank goodness Mommy never experienced all the suffering others did).  During the group's stay, we hiked in the mountains, witnessed wildfires that were getting a bit close to the local towns, sat in outdoor jacuzzies at twilight and visited a dinosaur footprints and bones dig site.  On the way back to Minnesota, Mommy was telling her friend Dave that she would like to have a dog again some day.  The second she said, "I want a dog again," a scrawny, black chihuahua mix emerged from under her legs and jumped up on her lap.  See the picture below with the dog giving Dave face licks. 

 The Bike Parade

 Catching fish...

 Brave Aunt Becky

 Mancala with Daddy and Ashley

 Biker Girls

Where is our van?

Selfie while hiking

 Twilight...Mommy's favorite time of the day

 The fires may have added to the altitude sickness so many visitors experienced

Our Team

Dinosaur Park 

My Dog

Fairy Tales at the Library

In June, Emma and Analise visited the library for story hour.  The libraries have so many great program for kids this summer.  They have magicians, comedy shows, a variety of characters and lots of new skills to learn like sewing and seed art.  On one particular morning, the girls were able to meet the characters from Peter Pan.  Analise was leery about getting near to the characters so we only managed a picture with Emma.  Hopefully this Halloween Analise will begin to move beyond her fears of humans dressed up in crazy costumes.

Memorial Weekend and Emma Turns Six

Uncle Michael and cousin Annie visited over Memorial Weekend.  On Saturday, the girls and Daddy visited Theresa's graduation party and played a lot with Uncle Michael.  Mommy and cousin Annie got to go for a walk and then designed herb boxes as well as painted a family tree on our living room wall.  The girls tried out a new pool that Daddy found as well as the telescope that Emma received for her birthday.   Uncle Michael was able to get the scope focused on the moon so the girls could see the craters up close.

Emma has been waiting a long time to turn six like the rest of her friend group.  Mommy can only imagine what turning sixteen will be like ten years from now when everyone is trying to get their driver's license and Emma has to wait until the end of May.  The art/animal theme birthday party at our house was a hit.  Emma had eight party guests and loads of fun. 

The girls designed a giant doll house, painted their own canvas to take home, got their face painted, went on a hunt around the house for four missing animals, ate fruit and cake, opened presents and ended with a quick play dough experience.  Each girl received a gift bag with folder, notebook, colored pencils, play dough, a cookie bag and their canvas to take home.

Both Mommy and Daddy were impressed by the differences between the party with four year olds and the party with six year olds.  Six year olds definitely have much more ability to stay focused on a task and talk much more to each other.  Four year olds at Analise's party decided to do their own things in different rooms and were all over the house at certain points in the party. 

Besides the birthday party, it was a beautiful weekend to be outside taking walks and going on bike rides.  Our flower gardens are taking shape, the swing is a favorite place to sit and relax and the bathrooms are all clean.