Camping - Barringer Style

We took the kids camping last weekend at Frontenac State Park near Red Wing. Gorgeous park. Nice campsites. Clean bathrooms (definitely a plus). And a nearby shoe store with a great sale. Seriously - I found the Keen like sandals I'd been looking for for 1/2 off. Aaaaahhhhhh. The great outdoors.

A few favorite moments:

- Just as we're getting ready to make a fire and grill up our hot dogs , a huge thunderstorm rolls in. do we tough it out? no way. Pack the kids in the car and head in to town for a great Mexican dinner and some shoe shopping.

- Making a camp fire (finally) and Luke's first real S'more (the other times he claimed he didn't like 'em and just ate the marshmallows plain).

- Trying to get Evie to sleep. She just ran in circles around the tent, laughing hysterically, growling (yes, growling, she thought she was oh-so-funny) and dancing. Then she'd lay her head down and look all innocent whenever you caught her.

- Luke in the morning: "Luke, get dressed, let's go hiking!" "No!! I want to go shoe shopping." (You can't make this up. But yes, he is my boy!)

Luke with a kind-of normal smile for once

Baloo enjoying a new 'do and a nap in the grass
The end product of tired, hungry baby + 2 oatmeal creme pies gorgeous lake
evie practicing her "singing"
The "I'm totally not doing anything naughty" face (please ignore the arm in the fire pit)
Beautiful overlook of the Mississippi River

Angel Eyes

I love Evie's eyes. They are this pretty hazel-green color and just sosososo big. And have been since day one. I think that's why I love these pictures so much. It's what I'll remember when I picture her as a baby.

The Big 3 - 0

I officially turned 30 last Tuesday. I was a little nervous about this one. But almost a week later, it ain't so bad.

Ken was great - he set up a surprise birthday party with a bunch of our friends here. Thanks everybody for coming! I was totally spoiled - flowers, jewelry, new set of golf clubs from Ken (pink! makes me want to get out and play!), a gorgeous glass necklace he picked up in Taiwan. Some money to redo my room from my parents. Shirt and candy from my sis. I feel totally, totally spoiled. Thanks everybody.

(and yes, that's Evie - dressed in our friend's 3 year-old-son's clothes since she pooped through hers. Plus a gigantic yellow flower so you know she's a girl)

Torchlight Run

Learned a couple of things during our yearly trek to the Torchlight Run (5k thru downtown Minneapolis along with about 5,000 other crazies).

- it's HOT here in July
- running on narrow roads with a huge jogging stroller = not fun
- I'm getting faster. we made under 10 min miles with 80 lbs of stroller + kids trying to pass people with the huge thing and I still never hit a good pace. That feels great!
- having a stroller to cart all the post race goodies home kind of makes up for it
- it's REALLY HOT here while running in July
- I like running with Ken. Maybe I can still talk him into a half marathon.

A little birthday something for you

I'm just about 1 week away from the big 3 - 0 (step one is admitting it, right?)
I came across these links in the paper yesterday and it put a little smile on my face. If you have a birthday and you like free stuff, check these out! And happy birthday early to you!

Red Robin - free burger. Join eclub at http://www.redrobin.com/
Noodles & Co - free dish. Sign up for noodlegrams at http://www.noodles.com/
Kincaids or Palomino - $20 off any dinner. http://www.kincaids.com/.
Famous Daves - sign up for PIG club at famousdaves.com
Caribou Coffee - free drink. Sign up for email offers http://www.cariboucoffee.com/
Sephora - free vanilla cupcake bath and shower bubbles. Sign up to be a beauty insider at sephora.com.
Famous Footwear - $5 off a $5 purchase. Rewards program at http://www.famousfootwear.com/
DSW - $10 off $10 purchase. Join rewards program at http://www.dsw.com/
Cold Stone Creamery - free ice cream creation. Join the birthday club at http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/.

My 5 Minutes

I went to Stephanie Meyer's book signing of "The Host" when she came through Minneapolis in May. Thanks to Stacey for letting me join her group (I was working nights and came late, with kids in tow). Entertainment Weekly did a few articles on Twilight this week. And there we were!Check out the picture (very right, note the cute blond boy in the orange shirt and his tired looking Mommy).

(Article here. )

Reassurance

Me: "Luke, where did Michael go?" {neighbor kid and current best buddy}
Luke: "Don't worry, Mom. He just went to go get his weapons."

Happy Fourth

Perfect weather + fabulous bbq + giant, inflatable waterslide = one great holiday
(and, may I point out, the last holiday I'll have to work until New Year's . Yay!)

Happy Boy

Ev looks a little leary of the water
Yep, that cold pool was just as awful as I though it would be! Hot dogs on the grill always get 2 thumbs up
Happy again (once she's being held)

Sophie's big splash

The kids "jousted" with the inflatable animals in the pool

Luke finally got brave enough to try the slide - after the water was off
How many wet kids can you fit on the slide at once?

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th!

I guess she felt left out . . .

She had to go and give herself a black eye going crazy in the baby jumper. I think I hear social services knocking . . .