Grandma's Magical Backyard

The kids and I (plus Caroline and her kids) are partying in Utah this week while Ken holds down the fort (he's calling it his stay-cation) , training for his triathalon, and doing some stuff around the house.

The trip out here was uneventful and the kids are having a blast. My parents have essentially the coolest house in the world - with the best backyard.

Yesterday we picked 2 buckets full of the hugest, sweetest blackberries.

Happy Luke - he dug in the bushes like a champion.

Grandma and Ryan picking some berries.
Luke and Mommy


Caroline and I took care of the taste testing.

Crazy haired Evie lasted about 2 minutes and 3 berries - then went to play in the sandbox.
The boys then started a waterfight with water from the outside drinking fountain.

Then Grandpa joined in and was declared the winner after he hosed everyone down.

Today

I'm grateful for the recession and Ken's unemployment.

I came home from work today to find this cooling on my counter:



My sink looked like this:


And there were flowers on the table because I've been lucky enough to be married to this guy for 7 years today:



We played frisbee in the rain with these crazy kids (Evie loves being wet):


Then spent our date-night picking out paint colors and walking around the downtown lakes, listening to some old-school band at the bandshell, daydreaming about the houses and watching the boats.

I sure love you, honey!

We spent last weekend in the Wisconsin Dells with my entire family. I'm a little annoyed because we have still never gotten to go to an outside waterpark there (it was in the 60s and rainy!) but we had fun anyways. We stayed in some beautiful condos right on one of the lakes. Luke and Ryan L-O-V-E-D the waterpark and I was surprised at how many of the big slides they both went on! Luke's gotten so much braver in the water this past year.

We ate lots of great food and played some cutthroat games of canasta (my family's favorite fame, complete with lots of sniping -- blame it on my Grandma Walton, the ultimate cardshark. Our husbands have basically vetoed playing with us). We spent Saturday outside playing mini golf (Danica's friend Zack was the big winner), racing pedal carts and playing trampoline-basketball challenges. I almost beat Ken, despite my obvious disadvantage doing anything requiring jumping right now.

Thanks for a great weekend!

Danica and Zack chilling on the rocks. Evie loved Zack. Obesessed.

Grandma and Grandpa showing Evie the lake.
There was this little flock of baby ducks that had absolutely no fear. They came right up to the kids and even nibbled at Luke's big toe. Ryan decided he wanted to kiss a bird (that kid is hilarious) - and almost got his wish.


Calvin got buried in the sand.

The kids loved the food.

Evie enjoyed her ketchup.
Ryan enjoyed his slushie.
Calvin enjoyed the oranges.

And the sand.

Ken was pretty darn good on the boogie-boarding ride, even showing up some of the 16 year olds. Check out those arms!

Happy (Belated) Birthday to me

I had a lovely birthday last week. I slept in, had breakfast with Ken and the Kids, and then Ken and I went out that night. My family came into town the next day and we headed off to the Wisconsin Dells for the weekend.

Here's Evie modeling my present from Ken - a jacket for the fall (it doesn't quite fit me right now)


The kids made some great cards


Thanks for all the wishes everyone!

Summer to dos: Zoo #2

We also spend a good chunk of our summer free time at the Minnesota zoo.

We generally go with a crew - Evie is by far the tiniest, yet one of loudest.


Oooh, scary children.
Aunt Caroline posing with Evie.
They have a great sprinkler area - we brought them 2 weeks ago in their bathing suits and the kids had a blast.
We went with Grandma Barringer, Grandpa Walton and Mindy + kids to the new jungle playland last week. Very cool. Do check it out.

Summer to dos: Zoo #1

We're always on the lookout for fun summer things to do around here. Some of our favorite are the zoos. We go there A TON.

Zoo #1 - the (free) Como Zoo in St. Paul.

My kids love the "wirwaffes." The other favorite attractions are the huge gorillas - one of whom gave us a show one day of beating on his chest, Tarzan style.


They have a great exhibit over the summer - the butterfly garden. Evie was enthralled.

She now demands her "wurfwy" jammies every night, stinky or not.

She was especially happy because cousin Ryan agreed to hold her hand everywhere.

Sticky

I dare you to find something cuter and more summer-y than naked children eating popsicles on a hot, sticky day.

Summer, please stay.