5 Twins Fans

My dad said that he would like to go to a Twins game with his daughters this summer. We of course were all game, so we picked a date (July 3rd in case you're wondering just how far behind I actually am). He really wanted to be circled by Bert as well, and if you're not from MN I will not even attempt to explain this phenomenon, but it involves making some sort of sign and dancing like crazy people trying to get on TV. Again, didn't take much convincing for the 4 of us!

So Friday night we headed down and had burgers on the plaza, where Rachel made Dad take this picture...so classic...

Apparently Gardy just told Dad a really funny joke. =)

Once we got inside, Kasey and I decided to try to talk to the camera man ahead of time to try to ensure that if we danced like wild maniacs with our sign that we would have a chance of being circled, but let's just say he really gave us the brush off...everytime I looked at him or tried to say something he'd turn around!

Then 5 minutes later Dad got hungry...

We enjoyed most of the game until Kip had to leave to go to work (around 9 o'clock). We thought this was toward the end of the evening, so we made sure to get a few pics before she left.

Turns out this was the longest. game. eeeeevvvvveeeeeerrrrrrrrr. Kip saw less than half the game.

Yep, that clock says 12:15 (ALMOST the end of the game) in the 16th inning. Did you know that they do a 14th inning stretch at a ballgame too? Unfortunately we lost, then GOT LOST driving home, so we made it to Canterbury to order a little food from Kip as a bedtime snack around 2 AM. Such a fun night. Thanks Daddio!

Grandpa's New Lawn Mower

While I was at the Twins Game from the last post, E and the kids went out to Hector to his mom and dad's house for a visit. The kids absolutely love their grandparents and are excited any chance they get to see them.

Rog got a new lawnmower this year...its actually kind of a funny story. Eric thought it was especially funny since he knows just how his dad operates. Rog isn't really a spur of the moment spender...shocker since he is the president of a bank, right? So he tends to talk about things he wants for a long time.

Becky must have been talking at work about how they needed a new lawnmower. Her boss, Van, who is also a friend of Rog and Becky's, decided to take matters into his own hands and ordered a lawnmower through their company and called Rog down to the office when it arrived and told him that he (meaning Rog) was buying a new lawnmower. He, of course, could have sent it back, but he really did need and want a new one, so needless to say it went home with him that afternoon. Way to go, Van!

To go along with his new toy, he bought a trailer to pull the grandkids around the yard. They are obsessed with riding in it with Grandpa. E didn't get any pics of them actually getting a ride, but even when Grandpa needs a rest they find good use for it. =)

And apparently the kids live by a different set of rules when with their dad...

Rule #1...Pants optional.

Boxers and bubbles, got to love it.

Rule #2...Dog food is a toy.

I have to admit that this one sometimes seems to be a rule, even when I am in charge. All the kids have enjoyed making "doggy cereal" at one time or another in my laundry room with Wrigg's food and water. Eeew.

Well, tomorrow is the 4th of July, didn't you know? Or at least on this blog it is!

Swimming Lessons

What kid doesn't love swimming lessons in the summer? Tate has taken them for a few summers now, but this was Ave's first year. We have actually been going to Stephanie, a college girl who gives lessons in her Mom and Dad's pool here in Shakopee, for the past two years.

It is really nice because Tate takes lessons with his best bud Garrett and Avery with Olivia, so they get pretty much undivided attention and have learned so much. Here are a few pics from this year's lessons...

Avery's 1st Lesson...

Then its Tate's Turn...

As you can see, neither one of them is scared of the water and they both did an awesome job! My only problem is that Beckett isn't scared of the water, either, so I spend the hour trying to keep him from jumping in. =) Good thing Stephanie's mom has a lot of flowers to smell!

We just finished lessons last week and are sad that Stephanie won't be giving lessons next year. We're planning on practicing everything she taught us on vacation next week!

14 Years of Tappin'...

Every year on Father's Day for the past 14 years, we've been doing the same thing...watching Kip & Kas tap at their annual dance recital. They have become quite the dancers & we have enjoyed watching them graduate from tutus to high heeled tappers. They started when Kasey was 4 and Kara was 6. Some years their costumes were better than others =), but the dancing is always fun to watch!

Since this was Kasey's senior year, Kara drove back from college to practice a special dance with Kasey and a few other post grads who couldn't stay away to the song I'm Yours. It was one of the coolest dances I've seen them do. Kasey was danceline and danced 4 dances this year...probably the coolest dance she's ever done AND the most rockin' outfit I've EVER seen her in was Mony Mony. I wish I could post the actual dances here because they were honestly so so good this year. Even Eric said that it was the best one he's seen ever!

So if you're from the area you'e heard of Lee Dummer, their dance instructor. K & K love her as do all the rest of the tappers in her show. This year Kare 11 News contacted Lee and said they wanted to do a story on her. It aired Tuesday night and was really nice. Kara is a bit embarrassed that they interviewed her seconds after she walked off stage and she was sweaty and out of breath, but I think she looked and sounded awesome. You can see short clips of both the dances I referenced earlier in the story as well.

To view the video, click here!

Two months and Kasey!

Thanks for the kick in the pants, Roebke. I needed it.

In trying to play catch-up, I am going to combine things a bit. We've had quite a few celebrations for my graduating little sis in the last couple months! It has been so fun to watch all her "lasts" while remembering all her "firsts". Since she's the youngest, there have been some "lasts" for all of us as well. My parents have had kids in the BLH school system since the fall of '83. You do the math!

So here is Kasey's last prom (and #11 for Mom and Dad)...

Then mid May we had Kasey's Senior Recognition at Swedlanda...always a nice day but makes me emotional...

Then on June 6 & 7 we celebrated Kas's graduation. Though it was freezing and pouring during her party, we had a wonderful time and got to catch up with old friends. Kasey was valedictorian of her class...our little smarty-pants in more ways than one! :)

After her ceremony on Sunday when the rain had passed we took some pics in Grandma P's backyard...

We love you and are SO PROUD, Kasey Lyss! We will miss sitting in the gym and watching your various activities, but we can't wait to watch you make the trek to NDSU either! :)

A Week at the Farm...

So chronologically we would technically be at Kasey's graduation...(officially into June...woohoo) but since I combined a bunch of Kas's stuff together.

Tate and Avery attended VBS at my parent's church the week after graduation. I actually taught the middle school kids, which was interesting but fun! I didn't get any pics since I was teaching, but they both had a great time, especially making singing and making squirrel feeders.

The rest of the week was spent playing outside on the farm. The kids had such a blast...these are the moments I want to put my house up for sale and move back to the country. Simple things, like walking down the driveway to get the mail with Grandpa, turn into hour long exploration sessions. Totally reminds me of my own childhood.

Lots of pics I know...can you tell I'm nostalgic? Thanks Mom and Dad for all the fun (& great food!) that week!

On the boat again...

Well, if you know me you know it is no secret around here that I wasn't overly impressed that a boat was purchased last July for the Newmans. Not that I didn't want one. Its just that I wanted one in 2010 when Beckett was a little older. Last year was not that fun with Beckers screaming in his life jacket before it was even zipped up.

What a difference a year makes! This year he LOVES the boat and doesn't mind the life jacket at all. Tate and Avery love it as much as they did last year. All three are a bit boat obsessed. They have a game they play in the car where the first one who spots a boat while we are driving around is Captain (usually Tate, but not always...the other two are getting quicker!). The second person (usually Ave) is First Mate. The third (that leaves Beckett) is Deck Boy. The titles mean nothing. But who wouldn't want to be Deck Boy for the day, right?

We've had several chances to use the boat already. After putting it in the water the first time and finding out we had a dead battery (that was a long 45 minutes of our lives!) we have had a great time using it both at Prior Lake and out at Becky's. Here are a few pics from the times we've been out...

The last pic is at Captain Jack's on Prior Lake. Its so fun to pull up, tie up, and eat up!

On the boat again...just can't wait to get on the boat again!