Vacation 09 : Part Two

The Peterson gang hung out with us for the second part of vacation. Just like the first half, we had a blast and are so grateful for wonderful parents and sisters and their families that we now consider our closest friends.

Highlights from this half of vacation were tubing with Kara and Kasey, the kids running through a huge mud puddle, and my dad showing off his dance moves while watching Mamma Mia. I don't think I have laughed so hard in years. Despite it raining parts of every day, we managed to get in the water a lot. Can't wait until next year!

Vacation 09 : Part One

For vacation this year we took a relaxing 10 day trip to Grand Rapids. We rented the same private cabin that Eric found on Craig's List last year when we went on vacation with the Pankake Family. There was lots of swimming, boating, skiing, tubing, marshmallow roasting, and eating in general that took place over the 10 days we were there.

Both of our families were able to join us during parts of the week. Rog and Becky came to stay with us the first four days of the trip. Whenever we are with our families we are reminded how lucky we are to have such wonderful parents and grandparents. As I've said before, our kids can't get enough time with either set of grandparents!

I took 758 pictures on the trip. I'll post them one per day...here is my favorite family pic from the trip:

Okay, I am obviously joking. I won't put all 758 on our blog, but here are a few from the time that we spend with Gma and Gpa Newman...

Off to edit the other 473 so I can pick a few for part two...it might be days, people. =)

A new babe...

Our little niece and cousin made her way into the world on July 16th, weighing 7 lbs 8 oz and 20 inches long. We were so happy she decided to make her debut before we left on vacation so we didn't miss going to the hospital to see her. We all took our turns holding her...

Beckett was especially enamored. At his age the other two already had one of those of our own to take home with us. I will not tear up here. *sigh* I guess a niece will have to do. =)

The 2nd Annual Ice Cream Party

Yes, technically it should have been the third. I had our first annual party two years ago, but last year was a little more than crazy with starting my own business, and it just never happened. You've seen most of these pics if you check my biz blog as well, but in case you don't here they are!

We had such a fun day with our friends and neighborhood kiddos. Here is a pic of the whole crew (minus 6 who came later!)

Then on to the ice cream...

...and the water. I LOVE this picture of Zane! Can you tell he had a cast on that right arm until the week before this pic? He holds it like it is still on!

Such a fun day! Can't wait until next year!!

4th of July : Part 2

After we left the farm, we hurried home to get the kids ready for fireworks. We decided to stay pretty close to home this year, so we went to see the Mystic Lake display for the first time. I look HORRIBLE in these photos, but I had all I could do to get our kids clean and into pajamas and a shower for myself, so no glamor here!

When we got to the parking lot we were going to watch from, we set up our chairs and utilized our tailgating option with our Stow-and-Go van seats. Gotta love a mini van! I swore for years I would never get one, but as I've said before now I don't know what I would have done without it.

Then there was quite a wait, so we did a little running around and playing (not to mention two bathroom breaks in the weeds behind some casino busses!).

Kara came and met us to watch...she had to work at Canterbury immediately after, so she drove separately...but people must have thought a celebrity was showing up the way the kids greeted her! She and I sat in the tailgate seats with Beckett in between us. He was so dang funny loving us up so much...again I look terrible in these pics but I need to post them to remind myself how funny he was that night.

Ave of course was not impressed with the loud noise during the fireworks...it really freaks her out...but handled it pretty well. This is the first year Beckett really understood what was going on and he loved it. None of my fireworks pics really turned out, but you know what those look like anyway, right??

Because there were so many people in our neighborhood shooting off firecrackers when we got home, we knew Avery would NEVER go to sleep in her bed alone. We decided to take the opportunity to have a family camp out in our basement with the sleeping bags. It was totally fun (I should have taken pics, but apparently I was too tired??) and we plan on making it a yearly event.

4th of July : Part 1

We usually spend 4th of July at Becky's house, but we were still recovering from Swimmer's itch, so decided to stay away from the water for a bit so went to the farm instead. The kids got out the water table and sprinkler and found plenty of ways to stay busy for the afternoon!

It all started out so innocently...

...but so quickly turns into a water fight!

Some like it more than others...

I love these pics of Grandma Sandy and Tate...he always says she gives "the best underdogs ever"...."yours are good Mom, but she's just a touch better at it than you." Ha!

Overall was a nice and relaxed afternoon. Beckett napped during the whole water episode, but was there even though he is not in any pics. A few more snaps of the afternoon...

Speaking of the boat...

I couldn't resist sharing this pic from the lake today. Probably one of the best I have of the three of them ever.

Aaaah. Beautiful MN day. Beautiful kids. Beautiful life. :)

The Pool

At the beginning of July we took an afternoon with these two lovely ladies

to the Shakopee pool. Kara had the afternoon off of work and Kasey has been nannying for R & B on Thursdays and Fridays all summer, so the 7 of us decided to take an afternoon to soak up the sun.

Tate was being particularly squirrely that afternoon and loved the camera. I took full advantage since I usually get the look of annoyance from him.

I impressed my sisters, children, and a whole busload of students from the YMCA by singing and dancing to the ENTIRE Fresh Prince of Bel Aire theme song when it came over the loud speaker. You should have seen them staring. And I didn't care...I'm too old to care.

I might add that I have taken my kids to the pool a few times this summer and what a difference a year makes! Last year after one trip I decided it was not somewhere I should go with the kids by myself. Becks was constantly eating sand while the other two wouldn't stay close to me at all. This year the older two have become pretty self sufficient as long as they are relatively close to me and have swimming life jackets on and Beckett is happy to sit on my lap and kick his feet.

Some day I might even be one of those moms who can bring a lawn chair and a book to the pool to work on my tan. Hey...a girl can dream, can't she?