Double Dip

Here I am telling Elaine to smile because the man is taking pictures of us. 

She was not convinced that would be a good idea.

I'm really not sure I was either.

 

By the time they bring you back, being dunked in the water seems like a really fun idea.

Although, I'm still not sure whether that is joy or terror on my face.

 

Then the boys were off.

 

It really is breathtakingly high up there.

 

And the boys were double dipped, mostly because they wound up turning themselves all about the first time they hit the water...

 

Then We Hit The Beach

We motored home for the weekend to work...

Then loaded up Sunday evening and took off for the beach.

 

Where we found our beloved, older condo intact, and

as deserted as ever.

And We Hit Some Targets

Pretty well, by the way.

 

We also planned a canoe trip.

 

Watched the sunrise on the water.

 

Visited a Viking Church, and

A Viking Boat.

 

Maybe discovered our true selves...

 

And Evergreen Park

Where we took the place over for three hours.  And all Stubers can at least drive the rookie cars now.

The girls are just shy of the real race. 

The Fish Were Hitting!

Then We Hit The Trails

Itasca State Park has bike rentals!

So we hit the longest trail we could find.

 

And made the 17.5 mile track.

 

Celebratory Selfie

 

Super Celebratory Blueberry Malts at the Lodge.

 

Mandatory Mouth of the Mississippi photo!

Then We Hit The Water

It's a short boat ride to the swimming hole.

 

Where the daredevils woke up a bit.

 

And hit the rope,

 

And took a plunge.

 

And a longer boat ride gave us this.

 

And our visit with our cousins, taught us this.

 

Alida was up and away on her first try.

 

After a Week: Minnesota

After a week at home, we hit the road to visit grandma and grandpa in Minnesota.

 

First order of business: breakfast at the Logging Camp.

 

And time with two cousins, which was such a treat.

Happy 11th Birthday Girls

Alida.

Not even pretending to be excited about the pop molds I got her for her birthday.

 

Alida.

Attempting to muster up some excitement for her Target gift card.

 

Elaine.

Honestly tickled by the piece of wood block phone I wrapped for her that she had made into an iPhone about 5 years ago.

 

Alida.

Fall on the floor glee when we handed her the real iPhone.

 

Nicholas was not even able to fully spit out his disgust at the girls' luck before we handed him one too.

 

Ben.

He was still trying to figure out what was really happening even after he opened his.

 

A good, although belated, 11th birthday for all.

Popcorn and Guns

A little open fire popcorn making with grandpa,

 

And a little target practice with dad rounded out the weeks.

 

And they all had so much fun.

Lawrence

And then it was off to Lawrence, for some walking

And the girls turned 11 with a party at grandma's!

Grandma didn't seem to mind taking them shopping, and I never mind either...shopping not being my all time favorite job.

Those Skies

Never end

And Alida is getting pretty good at framing a good photo.

 

 

And Elaine wound up just blond again...

 

Flying

And while I made friends with the cat,

 

the kids when flying with grandpa.

 

I think they won.

Kansas Adventure

After three weeks of summer school mornings, the brood headed south for a couple of weeks with Grandma and Grandpa airplane.  There was swimming, for sure.

 

And a little construction on a raft was in order.

 

Even the dog enjoyed some time at the ranch.

 

And a little sunshade was had for the hot days.