It Just Wouldn't Be Summer

Without piling on the jumping dock and contemplating. 

And then giving in. 

And doing it again. 

And Again. 

And Again. 

And Again.

It also is not a trip to the lake without attempting to fling a child off a raft. 

Noah is almost taunting with his smile and wave. 

Uncle Brian was determined to get Nicholas. 

He was there. 

And then he wasn't. 

Piling all the children onto Big Momma for a ride is not as relaxing as it may look as well. 

Evidence. 

Evidence 2. 

Nick nearly let go and somehow drug himself out of the air and back onto the thing from the way I hear the story told. And, I cannot lie, I have no idea which sister is there with him. 

Uncle Brian and Nick--frenemies

Fresh Air Up There

Ben and Alida giving the tandem bike a go before each choosing their own. 

Alida was not as keen as the rest for the now annual Itasca State Park ride.  We did opt for the 6 mile trail instead of the 17 mile trail this year. 

And we started at the mouth of the Mississippi our course. 

And we were pretty alone on the trails this year, which was excellent since we tend to spread out from treating it as a race to questioning why we are there at all. 

And then it was off for a vehicle of a different sort. 

The girls are unquestionably tall enough this year for the first time, and Elaine took no time to master the race.

Nicholas's car was a little slower than the rest, so he kind of looked like a man out for a Sunday drive. 

And we had an entire run at the bumper boats to ourselves. 

Arriving at opening time before any other people still serves us well. 

And now that they are all tall enough to fit this, it seems not nearly as cute. 

All of them together on the swing--heart melts. 

Beach Week Part 2

Playing board games by candlelight.

 

We stumbled into what we think is the local's restaurant, where the retirees were burning up the dance floor and we had amazing dinners.  When one of the gentlemen stopped to ask Alida if she would like to dance, she politely declined. 

 

Fudge and ice cream on the boardwalk.

 

Burgers at home.

 



That rolled and turned and made me want to vomit watching it.

 

The Ferris wheel is a bit more my speed.

 

Random parrot on the walk back.

 

And Fourth of July on the porch,

 

watching fireworks and the storm.

 

Jaws Kite!

 

We watched the movie Jaws here too.

 

And, some other scary movie that I can't quite remember because I was so taken with my boys comforting one another during the scary parts.

 

Beach Week!

Very shortly after unpacking, we packed up for the beach. 

Okay, well we really just never unpacked our suitcases and just loaded the car and left, so it wasn't too hard.

 

And we found our spot and hunkered down for the week on our new coast.

 

I even was able to get four smiling kids at once.

 

And we've found if you stay at the smaller, less popular places,

 

You get vastly superior, less crowded beach space.

 

More room to screw up at the boogey boarding.  

Or screw up at tent placement.

 

No worries, you can always retreat to the pool.

Moving On: Kansas

The girls celebrated their birthday with grandpa and grandpa and friends in Kansas after we moved along from Minnesota.  I kept moving with the cat toward our new home, and Patric moved in reverse to get the kids and bring them the rest of the way a few days later.

There was quilting.

And lessons on sewing, which takes more than just sewing.

 

But then you get to run the machine!

 

And time spent at the ranch is always enviable.

My Favorite Tradition

Attempt to fling the children off a raft while you drag them from a boat.

 

Grandpa had us shorten the rope by half  this year.  It made an impact.

 

Surprisingly, Elaine stayed out for nearly every ride.

 

Except Nicholas always has to have a solo run.

 

And I had just put the camera away when grandpa flipped the entire raft, child and all.

Gaining some air.

 

And since it really was not even 70 degrees outside, the children declined sitting in the water for water skiing this year.  We'll get it next time.