Fun with Friends!

We took the kids to the Lakeville parade for the first time and brought two of their friends with to join the fun. They were all so well behaved and patient waiting for the parade to start. Perhaps the ice cream treats helped keep them busy!

Chillin’ before the parade

What’s coming next?  I hope it isn’t clowns!

So excited!

Assessing the candy situation!

Strike a Pose!

Momma and her little man!

Once the parade started, they loved waiting to see what each float would hand out, of course candy being their favorite! They got to see a lot of marching bands, tractors, princesses and politicians.  James loved seeing all the “big trucks”, tractors and fire trucks. 

Young love!

After we left the parade, we took the kids to get some dinner.  I stood in the Chipotle line for about 25 minutes while Brian sat in the van with 5 kids, 4 of which were singing camp songs…loudly…the whole time!

Who am I supposed to vote for…I am confused!

Check out that pose!

It was a fun night spending time doing something that isn’t a normal activity for us. I look forward to the next parade we get to attend.

Happy 4th!

Hot, Hot, Hot!  That is one of the best ways to describe the 4th of July.  We started the day again this year participating in the Wayzata kiddie parade. This year the girls decorated their scooters instead of their bikes and they actually rode them about 50% of the way!  James rode around in the stroller and didn’t do much more than sweat!







We spent a few hours at one of our favorite beaches, Lake Minnetonka Regional Park. It is such a beautiful man-made pond and the kids love going there. I wish it were closer so we could go more often. James stayed home with Grandma Sharon because of the heat but he had a great time and didn’t even know he was missing any other fun!




Brian and I also took the girls to Brave and enjoyed relaxing in the air conditioned theater for a few hours. We ended the day with a good BBQ over at Grandma Sharon and Scott’s house. This year we skipped fireworks but the girls had such a great day they didn’t seem to mind. Overall, we all had a very nice day despite the heat.

Making Memories at Summer Camp!

The girls had the opportunity to attend their first week long summer camp at YMCA Camp Streefland with four different neighborhood family friends.  They went every day from 9am-4pm and came home completely exhausted but so excited to tell us about the daily adventures. I was so proud of them because if they were nervous about going to camp it never showed!  The first day they got their backpacks ready with all the essentials and had nothing but pure excitement for the day to start!

First day photo with some friends! So excited!!

Katelin’s group name was The Extreme Rockin’ Monkey Girls. Of course Katelin told us that she suggested the monkey part because she loves monkeys (who knew!). Her favorite activity of the week was going down the Black Hole (a long, steep, and dark tube you slide down on a sled). A few of her other favorites were canoeing, archery, swimming, tie-dying and singing songs and dancing.

Disappointed the Black Hole was closed on Family Night

The entrance to “The Extreme Rockin’ Monkey Girls” fort!

The kids on stage at Family Night getting ready to do a dance.

The oar is twice the size as Kate!

Annie was a Wee-Bee and there were only 3 other friends in her group but they had a blast!  Her favorite was the zip line but she told us it wasn’t nearly as fun as ours because it wasn’t as long or fast as ours! She also loved all the same things Katelin did! She had a lot of fun telling us about the “Gaga Monster” who hides out in the woods and waits and steals marshmallows from campers!

Wee Bee Village!

Annie and her bud!

Just finished “La Touche”!

James visited camp on Family Night and had fun running around exploring too.  He will definitely be ready in a few years for his turn to go!



So after a long, exhausting and fun week…they can’t wait until next year when they can go back again and make more memories!