ready for summer!

Memorial Day weekend was so full and fun.  We only had 3 days off, but somehow me managed to do ALL of the following:

• shopped at Target and Costco... with awesome sample snacking!
• went to the water park every day!  Yup - 3 times!
• watched TV and had popcorn in bed
• picked strawberries and blueberries... followed by homemade ice cream
• went downtown to the Arts Festival
• watched Frozen in bed - with more popcorn, of course!
• forced children to do yardwork
• went to the children's museum

and there is not one single photo to share.  

I did take a few pictures before school this morning....

All American Minions!!!

 Our 2014 summer chart is ready to go, too!

His hair is really growing!  But, it is a great summer haircut so far.

 The sides are so long, they are laying down now!

 The scrape on his chin is from hitting the bottom of the wave pool at the waterpark while doing flips in the water.

 All is going well with her teeth, too!  REALLY well!!!!

blueberry season!

We love it!!!!    I went early yesterday morning and was the first person out to the blueberry field.   Last year, they were all picked out by mid morning each day, but this year, they said they had more berries and were lasting later in the day.  I might be able to get the kids over there after school some day next week to pick.

I just learned this ... and if you already knew it - why didn't you tell me?...  blueberries do not replenish themselves.  There were plenty of green berries still ripening on the bushes, so we'll be OK.  We love blueberries!  Love them!!!  all 4 of us!!!

Cub Scout Crossover Camping

Cross over is the ceremony when all the scouts graduate to the next level.  This year, Carl's Wolf Den became Bears.  They will enter their third year of Cub Scouts together this fall.  Actually, they have a summer schedule of events planned, so we will be busy with fun things this summer as well.

The campsite was nice.  The kids enjoyed climbing on this course in the beginning of the day.  We did not arrive in time to participate in the BB gun activity.  Boo hoo.

Carl climbed through the Mine Tunnel and got his shoes and pant cuffs SOAKED!  Gretchen opted to stay out of there.  Carl enjoyed riding on the Tom Sawyer boats and both liked playing on the huge pirate ship.  The boats were tied between both shores and the boys pulled themselves along the ropes to race.

 We had the Den Leader take a May family photo for us.

 Then, we all headed back to the campsite to dress for Crossover.  Boys have to wear their Class A uniorms for all ceremonies and official meetings.
Last time in the yellow scarf as a Wolf Scout.

 Let's throw one of The Girl in there, too.   You can see me in her eyes.  Literally.  My reflection is there.

 Carl receiving his Perfect Attendance Award!

 Lew and Carl after the scarves were presented to the boys.  They have the parents come up and stand behind their scout and the Pack Leaders tie the new scarves on the boys and tell them how proud they are of them.

 My new Bear Scout sitting while the older boys graduated to Webelos.

 Scarf... and haircut!

 After the ceremony, we changed and headed back tot he lake.  Carl & Gretchen on the pirate ship.

 They had canoes you could use, too.  I don't know where they were putting those in the water from, though.  What a pretty day!

 C'mon Guys!  Help him out!!!!

 Gretchen rode with one of the dads.  It was her only run and right after they got back - we learned that it was not enough to have parents there.  We were supposed to have a certified Webelos scout lifeguard there.  Since they were preparing for the night ceremony, they weren't available.  Luckily, Gretchen got to ride that one time so she wasn't disappointed.

 By now, our entire Den was playing over on the pirate ship.  Soon, we all headed back to our campsite to cook Tacos in a Bag for dinner.  That is a fun, easy dinner - and a huge hit with boys!  and siblings!  and parents!
After the meal, Gretchen & Lew started making s'mores!!!

 Gretchen toasting her marshmallow.

 Ready to go!!!

 MMMMMMMMMMMMM............

 My favorite way to roast marshamallows!  Light 'em up!!!!

 Carl took this for us!

 And one of me in my S'more shirt, too!

 Seconds?  Don't mind if I do!!

I think she and I each had 3 before the night was over.  I think having one of those fire pits in our backyard would be way too tempting for us.

We didn't sleep over this trip because there was nothing planned for Sunday morning and Lew had just gotten home the night before from a week long business trip.  So, we headed home after the campfire.  and the s'mores.  Don't forget the s'mores.  the yummy, melty, ooey gooey chocolatey s'mores.

Throwback Thursday

feeling like playing along this week.....


sweatshirts 1994.  upper right 2011.

August 1989

8 and a half!

No, we do not routinely celebrate "Half Birthdays"... but my mother reminded me yesterday that today was the day and that in December, Carl had asked her to buy him an umbrella.  Well, she did, but she didn't send it on time.  Ugh.  So, this morning, Carl was going to wear a shirt I made him with Planes on it, but then I remembered that he is now officially 8 1/2 today - so I suggested his cupcake shirt!  This was immediately followed by, "You aren't going to make me wear something with cupcakes on it, are you?"  Girls.

On their way to school - where you can be certain Carl told every person in sight that today is his half birthday!!!

It does appear the cupcake shirt is nearing the end of it's fitting life.

So, did you ever just want an excuse to buy someone something?  Well, seems a half birthday is the perfect excuse to buy them the Minion beach towels I saw over the weekend.  They are going to love them!!!

fishes and swimming. (Not swimming with the fishes, though.)

It was a busy Saturday here!  But, for us - that is typical.  We are still in the cram-all-the-memories-you-can-into-weekends phase of our lives.

We started the day out going to the aquarium because I read about an art festival going on there.  I thought it would be much more publicized - one aquarium worker had no idea what I was talking about - luckily, another said, "Those are upstairs in the classrooms" - or at least out in the middle of the aquarium.  So, we watched the diver in the tank because that is always cool even though, by know, I could give that underwater talk and probably answer most of the questions people ask about the tank.  It is still cool to watch a man in a wet suit, inside 250,000 gallons of water being held back by 8" thick glass answer questions while surrounded by sharks and other fish.  By the way, it is not ocean water.  They added sodium to the tap water when preparing the tank.  Real ocean water would have had too many impurities and be too dirty.

Anyway.... the arts festival events included some coloring, some playing with clay (I convinced them to leave their critters there to be recycled), wax painting of necklaces (Carl didn't want any part of that... until he saw the choices.  Then, he did 2.) and a puppet show that Gretchen got to perform with the lady.  The 3 Little Squids.  So, in case you need to know this... do not build a house of seaweed or sand because the Big Bad Manta Ray will knock it down for sure.  Live in coral - the hardest substance in the natural world.

We took a family photo when we entered.  Oh - they have a new bald eagle on display now.  He lives in the area that used to house the white alligator.  They moved Luna, the alligator into a tank with 3 green gators and all are living happily ever after!   So, this eagle lives in the area that you can see in the reflection of this picture.  You see a guy standing along a fence.  The eagle was hit by a car, rescued and survived, but had to have most of one wing amputated.  So, he cannot fly at all.  That's why he won't leave him enclosure.  Plus, this is a wonderful way for us to see an eagle up close and for this injured eagle to have a good life!

Gretchen making a clay turtle.

 Carl coloring....

 Of course, their favorite part of the aquarium is the playground after you exit.

 I should do a post of Frog Statue pictures throughout the years.  We try to take one every time we go.

Then, we had lunch and got ourselves ready to head to the water park's opening day.  It was such a nice day out... "wall to wall sunshine".  The crowd was very small and we were there until closing, so it dwindled as the time went on.

 Hair still dry....

 Carl is under water more than he is on top of it.

They grabbed a double tube for the next run....

 She had the lazy river almost all to herself.  (Carl wasn't that far behind)

  Here he is... upside  down again.

 He loves the wave pool, too!!

 So, last year, Carl didn't like this slide.  Gretchen did it alone her first trip today.

 Where's Lew?

 Then, Carl decided to try it.

both at the top....

 and he loved it!!!

 Next run!!

 She usually left the top first, so got to the bottom first.

 But, every time, he passed her in distance.

 Still loving it!!!

 Finally, she got tired of climbing up all those stairs and she headed back to the lazy river.  Carl continued to climb and slide until it was time to go home.  They lost count at 18 trips.

 Here is Gretchen in the wave pool - all alone!

 Right beofre carl finished sliding, she headed to the 8 and Under section to play.

 When Carl joined her, the lifeguard told him he was too old.  Nope, he really is only 8.  I do not think they will spend much time there this summer, but they can if they want to.  Last summer they will be eligible for that area!

We can't wait to go back!!!  We have season passes - so we will be back. A lot!!!!!
I brought the camera today because I knew it was too cold for adults.  I got a bunch of great shots, so I won't have to bring it again.