First day of kindergarten!

 Dreaming big!

Today was Evie's first day of Kindergarten!!!  Yes, that does require three exclamation points.  She has been ready for this day since she could speak.  She is familiar with the first day of school routine now, since going to daycare at Kindercare and preschool at Sammamish Hills and American Lutheran.  But Evie knows that she has hit the big time now.  A few days ago I asked her what she was most excited about.  Evie said, "Learning how to read.  Then, I can come home, open a book, and read it to myself."  It just about melted this bookworm's heart!  She says she is nervous about math, but I reassured her that she didn't learn everything in the first week.  It all takes time and practice.

 First day of school outfit...

...complete with super cute backpack!

Only one of these kids is excited to walk to school.  Guess who?

 

Will, the boys, and I walked Evie to her elementary school.  There was a lot of kids waiting there already and you could feel the excitement and apprehension of every kid, parent, and teacher there.  Evie was a little clingy to begin with in the big crowd.  But when she entered her classroom, she knew where to hang her backpack and where to sit.  There were no tears (at least from her) when we said good bye.  I can't wait to hear all the stories when she comes home!  My hope is that she feels welcome and finds her way just fine. 

 Door seems so big and she seems so small, but there are huge things ahead and she is ready!

Okay, Mom.  You can go now.  Really.  I've got this.

Helping out with harvest

 Evie posing next to her grandpa's grain truck

I mentioned earlier in the blog that the early spring and warm summer pushed wheat harvest way early.  I would have never thought that we would be at the farm during grain harvest since we were leaving the end of July.  But we were!  The boys and Evie loved watching the trucks and combines roll out of the yard each day.  Evie really wanted a ride in one of them and she got her chance the last full day we were in town.  Grandma Bev packed Evie a little lunch and Evie rode all morning with Grandpa Wayne in the truck, as well as a little ride in the combine.  She was full of stories when she came back.  "The wheat was coming up all over the combine when we were in it!"  "Grandpa showed me where the wheat seeds were on the plant and we ate some!"  Dad said Evie would talk non-stop in the cab of the truck, but the minute they got out to talk to his employees, Evie would turn mute.  Sounds like her!  I am so thankful they got this time together.

Evie and her Grandpa Wayne

Swimming at Florian Park

 Jump in!  The water is great!

For growing up in the land of 10,000 lakes you would think that I grew up with a lake in my backyard.  Not so.  There are huge parts of Minnesota that don't have a lake within an hour of driving and I grew up in one of those areas.  Actually, there is a county park not far from the farm that has a dammed up river and it is one of the best swimming areas in my book.  The fair was done, Evie's swimmer's ear had healed, and we were ready to have some more water fun.  We headed to the county park just for the late morning/early afternoon.  Grandpa Wayne grilled hotdogs while the kids tested the waters.  Evie was once again testing her new swimming skills and the boys surprised us with their boldness in the water.  Guthrie didn't stop doing a crocodile like crawl in the shallows and Zevon loved floating on his belly (with the help of his dad).  We could hardly pull them away to eat!  Evie and I tried making sand castles but her brothers kept on stepping on them.  I even tried to relive my teenage years by swimming out to the floating dock in the middle of the river.  (I made it, but just barely!)  All too soon, the boys let us know (vocally) that it was time to pack up and head home.  The icing on the cake was Zevon and Guthrie colliding with each other on the playground and Zevon ending up with a split lip. 

 Zevon and his best swimsuit model beach pose

Evie does her bobs

 Guthrie kept on letting his feet float and kick while pushing himself backwards with his hands until he would come up on shore.  Then he would walk out into the water and do the same thing all over again. 

Will helps Zevon float and kick his feet to swim like Evie

Fair ride fun

 Evie takes a ride with Grandma Bev

Along with enjoying the fair food, exhibits, livestock, and horse shows, we also spent some time on the midway.  The kids tried out every ride they were big enough for and we all took at least one ride on the ferris wheel.  There are no pictures from the ferris wheel, I'm sad to say.  I was spending so much time keeping one hand firmly around Gus and my other hand gripping the bar (I guess I was more nervous than I thought I would be). 

 Lovely lady on her horse

 Guthrie, Mommy, Daddy, and Zevon take a spin on the carosel

 All aboard!

 Evie really wanted to go down the big slide, but got a little nervous when she realized there was a looong staircase and a smoking guy at the top.  I think she thought the ride was worth the fear.

 I was worried that Evie had inherited my inner ear, making any ride that spins the opposite of fun.  That couldn't be farther from the truth!  Evie and her dad took a turn on the 'Dizzy Dragons' and she wanted Will to spin the dragon more.  We could hear her giggling every rotation of the ride.

 Oh, no.  I let my brother Gus have the front seat and our sister is right on our tail.  Help!

Evie looking cool on her motorcycle

County fair parade

Can't stop smiling and waving at a parade!  Especially since they keep on throwing me candy!

 

Will was excited to attend a small town county fair and we planned our time in Minnesota to enjoy it this year.  The fair starts out with a parade through the main part of town.  We got there early enough and Aunt Bev saved seats so that we could have a great place to sit.  I thought it was to see all the awesome tractors.  I found out later it was so we could have front seats for candy collecting.  It was hot and sunny, but the constant supply of sugar and people handing out water and otter pops kept our kids as happy as clams.  We sat with my Aunt Darlene, my cousin's wife Sara, and their two kids.  It was good to catch up with them.  We waved at every float, oohed and ahhed at the big machinery and tractors, watched dancers perform and Shriners drive their little vehicles.  Both boys and Evie would say 'wow!' and 'oh!' at just about every float or group that would come by.  My favorite part was watching Zevon wave and say 'hi!' at every float carrying the winners of local pageants.  I wasn't sure if he was trying to catch the eye of the pretty ladies or he just really liked their sparkly crowns. 

 Zevon watches the parade from his favorite spot: on Daddy's shoulders

 Waving to all the floats

 Grandpa Wayne and Guthrie check out the new giant combine on parade

Zevon watching the band, as well as the pretty ladies.

Other odds and ends from Minnesota

What else did we do with our time in Minnesota?

Arts and crafts:

Evie painting with water colors

Ran through the sprinkler:

Evie, Zevon and Guthrie staying cool

 

Zevon taking a break from the action

 

Guthrie washing off his sand toys

Keep up with the garden:

Great-grandma and Grandma Bev teaching Evie how to shell peas

 

4 generations hard at work (I'm just not in the picture!)

Hang out with Great-grandma:

Evie snuggles with Great-grandma

Zevon, Evie and Guthrie stop moving for a second to take a picture with Great-grandma

Play with Daddy:

Epic game of 'ring around the rosy'

Causes for celebration

 Two lion cakes for my two two-year-old cubs

Will wasn't with us in Minnesota for the first almost 2 weeks we were there.  When he did join us for the last week, we were overjoyed to see him.  We missed him a lot!  Combined with missing his birthday and his missing the boys' birthday, we needed a big party to celebrate us being together again.  We grilled hot dogs and brats, Mom made baked beans, and I made 2 lion cakes.  (I can't claim my own creativity for this one...it is amazing what you can find on the internet!)  I also made a carrot cake for Will, his favorite.  The food and cakes were all super yummy. 

 Family enjoying a summer feast

The boys opened their presents and had fun playing with all their new toys.  Trucks, balls, cars, and blocks seemed to dominate the field this year, along with some really cute clothes.  They weren't as shy about opening everything up this year.  But they were so excited about gifts they kept on stopping just to play with the new toys.  Note for next year:  open gifts earlier in the day to give lots of time for playing with them later.

 Zevon tries out his softball pitch

 Guthrie shows his new ball (while sporting a Miss MN hat of his Grandma's)

 Zevon getting his trucks ready for some serious work

 Guthrie sees how many blocks can fit in his new tractor

The boys were also more adept at blowing out their own candles this year.  However, they each had different strategies.  Zevon was more for the direct approach and needed very little help blowing out his candle.  Guthrie seemed concerned by the fact his cake was on fire and tried to snuff it out with a napkin.  Yikes! 

 Oh no!  Fire!

 Don't worry, Daddy.  I've got this.

 I can help you out brother.

 Mmm.  That was good cake!

Unfortunately, we were missing Grandpa Wayne.  Wheat harvest had started, unexpectedly early this year, and Dad needed to be out in the field.  We missed him but were so thankful that harvest was going so well.  There was plenty of cake when he came in that evening, so we could celebrate the start of harvest as well.

Grandma and Grandpa's new cabin

 Welcome to our new home away from home!

My mom has been dreaming of a lake cabin of her own for as long as I can remember.  This summer, her patience, planning, and a bit of luck from the housing market paid off.  My parents found the perfect place near one of our favorite places to camp in Minnesota.  They closed our first week at the farm and we had to check out the new place.  No furniture yet, but the lake was perfect for a day of swimming and exploring.   It is so beautiful!  Cool in the shade, peaceful to watch the lake, loons swim and call just yards away, fish swim around the dock.  It is everything summer in Minnesota should be.

 We got our life jackets and are ready to go!

The cabin is right on the lake and that made me and my mom a little nervous about the kids.  Life jackets were a necessity for twin toddlers and a jumpy 5 year old.  Thankfully, they loved their new jackets.  In fact, the boys cried when I told them to take them off before bed one night when we just were trying them on.

The cabin has plenty of space for all of us to stay overnight, but we made this just a day trip.  Evie had fun trying out her new swimming skills, I got a chance to relax and swim in the lake with Megan and Chris, and the boys spent most of the time exploring and observing.  They were a little more wary of the water than I thought they would be.  Zevon loved having his legs floated in the water, but  he got tired (we were skipping naps) and cranky.  I think Guthrie got cold too quickly to really enjoy the lake.   I can't wait until next year when they will really tear up the place!

 Evie and Grandma Bev find the perfect spot to chat

 Grandma Bev shows the boys the fishing dock

 Zevon (left) and Guthrie (right) decide if they will jump in

 Evie loved having the help of the life jacket and a pool noodle to practice her floating and swimming skills.  I think she was in the water more than anyone (and ended up with swimmers ear a few days later to prove it)

When we asked Evie what was her favorite part of the day at the lake, she answered "fishing!".  The lake had lots of little fish that would nibble your toes while you swam.  Grandpa Wayne and Evie decided to try their luck at catching one.  And they did!  With nothing more than a bobber, hook, and plastic twist lure, all on a Donald Duck fishing rod, they caught 3!  I don't know who was more excited, my dad or Evie.  They were both pretty proud.  

 Grandpa Wayne and Evie fishing off the dock

First fish!

Evie is pretty proud of herself

You would think with all this excitement the kids would have fallen asleep on the way home.  Nope.  They were too wound up and full of stories to settle down.  It made the trip home more stressful than it should have been.  But, it was all worth it.  We can't wait for many more summers at the lake cabin!