playground time

Tonight, we all played at the park while Daddy played volleyball.  Then, I received a call from my cousin Colleen asking me to play on their team for the night, so everyone stayed at the park and I got a turn to play.  Fun times….

Memorial Day

The kids loved feeding and petting the animals.

Grandma & Grandpa camp

AKA what the kids did while we were on our cruise.

Fishing:

I just love how Jack is standing with his fishing pole in his hand.  His little stick had a toy fish on the end of it.

Arts & Crafts:

The kids helped to paint the birdhouse which I’m sure has already been hung up at Grandma & Grandpa’s lake property.

Horticulture:

The kids decorated pots and picked out flowers to give Kevin and I when we returned.  Then, Lauren watered them.

Tea time and rest time:

and lots of playing:

Carnival time

The kids (and adults) each enjoyed what seemed like about a million rides. It was a hot hot day, but we still had a good time.

I found this side-eye photo to be particularly hilarious.  I imagine Jack thinking something snarky and sarcastic.

Lauren was able to ride the bumper cars for the first time ever (with me driving of course.)  She thought it was the best thing ever!

Then, it was time to fold myself in half so Jack could go on the alligator coaster.  This little ride looks like a good time, but let me tell you, IT IS NOT!  First, I had to cram myself into the small car (because Lauren got the big one in the front.)  Then, the ride began.  What looks like a gentle loop is actually the jerkiest back breaking ride I think I’ve ever been on.  It’s no surprise that I needed a trip to the chiropractor afterward.  You also have to hold on for dear life because you could be thrown from the thing at a moments notice.  Yikes!  I might look like I was having fun, but I was actually fearful for our lives.

time for some s’mores

Jack didn’t make it into the picture because he was busy-- off being Jack.  I think he was mowing the lawn.  We were able to get one s’more before the torrential rain and wind started and we had to chuck a bucket of water on the fire and run for cover.  I swear our weather is the most ridiculous in MN.

Hello Kitty

Lauren had been eyeing up a Hello kitty set (with hair clips, lip gloss and other stuff) at target for quite awhile, so I surprised her with it when we got back from our cruise (nothing like a little bribery forgiveness for leaving for a week.)  Then, Lauren took this picture of me and I thought it was too funny not to post.

Bahama mama

I picked up these funky matching dresses in Nassau.  We wore them to church this morning and Lauren loved it!

Our cruise

was AMAZING!  Sign me up for another (seriously, can I go back again??)  Here are some random pics that didn’t end up on facebook, but I still felt like sharing.

The kids had a blast with Grandma Pat & Grandpa John (but we don’t have the pics from their portion of our vacation.)

Pedicure time

Today, I took Lauren for some girl time before we leave on vacation tomorrow (bright and early!)  We both got pedicures and then shared some frozen yogurt.  Lauren really wanted rainbows on her toes, so I scoured google images looking for some ideas and let her pick which one she wanted.  They turned out beautifully and it’s such a fun mother/daughter activity!