This just happened...

We discovered (tried to) that Gia's hair fits in pig trails! 

Also, Grace just asked what "in love" means. I said it's when you love someone/thing very much. She said " I'm in love my pants" and held up her new pajamas pants. 

Yep that just happened here

Camper cabin

The weekend of July 18-20th we went camping! Robb's birthday was on the 20th and that was what he wanted to do.  We just went to Elm Creek park reserve. It was an easy bike ride there. We also brought a car just in case. 

I'll admit I was nervous to bring the kids camping but this was a good compromise! Not in tents and not a long haul. But we really had fun! Plus we are getting the foundation set for future camping adventures. 

Friday we biked in and got our bearings. The cabin was great. It had a little deck and a screened in front porch then another door lead into the cabin. The cabin was simple but better than I expected. 2 Full size beds on the bottom bunks and twins on the top. And a nice picnic table all inside. Then the standard picnic table and fire ring outside. There was a latrine about a block away. But there was one! And on the way to the latrine there was a drinking fountain. Robb made sandwich pies and we tried to sleep.

 It was rough sleeping the first night. Really both nights. We just aren't used to all sleeping in the same room or in a strange place. The cabin was great through. 

Saturday we woke up, robb made breakfast and we went for a bike ride to the elm creek beach, the little man made lake in the park reserve. We swam and played n the sand. 

 By noon it started to get overcast. So we hopped on the bikes and headed to the nature center. Gia had a small nap while we ate our packed lunch. Then we looked around the nature center. 

Then we headed back to the cabin for some trail mix, duh we were camping!, and some soccer/softball. Robb made packs on the fire and we made hobo packs robb found on Pinterest. He also made bread in the Dutch oven! 

Oh! I almost forgot to mention outside the cabin the grounds were infiltrated with teeny tiny frogs. We had to walk gingerly and Gracie took one as a pet. For about an hour. Meet froggy akerson. There were multiple froggy Akerson's! She was very brave trying to hold them!

We hung out at the cabin living the sweet life until bedtime. We played some games we brought with and read some books then tried the whole sleeping thing again. I think the second night was better. 

Sunday morning

Robb was up early and walked the dogs, made oatmeal and we were packed up and home by 9am! We wasted no time! It was Robb's birthday and I wanted to make him a cake but he wasn't far behind us girls in the car. We got home all showered up and went to the new punch pizza in maple grove! A nap to follow all this excitement just made sense. Happy birthday, robby! We are excited to camp again. 

Champlin splash pad is now open!

The week of Gia and my birthday we drive past the site of Champlin splash pad and saw that it was officially open! So one day after VBS we got a picnic lunch and checked it out!!

We loved it and hope to go back many times! I love that it's free and so close we can bike to it! Yay! Happy summer!

Drive-in movie

Vali-Hi drive in near Lake Elmo

For several years now we haven't wanted to try a drive in movie. I know the bad things like the movies don't get started until dusk which is close to 10pm. But we still wanted to try it! Did you know the gates open at something like 7pm and there is a line?! People back up grills and blankets and footballs and the make a whole night if it! Then they show 3 movies, the first one not starting until 10pm! We almost made it to midnight but had 3 overtired kids who won't give up! It was very fun! Glad we did it and know we know how to proceed differently! 

How to train your dragon 2 from the back of our Volvo! 

 Guessing who loves popcorn?! Who knew? I guess we do now!

picture blog of 7-4-14 fun!

Setting: Pequot Lakes and Merrifield bay : the Grabin 

Celebrating Gia bday with grandma and grandpa Akerson.

 Sleeping in the camper. All the kids had a mysterious 48 hour fever. Gracie got sick a couple times, too. 

Going to fun sisters with Carleen and Claire Rager

Pequot 4th of July parade after the fireman's pancake feed! 

Golf cart ride with grandpa!

The Grabin!

On the gull chain boating with Uncle Joe and Aunt Elizabeth, Cousins and grandma and pa. Gia loved her legs in the water!

No trips up north is complete without a trip to the Chocolate Ox! We biked from the Grabin with uncle Brandon!

 Our ride home sunset on Sunday! We soaked up every minute of our 4 day weekend! We went up early Thursday and stopped in Kimball to get a apple cider press as a gift for grandpa and ma Akerson!

 

Intorducing Max # 9 for the glory prek team

Max is playing soccer again this year. We can see such huge improvements from him! He is lucky to have the assistant coach from last year as a coach this year. There are a few of the same players, too! This is a great sport for him because he loves to run around. He really has some wheels. His second game it had been pouring rain for a few hours and only 6 kids showed up! No chance for sub's so he got to play the whole game. He was goalie the first half. He was really trying! He let a few in but he never gave up!

Gracie's summer T- Ball and Soccer ( minus the soccer)

Robb once told me whatever Max gets to do we need to make sure Gracie and Gia need the option to do. Not only that reason but because she wanted to we signed her up for a summer t -ball and soccer class.

We had a one week break for VBS and totally missed the one day of soccer. She loved VBS. Good thing, too because soccer was what she really wanted to play. Next year all soccer, all the way!

She did really well. The middle class she was very shy and overwhelmed but other than that day she really liked her class. I even got to see a few people we had taken ECFE with previously.