Filling the Summer Tank

Camping season is in full swing! I was explaining to Mike how, just like people have "Love Tanks" that need to be filled, I have a "Summer Tank" that needs to be filled. So up here in the Northern Tundra we have to squeeze ever single drop out of our 12 weeks of summer. This weekend went a long ways in filling up that "Summer Tank!"

We love the Forestville/ Mystery Caves Campground because there is so much to do! This year we ventured into unknown territory and went spelunking in the Mystery Cave. It's a whole 'nother world down there. Very Cool! (Literally and figuratively)

We also visited the historic site of Forestville again. We did that last year and it was just as fun this year. I love living history exhibits! When people are dressed up and in character, it just makes it that much more fun.
We also spent a lot of time just doing whatever sounded fun. There were impromptu games of kickball and catch. Lots of bike rides and walks with the dogs.

And, of course, a camping trip could not be complete without some fun bubble works with Grandma. The kids are getting really good at them!

Carrots and Clutter

Yup, that's a carrot he's chewing on. You'da thought I'd given him a popsicle or a frozen gogurt! He was so excited. He'd gummed that thing till it was a warm slobbery mess. Yuck.

And Yup, I'm trying to hide my cluttered buffet with the blurry background button on my computer. Mmm, didn't work very well. It's definitely the hotspot in my house. I'm forever cleaning it off, only to find more things left there. (and the kids are too short to reach it yet....)

As Perfect as Perfect Can Get

It's days like these that befuddle Mike and I, that we are so blessed to live where we live. It was a BEAUTIFUL day here today. Actually the word "beautiful" doesn't do this day justice. What's NOT an overused word that describes near perfection this side of heaven? I don't know, but whatever it is, today was it.

There wasn't a cloud in the sky, the temperature was warm but no humidity and a light breeze ( different from windy). We decided to hop on the bike trail at the end of our block and ride/ walk into Excelsior to enjoy the Art Fair by the lake. Doesn't it sound great already?!!?

Mike and I walked the 3 miles while Sofie and John rode their bikes.
Sofie is definitely on a face painting kick. She spotted the face painting tent the instant we arrived (we are currently in negotiations about how she might get out of washing it off during her bath tonight, actually she's in negotiations, my mind is already made up...)DO YOU SEE JOHN'S FACE!!!! He was so excited to get it done! My "particular" boy let his face get painted, and he LOVED it. Later he was walking by a decorative mirror and when he caught his reflection he said, "Woah! I wasn't expecting that!" :)

So we walked around the festival and enjoyed the beautiful wares. Some people are so talented. The pottery was beautiful. Why am I drawn to the pottery?

Then we got a treat! The kids shared some Italian Ice... Caleb made do with the camera strap. Then they made a game of the bleachers (are those new? I don't remember them from last year...) And then we looked at the scenery. It's worth the Frozen Tundra winters to be able to see this in the summer.
We even enjoyed some local wildlife... (Who knew rabbits came "cow" colored!)
(The local famous snapping turtle. Identifiable by the crack in his shell. And yes, Mike was messing with a snapping turtle. He was warned.)We then took the bike trail back home. It was about as perfect as perfect gets, this side of heaven. (I'm assuming in heaven I won't get the obligatory sunburn that goes along with such outings.)

Children's Museum (aka How Many Pictures Can One Post Hold...)

On Wednesday we visited the Children's Museum with my wonderful friend Shana and her two sons. I had been wanting to go for awhile, but I'm not good with trying new things. Especially when that means driving into a big SCARY city that I don't know my way around in. So Shana was very nice and researched the directions and "escorted" me and my brood (we caravaned) to the doors of the Museum.

The kids had a blast and have already tried to pin me down as to when they get to go next. They will remember this trip for a long time!

All the kids (but one, I bet you can guess!) really got into the face painting. I did all I could to not try and minimize the color on their faces and I did a really good job. I took pictures so that kept me busy and my mind off what they were doing to their faces. :) Of course, John, in true John fashion, did not want any writing on his face.The kids could've spent their whole day just in the 1st exhibit! There were boulders (foam boulders) to carry, convey and drop. Then there was water to splash, sploosh, and spray...After a while we would move the kids into a new exhibit. It was a trick to move them from something that they loved, to another thing that they loved, all with out any fits. Sofie could not believe her eyes when she saw a TV Station at one exhibit, complete with a blue screen that you could play in front of. Now THAT was hard to pull her away from. (this is the picture of the TV screen that Sofie and Lilia were on)Then Laaaaa! It was a Clifford exhibit! My kids have loved Clifford from way back. We stayed a LONG time in that exhibit.The last exhibit had an ant hill, complete with tunnels, a stream that plastic tadpoles were "swimming" in and a turtle shell. Perfect for the parental photo op.We had a great day.

Oh and Caleb? Yeah, the Children's Museum isn't quite so much fun when your 6 mo. old. The most exciting thing he got to do was gum Shana's fingers. Can't you tell he was having a great time? :)

Soooo Big!

Where is Caleb's infancy going?!?!? Wasn't I just pregnant with him? Wasn't he just a newborn two seconds ago! I am shocked that he is already 6 months old and is doing things like this... He's sitting, rolling in both directions. We're going to have to get out the gate for the basement and lower his crib, especially when I find him this far away from where he started. His favorite thing to do here lately is say, "bubububububuuu" and grab your face with ALL his might and start sucking on your chin, or jaw, or anything else he can get his hands on. I've started calling him my little "hupa" short for "hair puller." Infancy, where are you going?!!

I've Got Something to Tell You...

I was standing in the kitchen just now and I overheard Lilia and Sofia playing together. This is what I heard~

Lilia:"Sofey! Sofey! Tell me somefinggg!"

Sofia:"You are a very special girl and God loves you very much."

You can't make this stuff up!

Here Comes Spiderman!

(Sung to the Spiderman theme song. If you don't know it click HERE)
Spiderman, Spiderman,
Helps wherever a spider can
Climbs the counters, up he jumpsSends his sister, for the cupsLook Out!
Here comes the Spiderman.

Is he strong?
Listen bud,
He can unload a dishwasher
with his pinky and thumb.
Take a look underfoot
Hey, dude
There goes the Spiderman! :)

(My John Boy, he's such a good helper, this is what I happened upon this morning in the kitchen. A literal tear came to my eye as I watched them have so much fun together, unloading a silly dishwasher.)

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Lastly, we went to Grandma Wolfe's pool for our 1st swim of the summer this afternoon! The kids had a wonderful time. I sat on the side lines with Caleb while the other three, plus cousin Isabelle, hung onto Gma while she slowly waded from one end of the pool and to the other. I kept counting heads to make sure they were all there 1, 2, 3, 4... 1, 2, 3, 4... but she kept all her "little ducklings" accounted for and happy. What a Grandma won't do for her grandbabies. :)