Como Zoo

This may have been the summers last (and only really) hurrah.  Our trip to the Como Zoo was great.  Beautiful weather, awesome animals, good food, and an amazing butterfly garden.  If you haven't been, you need to go see the butterfly garden!!  

We skipped the rides this time because of our recent trip to the SCFF, but made it to see all the animals and even the flower gardens - who knew FREE things could be so beautiful.

The "Fair"

We have been debating taking the girls to Valleyfair this summer, but finally decided that we would settle with some rides at the Steele County Free Fair in Owatonna.  Not sure about all of you, but am really astounded with the price of tickets to Valleyfair - especially when I am not sure if the girls would even be tall enough to go on most of the rides.  

Anyway, the $17 wristbands at the SCFF looked pretty good so we met my parents there for a night of fun!  Aside from the consistent drizzle, it was a fun time and the girls got in plenty of rides - even some they probably shouldn't have been on.

As you can see from the attached pictures, the girls were not real impressed with the "kiddy" rides - this is what happens when you start the night with "the tornado", never work your way down the excitement ladder!!

Next year we will once again debate the trip to Valleyfair, but are always open to other suggestions (if you have any). 

1st grade Hair Cut

Olivia and I decided that she really needed a hair cut before the start of the new school year.  I have been telling her for the last month or so that she should get a "bob" because it would make combing through it a LOT easier.  She, of course, wasn't so sure about it.  These last few "hot" days made all the difference for her I think.  She realized that shorter hair would be easier to take care of and a whole lot cooler.  So we made the trip to studio V and went for the new do.  I love it and Olivia likes it too.  She certainly does look like a 1st grader now!!

Mankato Twins 2009

Craig is playing for the Mankato Twins again this summer (well, helping with coaching duties more than playing, but whatever).  The girls and I have made it to a few games and lucky for us the state tournament is in Gaylord/Arlington this year!!  My nieces were here for a few days this last week and they attended a game with us (dressed in Twins gear of course!!)  

Here you will see Sydney (8), Olivia (6), Ava (5), and Rhyan (5)

& Rhyan with her new best friend "Twinkie" - she is now telling everyone that Miley is a "cockapoo":)

Science Museum

Today we took a trip to the Science Museum of Minnesota.  We went with the "summer adventure" group to see the Titanic Exhibit.  We were all very excited and had a lot of fun!  The Omni movie was a little disappointing, but the artifacts were fascinating!!  I could have spent most of the day in the exhibit looking around, reading the quotes, and browsing the names of those saved and lost.  It is truly an amazing story!! 

The girls had never been to the science museum so they were amazed at most of the "stuff" there. When I asked them what they liked best they both said putting dinosaur bones together to make a skeleton was at the top of their list.  I don't think they really got as much out of the Titanic exhibit as I did, but that was expected.  

It was fun to watch them explore different things and ask some really great questions.  The view of the Mississippi River was breathtaking & the ice cream was great too!

Fun Days 2009

Spent the day in North Mankato with our friends - The Sizers.  We all had a great time at the parade, eating pizza, and going on rides.  We now realize that we may not be able to make it through another summer without going to Valley Fair.  Wow - what a parade!!  Lots of candy and other FREE stuff!!  

Both of the girls were very daring - even went on a couple of rides by themselves!  Definitely realized the faster, the better!  Can't wait to go back next year (on wristband night!)

Last Day

I can't believe Olivia is done with Kindergarten!!  It seems like just yesterday that I was blogging about her "first day".  She enjoyed her time with her classmates and really liked her teacher Ms. May.  She has become an avid reader and we are so proud of her!  She is looking forward to being in 1st grade next year and is already asking when school starts again.

Memorial Day Weekend

This year we traveled to Shakopee to hang out with the Fritz family at Craig's sister Karen, husband Dipesh & little guy Evan's house.  A great time was had by all - and I had a chance to work on my "farmers tan"!

Giant Rhubarb Leaves

The girls and I were out at the farm the other day getting some old barn wood to make a fence in the corner of our backyard.  While we were there looking around - we decided to get some rhubarb and try to make a cake.  

Check out some of the leaves!!!

Track & Field Day

St. Anne's held their annual track & field day for the students last week.  Since this is our first year in school I wasn't really sure what to expect.  From what I remember, track & field day was a lot of fun - three legged race, 100 meter dash, shuttle run, balloon toss, etc.  I was really excited for Olivia and knew that she would have a great time!  

As it turns out, St. Anne's idea of "track & field" day was a little different than what I remembered.  I skipped my prep (very precious) and snuck over to the school to check things out.  Along with it being one of the coldest May days that I can recall - the games were pretty - well - not something I would have enjoyed that much.  Rainbow tag, beach volleyball (on grass), and tennis aren't really what I consider "track & field", but the kids looked like they were having a good time.  And that's what counts - right??

Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy

Once again we attempted a night out at the lake fishing "with the girls".  Last summer when we did this I vowed to NEVER do it again.  I figured I could watch the girls run around, act crazy, and fight at home - why do it while trying to fish too??  

Craig convinced me to try it again.  The girls are a year older and seemed to be really excited when asked if they wanted to go fishing.  So, we packed up the truck and headed to Duck Lake.  This time with NO snacks (they end up being a huge distraction)!  

We arrived only to find someone fishing in "OUR SPOT"!  So, we found another a little way down the shore and began casting in our lines.  Of course after only about 10 minutes both the girls were bored because the fish weren't biting and decided they would rather walk in the shallow water and up and down the hill from the shore to the road.  I decided not to worry about it this time - after all, Craig was the one who convinced me to go - he could worry about the girls right?

As you can see from the attached pics - the girls ventured back to their poles and ended up catching the only fish that we kept the whole night - 2 bass.  Rhyan was first and didn't even know she had a fish on her line - she thought it was "stuck" on a rock by the shore - but pulled in a 13" bass.

Olivia then of course was excited for her sister, but also a little upset because she hadn't caught a keeper yet.  "Keep trying" we said, "they will bite sooner or later".  Nothing - 

"One last cast", I said.  We needed to get going - it was getting dark and hard to see.  On her last minnow - as she was reeling in slowly even - Olivia caught her "keeper" - a 12" bass.  The girls were both extremely excited and couldn't wait to get home and take pictures with their first bass ever!  

We're gonna Win Twins!!

Last Friday was the annual trip to the Minnesota Twins game with the LSH Middle School gang.  This year we took 87 kids, 6 teachers, and a 6 -- 5 -- and 4 year old.  

After many trips to the bathroom, 1 to the concession stand and another to the face painting booth the game ended with the Twins winning 11-0!  They even hit 4 home-runs (only 1 of which I was actually in the stands to see)!  

All in all it was a fun night and the girls are always excited at the prospect of going to the far, far baseball game.  They enjoy riding the bus and are always learning new (and sometimes inappropriate) things from the middle school kids.  Oh, and it is never a bad night when you get to see Joe Mauer!!

Sorry - "no salad"

So I decided that I want to try planting a garden.  In order to do so however, we had to move our sandbox so that we would have a nice sunny spot to grow things - you can about imagine how excited Craig was about that.  

Anyway, the sandbox got moved on Saturday - it was a family affair, the girls and I hauled ice cream buckets full of sand, while Craig carried a big storage tub full.  It didn't take as long as I had imagined it would and now I am really excited about the garden.  

The girls and I bought carrots, pumpkins, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and sweet corn to get started.  

Here is where my story is going - sorry it took so long to get here...

   We were talking to a friend the other day and Rhyan was telling her that we were planting a garden.  She asked what we were going to plant so Rhyan began listing all the things I already mentioned.  She did pretty good remembering all the things we had purchased.  The lady we were visiting with said "oh, yummy - can I come over for a salad sometime" to which Rhyan responded "oh sorry - we aren't planting any salad".

Just had to laugh at this ---

Easter 2009

Wow - what great weather - finally!!!  I can't remember the last time it was actually nice enough for the girls to wear cute Easter dresses without sweaters or long sleeve shirts underneath.  They had a blast finding eggs - the Easter Bunny even brought some for the dog!  Good food, family, and fun - who could ask for anything more?