MN Week 5

Wed - my parents were gone and we didn't have a car so the kids and I played outside/played games all day, that night we watched Star Wars Episode III with Papa (our goal is to work our way through all 7 movies this summer!)

Thurs - Gaga, Rylee, Jace and I went garage saling in Brainerd (Jace loves it now too), then worked our way up to Crosslake for dinner: Rafferty's pizza!

Fri - baking in preparation for my aunt's funeral, visit with Penney, the kids played in the sprinkler, Star Wars Episode IV

Sat - we all attended my aunt's funeral
Pat was my dance instructor for most of my life and she was able to teach Rylee these past several years.  I am so thankful that Rylee got to know her.  She was taken from us too soon.  Her funeral was beautiful and such a perfect reflection of the life she lived - lots of singing and dancing!

After the funeral pics

Sun - lazy day: 4 wheel races and obstacle courses, board games, Papa taught the kids the quarter elbow flip trick!, Star Wars Episode V

Mon - dance with Jillian (Pat's daughter), the kids spent the night with Papa since my Mom and I went to a painting class (we painted birch trees) with Sara, Sharon and Penney (just to name a few).
This was the night that I went downstairs to find a note on my bedroom door that read: "your kids are in here."  Sure enough, my bed was occupied by two sleeping children!  I didn't want to wake them so I ended up sleeping on Jace's bottom bunk in the kids room.  Lol!

MN Week 4 - Sat thru Mon/ MN Week 5 - Tues

Sat - after we dropped Maddie off, we spent the day with my cousin, Lilly.  Papa took us on the pontoon for our first swim in Serpent Lake (off the pontoon) and then we went for a nice boat ride.

Sun - rainy day/ I took Rylee, Jace and Lilly to "Finding Dory," Redbox movie night with Gaga and Papa

Mon - Rylee spent the day/ slept over with Maddie so I spent the day with my bestie (and college roommate) Sara.  First, my Mom, Sara and I went shopping in Crosslake, then we spent the night staying up late watching movies and Sara slept over.  It was just like old times!

Tues - last day with the cousins :(

cousin photos!

One of my faves: they all love Jace!

The boys  :)

The girls  :)

MN Summer Week 4 - Wed thru Fri

Wed - was Jon's last day so we spent part of the day with the cousins and then the rest of the day with my family.  We wanted to try out the hotdog behind our pontoon and get Jace to try riding again.

First, we tried the Jace sandwich.

Cute!

Then Jace tried out the hot seat.  

He even went no handed!

Rylee wanted a wild ride, but the pontoon motor isn't that fast.  

We gave her a solo ride to see if that would help, but...  

it didn't help.  :)

Thurs - I took Jon to the airport around 4:30 am so since I was awake my Mom and I decided to go garaging.  Rylee is getting addicted so we took her with us, but around 11 am she thought she was going to be sick so we called it an early day.  Too many late nights and the 6:30 am wake up call for garaging probably wasn't the best idea.  She spent the rest of the day having a pajama/movie day... and she managed not to puke, so win win!  (And while she was resting, we got to visit with my cousin Lisa: win, win, win!)

Fri - cousin sleepover #1

Maddie spent the day at our house and slept over.  The kids had so much fun!  Jace was starting to get jealous about all the garaging Rylee was doing so we took him (and the girls) to a couple of local sales.  Then the kids made crafts, played, had dinner, and treats.  I gave up my bed so the girls could stay up late and watch movies.  There was an insane amount of giggling going on.  

The next day, Gaga helped the girls make homemade donuts - delish!

MN Summer Week 4 - Tues

Tuesday - lake day with the cousins

We made S'mores and Uncle Anthony encouraged the kids to make the messiest face possible.  Afterward they were so sticky that Grandpa Chip suggested they jump in the lake.  And they did - with their clothes on (some of their clothes anyway!).

While I was laughing and watching the spectacle on the dock, Jace apparently didn't want to miss out on the fun.  When I turned around he had stripped and was ready to go.

Freezing, but fun!

Jace didn't quite get in far enough to wash his face though!

MN Summer - 4th of July

It was a cool, windy fourth.  Unfortunately, it wasn't a swimming day, but it was a nice day to sit outside and visit.  We started with the parade:

Jace wasn't scared of the loud noises this year, 

though he still covered his ears.  :)

He also loved getting all the candy 

(even though 90% of it was things he couldn't eat).

As Papa says: the parade is better than Halloween - all the candy without all the leg work!

Jace enjoyed it so much that he said he wanted to do it again 

(and that was when we were in the car on the ride home.  Lol!)

Speaking of the ride home, Rylee wanted to drive through the cemetery so we stopped and visited all the relatives there.  I love that girl!  :)

We spent the afternoon with Gaga and Papa, my Uncle Howard and my Cousin Lil, my Cousin Ben and his wife, Lisa, and my Uncle Paul.  Our friends, Greg & Sharon and Sara, came for the bbq and then stayed for the fireworks.  

Since the pontoon is now on Serpent, we were able to watch the fireworks from the lake.  Papa did a great job of navigating the boat traffic and getting us a great floating spot.  

I'm pretty sure this was Jace's first time watching the "real" firework show.  I think I've always put him to bed before they started because I thought it was too late.  Anyway, he loved them of course! Ooh.... aah...!  :) 

MN Summer Week 3 - Sat & Sun

Sat - spent some time with my parents at "the resort" (what I call their house),
badminton, power wheels, first pontoon ride on Serpent Lake

Jace loves to drive (even squinty-eyed into the sun)!

Sun - Laurie's bday!, spent the day at the lake with the cousins, followed by a Crosslake trip (Ye Old Wharf for cocktails and mocktails and Rafferty's pizza for dinner!)

Mermaid Rylee

The girls got pretty brave on the hotdog this year.  

They loved going fast and tipping over (even more than the boys).  

You go girls!

MN Summer Week 3 - Thurs & Fri

Thurs - wasn't a lake day.  The guys went golfing and Laurie and I watched the kids.  They mostly entertain themselves these days which is soooo nice!  I did get them up and moving with a little GoNoodle dancing at one point (below).  Later we took them uptown for smoothies and ice cream.

Not sure what they are dancing to here, 

but "Pop See Ko" became the theme song for the cousin vacation: 

"Hey Jace?  Hey what?  Are you ready?  For what?  To pop?  Pop what?  Pop See Ko!

My hands are high, my feet are low, and this how I Pop See Ko!"

Fri - lake day/dinner with the cousins

The boys :)

Garbage bag fashions by "Madry"...  

Bravo!

Cousin love  :)

MN Summer Week 3 - Tues & Wed

Jon flew in on Tuesday night (after the kids were in bed), but before that the kids spent the day playing with Megan.  It wasn't quite warm enough to swim, but they did manage some wading and goofing around on Agate.

Wed- First day with Daddy and the cousins on Serpent!  Jace was brave and jumped right in!

Rylee had to think about it a while... lakes are very different than pools!

After dinner, it was hot dog time!  Jace wanted the first ride 

(as long as Daddy (and Nick) went along and Grandpa Chip went v-e-r-y slowly).

Next up: Rylee, Maddie and Nick.

Jace enjoying the boat ride.

Lastly, Nick wanted a wild ride with Uncle Jon.

They went pretty fast and Jon helped them tip it over on a turn.  

Not sure how much Nick enjoyed that last part!

Jace sneak attacking Daddy when he came back in!

Great day on the lake! :)