Father's Day/Jeremy's Birthday Camping Trip

For Father's Day/Jeremy's Birthday weekend we decided it would be fun to go on our first ever family camping trip.  We made reservations in Lake City at Hok-si-la Park, knowing we would be close enough to home if we got rained out or we needed to come home early.

Something was living down this hole and Jonas was determined to find it!

The sunsets were beautiful!  Our site was right by the water - we couldn't have asked for a better view.

Evan wading in the water at the beach next to our site.

Taking Jonas for a walk in the woods.

Fishhook!

It was a great weekend.  Evan slept like a champ and we will definitely be camping again soon!

Memorial Weekend

Spring is finally here - and I mean it this time!  The cherry blossoms in our yard are blooming - a bit late, mind you, but blooming all the same. 

On Friday we went to the MN Zoo to see the "Dr. Seuss on the Loose" exhibit. Below is Evan posing with the iconic Cat in the Hat.

"I do not like green eggs and ham!"

And, of course, the bronze turtle.  I think I have about 100 photos of Evan on this turtle.  It will be neat to look back when he is 18 and see how much he has grown!  I'm guessing in 18 years the turtle will still be about the same size...I hear they grow slowly.

Smile for the tiger in the background! 

"Cheese."

A robin had laid an egg in this nest by the Cat in the Hat. 

Yesterday, we decided a camp-out in the backyard would be fun.  Even our jungle cats got to spend some time in the sun.

Poor Rico and his googly-eyes...

Making the fire with Dad.  We had fun roasting 'dogs and smores.

Today we went to Ellsworth to visit Great-Grandma Nelson and Grandpa Wayne. Evan LOVES her vibrating chair.  It was the only way we could get him to sit still as a baby!

Photo op with Great-Grandma!

Hope you all had a safe and fun Memorial Day as we remember all who have fallen and sacrificed for our freedoms!

Where does May go every year?

Every year I miss May.  I get really busy at work this time of year, and when the weather gets nice we spend a lot of time outdoors gardening, walking, and enjoying the sunshine...but I never seem to remember my camera!  I guess I must be so excited to spend some time outside that I forget to bring it. 

Our spring hyacinths were beautiful this year.

Evan and DJ at the circus.  They are great friends and spend most of their time trying to make each other laugh!

They were so excited for the circus to begin that they were dancing in their seats - literally!

Yesterday my friend, Sarah, invited us along for a short horseback ride. Her friend, Andy, owns three horses and an adorable mule.

 

Evan liked the horses but spent most of the time playing tag with Rex, their dog!

Go Sarah!

Tonight was Evan's end-of-the-year school picnic.  The kids sang songs and danced.  Evan's best buddies at school are Jonas, Hanna, and Mary Ellen.  Here he is cutting a rug with Hanna.

Singing the "Speckled Frog" song - one of our favorites at home, too.

So begins my first day of my annual spring Stay-Cation.  I can't wait to see what the rest of the week has in store!

Happy Easter!

What a great weekend! Evan spend Saturday afternoon with my parents at the zoo while we joined Jeremy's parents for a day at the Chanhassen Dinner Theater to see Jesus Christ Superstar.  When we got home we dyed Easter Eggs.

This morning's egg hunt.

A present from the Easter Bunny - an explorer vest complete with compass, excavation tools (my favorite), a magnifying glass, bug net, lantern, and telescope!  Evan was mesmerized by the tweezers.  His friend Mary Ellen has a pair in her doctor play set and Evan is thrilled to now have his own!  He likes to take out pretend slivers with them.

My budding archaeologist!  Dr. Evan-stone I presume?

Of course, we gad to excavate some "dinosaur bones" from this strata called "Play-dough."

...and then make some spaghetti and meat balls (on blue plate, lower right) for lunch.

This afternoon we headed over to Jeremy's parents' house for Easter Dinner and another egg hunt.  Evan was frustrated that this one was out of his reach (inside the chicken wire) and had to ask for help.

Evan and Bear playing tag.

Fun with the cousins.

Playing Peek-A-Boo!  Evan loves to make babies laugh!

Shooting some Nerf rockets with Dad.

Mom makes me do the weirdest things for pictures...

Our "Family Tree" (hardy-har-har!)

Tonight we ended a great weekend with a walk on Memorial (Sorin) Bluff.  Below:  "A Boy and His Dog."

You can actually see our street from this overlook.  There are so many mature trees in our neighborhood that we aren't able to see our house, but that is way worth having tall, beautiful trees in our backyard!

Bug hunting with his new gear.  Jeremy and Evan caught a caterpillar (apparently named "Terrance") on Friday and Evan felt he needed a friend.  

What a beautiful weekend - Happy Easter Everyone!