We have loved every minute of our summer vacation and have not wanted it to end. The past couple of weeks we packed as much fun into it as possible. It's been a while since we've updated, so readers, you are in for a treat!
This first picture isn't really part of our past two weeks update, but I wanted to put it up. It's a picture of Anna on her big girl bed, complete with the new quilt Grandma Lynn made for her. It's got lots of polka dots, Anna's favorite. It's nice and warm and Anna loves it.
Two weekends ago, Daddy had to spend a LOT of time at the office, including Friday night, most of Saturday and part of a Sunday too! So, Anna and I had lots of bonding time, play time, girl time! We spent some time out on the deck doing one of our favorite activities this summer: playdough. My playdough skills are improving a lot from making snakes and pancakes...which is good because Anna is starting to expect more out of me.
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| My elephant and giraffe. |
Anna has been semi-potty training. Going off and on for pretty much the whole summer, but that weekend we spent a lot of time in big girl undies...especially when we were outside. She also likes to dress up her look with a Halloween long-sleeved t-shirt from last year. It's getting a little short, but it's a favorite...even when it's 100 degrees out.
After a long weekend of Daddy working a LOT, Anna and I took off on Monday for a three day road trip across Iowa.
This was our first road trip together without Daddy. We did pretty well; although having Daddy's car with no movie was kind of traumatic for the first few hours. Eventually we both were able to get ourselves under control and find other ways to entertain ourselves in the car. Lots of singing, story telling, ducking under bridges, etc. It was a fun trip and every stop along the way was an adventure!
First stop was a visit with Grandpa Randy and Grandma Lori. We had lunch and played for the afternoon. It was a great time, especially after sitting in the car for four hours.
Second stop, Grandpa Dave and Grandma Lynn's house. We were there to help Aunt Kate get ready to move into college. We also got to see Uncle James, always a fun time!
Tuesday we loaded our car back up, along with Aunt Kate's and Grandma Lynn's and caravaned to Dubuque to move Kate into her dorm. It was quite the road trip! Again, more singing, some dancing, and lots of story telling!
Tuesday we got to spend some time with family in Dubuque before Kate officially moved in on Wednesday morning. Part of that family time was out on the dairy farm of Anna's Great-great Uncle Hap and Great-great Aunt Bernette! It had been a really long time since I had been out to the farm, so it was really fun for mommy too!
Anna got to see new baby calves. Cousin Bill tried to get her to stick her fingers in their mouths, but she didn't dare get that close!
Showing Ana the newest baby calf. It was only one day old; it had to have help to even stand up.
So cute!
Anna also loved the puppies out on the farm and Uncle Hap does too.
Getting braver with the cows.
Bernette, Anna and Hap.
Tuesday night we went over to my aunt Lisa and uncle Tom's house and visited with them and their girls. Anna was really shy at first, but then took a great liking to Abby, Kelly and Maggie. Poor Abby had to show Anna the fish in Kelly's room about 100 times. They were so great with Anna and she is still talking about them! We also got to see Jane, Ralph, Anne, and Heidi...more family fun!!
Wednesday was the big day. Move in day at Clarke University. Kate's big day.
Here is Anna dressed in her Clarke gear guarding Kate's stuff while we wait for the movers.
Getting things organized. Oh how I remember the days in the dorm and the fun that was had...however, I really love to have a four bedroom home, complete with kitchen and a couple bathrooms, rather than a one room house with loud neighbors I had to share bathrooms with...
Anna and Kate.
The girls.
We headed back to MN on Wednesday afternoon, after Kate was settled. It was fun to be a part of the excitement that is Kate's first year of school. What an awesome year it will be for her!
We got to stop in Waverly and see my great friend Lindsay and her new school and classroom before we came all the way home. It was such a short visit, but it was such a wonderful visit. We love any time we get to spend with Lindsay! And her school and classroom were AMAZING. Brand new; I was very jealous of all the fun gadgets she gets to use this year!
We got home late Wednesday night and then had to get up early for a day at Sandra's and work for Anna and Mommy. Friday was a nice day at home, to relax. Grandma Lori and Papa Randy came on Friday night to help with our landscaping escapades but we still got some relaxing done too!
Saturday was a beautiful day and we spent a lot of it outside watching Daddy and Papa Randy work work work.
Mommy did a little burning to get rid of the branches that have been falling all summer due to storms.
What's wrong with this picture?
Jackhammering the sidewalk out. Goodbye sidewalk; hello nice new front porch (eventually).
Happy family in our happy disaster we currently call a front yard.
Resting after all that hard work.
We got a lot of things accomplished this weekend with G & G here. Little projects and a HUGE start on the big one. Next weekend will be devoted to digging more post holes and perhaps starting to build something that resembles a front porch. We have lots of work to do; but it will be well worth it in the end.
Today Brian took the day off (to make up for his long weekend of work last weekend) and rather than staying home to work on the deck more, we decided to have a family fun day and go to the Minnesota State Fair. We had never gone (Brian had a couple times for work, but that hardly counts) so we felt like it was finally time that we initiate ourselves into being Minnesota residents.
We got up this morning and headed out to the bus stop where we took the bus to the fair grounds. This was Anna's first bus ride and she loved it. Although, I think she would have rather it was a school bus, but for now Metro Transit will have to do. We did have to wait in line for a long time, but eventually we got to the fair. We realized that we had never really gone to a fair just the two (or three) of us and didn't have any real plan for the day...which was kind of nice. We wandered around, saw lots of interesting things, but most importantly, we ate LOTS of interesting and delicious things. When we have gone to fairs in the past, we usually are disturbed by how much everything costs, but this time, we put that behind us and decided to try anything and everything we wanted to try. It was kind of a day long feast.
We had fried fruit on a stick.
Here is Anna and Daddy eating their pizza on a stick.
We also had a large cup of french fries, a turkey leg, a pronto pup, cheese curds, a Reese's shake and all you can drink milk. A very healthy day if you ask Anna. We shared everything and enjoyed it all. Yum.
Anna and Daddy got Walleye hats at Gander Mountain.
Anna and Daddy enjoying the bus ride home.
Anna crashed about 5 minutes before the bus dropped us off at our car, she didn't wake when we put her in her car seat or when we got her home and laid her in her bed. I finally woke her up at 6:00 and she ate a little supper and took a bath before a little down time and then bed.
Right now as I type, she's still awake in her room, kicking the headboard. Hopefully she gets herself to sleep really soon, because tomorrow is a big day. It's back to reality for both of us. No more summer vacation. Tomorrow it's up by 6 AM, dressed and out the door by 7 AM. Oh, it's going to be a tough day, but I'm sure we'll both eventually appreciate the routine and fun that school brings.
Goodbye summer; Hello fall.
great Post! - Renee
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