Summer List: #83 and #86

We've already knocked two things off the summer list already.  Easy peasy.

#83. Sticky wall.  Simple.  Put contact paper sticky side out on the wall and let kids stick things on it. :)
Maggie made a "kitty" with lots of heart cut-outs and Bode had fun falling into his contact paper with his full body and then unsticking himself.

#86. Thursdays on First.   Every Thursday during the summer, Rochester blocks off First Street, which is lined with food and other vendors as well as live music.  It was fun with the kids, although a bit cold, but Steve and I decided we'd like to go back just the two of us next time.

Summer List: #66 - Nature Walk

This morning arrived sunny and beautiful, perfect for a nature walk.  Maggie popped on her sunglasses, put fresh batteries in her digital camera, filled her "water back" (CamelBak), and we were ready to roll to Bear Cave Park.

My main goal this time was just to have her take a closer look at nature and use her senses of observation. I think maybe in the future we'll try some sort of scavenger hunt for different plants and animals, but this was a good first exposure.

Photographing a purple wild geranium, her favorite color.

Stopping to listen to the birds.

Daddy taught her to spit off bridges...

As we were walking, "Mom, I want to take a picture of you.  The camera likes you!"

After the walk, we had to play for awhile at the park.  It was Bode's turn to try the camera.

Maggies' photo of the wild geranium.

Maggie's photo of a field of yellow wildflowers and Bode.

Summer List: #4

It has been a fun, and thankfully somewhat warm, week for Maggie to start her first solo swimming lessons and Bode to start his first parent-child class, but today was the day we finally made it to the Stewartville pool as a family.

With a family summer pass, this visit will certainly not be our last.

Summer List: #3, 7 and #35

It is amazing how productive mornings can be when you have early-rising kids and no teaching to attend to.

This morning, we:

1. Went on a hunt to find our garbage and recycling bins. They got moved last week since the trucks couldn't get down our street due to the construction and crazy rain. They never got moved back, and we had no idea where they ended up. Maggie, Bode, and I found them quite a trek away.

2. Drove to the track and did some 400s. I thought the kids would enjoy running around, too, but they didn't like it when I took off at my own pace.

3. Made wishes on dandelions at the track (#7 on our list).

4. Visited Steve at work since we were already there.

5. Came home and walked to Kwik Trip for coffee just cuz. And added a couple donuts for Mags and Bode.

6. Walked home and put our artistic sides to work with sidewalk chalk (#35).

7. Put Bode down for a short morning nap. Still trying to cut down to one, but we're in transition mode.

8. Brought Maggie to swimming lessons.

Whew! The rest of the day consisted of Subway, naps (while I painted the kitchen), library (#3), Bode's swimming lessons, and a date with Steve for a colleague's retirement party. I'm tired. No late night projects for me tonight.

Reactions to the car wash.

Maggie-ism Monday: A Day Late

Maggie says some funny things.  I would write a lot of posts if I wrote a new one for every funny thing she said.  So instead, I'll start "Maggie-ism Mondays" and share a list I've compiled over the course of a week or month.  I'm a day late today - meant to post last night - but I'll start anyway. 

~A few weeks ago, Maggie was sitting at the table, enjoying her food at Grammy and Bapa's.  She looks up from her food, stares out the window for a moment, and says, completely nonchalantly, "Oh a magical fairy just flew by!" And then she returns to eating.


~While walking to Kiddie Park, "Mom, why do they call it "Kitty Park?  There aren't any kitties there."

~Maggie recently asked for a sip of my iced coffee, and I agreed to let her have just a little sip because it has caffeine. She sips and then with a disgusted look on he face, "Ooo, I can feel the caffeine. "

~ After visiting children's church at Grandma and Grandpa's over the weekend, she shared a new song she learned, "I've got bees like gorilla..."           ("I've got peace like a river.")

Summer List: #5,18, and 98...and a few more

We had a fun and busy weekend working on "The List." We woke up Friday morning trying to think of what to mark off for the day.  The decision was easily made once I realized it was National Doughnut Day: #98 - Make doughnuts!  It was really more me making the doughnuts, but the kids did like dipping the them into the butter and cinnamon sugar mixture when they came out of the oven.  Yum!

When Steve got off work Friday afternoon, we left our muddy torn-up road for Princeton to visit Grandma and Grandpa Gibbs (#18).

On the way, I was dropped off at Varsity Theater to join my dear friend for a Rob Thomas concert.  Very fun - thanks, Evie! a couple very talented artists opened, and then Rob came on with his guitarist from Matchbox 20.  They covered a handful of their older hits in a cool acoustic style.

The next day, we joined Maggie's buddy Raef, little brother Christian, and mom Evie for a rendezvous at Clifford Park - Isanti's finest!  It was fun to revisit one of our favorite parks from when we lived in Isanti,along with some very dear friends.  And at the same time, we crossed #5 off the list!

Comparing scraped knees.

Photo by Evie Larson.

Photo by Evie Larson.

 

Sad we  moved away before these two were really able to interact, but I still plan for them to be buddies. :)
Photo by Evie Larson.

I didn't get any pictures of our time with the Gibbs family, but it was lovely, as always. And we got to meet the newest member, Buster, Jim and Angie's Bichon Frisé puppy!

We also crossed off #s 9, 17, and 63 by playing "I Spy" in the car, taking Asia for a walk, and walking to the park when we returned to Stewartville this evening.

The Summer List

School is out, and we're ready for the summer fun to begin. After seeing the idea somewhere, we decided to make a list of 100 summer activities for the kids. This doesn't include my own personal list of painting, running, etc., but I hope to get to those as well.
Here's to summer!

Date night after the last day of school.

Trying to get this boy to sleep past 5:30 in the morning by cutting back to one nap.  Day 1 - asleep by 10:15 am.

Last weekend we accompanied Steve to Winona for work and then went to Lark toys afterwards.  Fudge, ice cream, toys, and the carousel.

Doughnuts form Kwik Trip to start the early morning trip to Winona.