Elin's Dino Roar!

Here's a pretty funny video of Elin's impersonation of a dinosaur. I especially get a kick out of her "Sumo" squat (and don't miss Nate's tumble down the slide at the end... bonus footage!)

Our Contortionist

This can't be very comfortable...

Can't Beat That!

The other night for a family activity we loaded up on our bicycles and rode down to the local DQ. After tasty blizzards and cones we had a relaxing ride home. Family, bicycling, and ice cream... Now you can't beat that!

Elin Speaks

We were husking corn together. I finished with my piece. Elin got up and cheered and said, "Yeah, Good Girl Momny!"

Thoughts by Nate . . .

We have been talking and learning about the planets. He know the earth spins and it makes night and day. So from the back of the car today I hear.

"Mom, what would the earth be like if it spun so fast that it was light for one second and dark the next?"

Hmm . . . "Well, I think we would all be pretty dizzy."

Nate, "Mom it would be bad. No one would sleep."

Spider bite?

Look at this blister! How did this happen? Well... first we used some red food dye, then yellow dye in vaseline, then a small piece of tissue overlying, and there you have it... a huge, gross blister. We got this from the "Grossology" book that Grandma Jan gave to Nate for his birthday... pretty cool! And more to come...

Time Trials!

Today there were team time trials RIGHT OUTSIDE OUR FRONT DOOR! They were riding a 1 mile circuit that passed right in front of our house. It was a lot of fun to watch, but kind of tough at the same time. I was itching to go ride with them, even though I knew I probably couldn't keep up with the "big boys". Even so, it was fun to dream.

We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Today April's sister Mary came to visit us, and she treated all of us to ice cream! So we went to one of our favorite places, Maggie Moo's, and of course our kids had to get the bright blue ice cream. They loved it, but it did turn them into a couple of smurfs by the time they were done. Baths all around! Thanks Mary, you can visit anytime!

Please Take a Moment

If you have a few moments together take a look at my new post on www.solarvoyage.blogspot.com

The Great Outdoors!

We recently spent a week up in the north-woods... 3 days camping and 3 days at Mimi's cabin. We lucked out with great camping weather (75 deg., not great swimming weather), sunshine, and beautiful campgrounds. Lots of good food, dutch-oven cooking (thanks for getting me hooked, Brian!), swimming that was a bit cold but do-able, hiking, and, of course, campfires with s'mores. The kids loved most of it, and were sad to leave.

But then we got to spend 3 days with Mimi at her cabin. We had fun on her lake with the paddle-boat, and Nate was introduced to the fishing pole and tackle (although we didn't catch anything... this was my fault as I've had life-long bad fishing luck). We had fun in quaint down-town Minoqua, with parks, ice-cream, game-store, and chocolate stores... what more could we ask for? Thanks Mimi for letting our crazy family stay with you! (And thanks Mick and Kathy for letting us use your canoe... love your cabin!)

Marbles & Airplanes

We have instituted a new listening incentive program for Nate. If he listens to us the first time for the majority of each day - he gets 2 marbles in his "marble jar." If he has lesson etc. and listens there he gets an extra one. The chart has 100 marbles on it, which was a bit steep for a 5-year-old. We decided the rewards would happen on the 25s. In selling this program I must have gone a bit far. I told Nate there would be really cool rewards. Now, Nate is no dummy, so I think he was trying to call my bluff. He asked, "So, really cool Mom?" I told him (thinking, park, movie theater, hike etc.) "Sure Nate, really cool!" Nate replied, "Like the airshow cool, Mom? Because that is really cool?" I though, oh boy, going some place with two kids with 200,000 other people alone (Jason working), primary activity, and packing for camping all in that week Nate should get 25. Well, I wanted him to listen so, I went for it. Well, there have been some starts and stops -but last night Nate made it to the required 25 marbles!! It was the last possible day for us to go to the air show and, though it was not my favorite idea, I was so proud that he made it. We went to the airshow today!
The biggest engine ever, Mom! It can fly infinity miles above the earth.

The firefighter helicopter! Both Nate and Elin were highly impressed.


Nate's hat!

Elin is pointing at the airplanes. I, however, would like to file a complaint with the person who invented the M&M blue colored chocolate coating on the ice cream Elin ate and promptly wore on her entire outfit. We got some funny looks at Target later that evening. I am not sure that shirt will be the same.

Airplanes, ice-cream and "yellow schoo - school buses" - Elin was in heaven too!

Nate was watching this very intently - see the next pic below.

They had some a pyrotechnic show with bombings going on. Poor Nate, I didn't prep him. He was worried "some people on the other side of the show had died." I assured him that it was all fake and no humans were hurt during the fake bombing.

Food made everyone feel better. I think Nate had a good time! (fake bombings aside)

Hot dog eating - banana style.