Vacation (recap)

We've just gotten back from an extra-long week with my parents. I had all of these lofty dreams of taking all sorts of photos (after all my family and the scenery are extremely photogenic). 

Alas, I only took one photo in nine days. Big time failure!!

We took the kids to Storybook Park in Aberdeen  and I snapped the kids sitting on the cement horses. I think I've taken multiple photos of Caroline on these through the years so I guess it's only fitting to continue this with both kids. 

Even though only one physical photo was taken we got tons of mental pictures... Me doing 4-H cattle chores and teaching Caroline how to do them, celebrating my beautiful grandma's 80th birthday, mowing the yard, visiting historic Fort Sisseton, and hanging with distant relatives at a family reunion. 

Yes lots of memories made...just not a lot of actual proof!

Palisades Park

A few weeks ago we took the kids on an afternoon adventure to the Palisades State Park by Garretson, SD.  Even though most of the hiking trails were under water due to heavy rains, we found one trail to go on.

Owen was real excited by the trip - can't you tell?!  Note to self:  two year-olds really don't care to hike...

At camp this year, Caroline learned about Jesse James and his leap over the river.  She could hardly believe that she could see where this happened.  She enjoyed the area - her only concern was that we might venture off the path...such a rule follower!

Water Fun

The heat and humidity has finally arrived here which means it's time to get out the swimming pool and slide.

The kids love to play in the water.  Whether it's going down slides or filling buckets - it's all fun!

Even Owen, who isn't tall enough to go up the big slide by himself, has become master of the small slide.

Owen's face sums up how I feel about this time of year too!

Farm Memories

Someone was pretty excited to drive a 'tractor'...when we can't find Papa or Dan to drive him around a lawnmower will work just fine.

Caroline pretty much had this smile on her face the whole time.  She got to ride horse, drive a lawnmower, and play with her cousin.  

Owen loves his being a farmer just like his Papa. 

Caroline got to ride her horse Amber all by herself.  She did well and Amber should be sainted. 

I'm so glad that the kids are able to spend so much time at the farm.  So many memories made!

Happy 4th!

Happy belated 4th of July!  All of the cousins were festive thanks to Grandma Suzie.  Although we celebrated in Sioux Falls, we made it a four-day celebration by spending a few days at the farm.  

Caroline helped me make some yummy pretzel bites. We found the instructions on Pinterest.  And Caroline was pretty excited to help make something in the kitchen.  They turned out cute and quite tasty!

Summertime Sweets

In yet another effort to give my children healthy food options (because fruit snacks and goldfish aren't two of the food groups) we made frozen yogurt pops this week.  I saw a post from my friend, Alicia's blog and thought if those sweet kids like this treat that maybe mine would too.

I mixed up vanilla greek yogurt (since the last time I fed them plain, they accused me of giving them sour cream) with some freshly sliced strawberries.  I put the mixture into the Popsicle molds I found in our basement and let them freeze over night.  

Voila!  A healthy afternoon snack that both kids loved!

Summer Vacation

Some people may get to take their kids to far-off places in the summer. We took our kids an hour south to Yankton. 

We visited an aquarium. 

Fed trout. 

Looked at sailboats on the lake. Built sand castles and played in the lake. 

And some of us enjoyed chislic on a stick on the way home. 

Summer Zoo Days

I wish my hubby to take every day off from work to go on excursions with us. Our trip to the zoo was so fun (minus being on a train that hit an animal...whoops!)

It's my hope that as the kids get older they remember all of the good days. (And not so many of the ones where I lose my patience) 

My View

It's been a lovely June here (although a little rainy, as mentioned in an earlier post). Warm but not pool weather yet. So we've been spending a lot of time in our yard and local parks. Both kids can entertain themselves a little so I can kick back a few minutes at a time. Love it!

Playing the Blues

Apparently we've been a bit of a drought this past year. I guess I don't pay enough attention to the weather or my short term memory is shot. 

Well, drought no more!  We've gotten so much rain lately that Owen takes his harmonica our in the showers and plays little tunes. Seriously, it could be the cutest thing!  (I'm kind of excited for the next rain storm!)

Summer Fun

Summer is in full swing at our house, which means afternoons of playing outside. 

You would think Owen was dehydrated by the amount of water he tries to drink 

out of the sprinkler and water table.

I love how they ride so nice in their Barbie car together.  Granted, Caroline was driving close enough to the sprinkler for Owen to get soaked, but angled herself so she stayed dry.  What a thinker!

Goal!

Another soccer season is in the books.  Caroline's third season of soccer is officially over.  Not to be biased or anything, but Caroline has gotten so much better (or more coordinated) as she's gotten older.  

She is so proud of her 'gold' medal.  She's pretty sure they won the championship  Even though I pointed out that we play for fun not to win...she's sure they won...she must get that competitiveness from her father!

The Dots - spring 2014

Summer Reading - Z

It's been a busy summer of reading so far.  My latest read came to me highly recommended by my friend Alicia.  Z by Therese Anne Fowler is a historical fiction story of Zelda Fitzgerald.  I really didn't know much about her, other than she was F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife.  And to be honest, I really didn't know much about him other than he was a writer.

I really did enjoy this book and being transported back in time to the 1920's - flappers, prohibition, and bobbed hair.  I really think I could have done well in that era!  Zelda was a fascinating woman - and she and Scott were quite the power couple.  It was interesting to read about them and how they lived the high life back in the day.  I might have to try to read The Great Gatsby now to continue with the Fitzgerald's!

Summer Pictures and a Few Thoughts

It's been said that parenting consists of really long days and short years.  Back when I was home on maternity leave with Caroline I thought that there would be no way that the days would eventually fly by.  After all, she was colicky and not sleeping.  Little did I know that the years would fly by.

After Owen was born, I tried my best to sit back and soak in all of the baby memories.  I had learned from my experience with baby-Caroline that all too quickly babies grow and cuddling comes less and less.

So how is it even possible that I have a six year old and a two year old?  

Both should still be little babies that need to be rocked and held.

Instead they are running wild, learning new things every day.

I know that someday soon I will look back and miss the loudness, the messes, and the craziness that comes with childhood.  My house will be clean, the couch cushions crumb-less, and the kitchen floor spotless.

I'll look back and think of how endearing the finger smudges on windows were.  

Of how sweet the spilled glasses of milk were. 

Each stage of my kids have been 'my favorite'.  And this current one is no exception.  I would love to freeze time and keep them six and two forever.

However, next year when they're seven and three I'm sure that I'll say the same thing.  That's the thing about parenting, I suppose.

Summer Reads - Gone Girl

Here's another book recommendation.  I love to read - and share my love of books!  I recently finished reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  This book is going to be turned into a movie, and I have heard great things about it, so I decided to give it a try.  This book went against nearly all of things that I look for in a book.  First of all, it's suspenseful. It's about a husband and wife...and the wife goes missing on their fifth anniversary.  The husband is accused of killing her.  That's all I'm going to say...you've got to read the book :)
In almost all of the books I read, I can relate to a character or at least imagine myself transported into the book.  Not so much this book.  But it was entertaining to read, and you better believe that I'll see the movie when it comes out!

The After

I'm sure I said this last year after I redid our family room, but it's amazing how much can get done without little helpers around.  Seriously, three rooms in four days - plus I cleaned the whole house and ran a ton of errands.  I should have an HGTV show!  

First I repainted the guest bathroom.  I didn't change anything else, but I think fresh paint makes a huge difference.

Second I repainted the kids bathroom.  I also redecorated the room.  I found the artwork in an HGTV magazine and bought it through Brika.  It came as a set of six pictures, but I only used three.  If anyone would like the other three, please message me.  Both bathrooms are painted Crisp Ginger Ale from Glidden.  Some bright green accessories round out this bright room.

Lastly, I redid the laundry room.  The paint is Toasted Coconut from Glidden.  It's awfully orange, so I added some wallpaper on part of a wall.  I found the wallpaper (peel and stick) at Target.  It was easy to apply, even on the rough concrete wall.  Nate put in a new floor for me and a countertop over the washer and dryer.  Then I reorganized our art supplies to make it easier for the kids to use and (most importantly) put away.