More Summer Fun!

Although summer seems to have flown by, I’m ready for the fall and for the kids to be back in school. Even though I am at work during the day and don’t get to be home with them in the summer, I am ready for the sense of routine that school brings and to get everyone back on a regular bed time schedule. We were lucky to have my cousin Jessica babysit the kids this summer and it was a blessing to have someone who could drive to our house in the mornings and also chauffeur the kids to the pool, all their activities and to friends’ houses. Jessica is also known to stop with the kids for an occasional treat and knows just the things to get from the store when someone has an upset tummy! She has been great to the kids this summer.

As I looked back through pictures of the summer to use in this post, I realized that other than vacations, we take way fewer pictures nowadays then we did in the past. It was hard to find some pictures of some of the things we have been up to this summer, but I have included some of what I could find below.

We bought a house and moved back to Mantorville in March of this year. When we moved in, a large corner of the backyard was covered in pea rock and a sandbox and was edged with wooden timbers and a chain link fence. We had no need for the fence and decided to rip it all out to give us more yard. I wish I had a before picture, but the first picture I have is after we did most of the tearing out. It took 4 large trailer loads to remove the rock and a pickup load full to the dump with the timbers. We needed 7 yards of black dirt to fill it back in, which Jeremy had to move by the wheel burrow from the driveway. The grass has grown in pretty nice and we put in a fire ring and some flowers. It is a work in progress, but has come a long ways since the beginning of the summer. I’ll have to add pictures of the finished project at some point.

The yard after removing the rock, sandbox, edging and fence.

The pile of dirt Jeremy had to move.

Growing up in Pine Island, summer always kicked off with the Cheese Fest. We typically stay in Pine Island with my mom and dad for Cheese Fest weekend even though it isn’t quite what it used to be-or maybe that’s just my nostalgic mind remembering it to be more than what it was. This year, the kids went on the Graviton (spinning space ship looking thing) for the first time. Lizzy was scared to try it without me, so I gave in and went on with her. I survived the Graviton but then followed it up with the Zipper and the Scrambler. Not a great idea. I am getting too old for all that spinning! Riding the Graviton-yuck!
Cheese Fest Parade

In June, the kids spent a week at Camp Victory in Zumbro Falls. Taylor and Luke did the overnight camp and Lizzy did the day camp. Despite the rain and tornado that went through that week, they had a blast at camp. The facilities there are amazing. They have beautiful sleeping cabins and so many wonderful activities for the kids to do. Luke’s cousin Parker came from over by Milwaukee to go to camp with him which he was sooo excited about. Taylor’s best friend Kate went with her and they made lots of new friends. Lizzy got to stay over on the last night for her first overnight camp experience and did great. It was the night of the severe weather which usually freaks her out, so we were really worried about her, but she did great!

Lizzy in front of the storm shelter where she spent most of her first camp overnight. Luke and Parker in front of their cabin.
Taylor and her best friend Kate and a new camp friend.

We have tried to participate in Carefest, a community service project though the area churches, the past few years. Taylor had a soccer tournament the same day this year, but we got out to one of the Rochester schools and helped clean lockers for a few hours. It is a great way to give back to the community as a family. Lizzy cleaning out lockers at a school in Rochester for Carefest.

We sold the pop-up and bought a tent earlier this summer. We’ve only used it a few times out at Chesterwoods, but have loved it so far. There’s tons of room in it and there is just something about tent camping!!Loving the new tent!

Greg came to visit in July. We hadn’t seen him since last summer, so it was great to spend some time with him. My mom and the girls and I did lots of baby shopping while he was here to send home lots of baby boy clothes with him. Malee is due anytime now. Can’t wait to hear about the arrival of my newest nephew! Luke, Greg and Lizzy
Greg and Taylor

In August, we walked in the Kasson parade in support of our friend, Jim Trihey, who is running for Dodge County Sheriff. If was fun to get out and help him campaign and the kids had a blast carrying signs and handing out candy. Go Jim!! The kids getting ready for the parade with Jim.
Lizzy all set to hand out candy-after she picked out her favorite pieces and put them in her pocket!

Jeremy and I took a weekend in August to camp without the kids with some of my friends from high school. It rained Friday night and delayed our weekend, but we headed out to the campground on Saturday morning and had a great time. I love catching up with old friends and although our husbands come from all over, we’ve all become friends and have so much fun together. Becky and Dan taught us a new game while we were camping. For lack of a better name, it is called “Cup on Pole.” It was a blast to play and generated tons of laughs!
Becky trying to catch a cup and me ready to provide back up if it bounces. Great game!

This summer, the kids have also stayed busy with other summer activities. They took swimming lessons and skating lessons and spent most afternoons at the pool. Luke played baseball through July and August and also took a few weeks of guitar lessons. Lizzy danced and Taylor socialized. We’ve been busy, but it’s been fun. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I am ready for school and for fall to be here. I love to do some hiking and visit the state parks and the zoos, but it seems like it has been too hot this summer to enjoy some of those things and I hope to do some of them this fall.