My Video 7/29/12 at OneTrueMedia.com

Ellie was invited with friends to Livingston, Montana. There she got to get together with her friend Freyja from Seattle, Washington. What a fun trip they had.

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Blooming Prairie Spring Fed Pool

Besides enjoying Austin's community pool we have been driving a few miles to Blooming Prairie to swim.  They have an awesome pool or what I think of as a man made lake, one friend calls it the "fake lake". It is awesome- there is a sandy beach, shallow and deep water,  the water is chlorinated but yet is more like lake water.  We went with a friend of mine last week and she took a few fun photos of the kids.  We can't wait to go back for some more fun.

Sam and his friend Izaak

Ellie, Izaak, Micah, and Sam

Fun on the beach

Track Meets

The kids were in two track meets this summer.  They both had a great time and went home with ribbons after each meet. 

Twins and Valley Fair

Pancreatic Cancer awareness Twins Game

Look at those grown up looking cousins.

Let the fun begin at Valley Fair- and no Becky and I didn't plan to dress as twins.  :)

Grandma Mary Ann and many grandkids are having fun with the Peanuts gang.

Nothing like leaving Valley Fair a little wet after our many rides on the Wave.

Meeting our new littte cousin Madison

It was so much fun to meet baby Madison and get to see Hayleigh and of course their parents.  The suprise visit to MN from Kansas was great fo us.

Cake Time

So July is flying right by and boy do I have some fun pictures to post.  This photo is from Ellie's cake decorating class.  She took this class at Jo-Ann fabric on Monday.  She had a great time!

What about me

So I have shared photos about everyone else but me.  I guess I could take a picture of myself in the car or in my classroom.  I decided to try teaching summer school this summer.  You might say why??  Well, it gets me out of the house,  I love the kids, and yes- maybe I can work on paying off those student loans.

I spend Tuesday and Thursday mornings with a group of 10 amazing kids with a wide variety of special needs.  I co-teach with  my friend Lyndsey and we have the help of 2 paraprofessionals.   Yep- 4 adults 10 kids and we are busy nonstop.   I also am meeting with some families who have children being assessed to see if the children qualify for any special services.  The first couple of weeks of summer I let work consume me.  I have now caught on to scheduling and am planning to enjoy some time and work and some time at fun!!

I also mentioned the car-Dave and kids are home together in the morning while I work but when I return you can guess that the kids want to do activities.  This is where I become the taxi cab:  swimming and the library are the two most popular places.  The great thing is I love these places too.  I have read 1 book already, a tan is starting, and I have swam with the kids. 

All in all summer is a great time for us!

A speical family photo at my grandparent's house in St. Paul- we are still getting use to the idea that it is now for sale.

Not my cooking

You might have noticed my own cooking doesn't usually make this blog.  I really can cook but it is Dave who makes the good stuff.  Yes the ham is from a famous Dave's cook book and it may be one of the tastiest things I've ever eaten. 

A special request by Colin for his friend Mal's daughter's BD- we couldn't resist making Layna a Dora cake.  She loved it and kept saying "My Duwa"  Yep she melted our hearts.

Close up of Ellie's dolphin cake.  She found it online and then said, Dad I found  a cake for you to make.  Of course he made it.

Whose coming for the holidays to enjoy this masterpiece??

4th of July

Happy 5th of July!  Here are a few photos from yesterday.  Sam and I drove down to the park and survived the heat for about an hour.  Sam loved all of the games and thought it was pretty cool that his sister was gone so he got to make all of the plans at the park.  His favorite attraction was the fire fighters hose and barrel contest because in between competitions they put the hose on a low spray and sprayed anyone who went under it.  :)

Before the park we had a delicious feast made by Dave and enjoyed having Grandma Mary and Grandpa Randy at our house for the day.

Ellie has been gone all week.  Yep- her first big vacation.  She went with her special grandma friend Kathy to Livingston, Montana.  That lucky girl-not only did she get to go on a a major trip her parents haven't been on, but she also got to meet up with one of her best friends Frejya.  Those two were almost inseparable last summer when Frejya was in Austin at her Grandma Kathy's house.    All phone call reports have been happy!  One day I asked if she missed us or if she was just having too much fun.  As you can guess she said, "I'm having too much fun!"  I bet she will have some pictures I can post soon.  She will be home on Saturday. 

It was so hot Sam only lasted a couple of minutes bouncing in this castle.

Sam was so happy he still fit in these little cars.

Just a little wet after getting sprayed by a fire hose.

Happy Birthday

With Ellie's birthday June 21 and Sam's June 30 we decided to celebrate together once again this year.  They each invited a few friends to the Brownsdale rollerskating rink.  They had a great time.  It was 9 kids and 3 adults and the whole rink to ourselves.  :) 

Ellie, her dolphin cake made by dad, and her birthday party friends

Sam and his birthday party friends

Cake made by dad

New birthday roller blades

My Video 7/4/12 at OneTrueMedia.com

Ellie spent two days from 8-3 and one day from 8-12 at Just for Kix dance camp in Austin. Check out what they learned in that short of time. Of course she loved it!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Sam went to basketball camp for a an hour each afternoon the 2nd week of summer vacation.  He loved it.  Of course how could you not with high school boys and some of dad's friends as the coaches. 

Track Meet

We spend Monday and Thursday nights at track.  Well except when it is too hot so we've missed a few times.  :)  They also have two kids track meets throughout the summer.  The kids had a great time and each got ribbons in meet number 1.

long jump

Ellie and her friends are ready for the relay race

What June is over??

Didn't June just start??  Wow did this month fly by.  The upcoming posts will have pictures from a few of the kids summer activities and of course their birthdays.  :)

Ellie and the other girls with speaking parts in a fun church play.

1st week off from school was spent at Faith Church in Austin being a part of a super fun drama camp!

Sam and his friend Kenny after their performance in a church play.