life's a day at the beach

Well, at least yesterday evening was a night at the beach. You know what I mean:). The temperature gauges in Oconomowoc yesterday read 99 degrees, so the kids and I decided it was time to find some water and have some fun. Steve was visiting with a good friend of his from high school, so I packed up the kids after work, grabbed a Little Caesar's pizza and headed out to Ottawa State Park. You may recall this park as my nemesis campground from this post. However, I had nothing to fear, since I would not be actually spending the night this time:). Elsi was originally very adamant about not going in the water, but once I dragged her in kicking and screaming, she really anjoyed it!

Enjoying dinner

Can he ever make a serious face:)?

Water football

Elsi practicing her "swimming"

Sibling love

God's precious gifts:)

Wrapping up to go home

We had such a great time and it was nice to create some special memories with my kids. Sometime's our lives are so busy, we really have to work at making time for these days:).

Fun Times at the Domes

Yesterday, we spent the afternoon at the Mitchell Park Domes. It was a Sunday, so it wasn't very busy and we were able to enjoy a delicious lunch and some beautiful scenery. We are so grateful for our wonderful friends, the Tiedtke's. They are such a fun family to be around and we always look forward to the time we spend with them. Elsi just adores Abby and Steve adores Drew. They are matches made in heaven:).

Mr. Tiedtke helping clean up Elsi after lunch

Abby showing Elsi the fish in the pond

The wonderful Tiedtke family

Where's Waldo?

Isaiah and Noah checking out a bird on the waterfall

Simon working to identify the "fuzz" on the tree

Drew and April watching the goldfish in the pond

"This little gospel light of mine..."

Daddy and his princess

Isaiah and Noah in the Arid Dome

Ben and Simon in the Arid Dome

Ben in the Arid Dome

Elsi and Isaiah in the Arid Dome

My beautiful family

Elsi and Abby in the Show Dome

"1..2..3..4 I declare a thumb war"

Wide-eyed Benny and Daddy

Abby and Elsi

Drinking this...

...leads to this!

The wonder of a toddler:)

Jumping for Joy!

These two...


are literally...


jumping


for


joy!


Today was the last day of school! I won't be so cruel as to remind them that summer school starts in 2 short weeks:). No, really, they enjoy summer school, because I let them take fun classes that involve Legos, swamp rats, math facts and chess.

Summer is fast-approaching and ours is about as packed as can be. We have countless weekends at the cabin to spend time on boats and jetskis, a two week trip to the Dakotas to visit family first (in North Dakota) and then sightseeing (in South Dakota), fishing with Grandpa Bill, waterpark with Grandma Dorothy and lots of other fun things. I am thrilled that summer is almost here. Well, if you ask my boys, they'll tell you, it's here!

Here She Is!

Could it be?


All this time?


My little girl was not a morning person because of repeated bad hair days:)?

I mean, really, look at that smile! And at 7:00 am in the morning, to boot!

The Transformation

Elsi did a wonderful job for her "trim" yesterday. She sat as still as possible and did very well. I am so proud of my little girl, but was feeling a bit sad, because she does't look so much like a toddler anymore, as she does a little girl. Our princess is growing up:(. We are so thankful that God has blessed us with our beautiful daughter.

Such seriousness:)

Finishing touches

Almost done!

I Just Can't Take It Anymore!

Today is a very special day for our little girl.

Can you tell what we are going to do this afternoon?

Someone's not a morning person:)

More pictures to follow later today...

Relaxing Weekend...Sort Of

This past weekend we spent time up at our cabin. The weather was nice (in the 70's), but not swimming weather. The kids collected caterpillars (both alive and dead), relaxed, enjoyed campfires, roasted marshmallows and slept. Steve spent a lot of the weekend working on our pontoon boat. You may remember it from this previous post. It sure looks different now! When it is done, I will take some pictures and post them. My honey is really doing a great job and big thanks to my mom for helping us to purchase it:).