Epic Summer Bucket List Review

After Andy graduated from Residency, the whole family sat down at the kitchen table and compiled our summer must-do list. 

It was full of fun ideas - both small and big.

We are happy to say that we completed each and every one!

A few occurred without pictures (gasp!) so you'll just have to trust us.

1. Sleep in a tent

2. Arnold's Park Rides

3. Miniature Golf

4. Golfing

5. Cutty's

6. Make S'mores

7. hike in the woods/find skeletons

8. Spencer Pool

 

 

9. Slip 'n Slide

10. Ride the Queen

11. Water gun fight

12. Watch fireworks

13. play at the school park

14. throw rocks in the lake

15. fishing

16. play at the beach

17. boat

18. bike ride with picnic

19. splash pad

20. See a Twins baseball game

21. play basketball

22. ride bike without training wheels

23. movie night

24. take dogs swimming

25. fly kites

26. Free concert in park

27. Art Center

28. play tether ball

29. play baseball

30. chalk art

As you can see, this has been an amazing, busy, and fun summer full of exploring our new town and enjoying life at the Lakes!

Brooks - 8 months

This month was a big one for you, Brooksy.

You learned how to sit up on your own!

Now, you love to play with toys. You reach for them and find yourself in some pretty interesting positions as you try to grab them from the sitting position. 

No crawling yet, but you are rolling, reaching, and making some movement.

Sleep is slooowwwly getting better for us (yeah!)

You love sleeping on your side and listening to your music while you rub your head and soothe yourself to sleep. Wet diapers wake you up as well as your teething. 

No teeth have appeared, but you are working so hard on it! Tylenol has been your friend lately. 

You make a new friend everywhere we go. You are held by strangers nearly every day because people are just drawn to your sweet smile and laid back personality. 

 

You have also found your voice this month....and it's loud!

You love to yell, giggle, and blow raspberries.

We have enjoyed a few bike rides with you being pulled in the carrier as well as swimming in the lake. 

Happy 8 months, buddy!

Weekend in the Water

 On Friday, Grandma Nel brought the Van Beek girls over to Spirit Lake to enjoy some cool fun on a hot day at the splash pad.

 The kids loved running around and soaking it all in!

 

That evening we enjoyed a BBQ at the campground with the rest of the family. 

On Saturday, we all jumped on the boat and enjoyed another hot day in the sun!

 The kids swam and swam and swam!

Our kids are becoming beach bums and have really enjoyed their summer at the lake. 

 Even Brooks enjoyed swimming, but soon needed a nap in a nice shady spot.

 Needless to say we were all exhausted from our summer fun weekend!

Biking Babes

 With much practice and preparation comes much reward...

Marie has been working soooooooo hard on learning how to ride her bike without training wheels.

She has been watching kids in the neighborhood ride with two wheels and then stylishly park their bike with a kickstand...wow, that kickstand.

Several times have come and gone where we take the training wheels off and give it a go.

But finally one morning she took off like she just finally made up her mind to ride.

 

She was so proud of herself....and immediately asked for a bike with a kickstand.

A trip to the bike store was on the agenda for a few days later. There, Marie and her Dad found this beauty waiting for her. 

Now, you can find Marie on her bike riding around our cul-de-sac nearly all day long. 

We have enjoyed a few longer bike rides around town and on the bike trail as a family.

 

 

When your older sister learns how to ride a big bike, it almost instantly lights a fire in a certain 3 year old boy.

He decided he was ready to move on from his tricycle and try a big boy bike as well.

We decided on this "Husker" balance bike with no pedals. It is supposed to be a good way to train kiddos to ride on a 2 wheel bike a bit more quickly.

So far Bennett is really enjoying it and progressing nicely. 

We are proud of our little bikers and love the new family fun we are having!

Stay-Cation Week

To celebrate our last week with Andy at home, we had friends visit us for a little vacation fun at the Lakes.

First up - the Dickes family!

We started our stay-cation with a trip to Arnold's park for a few rides, supper at Bob's, a dip in the lake, and ice cream.

 The next day was cloudy but we still headed to the boat. 

The kids enjoyed swimming, squirting water guns, and a trip the Barefoot Bar for some sand time.

 We ate tons of food, laughed a lot, went miniature golfing, and of course enjoyed s'mores with a fire.

 It was a great few days and we are looking forward to our next visit with this family when the new baby arrives in October!!!

**********

As soon as we waved goodbye to Eddie, Jess, Hudson, and Beckett, we waved 'hello' to 

The Van Meeteren Family!

We began our day with some play time at our house and lunch. The kids enjoyed the sandbox and spent some time just getting to know each other better.

Next, we went to the beach for some swimming & sand fun!

The kids loved playing in the sand and had such a blast with each other. When we were ready for some shade, we headed to the Nutty Bar stand for some ice cream.

After pizza back at our place it was time to say good-bye again. 

Our day was so much fun but definitely too short....we want to see Bryant, Molly, Piper, and Max again soon!

We are so thankful for these 2 families.  Andy & I are blessed with some amazing friends for sure.