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.