What do you get . . .

What do you get when you let an almost-kindergartener dress herself for breakfast at Perkins?

I've learned that you pick your own battles. And maybe now is the time for the talk about mixing patterns.

Our favorite way to spend the day!

The end of summer is coming and we are using some of the beautiful evenings to enjoy our local swimming pool. Chris joined the girls in the lazy river (the water was too cold for me!). It was a gorgeous evening!

Amelia has taken to the water so well this year! She's in Level 400 in her swim lessons! She has just levels 500 and 600 to go before she is done with lessons. Then, she can decide if she wants to join the swim team.

Mira will be trying out for the swim team in a couple of weeks! She is almost done with Level 600 swim lessons and is then done with lessons. The Life Time Fitness swim team is the next step and Mira expressed great interest in trying out. She's hoping to make the team in September, but if she doesn't, she'll practice this winter and try again in April. Wish her luck!

Chris takes 3 little ladies to Vikings game

Chris had 4 tickets to a Vikings pre-season game last week. Because Mira had a friend sleeping over, he took Mira, Amelia, and Kassidy to the game. I got to stay home and enjoy some quiet time!

The view from the 50-yard line:

 Kassidy, Mira and Amelia:

 Taking the light rail for the first time:

Buffalo Bill Days 2012

We had a fabulous weekend with my parents in Lanesboro for Buffalo Bill Days weekend! It was so relaxing and we were able to do all the usual things: bonfire, petting zoo, walking around town, getting ice cream, steak dinner, bean bag tossing, watching fireworks, parade. We really had a great time with my parents.

Some highlights:
Making S'mores the first night:

 The girls played in the rain on Saturday morning. Fortunately it stopped by the time we were planning to go to town.

 Mira tried on silly hats in a store.

 Chris and Dad beat me and Mom in the bean bag toss game 21-2! We apparently are not very good! Mira and Amelia took them on after.

 Me and my oldest baby:

 Amelia enjoying more S'mores on Saturday night.

 Chris roasts a mean marshmallow!

 My little family waiting for the fireworks to start. We have such a great spot right across the road from Mom and Dad's house. No driving required!

 Mira's favorite part of the weekend is the petting zoo. She looks forward to it so much!

 Amelia petted every animal: goat, cow, horse, kitten, duck, chicken, and rabbit!

 Mira and I played a few rounds of BINGO. Sadly, we didn't win, but had a great time!

 At the parade as the buffalo passed by:

 Me and my youngest baby:

 Mira got a lot of compliments on her blue lips and teeth! Several people IN the parade stopped to comment! By the way, if you don't want to look like this, don't order the Blue Bubble Gum shaved ice at the stand nearby. Potent!

 Elvis made his appearance at the parade. He was really good!

Thanks to Mom and Dad for a great weekend! We look forward to it again next year!

Twins game!

Chris took Mira to the Twins game on Sunday. They had a great time, and an even better time when Chris caught a foul ball that had bounced back from above! Mira was so excited to see that right in front of her. I fear her next Twins game might not be quite as exciting.

Mira and friend Hailey, who went with Chris and Mira, with her dad Chad.

 Right after catching the foul ball!

 Mira enjoying the view from here:

A visit to the Dells and Waunkee!

 We had a wonderful visit to the Wisconsin Dells last weekend. We drove over there on Thursday and were in the pools by 1:30! Mira and Amelia had a great time on all the slides and in all the pools. Here are a few of our great moments:

Mira enjoyed a lemonade on a lawn chair.

Mira and Amelia on top of the Pirate's Cove feature:

 Enjoying the wave pool:

 Out for dinner and ice cream:

 Amelia raced Chris down the water slide. She loved it!

She's ready to go back up and ride again!

 After a night at the Dell's, we drove to Waunakee to visit the Samuelson family for a couple of days! John and Sarah have been so gracious to host us for the past 4 years. It's an annual tradition we really look forward to! We spent Saturday at their neighborhood pool, then the adults went out for drinks at El Dorado in Madison, then for dinner at Fresco. It was such a lovely evening!

 On the rooftop at Fresco's:

4th of July

 We had a wonderful, although HOT, day on the 4th of July at the lake. The girls loved swimming in the lake (I believe they were actually swimming for 6 hours!) Then the evening was topped off with some fireworks.

 Mira tried once to get up on water skis, but didn't make it up this year. She didn't feel like trying again, so maybe next year!