Family Fun Day

Today was the day!  Finally!!!  After waiting for more than a year, we finally were able to go to the American Girl Doll store!  It's quite a drive from our house so we got up nice and early and Abby got out the shopping list she made...

 And when we finally got there Abby and McKenna couldn't have been happier!!

 That place is amazing!!  No detail is spared, I'll tell ya that much.  Abby reads the catalogs like they are books but I was kind of surprised how much she knew about ALL of the dolls and their accessories.  After a quick tour, she got to work. 

 Even Ben had fun trying everything out!!

 It took her a while to narrow it down, but she finally decided on a shirt, a hoodie, a brush and of course, a pair of clogs.

 I barely pay $14 for a hoddie for myself, so you know I wasn't about to drop that for a doll (although, at least she won't grow out of it!) so Abby ponied up the fifty big ones for her loot. 

 Now before you go thinking I'm too cheap, I did spring for a new hairdo for McKenna (because the last time I tried to do her hair it was more of a disaster than when I do my daughter's-see example above and below).

 Abby watched intently

 and even got to pick out a ribbon for her hair!

Oh, and somehow I agreed that the entire family needed to buy McKenna birthday presents while we were there.  So $30 later, McKenna has a pair of glass, some new earrings and a watch with a changeable band.  Don't worry.  As soon as we got home we hid them so McKenna won't find them between now and her birthday, which is apparently November 12th.

Luckily for Ben, the Lego store is right next to American Girl.  He is saving his money to buy a quad so he just went in to look.

 That lasted about six seconds...

 3 Lego sets and almost 2 years worth of allowance later

 he was a happy boy!!

 

After all of the fun, it was time for school clothes shopping.  And that's when this happened...

 See the shoes on the right?  They belong to a little (bigger by the day!) girl who told me today that my style is plain.

Abby (looking at a blousy flowery red shirt): "Mom!!  You have to get this!!"
Me:  "Ummmm, that's not really my style."
Abby:  "What is your style?"
Me (showing her a green long sleeve shirt):  "I like this."
Abby: "Your style is plain."

I fear this is just the beginning.

Also, don't tell anyone but...

Warning: This May Be the Longest Post EVER

We've had a lot going on and I take a lot of pictures. Consider yourself warned. 

 

We have been busy busy busy and having fun fun fun!!  Since I last left you (on the edge of your seat, I am sure) we have been going non-stop.   You know how we love summer around here.  Sun is out, there is lots to do and Momma is home!  Life is so much calmer in the summer...even though it is crazy busy.  I am so lucky to be able to spend my summers with my babies and my life is so much easier.  No child care to coordinate, no meetings to attend, no crazy schedule to juggle and the entire day to play, work on dinner, clean the house and do whatever we want to do. 

 

While we have been busy basking in the good life, we have been having so much fun!

 

We watched The Sandlot in the park with Grammy and Grandpa (and have been quoting it ever since!!)

 

 and have spent lots of time with friends...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abby worked on her knitting,

 

 

and Ben finished the summer reading program!

 

 

We went to a Rainer's game,

 

 

 

and Abby went to Farm Camp with her BFF while Ben got to play with her brother all day.

 

 

Ben's front tooth got really really snaggly

 

 and finally fell out. 

   (True confession:  It's been weeks and I am still trying to get used to his goofy new smile!)

 

 

After a couple weeks home, we headed back up to the lake...

 

 

 While we were there we had lots of friends and family to play with!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also did A LOT of swimming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I SWEAR we feed him)

 

Including our fifth annual swim across the lake and back.

 

Our boat got a work out and we got a sneak peek at what we have in store for us now that our kids love to be towed behind it.

 

There was tubing

 

 

 

 

 

And ski training, of course

 

 

 

but we also ventured out into some new directions.

 

Abby got up skis

 

 

 and tried the wake board

 

 

 

and much to our surprise, both kids learned to knee board!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also learned how to paddle board...and couldn't get enough!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had the First Annual Lost Lake Family Triathlon and it was (for the most part) a smashing success!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the sun is shining at the lake, life is really really good.  When it is not?  Cabin fever can set in pretty quick.  So after a few gloomy days in a row, we packed up for the day and headed for the Olympic Game Farm.  Oh.  My.  Goodness.  You HAVE to go there!  I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You guys, the animals just stick their heads in your car so you can feed them bread!!!

 

We have a couple of good weeks of summer left, but we are starting to get ready for all of us to go back to school.  I love the start of a new school year, but I am never quite ready for the summer to end.  Sunshine and fun days with my littles never gets old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am so lucky!!