gymnastics, a carnival, and shenanigans

It seems like if it isn't 90 and sunny and humid as all get out, it's 72 and cloudy and rainy. Another weird summer so far. We took advantage of one of the 90 degree days and went to the beach to have a picnic. I've said it before and I'll say it again - if you live in the area, Coon Lake Beach in Linwood is THE BEST.



Yesterday was Elsa's first day of gymnastics. She loved it! When it was over, she said, "I want to do that 20 times in a row!"
Meanwhile, Lila was sad and cried. She was really upset she couldn't go in the gym and participate with the other kids. Next time one of us is going to stay home with her.



It's not advisable to leave any type of bag or basket unattended in this house. Whenever I turn my back, it disappears. Lila took this one and made a little napping cave.


Like I said, don't leave any bags laying around. In this instance it was my purse. Luckily, Elsa hollered for me to come here, quick. I was actually pretty impressed that she managed to get the lipstick in the general vicinity of her lips and not anywhere else.


Last week we went to the North Branch carnival. The kids loved the rides!




Sharing a corn dog.


Elsa (on the right) went on this super jerky, scary, crocodile roller coaster all by herself. She was super freaked out at first. This lady next to me even looked over and said,"Uh oh, it looks like she's about to lose it." But as it kept going, her face started to look less terrified and she ended up saying it was her favorite ride of all.


Last week was a good harvest week with all the rain we've had. Here are some radishes from the garden and cherries from the cherry tree.



Elsa said something funny last week. She was listening to Tim and I as we were having a conversation. I asked him to please do some chore or something, and after he left she said,"Mommy, will he not listen?" I laughed so hard, but all I could say was, "I don't know - we'll see!" :)

Next week is Lila's birthday. She'll be TWO! We're having a small family gathering for her this weekend. Get ready for a ton of photos.

Third post of the week!

I hope I've redeemed myself for some of you! You know who you are.

On with the show. Here is Elsa wearing pigtails. Hello cutie! She never lets me do anything with her hair, but after seeing Maddy's cute photo from her birthday party, Elsa wanted pigtails just like her.



Later in the day we went for a boat ride with Grandma and Grandpa E. The kids had fun and didn't even mind wearing their life jackets. Elsa wasn't too sure about going fast at first...


But they both loved it. Lila smiled the whole time, and Elsa never wanted to slow down.



Posing by the boat launch. Lila, what a charmer!


Yesterday we did some swimming in the back yard. I set up the slide and the kids had a blast. And then... there was another small blast that occurred in Lila's diaper. Nothing like a #2 that's been waterlogged in a Swimmer. I couldn't leave Elsa alone by the pool, so I had to change her outside in the grass. With the help of a nearby watering can, I hosed her down and she was clean in no time. She went sliding for awhile without her suit,


then they got cozy and dried off while I cleaned up everything quick before the tornadoes came. Luckily they didn't come to Wyoming, but the sky got so green!


In the evening, the kids wanted to play with Tim but he was so tired from working outside in the humidity all day. So, of course I suggested a game where he wouldn't have to do very much. Makeover anyone?

Umm...


faaab-u-lous!

updated again.

Twice in one week by popular demand! So. Last weekend we went to the Children's Museum. It was the first day of the Wizard of Oz exhibit, so we couldn't really miss that. This year was so different from last year since Lila could walk and explore a bit more.

The kids did some nice happy posing when we got there.


In the water room.


Bus driver, move that bus!


Dancing with guitars and watching themselves on TV.


Lila washing dishes in the My World kitchen.


The Wizard of Oz room.


Elsa stares longingly at Dorothy's ruby slippers. After everything we did, she said the ruby slippers were her favorite part! I found some at Target yesterday, so she'll get them for her birthday.


Lila petting and brushing the cowardly lion.


Sliding at the Wicked Witch castle.


Elsa spins the tornado in the window of Dorothy's house!


Elsa on top of the queen ant in the ant tunnels.


The girls played in the sandbox on the cool rooftop garden.


There was a Subway and McDonalds on the way out of the Museum, but we like to class it up when we hit the big city. We decided to go to one of our St. Paul favorites, DeGidio's, and sit in one of their dark loungy booths. The kids had milk in heavy low ball glasses with bar straws. The kids loved it and Lila stayed pretty quiet. Must have been the darkness. Either that or all the old gangsters.


Sunday was Grandma Vera's 89th Birthday! We went to her place to celebrate with lunch, and the girls ran around the outside garden patio. Lila got a bit tired, but Elsa was so wild I could barely capture a photo.



Last week we made S'mores in the microwave and it was Lila's first time eating them. It was just like eating a sandwich - she wouldn't keep it together. Mmm!

updated.

On Memorial Day weekend we all went to Maddy's 4th birthday party. It was a beautiful day. The kids ran around, swam in the kiddie pool, and jumped on the trampoline. The kids LOVE the trampoline. If anyone wants to pool their money and get them an awesome gift... trampoline!


Just about to dig into the cake. L to R: Violet, Ashley, Lila, Elsa, Maddy, Allie, Gracie.


Awhile ago this freakishly gigantic moth? butterfly? was living on our sidewalk. You can't tell from the photo, but it was bigger than Elsa's hand. It's body was grossly huge. It's wings had circles with holes in the middle. Cool, but kind of yikes.


For those of you who haven't heard... consider yourself lucky. I was recently obsessed with finding the kids a playhouse. I scoured craigslist for 4 agonizing days before I finally found this house for well-below the going rate. $40! Man, I love a good deal.


Lila takes the new kitchen floor for a test run. We also decided that we'd like to have more than 3 TV channels, so we finally ordered satellite. It's pretty much the most exciting thing since the birth of my children.


This is a goofy video of the kids making faces at the table. It's nothing big, just a little something so my sis stops harassing me.