Vacation!

We did some traveling for a family event, and we decided to make a mini vacation out of it! Here are some photos from out trip to the Twin Cities. We saw a few interesting things as we traveled. This camper was one of our favorites.

The first thing we did when we arrived in the Twin Cities was to play at "Chutes and Ladders" park, a playground in the Hyland Lake Reserve. It was HUGE!!! This is only a portion of it.

Ainsley should be a pirate. She is very good at net climbing.

Our next stop was for Dad...REI. Boring for the little girls, or maybe not! They had a play area for kids!

Mom got visit IKEA. She has never been so happy! Thankfully, they also had multiple areas to keep the kids happy. As you can see, this was a popular spot for many.

We visiting St. Paul, the famous Mickey's Diner (not pictured...I forgot to upload the cool photos) and the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory. Bennett and Ainsley loved the zoo, and they also loved Como Town, a small amusement park adjacent to the zoo. Ainsley's favorite ride was the dragon rollercoaster!

Bennett's favorite ride was the Como Driving School. She even received a paper driver's license after completing the course!

Here is a picture of the girls getting ready to take off on the swings. The little girl behind them could not get her seatbelt fastened, and Bennett and Ainsley were VERY concerned. Can you tell?

We wrapped up our day at the zoo by heading to the MOA for dinner at the Rainforest Cafe.

Father and daughter...how sweet!

Ainsley enjoyed the animated creatures at the Rainforest Cafe, especially the alligator!

We enjoyed many things about the MOA. Legoland was a jaw-dropper for Bennett.

Mom, Bennett and Woody at Legoland...

And a dream came true when we visited the American Girl store at the MOA. Here is Bennett posing beneath the very pricey AG treehouse. You need to take out a loan if you want to purchase this thing!

Ainsley used her spending money to help buy herself a Bitty Baby! Ainsley and a baby doll. Who would ever guess?!

We were so glad to visit friends while we were in the Twin Cities. The girls had a great time, as did Mom and Dad! Here are the kids, chatting it up over dinner. They look so serious!

After our time in Minnesota, we headed to a July Fourth celebration that included special honors for a family member! It was a super rainy day, so we spent most of it indoors at a family friend's house. There was plenty of entertainment there, especially when another family brought their puppies over for a visit. The pups LOVED Ainsley...maybe a little too much!

Here is Bennett, serving as an ottoman for Dad, Aunt C., Aunt J. and Uncle B.

As part of the celebration, we got to ride in a parade! Here are Ainsley, Grandma L. and Cousin M. trying to stay dry.

Who knew riding in a rainy parade could be so much fun! We were thrilled to have been part of the celebration!

Photo Hodge-Podge

More randomness, from our family to yours! Bennett is participating in summer day camp where she is able to do several crafts. One of them is scrapbooking, and she has chosen to scrapbook photos of her Webkinz. Here they are. Do not show this photo to her allergist! He would freak if he saw all these stuffed animals!

The girls attended an area VBS with Cousin M. last week. All three had a great time at the VBS Hoedown that wrapped up the week. Here are Ainsley and Cousin M. hangin' out at the ranch.

The girls enjoyed seeing chickens, donkies, peacocks, horses, a skunk and more while at the ranch!

Ainsley and M. really liked this goat. The goat was very much indifferent toward them though. I don't think he moved a muscle the entire time they were petting him.

Back home...Over the weekend Dad did what dads do best. He trashed the playroom in order to make a "fort" for the girls. They are still playing in it days later.

On Sunday, Ainsley was recruited by church staff to help hand out bulletins. She was delighted to help, and she did a wonderful job!

We rounded out the weekend with a visit to Grandpa and Grandma's house. The visit included an episode of one of the girls' favority shows, Hee Haw!!!! Oh, dear.

Weekend Wrap Up

Here are some highlights from last weekend! It is summer vacation, and scene-making continues! Here we have a wedding/spy adventure. A cougar and a turtle were wed by some female justice of the peace from the movie, Hercules. Several onlookers watched from beneath the globe, while mystery and mayhem unfolded on the right half of the library table. Several animals lurked in the dark spaces, watching and waiting for their chance to become wedding crashers. Things were about to get ugly when thankfully, Bennett and Ainsley's dad arrived home from work and it was time to hit a garage sale before going out for dinner. The love birds who married that day have no idea what doom nearly befell them.

We had MANY family gatherings to attend over the weekend. At the first, Bennett and Ainsley had a blast playing with cousins. They also enjoyed some new bubble guns that Grandma bought for each of the kids. Look at all those bubbles, girls! Oh, wait. Keep your eyes closed, as not to get bubble solution in them. We'll look at the bubbles for you!

The girls got to hang out with other cousins at another get together. Here they are with Cousin A.

Bennett and Cousin S., just sitting in the grass together.

Dad and I have started playing tennis again, after a very long break. We have a lot of work to do in order to become competitive again, so this means practice for us and play time at the courts for the girls. How to little girls entertain themselves while their mom and dad play tennis? They chain themselves to the tennis court fence! This seems more like torture that play, but it must be better than the torture of watching your pathetic parents hitting balls!

Scenes

For as long as I can remember, Bennett has used her vast imagination to create what she refers to as "scenes." When she is not reading and drawing, she can be found arranging figures, trinkets and treasures so that they might experience adventure. There is always a "scene" somewhere in our house. It is pure entertainment and joy to happen upon one! Here are a couple I found this week. Here we have a dog who is watching a sparring match between a female black belt and Garfield! I bet you didn't know that Garfield had some serious karate skills. Notice both are dangling from strings. This is because they are to appear suspended in air. This is an action shot, people!

While the sparring was taking place on the roof of Bennett's dollhouse, more serious matters unfolded on the back side of the building. Here we have a dare devil group of owls, riding a zipline of sorts down the side of the three-story home. This is risky business. The Hear-No-Evil, See-No-Evil, Speak-No-Evil Cats cannot bare to watch, yet they can't seem to look away! Meanwhile, the California Raisins party on below, paying little attention to what is occuring just outside the wall. Who needs television when you have this kind of drama taking place in your very home!

Ainsley does a bit of her own "scene" creation. I found this troll wearing an American Girl bicycle helmet. The troll wasn't out on the recreation trail though. She was hanging out in the salon chair. Doesn't she realize that a haircut will be tricky with a helmet in the way? Well, if you've ever read "The Three Billy Goats Gruff," you know that trolls are not the brightest of creatures.

Weekend Recap

We enjoyed a somewhat lazy weekend, and it was glorious! Since Saturday was rainy, we couldn't do and painting or outdoor projects. The girls had us right where they wanted us...unoccupied by "work." It was a perfect opportunity to get Dad crafting. His crafting skills are above average. Check out the lion he made with Bennett! Our kids are always sitting ON the table. What is up with that?

Bennett spent most of her Saturday morning doing what she does best...pretending! Here is her zip line of owls. I'm sure it's not the first zip line of owls you've come across, right?

The highlight of Ainsley's morning was finding a can of whipped topping we'd forgotten we had in the fridge. This child is our junk food junkie. She wanted it straight from the can. Grandpa C. taught her that!

After the rain we managed to snag a couple of deals at garage sales. Our biggest deal was a bike for Bennett. We picked this puppy up for five bucks! The only issue is the lack of training wheels. Bennett has been informed that she WILL be learning to ride this without training wheels this summer. It will be accomplished before school begins in the fall. She is not thrilled whatsoever. Once she gets it down, she'll realize it's a piece of cake! We'll keep you posted on her progress.

Dad gave the new bike a little tune-up. Then he, of course, had to take it for a spin. A grown man on a tiny, pinkish-purple girl's bike. Nice.

On Sunday, we enjoyed celebrating Aunt C's landmark birthday with lots of family. There were gifts, cake, ice cream...and a puppy! The puppy was not a gift. It just happened to live at the party location. Here are Ainsley and Cousin M. with the new pup. Ainsley was wishing it was her birthday and this dog was, in fact, her gift!

It was a warm, sunny day! The girls enjoyed some time on the trampoline, but all that jumping makes a girl hot! Bennett decided to alter her outfit to make it more suitable for jumping in comfort. Thus, she tucked her dress into her underwear-concealing biker shorts. Voila! We have a little lumpy jumper!

The girls enjoyed watching Aunt C. getting her candles lit! They also helped blow them out. Congratulations, Bennett and Ainsley, on spit-free blowing! You are sharpening your skills!

Our final weekend event was a Sunday evening visit to Grandpa C. and Grandma D.'s house. Grandpa had a special treat for the girls. It was old-fashioned ribbon taffy! Ainsley and Grandpa enjoyed some together. What is with the "deer in headlights" look they are both wearing? Maybe a sugar-induced coma is coming on! They look ridiculous. This picture makes me laugh!

Swimmin'

We broke out the kiddie pool for the first time this season today! There were some thrilled little girls at our house because of it! Ainsley, Cousin M. and the watering cans had a grand time in the pool!

I have a feeling getting wet will be a favorite activity this summer!