Tuesday with The Girls

 We got together with Katie and the girls Tuesday and went to Whitewater!  We love the beach.  Water, sand, butterflies, (huge!) tadpoles, crayfish, frogs....a kids paradise.

bird watching

 It's been fun watching all action at the bird feeder we (okay, Papa) finally got up.  With the ivy, we have tons of finches, sparrows and pigeons around constantly.  After the leaves all shed in the Fall, there are at least a half dozen or more nests.  So, they have all become pigs!  I bet we could fill both sides at least every other day.  Dave will have to put them on a bit of a "moderation" diet.  Good thing we know a guy with lots of birdseed ;)

Kelvin said that blue jays like plain sunflower seeds...I finally caught him through the window.  I've never seen a blue jay by our house before the feeder has been up!

sunday sprinkler

Camp!

Both the kids attended Park and Rec camp this last week.  Luke had his final time as a preschool camper!  It's just a couple hours every morning, but it seems like just enough.  Playing basketball at the rec center was his favorite thing.  Emily had camp all week also down at the Lake Lodge.  She went for the full 8 hour day. They RUN THOSE KIDS RAGGED!  But in a totally good way.  They did a lot of stuff ....canoeing, kayaking, walked to the aquatic center (not once, but twice!), walked to the historical center, walked to the east end fire station and the park by our house, played lots of games, slip n' slide, etc.  She was exhausted after each day.  I don't know if Luke will be ready for that experience next year, we may just have to start out doing the half day sessions.  Walking a few miles a day may not be on his "fun" radar, ha!

salon

 The kids had a salon a week or so ago.  Stella was the first customer!  Emily is lucky to have a brother who likes to play all things girly.  The other day they were upstairs for at least 2 hours playing and dressing American Girls and Build a Bears.

{summer} swim meet

 Emily had her first summer swim meet this morning!  We were all out the door and in Arcadia, WI by 7:30am.

 Doing the Fly...which she loves to hate.  She feels like she goes no where, slowly.  Maybe she doesn't realize everyone looks like that, ha!  I tell her to keep it up though and learn it well....there's something neat about watching someone do a good butterfly stroke!

 Swimming her big event of the day, 50 Freestyle.  1st place!

25 breaststroke here...  She came in first in her heat, not sure overall though.  I guess we'll see come ribbon time.  She did great!  1 down, 3 more summer meets to go.

Family Night at the Farm

We went to the annual Family Night at the Farm last night.  Great time like always, but this one was extra special!  There were lots of animals to cuddle and pet (free puppies!), kids stuff to do, big tractors to climb on, milkshakes to drink, friends to chat with.....

but, the cows stole the show!  We even got to see one being born.  It was amazing to watch.

I think it will be something the kids will remember forever.  Luke even came home with a little book (one of those "kids answer" projects) from Park & Rec camp this morning, this was the last page.....