State Fair!

We had a great time at the State Fair this year.  It was a hot 10 days but we beat the heat by going SUPER early, we were there at 7:30 am.  We enjoyed lots of yummy food, people and animal watching and giant slide-riding.  Can't wait for next year's fair!

I'm ready!

The Giant Slide!!

Matchy matchy

Emily has been really into matching her toys with our coasters lately. Here's a little sample:

Emily and I will be enjoying our last summer day together today, celebrating uncle Pat's birthday tomorrow and indulging at the State Fair on Sunday!

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in."

That's exactly what we got, a nice relaxing vacation with nothing specifically scheduled and that is just what the doctor ordered!  (At least for those not on a three month vacation already :) )

The whole family went to Izaty's this year, everyone: Karen, Marcus and William, my parents, both brothers and us.  That hasn't happened since 2004.  The weather was perfect.  Like, 70s and sunny perfect.  We were even lucky enough to get swarmed by a mayfly hatching that prevented us from enjoying the patio of our rental cabin.  Luckily, they only stuck around for one day so we were able to get back to day drinking on the patio ASAP : )

Playtime with William!

Totally ready to play!

We had a great time relaxing, playing golf and tennis, playing with the babies, taking a boat ride and going for a swim at Father Hennepin State Park.  

Arriving at Father Hennepin State Park via boat!

Crayfish hunting!!

Uncle Greg found one!

We also organized a surprise birthday party for my mom to ring in a new decade! (It's not my place to give away which decade it is)

In the mood to celebrate!

My mom and her incredibly pink cake!

We were also lucky enough to enjoy a weekend at Patrick's friend, Jerod's cabin.  We took a boat ride (on a pontoon - perfect for a toddler!), played at the park and soaked in beautiful views from the cabin.  It was a great weekend even with the infant-scaring, bee sting and walking into the screen door :)  

Driving the boat!

Playtime at the park!

Fun on an old school merry go round with dad

Hope you've been able to do some relaxing yourself this summer, either at home or away!

Testing, testing...is this thing on??

We are trying to be clear in our expectations with Emily but she is testing us and the boundaries we're trying to set.  This morning she was having a bowl of Cheerios for breakfast and she started to dig in with her hands.  After asking and reminding her to use her spoon she slowly went for her cereal with her hand with a sly look on her face again and again.  Never picking any up, just seeing if I would let her get away with it.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, that girl is strong willed!

Notice: spoon out of bowl, hand in

Then, this afternoon she was having mandarin oranges for snack and I gave her a spoon to use which she quickly chucked on the floor.  I picked it up, cleaned it off and told her there's no throwing spoons. She took one look at me and threw it again.  I told her I would give it back to her one more time and that was it.  When she got it back she looked at me, dangled it over the edge and slowly let go of it - all while maintaining eye contact with me.  So I put the spoon in the sink and told Emily that she was not getting it back.  After a minute or so of a whiny, sing-songy "mine....my spoon", this is what she resorted to:

Where do kids learn to pout like this??

Ah, I feel that there are lots of fun times ahead for us and our strong-willed little girl.