The Great Minnesota Get Together

As per our yearly traditon, we got up before dawn to head down to the State Fair. Our fair festivities always begin with the Milk Run, which is nice because then I get my workout out of the way and can eat guilt-free the rest of the day!

This year I ran with Jason, Angie, and Mike. I was very nervous going into this one because I've been sick and haven't been able to run much this month, and it always takes every ounce of athleticism I have to keep up with these three. It was a tough race for me, but every year I've somehow run it faster, so I must be doing something right!

Jason, Angie, Me, Mike

This was our cheering section: Lamiae (holding Baby Justin) and Matt with Colin, Laura, and Karl.

Matt was glad to have Lamiae around to help him watch the kids during the race, especially since Karl and Colin cannot help but wrestle whenever they are together.

They worked out a deal where Lamiae would be in charge of Justin, and Matt would watch the other three. Lamiae thought she had the easy job until Justin started crying as soon as the race started!

He quickly settled down though, and was fast asleep in her arms when we finished running.

Here come Jason and Mike!

And here comes Angie (with some random guy)!

And here I come, so glad the finish is in sight!

The kids are very good about waiting hours before actually getting to do anything at the fair, but this is how we've always done it, so they don't know any other way. I wonder if they realize that other kids don't have to sit through an early morning race just to visit the fair. I think one day they'll learn to love the Milk Run, especially when they get to run in it!

Here they are after the race, waiting for people to drop stuff off at the car, before we can FINALLY have some fun.

After the Sky Ride, we went to the Giant Slide. Laura worked up the courage to do it for the first time this year and she loved it! The little person you see coming down the slide here is Karl:

The first fair food we bought was mini doughnuts.

Then it was off to the rides!

Look how brave Laura is!

This was Matt's favorite ride because he like the mermaid.

This is what the fair looked like as we tried to navigate around with two kids (who are too big for strollers so we had nothing with which to push our way through!).

We stopped at the education building to look at Cousin Aly's award winning artwork (it's the picture of the girl with a blue ribbon attached)!

One of highlights of the fair for Laura is the pancake on a stick, served with all the maple syrup you can eat!

Whew! What a day! Good thing we only go to the fair once a year!

Minnesota Zoo

Today was a great day to spend at the zoo with Angie, Jason, Colin, and Justin.

Can you see the little turtles lined up on the log, basking in the sun?

Karl got ahold of the camera for awhile. This was one of his pictures.

On the Monorail (Laura had been waiting all day for this!)

Holding Justin is a great way to get my baby fix.

Karl rides a fish at the playground while Baby Justin gets some lunch.

This was a big draw at the playground at the zoo: a giant mosquito.

Karl and Colin in the giant spiderweb.

We decided to get a snack before we headed home, and Karl insisted on getting this giant lollipop. I knew it wouldn't be a good idea...

Saying Goodbye to our Favorite Neighbors

For the last 3 1/2 years Jim and Connie have lived across the street from us, and Laura and Karl have taken full advantage of hanging out with their cousins Josh and Luke. Karl would often check the window to see if Luke was outside, and if so, he'd go flying out the door calling behind him, "I'm going out to play with Luke!" Whenever we were away too long and needed someone to let the dogs out, all we had to do was call Connie. Whenever our lawnmower broke, I got to use Jim's riding one. During the school year, we always knew that when Josh and Luke came out in the morning to our driveway, it was time for Laura to go out and get in line for the bus. And they kept such a nice yard!

So today was a very sad day, when we had to watch the moving trucks pull up to their house, the movers working quickly to load up all of their things before taking it to Wisconsin. Jim, Connie, Josh, and Luke had a quick lunch with Mom, Dad, the kids, and me before following their belongings to Osceola, where they'll have more space and fewer neighbors. We're glad that they're only moving 45 minutes away, but it won't be the same around here.

Last night Karl and Luke spent some quality time together before the big move.

Laura, Karl, Luke, Josh

It was heartbreaking to see Karl watching them leave. All day long he kept going to the front window, saying, "Why'd they have to move? Now there's nothing to see outside this window!"

Jim and Connie, we wish you all the best in your new home, but we're missing you guys already!

The Last Week at the Pool

The Rush City pool closes this coming weekend, so we're getting in our last-minute swimming for the summer. Yesterday, the Minnesota Meissner cousins got together to play at the pool, and today Karl and I spent the afternoon there.

Karl, Laura, Aly, and Emily

Since today was probably the last warm and sunny day for the week, we probably won't be back to our favorite summer hangout until next year. I have a sneaking suspicion we'll be hitting a few indoor waterparks this winter though...

Grand Rios!

We had SO much fun today! Because of the nasty weather, our annual trip to the Wild Mountain water slides had to be cancelled, but our backup plan proved to be even better than our original plans. The kids and I had lunch at Angie and Jason's (poor Matt had to stay home and work), then it was off to some indoor water slides. At first we were a little concerned because there seemed to be a shortage of inner tubes, but we needn't have worried about that--about an hour after we got there we were all herded down to the basement because of a tornado warning for the area. By the time we all got down there, though, the warning was over and we got to go back up to the water park. Perhaps the severe weather scared everyone away, because for the rest of the afternoon we almost had the place to ourselves. No lines! For anything! And the waterslides were super fun! Do you have any idea how many stairs I climbed today?

These are Laura's favorite things: books, maple syrup, pajamas, apples pie, and water parks. She ate French toast sticks with maple syrup for breakfast while wearing pajamas, then read books on her way to the water park. Look how happy she is!

Jason with the boys: Justin, Colin, and Karl

The latest in our series of "scary ride" pictures:

But that picture wasn't telling the true story. This is how she really looked:

Karl and Colin had lots of room to be crazy...

...and then take breaks in the hot tub with their mommies.

We were exhausted at the end of the day! We had to refuel at McDonald's (or as Colin says, "Old McDonald's"), and no meal at McDonald's is complete without apple pie (so does this qualify as a dream day, Laura?).

Thanks for the pictures Angie and Jason! (readers of both our blogs may notice some overlap...)

Shooting Stars and Swimming Lessons

On Tuesday we went out to Lynn and Chad Buehring's house so we could watch the Perseid Meteor Shower (and stay up past our bedtimes!). Karl always has a good time with his girlfriends, Katelyn and Shelby.

Karl and Katelyn

Shelby and Laura

We finally got some hot weather, so instead of Penelope basking in the sun, she's been seeking out shade whenever she goes outside.

Today was Laura's and Karl's last day of swimming lessons for the summer. They both made great progress! Laura found out it's pretty easy to go underwater, and may become a little fish yet! And at the rate Karl's burning through the levels, he'll be a lifeguard by age 10! (Not really; he'll have to wait until he's 16.)