Memorial Day in the Cities

On Memorial Day, (May 25) we played with Stacy and Dan up in the cities. 

We met at the aquarium, which is inside the Mall of America. It was the first time for Jeremy, Stacy and Dan. Tanner, Dallin and I have been there before with Grandma Nana, but that was almost 2 years ago. We all had a really great time!

 Tanner wore these paper goggles the whole entire time.

This tunnel is really, really long!

Dallin was fascinated by the waterfalls. I love how so many kids are fascinated by moving water. It's the simple things in life, right?

What a pose!

After the aquarium, we got lunch at the food court in the mall. Then we went to the toy store! Tanner kept his paper goggles on the whole time.

We said goodbye to Stacy and Dan, and then headed over to the sculpture garden. The boys had a really fun time playing on these sculptures. Someone who loves golf and sculpting figured out how to merge the two worlds. These sculptures were the actual golfing courses!!

Then we visited the famous cherry and spoon sculpture.

Tanner didn't seem impressed by it.

It was fun to be at this Minnesotan icon just days away from our two year anniversary of living in Minnesota. It's been a wonderful two years! We've been very blessed here with good friends and opportunities. We are still making adjustments to life in the Midwest (Is that a baby scorpion or a centipede in the basement bathtub? Can you put egg shells in the garden compost? Is your house the one with the cornfield in the front yard or in the back yard? How often should we have the DE-humidifier on in the house? Are you sure that we've eaten at every restaurant in town?) But even with all these things to yet learn, I feel like I've adapted pretty well. I'm not in a rush as much as I used to be, I can cook a yummy hot dish and rhubarb pie, and Jeremy often catches me saying words with "o" like a true native. Oh, fer fun!

Going on a Camping Trip

We went on a short camping trip Friday night,  May 22 (Friday night during Memorial weekend)

But first, here's a few random pictures. We watched Jeremy at his first city league softball game of the season.

Tanner took this picture while we got dressed one morning.

Our garden radishes came up just 4 days after we planted them!

One day, Tanner asked me to paint his face. He got the idea from a school carnival that we were at a few days earlier. What a cute smile.

Batman on one side.

Shooting star on the other.

He was pretty thrilled about it!

Camping was spent at a state park just 20 minutes from our house. After setting up camp, we walked to the lake and threw rocks.

Then, on our little nature walk we saw a woodpecker and a deer!

We found this creation and played with it.

Then, back at camp, we built a fire. The boys tried really hard to break wood by stepping on it.

We roasted hotdogs. Dallin burned his hand when trying to get his hotdog off the hanger stick.

Jeremy burned his hand on the side of the fireplace.

But they were both okay. We played hide and seek around our campsite. It was sooo fun! Dallin was super adorable trying to find people.

I wore footsy jammies.

In the tent before going to bed we all had a big pillow fight. It was so fun sleeping beside each other as  a family and not getting pushed off of a bed. (Dallin was especially happy glad to lay with me all night long). Jeremy told stories as we fell asleep. The next morning we had yogurt and fruit for breakfast. Then the boys went on another little hike. We packed up and were back home before 11 am. What a great way to camp!!

When we got back from camping, Jeremy helped Tanner make this sign. Tanner dictated exactly what should be written on the sign.

Tanner said he wanted to make a garden so he could pick flowers for me since he's not allowed to pick other flowers. What a smart and sweet little guy.