Sevi and Otis the Tractor

Sevi he has a favorite book called Otis. It is about a very kind and thoughtful little tractor. We thought it was so funny that we found a tractor just like Otis at our friend Sarah's house this summer. 

    

Fire Tower 2

Lake Itasca has its own fire tower that the boys and I were eager to climb. It was a very gusty day the day we climber it, which did Randy in after the second flight. This tower felt much sturdier and despite the strong winds was a fun climb and this time got to get into the observation deck. 

 

Year of the Fire Tower

Having spent every summer of my life at the cottage, I had never once climbed the Pequot Lakes fire tower. I decided on my 45th birthday it was time to make a change. Soren, with a bit of hesitation, and Sevi, the fearless mountain goat, and I climbed the 174 steps to the top. The trap door to the deck was locked but the views of the lake country were outstanding. 

Head of the Mississippi 7/18

We took a family trip to Lake Itasca to show the boys the head of the Mississippi River. 

Happy Birthday to me (Mama)

While driving to Pine River for a birthday breakfast at the Cottage Cafe, the boys and I took a garage sale detour and found this beauty: 

It has been such a fun ride. They boys love being my tandem partner and we broke it in on the Paul Bunyan trail. 

It now lives in the city with us and we love riding it up and down the parkway, greenway and Minnehaha creek trails. 

The other gift that is for both Randy and I (thanks gramma Anne) is a Stand Up Paddleboard. It has been such a treat to have it at the cottage and go out on early morning rides. I have seen deer, loons, turtles, blue herons, osprey and bald eagles on my morning adventures. The boys also love riding along or even doing it themselves.

Hammock Life

There is a new movement these days that fully embraces the hammock lifestyle. To just chill and hang in the hammock is now called "mocking". Soren has fully embraced the mocking movement. He loves to nestle in with a book. In fact I can hardly get a book out of his hands. With summer half over he has read the whole Wings of Fire Series, the whole Percy Jackson series, The Indian in the Cupboard, and is now on the Book of Ember series. These are all series with at least 6 books, each over 200 pages. Now that is what I call a bookworm. 

Easter 2015 (4/5/15)

This year for Easter weekend we traveled to Wisconsin. We made a overnight stop at Wisconsin Dells at the Kalahari waterpark then spent a couple nights in Madison with our dear friends Danielle, Sebastian, Lucienne and Tobias. 

On the way home we stopped at Aunt Lori's cabin for the kids annual Easter hunt. 

March 27 Photoshoot

Farewell 2nd Grade

Arizona here we come!!!

  

Longfellow Pool back in action!

July 4, 2015

With the taste of victory still lingering from last year, we hit the Kiddie Parade hard with a fresh idea for this year. We used long balloons to create a firework display costume and Mari and Lisa helped with the blow up and design process. This year the boys won the Most Patriotic Award, with a prize bag of goodies. Only one trophy went out this year to the overall winner, so the boys were a bit disappointed not to have another actual trophy, but they still enjoyed the whole process. 

Happy Shredders

Today we took our first mountain bike family trail ride at the Cuyuna Mountain Bike Trails in Crosby, MN. Sevi rode like a superstar and left Soren in the dust. Sevi is officially hooked on shredding the trails and has found his true calling. 

Track Star Soren!!

Soren joined the Highland Groveland Recreation Association track team this Spring. The organization is in St Paul and unlike Mpls Park and Rec, one can start at age 8 for track.  He had his first track meet on Saturday and ran 4 events. He placed first in the 100 meter, 200 meter and the 4 x 100 meter relay. He placed 4th in the 400. He loved it all. Grandpa Henry came to cheer him on and celebrate his victory after. 

Rawhide Western Town

Rawhide is an authentic frontier town that replicates western life from the 1880's. We spent an afternoon taking in the attraction.

At the entrance with the covered wagons.

Soren in the electric chair.

Sevi driving the wagon jail.

Panning for gold. 

Soren riding the mechanical bull.

The boys riding donkey's. 

Wendy and Randy eating "authentic" french fries. 

Soren purchased a Daniel Boone hat with his Christmas money. He wore that for days after!!

Randy and I were the only ones who ended up doing the zipline!