How did it get to be August already?

Lower Hay Lake Highlights

Sevi loves the buckets.

Soren loves any form of spraying water.

The Bonzai Blaster boat from Costco was a big hit this summer.

Sevi just LOVES to jump in the water! 

Big Brother life jacket safety check.

Sevi, our little fish.

Family lake time.

Chillin' in the blow up boat.

Soren's first time as bow man in the canoe.

The water was like glass for Andrea's first solo adventure in the canoe with the boys.

Family Time

From top: Uncle Chris and Alex
Anne and Bob
Sevi, Lisa, Andrea, Mari, Soren

We all loved having our best Aunties Lisa and Mari at the lake for a whole week. They spoiled us!!!
 

Mari and Sevi chillin' 

Flying a kite with Uncle Chris

The evening Sorry! game night with Soren, Uncle Peter and Gramma.

Biking with Uncle Peter from the Pine River.

Soren and Bob and their crazy shucking corn antics.

Bob and Sevi blowing bubbles.


Strawberry Picking

Truck Touch

The annual tractor ride with neighbor Lincoln

With neighbor Tim in his monster truck.

 Music Time

Auntie Mari is also a Suzuki instructor, so Soren had plenty of practice time with her.

Daily jam sessions with the Jamieson - Lewandowski quartet.

Half Year Birthday's!

Whitefish Chain Annual Run for the Walleye Race

Misc. 

Sevi tuckered out at the dinner table.

Sevi Go-carting.

Spinning wheel balloon art. 

Croquet Game 

When ya gotta go, ya gotta go!

July 4th, 2013

Soren and Sevi in the Pequot Lakes Stars and Stripes Kiddie Parade. I earned major lamest mom points this year by recycling the EXACT same idea, clothes and banner as last year. 

Sevi eating his pancake breakfast with the local Police Reserves at the Fireman Pancake Breakfast.

Hanging out on the Fire Trucks at the

Fire Hall after breakfast.

Soren on the jump ride.

Sevi and Auntie Mari in the water balloon toss/war game.

The Lewandowski, Jamieson, Murrill crew waiting for the Pequot Parade to start.

Sevi cheering on the marching band.

Dragonfly Rest Stop

Longfellow Storm

Life has been a bit hectic lately. On June 21st Longfellow neighborhood was hit pretty hard with a wind/rain storm with winds reaching 70mph.  Branches from our huge backyard Maple fell and one landed through our back porch roof. Our front yard boulevard tree on 36th Street got knocked down, blocking the road for over a week. It took a week to get the insurance adjuster out, but luckily my dear friend Wendy was in town from AZ who happens to have an awesome cousin who is a contractor and had our new roof put on within a week.

Back of house with tree on roof. 

Front of house with boulevard tree down.

Frontenac State Park Camping

We had our first camping trip of the season this past weekend. We joined the Schweser Family at a cart in site down in Frontenac State Park for a night. It was a beautiful setting and all the kids had the best of time together, we really were impressed at how good they all were. We have known the Schweser's since Sonja and Soren were babies in ECFE together, so we go way back. Now Sevi and Siri are best friends, so they were the perfect family to camp with. 

Soren, Sonja, Sevi and Siri

Soren's highlight was getting to borrow Greg's Star Wars sheet to sleep in.

Sevi with his smore.

The Jiffy Pop master Randy at work while the kids patiently waited.

Bubbles were a hit for the trip.

Sonja and Soren

Sevi's favorite thing was to run in the mowed paths.

The Camping Gang.

Hauling out and heading out from the site.

2013 Nature Valley Grand Prix Kid Races

It is now our third year in a row participating in the Nature Valley Grand Prix Kiddie Bike Race that is held each June in St. Paul. We have a tradition as well to meet up and bike with August and Mason. The kids love it. They get to ride the pro race course that is just under one mile, then get a medal. Sevi is still on the short course, but a cruiser on his balance bike.

Future Pro Racers Sevi, August, Soren and Mason

Crossing the start line, Soren is at the back with his green shirt.

Mason and Soren with their medals.

Sevi at the end of his race with his medal.

Soren's Kindergarten Graduation

The last day of school as a Kindergartner for Soren arrived yesterday. It was a big day at New City Charter School. All the students presented their finest work of the year in their classrooms, then the Kindergartner class had it's own little graduation ceremony. The amazing Mr. Jeremy gave each student a diploma, then shared with them what special trait that student had taught him that school year. For Soren, he shared that he taught him the importance of paying attention to details in his artwork and schoolwork. It has been a year of growth for us all, but Soren has worked the hardest and it is a joy to see his pride. We have to thank Mr. Jeremy for all his work, Kindergartner teachers are saints if you ask me. We will miss Mr. Jeremy, but as Soren wrote, First Grade here I come!

Soren's portfolio share book.

Receiving his Kindergarten diploma from teacher Mr. Jeremy

Soren with Mr. Jeremy

Alma and Soren, best of friends from day one of Kindergarten.

His last bus ride of the school year and as a Kindergartner.

Music Man

After a year on the MacPhail Suzuki waiting list, we took the plunge and started our violin commitment. I say we, because the Suzuki method believes in the teaching triangle of student, teacher and parent. I started first, dusting off my old violin and scratching out the Twinkles with our teacher Kelly. Soren then joined us in February, first starting with clapping out rhythms, then moving to the violin box and bow holds, then finally to the actual violin. It is a big commitment for us all, but I can see how it is teaching Soren so many skills already. Beyond learning music he is learning about patience, perseverance, body control and listening skills. He is a fast learner and has really enjoyed it so far and I can't even begin to express how proud of him I am. He had his first recital on Saturday and I don't know who was more nervous, him or me. He was marvelous and I really hope that this sets the stage for a long term appreciation and involvement in the music world. Our deepest gratitude goes out to Gramma Anne, whom without her support, none of this could happen.

Soren outside MacPhail with his violin box when he started in February.

After graduating from the box in March, Soren is ready for the real deal. Here he is at Quinn Violin getting measured for his violin, a 1/8 size.

Quinn Violin wall of violins.

Soren's first violin recital June 1, 2013 in Antenello Hall at MacPhail.

Summer Haircuts

About a week and a half ago we had our first mild week here in MN, in fact it felt like we jumped right from winter into summer. It was decided that if summer was indeed here, then haircuts were in order, as Sevi was long overdue by about 6 months. We go to a little neighborhood shop run by a young Hmong mother who does an amazing job for a great price. Unfortunately, I jumped the gun, as we have fallen back into a cold spring with rain for the last week. At least the boys look fresh and ready for a blazing summer!

Before

After

Sick of Being Sick

It has been a long two weeks in our house of ill. It started two Sunday's ago with Sevi curled on my lap at his best girlfriend Siri's birthday party, claiming he wanted to go home. His temp that night hit 103.6 and stayed there for three days. By Wednesday night I had a sore throat, then was diagnosed with strep throat Thursday morning. We thought last weekend we were in the clear, but then Monday night Soren had a fever. Tuesday morning Soren was diagnosed with strep. This morning Sevi woke with a earache. Back to Target clinic for a third time in a week and now poor Sevi is back to having a fever and now he has strep. We are all ready to be done and rid our house of ill. 

Sevi's favorite place to heal, laying on mama's cheek.