Last of our Trip...I Promise!

I just had a few more pictures I wanted to share of our trip - and then I'm done - I promise! My dad kept catching tons of these little fish and Ben was the only one brave enough to touch them.
The kids loved fishing off the side of the boat. The funny thing is we didn't have hooks on either child's pole. We let Elizabeth decide if she wanted one - and she said no, and Ben just flung his pole everywhere so we thought we were all safer with no hook on his.

We had a bonfire one night, and we made s'mores of course!

My friend, Nikki, drove up to visit with her kids and her mother. Kellen and Ben were enjoying each other as you can tell!

Our 4 kiddos. I made Katie the skirt and gave it to her for her birthday. It was so cute because she didn't want to take it off!

Enjoying their Popsicles. Katie is actually a little younger than Ben, but I think Elizabeth was enjoying having another girl around.
My mom and the kids did a little baking at the cabin - Elizabeth loves to bake with my mom.

Here's us on the flight home. I was a little worried because Ben was not the greatest on the way up - he kept crawling around between me and my parents. Luckily on the way home when we were by ourselves he sat very well and just played and watched a show.

This was his favorite activity. He was stringing fruity cheerios on a pipe cleaner - one went in his mouth, one on the pipe cleaner. It occupied him for about 15 min. so that was successful to me :) We had a very fun trip and are looking forward to going back next year!

At the Cabin

On our 3rd day of vacation we visited Tom's family (at the end of the post - I again didn't feel like switching all the pictures) and drove to the cabin. My dad made a sandbox for the kids this year so we spent a lot of time digging in the sand. Thanks dad!

My parents also got a paddle boat this year so we had fun taking it out with the kids.

I wasn't quite sure what Ben was going to do so I made sure to keep a hand on him at all times :) Elizabeth wasn't sure how much she liked it - I think we were a little too low to the water for her comfort level - but my dad and I liked it - and it was a little work out!
Like the huge fish my dad caught?

We did sparklers in the evening, which was a big treat for the kids.

The next day we went in the boat again - we pretty much boated and fished every day!

I liked the lighting right here so I took one of each of my kids,

and my mom :)

The water in the lake is very clear so the kids spent lots of time checking out all the fish.

They also loved driving the boat.

This is the only picture I have with the cabin in it - I don't know why I didn't take one this year!

I had to add this because Ben kept hopping on the bed and telling me he was holding the bed.

In the afternoon before we drove to the cabin we were invited over for a BBQ at Tom's sister Theresa's house for the 4th of July. Here the kids are with most of Theresa's kids - Lexi, Matt and Maddie.

They had a great time playing in the pool with their cousins. Lexi and Elizabeth had fun holding each other in the pool.

This is Johnny, one of the cousins, helping Ben swim in the pool.

Elizabeth jumping off the diving board - with no one in there to catch her - all by herself!

All the kids were dunking Johnny - I just liked this picture watching Ben and E out there with all the "big kids"!

Johnny flipping off the diving board!

Theresa and me

Maddie, Tom's sister Linda, and sister in law Sharon

I wish we lived closer to our Minnesota cousins - the kids had such a great time playing with them and I know they wish we could do it more often.

Vacation Day 2

Our next day in Minnesota was busy visiting friends and family. The pictures are in reverse order but I didn't feel like switching them all :) We spent the afternoon at my Aunt Amy's house with my mom's side of the family. We were having dinner for my grandpa's 82nd birthday. This is my uncle Ross and his girlfriend, my Uncle Todd, and my Grandpa.

Uncle Scott and Evan - Amy's little boy.

This is Evan, my cousin. Jessica and I were so happy to finally get cousins on this side of the family!
Big sister, Emma, my other cousin on this side of the family.

Emma and Evan were all ready for bed so they were staying inside to keep clean. Ben was having fun playing with them through the glass.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Grandma and Grandpa with their great-grandchildren. My grandmother is a fantastic seamstress and made the kids these aprons. They love to wear them and beg to cook every day so they can put them on.

Grandpa with his kiddos.

It was quite an adventure trying to get all 4 kids looking at the same time - but we managed it! They were all dressed up for the 4th of July.

My Aunt Amy and Uncle Jim live on a lake so Ben had a great time with Emma digging in the sand.

Earlier in the day we took the kids to Como zoo and met my friend Nikki and her children. We lived next door to Nikki when we were babies until we were 4 years old, and have remained great friends ever since. We see each other every year and we are hoping our kids will become as good of friends as we are. The Como zoo has this fun, fast, merry-go-round that the kids rode on.

Nikki's little girl, Katie. Isn't she a doll?

Her cute little brother, Kellen.

The kids all enjoyed some cotton candy at the zoo. We ate tons of junk on our trip - I guess that's one of the great things about vacations!

Checking out the seal exhibit.

My friend, Nikki, with her daughter.
And oh yeah, another polaroid - my last one. Don't you love our matching t-shirts? Mitch is Nikki's older brother.

It was another busy day, but we all had a really fun time. I'll post about the rest of our trip tomorrow!