Hailstorm!

We have never seen anything like this! This chewed up our hostas, punched holes in our siding, and scared the kids! We'll post some pictures as soon as we clean up a bit!

3rd Annual Cousin Campout!

A few years ago we decided to get as many cousins together as we could and go on a campout over Memorial Day weekend...the tradition continued this year and it was a blast! We camped this year at Taylor's Falls. We played games, cooked awesome food, discovered a fabulous option for s'mores (the scary looking chocolate marshmallows really do make amazingly good s'mores - incredible actually. I don't think I will ever go back to plain!), rented a canoe and took it out on the St. Croix, did a little "hiking", chatted late into the night at the fire, and just had an overall great time!

We had some new additions this year but were also missing some of our most favorite people. We hope the crowd just keeps getting bigger and bigger.... We love this tradition! Enjoy the pictures.

The Family on the St. Croix River

Lots of playing time - it really was beautiful on the St. Croix

Lucy, Adam, Peter and Annie -they had a lot of fun together

Peter and his sticks...there isn't much to say, except that he LOVES them.

Whenever Peter sees this picture he says "Dirty! All Dirty!!"" and laughs and laughs - it is quite funny. Anyway, he played hard and made lots of messes.

In the hiking pack - he still fits!

The kids digging into the fruit - Jenny provided a LOT of great fruit

You can't see it very well, but here Annie is eating Eliza's amazing Dutch Oven Chicken Pot Pie - so yummy!

The group on a hike! Steve (can't wait to have the rest of his family next year!), Lucy, David, Eliza, Adam, Robert, Peter, me, Jenny, Lisa, Randy and Will. You have to love the backpacks and baby bjorns...
The Canoeing was really fun - Annie thought it was great and Robert is even considering canoeing this year with her during the daddy/daughter campout (previously they have just camped)

Peter was thrilled to have a turn in the canoe - doesn't he look like a natural?

More digging in the dirt - this kid is a natural camper, well, Annie is a super teacher too
Robert is brilliant - at one point he made the kids "fishing poles" - they played with those all weekend.

Fishing again...

When life gives you BIG storms, make donuts! Sunday night there were some nasty storms. We grabbed the games and essentials, headed to a shelter at the site and played Quiddler, made donuts and the fun rolled on!

Simone and Peter - the donuts were fabulous as Peter is showing you

I guess these two were hungry - here they are eating some fruit
We were so happy that Josh, Lindsay, Simone and little baby Ella could make it for Sunday! I love the pacifer Josh is sporting here. Ella is a doll! (guess you can't see much of her here though)

The weekend was a huge hit! Lisa and Randy packed up before us and I heard Annie ask Lisa, "Are you sad you don't get to stay longer?" Anyway, they can't wait to camp again - anyone want to go? :)

Peter's BigWheel Stunts

Here's a little video-- our first one to be posted here! Peter's birthday bigwheel works best with a rope attached. We've gone for many walks and here he's doing some daredevil driving~

Just for Fun

While the kids were eating lunch the other day, I realized that I hadn't taken many pictures lately. I started snapping pictures. I guess lunch isn't very interesting, but oh well! Here are some new pictures...

Play hard, sleep hard

This kid is always on the go and when nap time comes...he takes it very seriously!

Letter fun

A few weeks ago Annie was helping Robert with a project - he put her in charge of keeping the screws in one place. This is what she did with them. I thought it was cute!