Big news!

M3 found out she will be learning the saxophone for school band, which is what she had wanted to play. They had to do some musical testing first, then they were recommended a few instruments. THEN they had to choose their top three. I guess there were ten kids who wanted to play for only five saxophone spots, so she is very excited! Look out, Lisa Simpson!

Star Wars Yoga: The Video

Star Wars Yoga: The Video

Oh Matthew Latkiewicz, you are a kindred spirit! Also, how dorky is it that I ALREADY have "star wars" in my label list?

CA part I

We had such a fabulous time in Cali! In a few parts, I'll post the highlights:

Highlight #1: seeing cousin V, Uncle Nick, and Aunt Lauren of course!
#2: We met up with Mark's cousin and his family at Paradise Cove beach in Malibu. The water was FUH-REEZING!!! The kids played until they turned blue and shook uncontrollably. I preferred my cold temperatures for the beer I was drinking.
#3: Seaweed!
#4: La Brea Tar Pits, where we found a Grinnell eagle (who knew?! um, not me) in the Page Museum.
Poor mammoth. It was supposed to be the mom, of course. How very Disney.

I don't know why...

...I love this photo so much. I just do! M3, cousin V, and M4 in Cali.

And a new bike...

We are just back from vacation and school started yesterday, but I'll get to that soon, I promise!

As M3 began mastering the bicycle, we realized the blue bike was just too small for him! He looked like a hamster on its wheel. So to the local bike shop we went and lo and behold...the perfect used bike!

Taste of Freedom!

Yay!! M4 has finally conquered his fears and started riding his bike without training wheels!! He has gone round the block several times without stopping and has gotten only a few scrapes. He is very determined. Not only is it freedom for him, but it is freedom for me!! He was getting darn heavy on the Trail-A-Bike!

Camping!

After we left Madtown and our friends, we made our way to one of our most favorite places to camp, Wyalusing State Park, where the Wisconsin river meets the Mississippi (official term: confluence). Since we are forgoing our usual big summer camping trip for California this summer (whee!!), we got in two quick nights during this Wisconsin visit. At Wyalusing, we lucked into a bluff campsite and got to watch fireworks go off in the distance on Saturday night.

Here are M and M at a scenic spot overlooking the rivers.

On the way to Treasure Cave.

There is a big storm just to the left of M4 in this pic. We left just in time and drove home through some torrential downpours.

A short trip, but sweet. Maybe we can get in some camping weekends this fall. We did discover that one of our air mattresses has a leak. Boo!! And also that one must have s'mores even if it takes two hours to get your wet firewood going!!