Mississippi River Cruise

We wanted to do something fun together as a family to mark the end of summer before the kids started back to school.  We loaded the kids into the car and told them we had a surprise day planned.  Oh the suspense was almost too much for them.  We arrived at Harriet Island in St. Paul and started at the playground.  The kids were pretty happy with a new playground.  Soon we added a picnic lunch by the Mississippi River into the day.  After lunch, we boarded a paddle boat for a cruise along the Mississippi River.  It was cold but so much fun and something the kids have never done before.  It was a wonderful day full of smiles. 

TKD Belt Test - August 2013

To mark the end of summer, both boys tested for their next tae kwon do belt.  Since Cameron was moving up to the advance level he had to demonstrate all three intermediate forms.  He did wonderful.  For the sparring part of the test, they were lucky enough to be able to spar against each other.  That doesn't happen too often as their Master normally doesn't allow siblings to spar against each other.  He has two boys of his own so he knows from experience it doesn't always work.  They have come a long way in their sparring ability but still have a long ways to go as their personalities aren't ideal for sparring.  Their knife hand strike breaks were great too.  Both of them received the academic achiever patch for their excellent school grades last spring.  Cameron passed and is now a brown belt and Kyle moved up to a blue belt.  Keep up the hard work boys! 

Form 

Brother's Sparring 

Watching the other kids spar 

Knife Hand Strike Break - Love the Intensity 

Brown Belt and Blue Belt

Minnesota State Fair 2013

We try to attend the great Minnesota get together (aka Minnesota State Fair) every other year.  The kids were so excited to once again walk the fairgrounds and enjoy the sights, smells and tastes of it all.  We started off the day with the giant slide and then hit the little farm hands area.  Ice cream for breakfast was a huge hit.  Chocolate chip cookies for lunch and I think we won the mom and dad of the year award.  The kids also enjoyed the ferries wheel and lego area.  Since it was the great Minnesota get together, of course we had to run into at least 3 families we know...friends, neighbors and family.  What a fun family day.  See you in 2 years.

 Ready to Start the Day

 

Mommy, Kyle, and Cameron on the Giant Slide 

Daddy and Lauren on the Giant Slide 

Farm Hands 

Lauren, talking to the cows on the farm 

Ice Cream for Breakfast

Candy and Ice Cream Following a Hard Day at the Farm 

Time to rest those young legs 

Lego Building

Lego Fun with Friends 

Kyle loved the foot long hot dog.  Yes, he did eat it all.

Cookies for Lunch 

Cookie Monster 

Hold On

Cam, enjoying the ferris wheel 

Goofing around at daddy's work booth (Minnesota Department of Agriculture) 

Time to go Home

August Adventures

Lauren Received her long awaited Certificate of Citizenship from the US Government 

Swimming Lessons

Such a wonderful swimmer - Lauren passed her level as did Cameron.  Kyle came close. 

Ice Cream Treats 

Neighbors make wonderful friends 

Lauren the Gymnasts (following her first gymnastics class)

Lake Fun with Friends 

Mommy and Daughter