Visit With Noah and Caden

Mike and his parents left this morning, so we spent the afternoon with my friend, Sarah, and her boys, Noah and Caden. The girls and Elijah had so much fun at this great wooden playground with their friends that we only get to see once or twice a year. We're hoping that they'll be able to make a trip out to visit us one of these years. Sarah used to visit me every year when I was in college and a couple of years after that, but traveling is a bit more challenging (and expensive!) with two kids!

Sienna and Caden on the slide
Sienna giving Caden a hand

Isabella and Noah

Elijah ready to slide

Sienna, Caden, Elijah, Isabella & Noah

Turkeys

After growing up in Wisconsin and then going to college in Boston, lots of people asked me if I lived on a farm. I actually grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee and did not live on a farm (and I don't, nor did I ever, own a silly cheesehead), but my parents have since moved further west to where there are more farms and more wildlife. They still don't live on a farm, but there are a few down the street including a dairy farm. My parents do get deer and turkeys that pass through their yard. This morning we saw a pair of turkeys with 12 babies in my parents' backyard. I just Googled "baby turkey" and found out that they are called poults. Who knew?!?

I think that I can count 10 of the babies in this picture. That's quite a brood!

They are heading into the neighbor's yard.

4th of July

Happy 4th of July!!

Elijah says, "Happy Birthday, Grandma and Aunt Katy!" Grandma opened her birthday presents before we headed back to the Milwaukee area for some fireworks.

We helped Grandma celebrate her birthday with dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings.

A birthday wouldn't be complete without balloons and a special treat!

Isabella and Sienna eyed Grandma's hot fudge sundae. Of course, Grandma was nice enough to share with the girls.

After dinner we headed over to Pewaukee Lake for some 4th of July activities. We missed the water ski show, but we enjoyed the live band and found a great spot along the lake to watch the fireworks. (Thanks for the recommendation, Sarah!)

Mike looked at this picture and said, "We look old!" News flash...we are getting old!

Mike walked Elijah around in his stroller until he fell asleep. He slept through the fireworks until the grand finale woke him up!
We enjoyed a great 4th of July!

A Beautiful Day

We finally had some warmer weather, so we took advantage of it by enjoying some outdoor activities. We spent a little bit of time at the new community playground in St. Germain.

As always, Elijah loved the swing.

He also checked out a wiggly seat.

Isabella made it across the lily pads.

We also checked out Crystal Lake which has a great beach and crystal clear water.

The lake is small enough to walk all the way around it, so I took a walk while Dada played in the water with the kiddos. Grandma, Papa, Dada and the girls went in search of frogs and walked all the way around the lake earlier.

When we got back to the cottage, we went for a boat ride so that Isabella and Dada could swim in the middle of the lake. Isabella took a turn driving the boat!

Elijah promptly fell asleep on our boat ride.

The deep water was really cold, so Isabella and Dada got in and out quickly.

It was still warm enough to soak up some sun on the dock in the late afternoon.

Papa relaxed with Elijah.

The girls had fun splashing around in the lake.

We ended the day with a beautiful sunset over the lake.

There was a clear view of the moon, too!

Fishing

The girls did some fishing with Dada and Papa off of the dock.

Isabella got a bite!

She reeled it in all by herself! See the fish in the bottom right corner of the picture?

Isabella caught a sunfish.

Dada tried to get Isabella to kiss the fish before Papa threw it back in the lake.

Waiting patiently for another bite... This is why I don't like to fish.

Sienna reeled in a sunfish, too!

Elmer's Fun Park

The weather has been a bit too cold to swim or go in the boat, so we decided to spend some time at Elmer's Fun Park. Papa and Sienna had fun racing Dada and Isabella in the go-karts!

Sienna seemed to be holding on for dear life! Two hands on the wheel, Papa!!
Papa and Sienna are in the lead, but Dada and Isabella are hot on their trail.

Dada and Isabella

That woman doesn't even know that she's racing them! Who is having more fun, Dada or Isabella?!?

Papa is laughing at Mike who "accidentally" took another lap because he apparently "thought" that the checkered flag meant one more lap. Never mind that every other person pulled right in! Last, but not least...

We did a half hour trail ride with Grandma and the girls while Papa kept Elijah busy. Sienna and I rode Cuatro the Rock Star, and Dada and Isabella rode Maverick. Our horse's name was so appropriate since Sienna is four (cuatro) years old and she likes to pretend to be a rock star.

Sienna said good-bye to Cuatro.

Elijah liked the horses, too, but he was too small to go for a ride.