Unwelcome Visitors

Not again!  We battled ants in the basement this winter...and now in my dining room?  I put out 3 containers of ant poison yesterday and within minutes there were hundreds of ants on my floor - yuck!  Today there are only a few remaining and they are moving very s.l.o.w.l.y - let's hope this is a shorter battle than the one this winter!



Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my Dad and husband!  I couldn't be more blessed with these two men in my life and I am forever grateful for both of them!  We had a wonderful day and I am so glad we could be together.  I love you both!  XOXO

Evan and his boys:

Boys giving Grandpa his card:

We finished off the day with a Dairy Queen peanut butter cup ice cream cake.  YUM!

Valleyfair

We spent the day at Valleyfair for Father's Day (my idea, not Evan's!)  I am the ride person, not him.  Ryan must have taken after his Mom - the faster and scarier, the better.  We ended up splitting up - Evan and my Mom went with Carter, who was content on the smaller (safer) rides and my Dad, Ryan, and I hit all of the #5 thrill rides (that Ryan could to go on - there were a few that he was too short to ride).  We were so disappointed Kyle couldn't come with us - he ended up at the doctor with strep.  :(  We'll go again this summer when we can take him as well!  It was the perfect day weather-wise and crowd-wise at the park.  We didn't have to wait in line at all other than on one rollercoaster (which, as luck would have it, suspended the ride as we were next in line to board for 'routine maintenance').  Regardless, it was a great day and my first trip to Valleyfair in about 10 years!!!

Carter with Snoopy:

Carter and Grandma in line for a ride:

Checking Carter's height:

Bounce castle - a hit with both kids!

Teacups with Grandma:

He spun them just fast enough to make Grandma dizzy!

Onto the racecars:

And then the helicopter:

Dad, Ryan, Carter, and Me (3 generations):

Evan and his boys at Valleyfair:

Ryan entering the corkscrew - his favorite ride at the park!

Ryan and Grandpa on the ferris wheel ('lame' according to Ryan - not nearly fast enough or exciting enough for him!)

View from the top of the ferris wheel:

Waiting in line for Renegade.  He played on my phone to keep occupied for an hour.  It was very hot in line, so I let him take off his shirt!

Smile!

Grandpa and Ryan waiting in line for Renegade:

Grandpa and the boys waiting for the rollercoaster ride (the mouse car one):

Must not have been fast enough for Ryan - he looks bored!

Carter giving it two thumbs up - he loved it!

Heading up, up, up:

Tugboat ride:

What a great day!  Hopefully I don't have to wait another 10 years to go back! :)

Tournament

Tonight was the first game of Ryan's first ever baseball tournament.  He had no idea what a tournament was, and was confused that he had to go to baseball tonight when it was not 'Monday' or 'Wednesday' (his typical game nights)! :)  Despite the difficulty getting there (technical error on my part - wrong field entered into our calendars), he still had a great game, missing only one at-bat.  This team has come so far since their first days together!  It is still a bit comical at times to watch (a ground ball going past no less than 3 fielders), but they do try hard, and they are improving!!!

Vacation Bible School

The boys had Vacation Bible School this week at Glen Cary Lutheran Church in Ham Lake.  Ryan has attended there for the past couple of summers, but this was Carter's first experience.  I volunteered as the preschool coordinator.  It was a great experience for the boys.  It warms my heart to hear them talk about Jesus' love and how 'nothing is impossible with God'.  They learned and took away so much from this week.  I am so glad I could share in that experience with them!

Our closing program today - Evan, Kyle, and my Mom were all able to make it:

Ryan doing the actions to one of the songs:

Carter and I singing - I have a new, shorter, 'do for summer...what do you think?  :)

Ryan's Vacation Bible School 'tribe':

Carter's Vacation Bible School 'tribe':