Wargo Nature Center Field Trip

Ryan's second grade class went on a field trip to Wargo Nature Center yesterday.  Grandpa and Grandma came down to go on the field trip with Ryan.  It was a cool, but beautiful day.  I have been to Wargo in the past with the boys on their preschool field trips.  It is a fun place to visit and yesterday's theme was pioneers.  The kids had 6 stations to visit, each one with a different theme to help them understand how the pioneers lived (games the children played, how they traveled in their wagons, the tools they used to hunt and live, etc.).  I am so glad we could share the day with Ryan and his friends.  We had so much fun! :)

First station - learning about how pioneers moved across the country - how they determined what to bring with them in their wagons for their long journeys.  It was an interactive learning experience, which really kept the kids interested and involved!

This is how you found Ryan and Grandpa and/or Grandma most of the day.  Ryan loved having them along! :)

Cub Scout Grad Camp

Today we ran the gamut of ups and downs.  The day started out pouring rain - not the way you'd like to spend any camping weekend!  It finally cleared out in the early afternoon, and the sunshine gave way to a beautiful, nearly perfect weather day at camp.  I then got the dreaded phone call that Evan was taking Ryan to the ER in Wyoming for a broken nose.  I met them there and found out the septum was not deviated, but they were unsure if it was fractured or not.  We will follow up with our ENT this coming week.  He was a tough cookie and wanted to return to camp right away.  We spent the rest of the afternoon at camp - playing ultimate frisbee, catapulting water balloons, potatoes, and watermelon, shooting wrist rockets, having a bonfire, and eating around the campfire.  Carter seemed a little lethargic and wanted me to hold him a lot today, which is not normal.  He asked to lay down (again, not like himself at all) and Evan stayed with him in the cabin while I went to watch Ryan's graduation ceremony.  Ryan had no sooner graduated than I noticed Evan at the top of the hill beckoning me to come up.  I knew it wasn't good - this time Carter had thrown up in bed, covering Evan's sleeping bag and himself.  Ugh.  Time for me to take him home.  He fell asleep on the way home.  I gave him a bath when we got home and he was out cold shortly thereafter.  Ryan and Evan came home not too long after us.  Ryan wasn't thrilled to leave without spending the night, but he needed ibuprofen and a comfy bed with his sore nose.  Everyone is sleeping now, and hearing the ding on the washing machine telling me the bedding is clean tells me that's where I should be as well!  Night, all!!!

Ryan after returning from the ER - you can barely see the swelling and bruising on the side of his nose:

Carter and I on a hike.  He took a break to drink his juice:

Carter found a 'mountain' he had to climb:

The catapult:

Very first launch was a direct hit:

Carter and the other scouts heading for the water balloon:

Boom - it landed right at Carter's feet:

Ryan and a catapulted piece of watermelon:

Ryan and Adam each recovered a potato:

Carter shooting wrist rockets:

Carter and I chilling during free time:

Ryan running after the frisbee:

Getting instructions on ultimate frisbee:

Carter and I relaxing on our cot.  He wanted to write letters on each other's hands to pass the time until dinner:

Last look at the Wolves Den before graduation:

Pack Cubmaster, Mo:

Ryan coming out of the Cub-O-Matic as a Bear:

First look at the Bears Den after Graduation.  Congrats, Scouts!!!! :)

Ryan's 2nd Grade Track and Field Day

The weather was iffy today.  First track and field day was postponed for 30 minutes due to rain.  I was nervous it was going to be cancelled or moved to another day (and both Evan and I took the afternoon off work to be there).  It sprinkled for the first 30 minutes and then it cleared up.  It ended up being fairly sunny by the end of it, but still cool - about 60*, and tomorrow we are scheduled to hit 90*!  Seriously, only in MN!!!!  

Ryan caught some serious air on his long jump:

Lining up for the distance run:

Off like a cannon when she blew the whistle:

Crossing the finish line in first place.  Look at how he crosses the line.  This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that knows Ryan.  :)

Ryan and his buddy, Josh, watching the long distance runners:

Shoe kick (Ryan is in the far right corner).  On his first two attempts, he only got to the red line, which was devastating to him since he had 5 blue ribbons up to that point.  On his last, and final attempt, he was able to get to blue.  He was elated!

Getting his final blue check mark:

6 blue ribbons and 1 very happy kiddo!

All class shoe kick!

Tug of war!

His team won their first round and headed to the championship, which they also ended up winning.  He was one happy camper!

Championship, baby!!!!!!  He was one pumped kid!  :)

Jewelry

I had a couple of orders I had to finish up today before Mother's Day.  I can't believe it is almost time to close down my shop for the summer months.  I look forward to the break as it always renews my interest and passion for jewelry making again.  :)

Twins Game

I took Ryan, Carter, and their neighbor friend, Josh to the Twins game on Friday night, our first of the season.  It was 72* and sunny when the game started.  UNBELIEVABLE, especially considering we had a foot of snow on the ground and it was 30* at this time last weekend!

We had great seats - row 3, seats 1-4, right behind the Twins dugout.  The boys were so excited and we all had a great time!

Leaving for the game:

As we walked in, there was a large snow pile (I'm guessing that won't last long with temps in the 70s!)

In the glove:

Cheering during the opening lineup:

Ryan ate a full dinner here before we left and by the second inning, he was starving and needed a foot long.  I'm going to be in trouble with the grocery bill as these kids grow up!

Gorgeous view of the skyline at night from Target Field:

Walking out of the game:

My climbers:

We listened to these guys play the 'drums' on 5 gallon buckets.  They were amazing.  The kids watched in awe.  When Ryan saw how much money people were leaving in the bucket for them, he decided he needs to start a bucket band.  Coming soon, to a street corner near you... :)