more relay for life

once again I was fortunate to be able to work at the Relay for Life.
I helped out with the silent auction. So many people doing so many great things.
So much stories and such tremendous support generated by our small county.
Love how the luminaries look at night. My little ones were excited to see my purchase at the silent auction when they awoke on Saturday.

Relay for Life

Friday night Yahaira performed once again with the dance team.
A big thank you to Shirley for capturing these photos for me (my camera remained at home on the counter)
and for taking the time to email them to me.

Dance Camp

Last week Yahaira attended dance camp sponsored by the Saintettes.
Thursday night was their performance. She had a blast and loved getting to know Sam
(a big Saintette and her partner for two dances)

and another

my first attempt

well the first attempt that I'm willing to share
of digital scrapbooking.
I've been unwilling to explore, the thought of giving up paper, scissors, adhesive and all those amazing embellishments terrified me.
Or perhaps it was simply trying something new, what if *gasp* I failed?
Not to mention what on earth would I do with the thousands of dollars worth of supplies that currently collect dust in my little scrapbook corner? I Purchased Photoshop on the off chance I might some day want to try digital, it is loaded on my computer but unfortunately I lack the time or energy to figure out how to properly use it. So how did I create this? I discovered a website that allows you to create pages without the need to download anything to your computer. Curious I gave it a try, and no longer am I terrified of trying digital, it is amazingly easy to do. No mess to clean up, mistakes are erased with just a click, photos are chosen and adjusted with amazing ease. It took moments to complete this page, moments. Sigh, I see a change happening, change is good. Not that I'm going to convert completely, honestly I need to use some of that "stuff" I've been collecting all these years, and sometimes it's simply fun to play with scissors and paper and glue. (channeling my inner kindergartner one might say)

RadZoo

Last night we attended the RadZoo program at our local library. It was part of the Summer Reading program.
The kids were pretty excited and as you can see by the pictures pretty captivated by what was presented.
Despite my initial (actually total) reluctance about attending, (what we don't do for our kids and all that) I did find the
information shared quite fascinating, she had a wonderful way of connecting with the kids, loved that. The reptiles presented not so much...the turtles were cute.
when this guy made it's appearance I was doing deep breathing and staring at the floor.
Naturally when the kids were invited up after the program to see and touch the animals mine were gone in a flash.
Rosie was first in line, imagine that. Love the picture of Anthony and Rosie, see how is hand is protectively around her? Love his face, suppose he was thinking "man I'm going to have to touch it, can't let my baby sister show me up" or do you suppose he was thinking this snake moves and you're on your own. Not that she was worried, thinking the python should have been the one worried very few come away intact after dealing with Rosie. She has asked for a snake, twice since last evening...I'm being adult and ignoring her.

raspberry jam

an overabundance of berries led to this adventure.
I have never made jam before. Not to be deterred I searched the web for a recipe.
so here are the fruits of that endeavor. No idea what it tastes like, the recipe said it has to sit for 24 hours...
guessing with all the sugar included the odds are it's going to taste quite fine.
I can now include jam making in my endless list of accomplishments
unless of course we all die after eating it :)

a few more pics,

loved the look on her face as she waited and watched for the parade to begin...
that is an ant in Yahaira's hand, a dead ant, it had been crawling on my leg but she smacked it and then insisted I take a picture.
the crew with the fire hose stopped right in front of me and Rosie and then asked if she wanted them to spray her mommy...(my thoughts ran along the lines of I am so gonna get wet :) all we got was a nice little spray of air, psych! Loved the endless row of firetrucks coming down the with their lights on.
New Ulm and Shells go hand in hand...
I'm afraid I could fill a grocery cart of this nature and still have to go back because I forgot something :)
Rosie just collected stickers from any and every politician that passed by. It will be 15 years before her vote counts
not that it deterred her in any way.

new ulm

Sunday we traveled to New Ulm and took in the parade.
Two hours of floats and bands and of course candy. Rosie was practicing her candy run in the pic above.
It was hot, very hot! When a group finally came buy selling water we almost bought them out :)
Not only did the girls score on candy but the adults received some cool items too. 3M gave magic erasers, and rolls of tape. How cool is that? Walmart distributed snack packs and granola bars. What a fun way to spend an afternoon. Rosie was asleep before the van pulled away from the curb, Yahaira soon followed...I wished I was napping but alas not in the cards for me. No we didn't lose Anthony, he had bible camp and then joined Beckie and Cassandra at the newest Batman movie.

Washington Pavilion

Last Wednesday I took several of my daycare kids on a bus trip to Sioux Falls where we explored the Washington Pavilion museum.
It was three floors of hands on, interactive exhibits. They loved it!

Mamma Mia

oh my!
this was amazing!
Wanted to see the Broadway production....that didn't happen.
Completely missed that there was a movie being made...so that isn't a big surprise considering how ridiculously crazy my life is.
Went on Saturday, prepared. (I had purchased our tickets online to avoid the lines)
Still had to wait in line but good thing we had secured our tickets, they sold out the next show while I waited in line, when I picked up my tickets the next show was almost sold out.
Couldn't wait to see it, discovered as we entered the theater that our group of 7 wasn't going to be sitting together it was that full. I ended up in the front row (1st time I've ever sat in that position). From the moment it began I was swept in....
who knew Merle Streep could sing?
who knew Pierce Bronson was still hot? seriously the man just shouldn't be allowed to wear a shirt.
I want to live on that island...
waking up to that view and going to sleep to it would be unbelievable.
I can't recall the last time I sat in a movie and wished it wouldn't end....
it was that good.

county fair

We spent the afternoon at the county fair...wandering thru the barns, commercial and animal. Visiting with friends.
I am such a city person, the animal barns were perhaps not my favorite, the smell, the stuff on the ground...(picture me wrinkling my nose as I type this) my little people loved the small animals...not so much the cows... Yahaira loved hearing the rooster say cock a doodle do, and proceeded to echo it for the duration of our time in that barn. Naturally they rode on the rides, and one can't attend the fair without eating...they also participated in them medallions in the straw activity. They played bingo with their dad, and rode rides (did I mention they rode on the rides?) and ate some more. after 6 1/2 hours it was certainly time to head home.

slushies

after riding all those rides it was time for a cool refreshment...
slushies and mini donuts were just the answer.
Loved these glasses, the two tones just made me smile.
Yahaira had to share her blue tongue once she was done with her slushie.
Perhaps the one time I didn't correct her for sticking out her tongue. :)

rides, and more rides...

We did the wristband special for the kids...a very good decision. They spent the better part of three hours riding countless rides.
A few favorites were the inflatable monster truck (no pics I'm afraid I was too short to see over the wall) and the Kars fun house. Rosie was pretty excited about the rides until the dragon ride, she took one look at the ride operator and started crying...(ok, I agree some of these people would make me cry :) after that she would only ride on rides operated by women, ( a grand total of two) Anthony rode the tilt a whirl for the first time, I couldn't watch... he came of grinning.

a parade

finally we made it to a parade...Saturday we attended the Fun Days parade in Madelia.
We found what on a normal summer day would have been perfect seating, the shady side of the road...but Saturday it ended up being a bit chilly, who knew that it would be cool enough to require a sweatshirt.

guess what season it is?

Yes it is raspberry season, at our house at least.
Yesterday we discovered a couple of berries, but today there was quite a few more. I realize the bowl looks rather empty but there were a lot of berries be consumed by the pickers. I'm afraid we will never generate enough berries to make our own jam (but who needs to when there is a farmer's market right?) but we certainly enjoy them.