Scoresby Reunion 2016

Most of you people who read this blog were there, but here are pictures anyway.

Nice throw, Macey!

Everyone's favorite--Head of the Rapids

Even more fun things

When Janet was here after the reunion, we got more use out of our state park passes and headed down to the Forestville Mystery Cave State Park. It was pretty awesome to go caving and the kids did a great job being in the cave for an hour. Some of the other people in our tour group commented on how good they were.

Twinners!!

Can you find the hiding Sanders child?

Haley looking super cute in Meghan's old jacket.

This was an underground pool. The blue color is natural and is a result of
some phenomenon that Ben would have to tell you about.

Brooke's glow is due to a foggy lens. The cave was 48 degrees, so when
we came out there was a significant temperature change.

Meghan looks like a giant!

Science camp with dad. Ben found it at Savers.

Summer Catch Up

I've been behind in blogging because we've been busy over the past couple of weeks.

Painted the bedrooms

The Jolly Green Giant on our way to visit the Woods

Visiting De Smet, SD home of the Ingalls Family

Meghan's #2 birthday and our 6th anniversary

Summer Week #1

Our first week of summer break started off fast and furious as we attended the Rhubarb Festival, another graduation party, cleaned out Ben's old classroom, Ben visited his new school, went to the beach, Joanna went to a surprise 40th birthday party, saw a fire truck parade, went to two more graduation parties, and canned jam/froze some strawberries. Whew, I am already worn out thinking about it all.

One of Ben's coworkers told him about the Lanesboro Rhubarb Festival, so we drove through beautiful bluff country and enjoyed all things rhubarb: songs, games, treats, taste testing, and rhubarb itself. They have a rhubarb run, but we were too late to register for it. Next year, we plan on running.

The second counselor in the YM Presidency with Ben is a fire chief (or something more than just a fire fighter) at one of the stations in town. He told Ben about a fire truck parade they were having to celebrate Rochester's 150 years of fire stations. It was pretty neat. They had some really old fire trucks that had simple step ladders to the new airport fire truck that looked like a tank. After the parade they lined them up on the street and people could walk around or see how they work, etc. One of them even turned on their hose that shoots up high and let people run underneath to cool off. It was pretty fun, and the perfect thing to do on a sweltering Saturday morning.

And, of course, it wouldn't be right to not do canning on the hottest day of the year. Aldi had good priced strawberries, so I bought 2 flats and Ben and I stayed up late canning jam and freezing them.

Summer Bucket List

Russell has expressed an interest in doing lots of things over the summer. Ben and I are hoping that we can squeeze in a bunch of fun things between all the work we hope to do in conjunction with our summertime goals.

1. Go camping.
2. Go fishing.
3. Explore more of Minnesota's state parks
4. Use the telescope.
5. Go to the fair.
6. Go on family bike rides.
7. Leave Minnesota at least once.
8. Visit the local caves.
9. Go to the new SPAM Museum.
10. Go to the beach.
11. Have campfires.
12. Finish the library's kids summer reading program.
13. Attend a Honker's game.
14. RochesterFest.
15. Hot Dog Days of Summer.
16. See Walnut Grove
17. Lark Toys
18. The National Eagle Center
19. Concerts in the Park
20. Read several books.
21. Lose weight.

Summer Goals 2016

With tomorrow being the last day of school for students (so basically the last day of school for teachers, too), it is time to share what I hope to accomplish in our family this summer.

Ben:
1. Get set for his new astronomy class next year.
2. Get lots of legal practice at legal aid.
3. Finish the back entryway, kitchen, and bedrooms.
4. Figure out what is wrong with his knee.

Joanna:
1. Figure out my thyroid.
2. Sew Russell a quilt for his new bed.
3. Sell at the Eyota Days Vendor Market.

Russell:
1. Be 100% potty trained.
2. Learn to catch a ball.
3. Learn to swing by himself.
4. Learn to ride his bike with no training wheels.
5. Learn his teen numbers.

Meghan:
1. Be potty trained.
2. Sleep in a big bed.
3. Still take naps?
4. Learn her ABCs
5. Learn to count to 10.

We'll see if any of this happens, but I have really high hopes that by family reunion time Ben and I already have a good chunk of house work done.