DeSmet

Our annual adventure with the Clark family took us back to DeSmet, South Dakota to the Ingalls Homestead.  This was our third visit, but the first time staying in the bunkhouse (a little cabin on the property).  A much better fit than the covered wagon (although that was a fun experience for the kids!) and a much more comfortable night than the tent, where we ended up getting blown over and headed to the hotel at midnight.  This time, we had AC and enough space for everyone to sleep comfortably.  The kids' favorite, as always, was the little barn with kittens and a calf.  The kids even ended up getting to bottle feed the calf, and they loved the extra time in the evening/morning with the kittens.  I'm so glad we started taking these trips back when the girls were little, and that all of the kids still want to adventure together each summer!

Doing laundry was Norah's favorite activity!

Our first adventure together in Pepin, Wisconsin--they were so little!

Our first visit to DeSmet

Plum Creek--another favorite!  Hoping to get back here next summer.

We made it all the way to Kansas and Missouri on this trip!  I think we will always remember the HEAT and the fun pool we stumbled upon later in the day.

 

Fishing

We had another fun week up north in Frazee with Dave's parents!  Unfortunately, his sister wasn't able to join us because she was working on her master's degree final project.  It was really nice to have two full weeks off of school before heading up north this year, instead of heading up the day after school gets out.  We had great weather, and the girls and I did some extra exploring in Perham and Vergas.  This year, we all went to the zoo that Abby and I had explored last summer.  Dave's dad ended up having to be hospitalized for a couple of nights, but did get to end the week with some fishing.  The girls enjoyed the lily pad for swimming, and the three of us loved kayaking around the lake.  So relaxing!

We discovered a new-to-us ice cream shop after the zoo--fun flavors!

Pizza night in Detroit Lakes and some park time--a favorite tradition!

Girls on the Run

Teaching at Norah's school this year gave us both the opportunity to try something new--Girls on the Run.  It's been something I've seen advertised at another school in the district, and I really wanted Norah to give it a try.  When a friend asked if I'd help coach in the spring so we could run the program at our school, I was happy to accept and signed Norah right up.  The program ran on Tuesdays/Thursdays after school from the last week of March until the last week of the school year.  We'd start with a lesson and warm-ups in my classroom, then do a game/workout in the gym/halls or outside when it was nicer.  I went in knowing nothing about the program, and found that it is so much more than a running program.  We had a sweet group of girls, and the lessons taught them self-confidence, teamwork, resilience, and many other important life skills.  It was so fun to see Norah interact with friends and make new ones who were younger than her.  My favorite part of each practice was the celebration at the end, where girls nominated others from practice and we cheered them on.  I loved seeing the encouragement they gave each other during practice as well.  We had a practice 5k in early May, where the girls' running buddies joined them (my dad was Norah's running buddy).  

The program ended with a 5k at the state fairgrounds the week after school got out.  Unfortunately, there was some bad weather nearby, so we were delayed and had to hang out under the grandstand for a bit.  The course was then modified because of time, so we didn't run a full 5k, but it was still a great experience!