Camp Carlson

The girls have been so lucky to each have spent a week alone at "Camp Carlson" in the past, and to do have done some pretty special activities with my aunt Miriam.  This year, both girls went together, joined by my cousin's son Gavin.  They had a busy and fun week!

The money from their bake sale was donated to the Stanhope Library

Enjoying a Kwik Star treat!

Visiting Great Grandma Nass

Visiting Great Grandpa Nass

Their bake sale was a success!

A day of swimming!

My parents met up with us in Owatonna and drove the girls the rest of the way to Stanhope

 

The girls loved time with baby Charlotte!

Hanging out at Uncle David and Aunt LeaAnn's farm

Classroom set-up

A tradition each summer is having my parents come up to help set up my classroom...this year was the 19th time that they came up to help.  Every year, the pile and to-do list seem overwhelming, but we always accomplish a lot (and enjoy DQ lunch as a treat).  Grateful for the help!

 

July fun

July was filled with lots of fun activities!  Norah tried Camp Invention for the first time.  She had been so excited to sign up in the spring, but when it came to actually going to camp, she was pretty anxious because she didn't know anyone other than a girl who rides her bus.  She ended up having fun, though, and made some pretty neat projects!

We dog-sat for our neighbors for the first time--the girls thought it was fun having a dog that you could pick up and cuddle:

Some Sundays, Dave and I both had to play for church with early practice.  Norah never falls asleep anywhere but her own bed at night, so I had to document this:

A friend from church invited us over to ride her horse:

Norah had swimming lessons with the girls' friend, Addy:

 

40th Birthday

My family planned lots of fun surprises for my 40th birthday!  To start with, my brother had ordered this giant chicken sign that was sitting out front of my parents' house:

Greg and I took the girls biking and tubing in Lanesboro.  We biked from Lanesboro to Whalan and back so that we could stop for ice cream/pie at the pie shop in Whalan:

We enjoyed swimming in the pool we bought at Aldi that sadly didn't work in our slanted yard, but worked perfectly on the cement patio at my parents' house!

Norah and my mom had planned a birthday party:

We had lunch at my favorite pizza place in Rochester, Pasquale's:

We did an escape room with my brother's friend Al Mal and my sister's friend Shawna:

Thanks to all of the fun things my family planned, turning 40 wasn't so bad!

Twins game

On my 40th birthday, the Abby and I spent the day in Northfield with my family (Norah was at Camp Invention).  We enjoyed lunch and checking out the shops, then I picked up Norah and the girls swam for a bit at the hotel my parents and brother were staying at.  In the evening, Dave joined us for the Twins game.  We had great seats, and it was an exciting game (went into 11 innings), but it was so HOT and the Twins ended up losing 6-5.  Fun memories with family, though!