Back to School

The kids are groaning at the thought of going back to school.

Actually, I think they are ready to go back to seeing their friends everyday and having some new adventures in a new grade.

Sam is now in 4th grade and Max is a full fledged Kindergartner!

Don't they look excited on their first day of school!?

One Fun Summer

Their was lots of fun to be had this summer. We took the boys out to do a number of different things throughout the summer. They both had athletics they were involved in: Baseball, tennis, swimming. We went to the Kalahari and had a ton of fun in the waterpark.

They spent a day with friends on Elkhart Lake. We went "camping" at a Jellystone Campground with our friends where they had plenty of things to keep them busy...including a small waterpark. We also went camping in Door County and ended up taking a very long and challenging hike along the waterfront with incredible views of cliffs and numerous caves that the kids could explore (most didn't go very far)

It's been a fun summer, but now the boys are back to school. Enjoy some highlights from the summer.

Home Run Derby at Baseball Bust Up Party

Sam received trophies for Fastest Man On The Team and their team was best in the league

Camping at Jellystone in the Yogi cabin with our friends

The whole crew at Jellystone Campground

The caves below the cliffs at Peninsula State Park

Hiking a trail at Peninsula State Park

Sam cliff jumping at Cave Point County Park in Door County

"Goats on the roof!", "Mom and Dad weren't kidding!" Al Johnson's in Door County

Beach view at Whitefish Dunes State Park

Kalahari main entrance in Wisconsin Dells

Max on a waterslide at the Kalahari

Reptile program at the Kohler Library.

Max's 6th Birthday

Happy 6th Birthday Max!

Max chose an army theme for his birthday
(Thanks for making the cake grandma!)

Happily opening presents

Yay, more presents!

Yay, money!
(Max is diligently saving for our trip to Disney)

Celebrating with a big ice cream dessert on his actual birthday

Summer Fun

Summer Fun
It has been a while since our last post. Summer has been busy so far. Here is what we have
been up to...

Annual Brewer game (It was so HOT!)

Bay Beach with friends

More fun at Bay Beach

Father's Day at the Quarry water park

Cub Scout Camp at Twin Lakes in Waupaca

Max has become very confident in the pool this summer

Sam playing first base

Sam at bat

Fourth of July with friends

Max's first summer playing T-ball

Looks just like his big bro

Max at Safety Town the first week of summer

Chicago 2016

When we take our family trips to Chicago, we try to visit new places that the kids have not yet seen. This time we did to a return trip to the Legoland Discovery Center, but that's only because Max was way to young to remember his first trip.

We were going to go to the top of Willis Tower, but the last time we were there it had a 3 hour wait...and the cost to look at the city was ridiculous...so this time we skipped it too. Instead, we spent a couple hours shopping at IKEA. Good stuff and we have some good ideas for home projects too.

That night we had dinner at the Medieval Times restaurant. It was way more than a restaurant with a big arena in the center and stadium seating with tables all around. Their were knights that represented each color section that people were sitting in. We were in the Blue section, so we had the Blue Knight. The "King" welcomed everyone and their was much sword fighting, jousting...yes, real jousting and real sword fighting...even if it was all staged. Each knight had to compete to "win" their contest. When they served our food, we did not have any utensils. Instead, we had to eat with our hands. It was very fun. The best part was that the Blue Knight won the contest and he came into our section to celebrate. Couldn't have asked for a better visit there.

The next day we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. They have had some major upgrades since Becky and I were last there. Most everything there is interactive, so the boys were playing with everything in sight. We all had lots of fun and maybe learned a few things in the process.

We probably won't be going back to Chicago for any future family trips. Too many other places to explore around us.

Maybe in another year, Sam will be that tall

The Boys in the Master Builder Academy Class

Seated in the Blue section with our crowns

The Blue Knight in the foreground

The King makes a grand entrance

The boys outside Medieval Times

Lego feature at the Museum of Science and Industry

You must relax your mind to move the ball...Max won, just look at that concentration!

Shadow play at the museum