Severs Corn Festival 2017

Papa Beard and Nana Mary came for a visit! Nana and I took the kids to Severs on a lovely fall day.

 Nana and Colin rode a camel!

They buried themselves in the corn pit.

Everyone did several runs on the zip line. 

Both kids were miraculously chosen for the magic show. They had to hold the Pyramid of Death! 

First Day of School 2017

Sydney was so excited she was going to explode! Colin was more nervous about the start of another year. We've heard he's got a nice teacher in Mrs. Swaggert, so he's feeling better about that. Miss O'Brien, Syd's teacher, is in her first full year of teaching. Upon learning that, Syd exclaimed, "What? How is she going to be able to teach me anything if she's new?" Oh dear, should be an interesting year.

The bus stop gang: Caitlin (5th), Ava (6th), Nolan (3rd), CP (4th), Henry (6th), Natalie (1st) and Sydney (first day of Kindergarten!). 

Colin sat by Sydney on her first bus ride. She's been looking forward to this day for months. 

Beach Week 2017

We were invited to join Nana Sheila and Papa Guitar to experience the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast along the Florida panhandle at Rosemary Beach. We stayed in a great development within walking distance to the pool and shops and a fun golf cart ride to the beach. AJ Kelly and Lexi & Lucas added to the fun times!

The kids enjoyed bike riding, swimming in the huge pool and quickly took to the ocean waves.  The neighborhood had shops and music close by. 

Poolside selfie

Dinner at Sharky’s had, of course, a couple of sharks to pose with. 

Playarea at Sharky's

Syd is not impressed.

Walked along the Panama City pier and the kids got to pet a baby shark that a fisherman snagged. Also saw two dolphins swimming around the pier, probably their dinner time.

Baby shark!

 

Pizza night!

The beach sand was so white and soft and easy to walk on in the heat. And boy, was it hot!

Making waves!

We had a professional sand castle builder teach us the finer points of building an enviable multi-tiered castle. Sydney was stung by a Blue Button jelly fish, you can tell in the photos where she’s holding her arm.

Great trip!

Another summer with adventures at Valley Fair

Fourth of July

A family photo for the Fourth!
At the Chanhassen parade where they toss out tons of candy, toothbrushes, popsicles, sunglasses and other random assortments.

Lake Week 2017

Enjoyed another wonderful and company-ful week at the Lake: 22 family members + one Casey dog.
Colin and Syd were so happy to play with their cousins ages 1 year to 21 years old.

There was fun on the wave runner and the Molecule

The annual trek to the Dairy Bar

Sydney is carrying on Justis' legacy of ordering the Superman... 

Launching dozens of water balloons with sling shots and cross bows

Inside time with JustDance 2017. Julie and Colin

Syd and Zoe

Bonfire with S'Mores!

Card games and board games a'plenty. Colin with the Spoons champion's crown...

Sydney with Emma and Finnegan

Colin with Emma 

Colin with Finnegan

And, just all around Lake goofiness!

Not sure the swim platform survives another season

Bubbles! 

Checking out the secret door to the crawl space!

No idea

Much hammocking!

Last day at the Lake