Update #2 - Vacationing....

We went back and forth all spring and early summer about whether or not to take a vacation this year.  Last summer we didn't go because we wanted to be in town for Jay's parents during their surgeries and recoveries.  After a lot of back and forth (heehawing) we decided to just book something.  So, we went way outside of our comfort zone (the North Shore) and booked a trip to Wisconsin Dells!  We had a super fun time and it was nice to get away for a few days.  A note about the trip:  I ended up with a cold which started the day we left, and I was pretty miserable by the end of it all.  Going to a water park with a cold is not recommended.  I am just posting a bunch of random pictures!

Day 1 - On the way

Shopping in Downtown Dells

 A machine that makes you cotton candy - WHA?!

 Flinstones. . .meet the Flinstones....

Day 2 - Water park! 

But first, let me get some donuts!  DUNKIN' DONUTS!

OH YES!  I run on Dunkin'

 Ella - running to the slides!

 Waiting for a huge bucket drop of water....

And there it goes!  Ella couldn't get enough of it.

 

Ms. Ella chillin' in the kid's lazy river.  She looks like a total diva in this picture.

 Ella participated in a duck race later in the day - got a solid last place, but she could have cared less - she got a fish tattoo!  Score!

Day 3 - Lunch, Wisconsin Duck Boats

 (waiting for lunch, which took forever)

Oh my....

Yep, we were THAT family that took pictures with their meals.  HA!  We had been waiting forever, so we just needed something to document it I guess. 

 Ella and I on the Wisconsin duck boats.  

She held onto my arm the entire time - but she wasn't afraid at all - she loved it!

With Daddy before the ride started

And more ice cream...

The end.

It was a fun little vacation, but I miss the North Shore!

Update #1 - School Shopping / Twins Game

Hey! I have been away...for longer than I thought!  I am going to be doing a little catch up on the blogging updates to wrap up our summer 2014!

Weekend of August 15th, Ella and I headed to the new outlet mall in Eagan!  We were pumped to get some school shopping checked off the list.  We rode the metro transit bus from Apple Valley (which was free that weekend -score!) and Ella thought it was super cool to ride a bus like I ride to work every day.  

 Waiting for our bus!

 Here we go!  She was SOO excited!

The outlet mall was fun.  We only hit up a few stores because our time was limited, but we scored some great deals for back to school clothes and a pair of sneakers for Ella!

 Snack time - cookies!

Ella chose to have the balloon man (on site for the opening weekend) make her a giraffe.  She thought that was pretty spectacular too.  On the bus ride back to our car, Ella told me this was the best day ever.  

Love it!

That night, Jay and I had a date night (unheard of!)  :)  We had tickets on the Legends club level for a Twins game, and it was awesome!  If you ever go, I would totally recommend the Legends club seats.  Really sweet set up and the atmosphere was so different than the regular concourse levels.  We had a good time!

Weekending....

Well it's Monday again!  This past week got a little out of hand.  Jay tweaked his back BIG TIME!  He was out of commission for the 2nd half of the week with pain meds and muscle relaxers trying to get some back spasms under control.  Despite all of that happening, Kaila and Chase came up for a visit!  We had some fun adventures!

Friday night, we headed to Barnes & Noble for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle event! 

(Chase LOVES TMNT!)

 

 There was a storytime (notice how little the crowd is?) 

Strange because last weekend for the Frozen event was CRAZY!

 They got some ninja training!

 Even made their own turtle shells!

Super fun!

Saturday, we headed to the Dakota County Fair!

Riding the rides....

Being recycling super heroes!

Ella got her groove on at the Radio Disney dance party!

 

We totally had to take a picture with the Princesses at the DirectTV (or maybe Comcast?) exhibit!

And Ella's favorite wild animal at the wild exhibit was...wait for it...the baby deer!  HA!

It was a crazy weekend, but we had a lot of fun with Chase & Kaila in town!

Weekending....

We have been keeping busy the past few weekends trying to enjoy the summer and also get things done around the house.  A few pictures from our adventures!

 We gifted a "Dump Cart" to Jay for his birthday this year.  (This is what he wanted).  

After he got it put together, Ella got the inaugural ride

 Hot summer days mean special treats, like a SpongeBob popsicle!

 Ella will be a flower girl this fall in Jay's oldest sister's wedding.  

She tried on her flower girl dress and curtsied in true princess fashion.  :)

 We've been taking in the weekly puppet shows on Friday mornings.  

This past Friday was the final one for the season - boo!  The summer is flying by!

 Finding time to play at the park

 And ride our bikes!

Friday night, Barnes & Noble hosted a national Frozen night.  We attended the event at the Burnsville location and Anna and Elsa were there too!  Ella was SPEECHLESS.  She had a good time.  The princesses had storytime with the kids and then they all sang songs together from the movie -

 it was pretty awesome

Saturday we headed to the water park in Apple Valley to have some pool time!  We can't wait to go on vacation in a few weeks and REALLY have some fun at the water parks in Wisconsin Dells

Happy Summer!