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Zach's early years were spent living in the dress-up box… being whatever he wanted to play, just to make it authentic.  Since he's grown out of that, we haven't broken the dress-ups out for a while… until today, when they all got into it.  It was Carter's first experience dressing up, and he loved it!  



  

Thanks to Zach's great memory, we were able to secure our favorite local campsite at Carley State Park for an overnighter on the 4th of July weekend.  He couldn't remember the number, but said, "I know our campsite was the same number as the age you are when you go on a mission."  Luckily, we could do the rest.  The kids searched for "crystals", went on a nature scavenger hunt, we found the "bridge" on our hike, and everyone (except me, I guess) climbed the cool tree.  It was so fun we wondered if we should have stayed another night… maybe we'll be brave enough next time.

A few pictures from our annual raspberry picking adventure.  Honestly one of my favorite things to do in this place.  This time, Zach and Emma picked like crazy – and I felt like Sal's mom having a little bear (Carter) take TREMENDOUS MOUTHFULS of berries from my pail.  (If you don't know what I'm talking about, go get Blueberries for Sal from the library.  Today.)  We are headed back to the farm next week – we can't get enough – of the berries, or the fun.  

 In the wake of all of our neighborhood friends leaving, I had to do something to make it through the first bad day.  So, we took advantage of some free tickets to the Minnesota Zoo and headed up there for the day.  It was my mantra to get me through the departures… I'd look at Nate through my tears and say, "We're going to the zoo on Monday!" as if to prove to him – and myself – that we could survive all the change.  Well, we made it to the zoo (after a bit of a detour) and had a great time.  The one thing they all really wanted to see was the moose – since we never saw one in Yellowstone – and the moose, as luck would have it, was about as far away from the entrance as you could get.  When we got there, we couldn't see it anyways – until we were about to leave and someone else spotted it way in the back, fast asleep, with only it's antlers poking up.  It was a happy day, and made me look forward to the rest of the summer to spend with my fun kids! 



   

We have spent the last 3 years doing cul-de-sac fireworks with the Godfreys, and just because they were moving before the 4th didn't mean we had to miss out on the smoky fun!  It was a perfect way to celebrate all the good times we've had with them here!  We finished off the evening with a [very hot] soccer game (can you see how sweaty the kids are?!) and a firefly hunt.  If we had any say in it, their 4th of July plans for next year would be here!  (hint, hint…)   


   

 Yes, I hauled the camera in a ziploc bag to the beach, and never got it out to take a picture.  I was having too much fun down with the kids in the water to get it out.  So… here is the aftermath of the beach, just for memories' sake.  

Not long after we got home, we had to say goodbye to our first set of good friends this summer.  We had dinner together at Essex park (and fixed a broken VCR) before they took off – They are dear friends and it was much easier saying goodbye when they already have plans to make a visit to Rochester this fall.  

 

I loved these pictures of my kids having so much fun with their friends.  (the one of me and my friend was not very flattering and didn't make the cut, although the two of us have had just as much fun together.)  We are counting down the days till they come back!    
 

 Two days in the car is too long.  Here, Carter enjoys my Subway sandwich in the last leg of our journey.  Home never looks so good as when you've been in the car for 18 + hours.  (This was the best food poor Nate got on Father's day… don't worry, we made up for it later.)

 We had so much fun with the "Adams vs. Woodwards" baseball game last year, it's become an annual event.  Zach is in charge (and loving it), and spent the week creating lineups and batting orders.  The funny thing was that the teams ended up all mixed up anyways, and Zach still managed to have a great time.  The field was really muddy, so we played on the grass, and when Carter lost interest in the game and wandered over to the field I didn't think much of it… until he slipped and fell in the mud, crying.  Being the good mother I am, I ran over to him, kind of laughing at the scene, until I slipped in the mud, splashing even more all over the poor kid.  Pretend I am not laughing so hard I can barely breathe in the picture Nate's mom took.  I was so busy playing (okay, carrying Carter, chasing Carter, eating pumpkin cookies, and cleaning off Carter) that I didn't take as many pictures of the action as Zach wished I would have, but some is better than none.  

Thanks to everyone who supports our baseball-crazed family in this annual event!  You are all all-stars, and we are lucky, lucky people to have such great families.    

We got another week in Utah… and managed to squeeze in quite a bit of fun.  Nate and I went on a few dates, he met with some OMFS contacts in the Salt Lake area, the kids and I made it up to the cousins' house, we went bowling, visited Temple Square, did family pictures x 2 at Wheeler Farm, had ice cream at Iceberg, visited my Grandma Goose, went to a SL Bees game, and had the annual "Big Game" of our own.  Some of it was recorded on film (although my camera was running out of space, and I was – gasp! – getting a little worn out of taking pictures!):  

I swear this is every kid's favorite (and potentially most dangerous to people and property) thing to do at my parents' house…

Visiting Great Grandma Goose, armed with a stack of papers to send her pictures on when we got home (Emma my artist was in heaven!)

A trip to Temple Square with Grandma and Grandpa Adams, where we spent most of the time trying to get Carter to slow down (he drug Craig all over!) and Zach to speed up (he wanted to read EVERYTHING.)  

The Bees game with the Adams family, where Zach and Emma got to meet the Bee, Nate and I got to see some old friends, and Carter got to ride the tiny train (after we chased it for a full inning just for fun.)