give or take since the last "letter". Hard to believe. Although in my defense half of that time was spent traveling 4000 miles, through eight states with more than ten nightly stops between hotels and family and friends' homes. All of that with 2 two year olds who didn't adjust to late bedtimes, sparse nap schedules and going non stop as effortlessly as Sophia did at their age. While we had a wonderful time and were glad the boys were able to see friends and family they'd yet to meet, we will not be taking a trip that far or that long for at least another couple of years. And did I mention this pregnancy is kicking my arse? Well it is. I alternate between exhausted and zombie creature most days. For a few weeks I even picked up a daily hour long work out routine in the hopes that it would give me more energy. That plan was laughable at best. Living life with three littles (two of them potty training) is workout enough these days.
Enough with the chit chat. Here's what you really want to see. Family vacation pictures! Come on. Who doesn't love pouring over someone else's summer vacay pics? Isn't that what Mommy centric blogs are all about?
We spent the Fourth of July in small town South Dakota, complete with charming Main St. parade
Let me add a word on parades in South Dakota. Not only do they feature endless tractors, countless marching bands, dozens of campaigning politicians and a group called The Sons of Norway, they are also hot beds of candy, toys and popsicles. Yes popsicles! What a great idea right? Between three kids we collected enough candy to fill an entire grocery bag, an odd assortment of little green toy solidiers, multiple frisbees, flags, and plastering of stickers and a few notepads from the Republican party of Such and such county. Score!
Next up: parks, zoos and pools. Oh my.
Like any other family traveling with small children we were obligated to pay a visit to each of these institutions of childhood summer vacation. And did we ever. I will spare the details and endless pictures and post a few representative shots.
Among the highlights of the trip for Sophia was riding a horse for the first time. She was excited, eager and fearless which is more than I can say about the first time I rode a horse at 23.
Next up: An overabundace of pictures from The Minnesota Children's Musuem (And one of the only pictures of me from the entire trip)
Waiting for dance class to start
And go!
Discovering a DIY face paint station
Water room
Painting Room
Music Room
This was by far Max's favorite. It involved a stage, some faux musical instruments, a tv screen that projected the "band's" image into some type of cheesy music video and a large parental audience. Max rocked it out. He stayed on stage through several groups of kids and worked that guitar like he was born to be an 80s rockstar. Rock on Little Max!
Replica Korean Restraunt
Shopping the neighborhood bodega
The kids had a great time playing at the Children's Museum and there are frankly too many exhibits, rooms and play areas to include pictures of.
Lastly pictures of all the family and friends we visited along the way.
While visiting with the Fransen and Devos families in Fergus Falls the boys made themselves right at home. Luckily Christian was a good sport!
Sophia finally had some girls to play with!
Max was immediate buddies with cousin Sol.
Patrick and the kids with the Liebermans in Minneapolis.
Chris Burgers and his daughter Maggie with Kyle Norton and Sophia at the "Norton Ranch"
Sophia and Maggie
Ah ha! There was one more picture of me!
Me and my friend Shannon in Minneapolis
Party crashing at the Jelen's house.
And because it'll be a long time before our kids see another snowmobile, the obligatory picture.
I was trying to include a few other pictures of yet more friends we visited on our journey but blogger has not been my friend of late.
Yes, this is an admittedly curt way to end but frankly I'd been avoiding doing this post because there is so much to include. So there. Got it over and now I can move on!
This was by far Max's favorite. It involved a stage, some faux musical instruments, a tv screen that projected the "band's" image into some type of cheesy music video and a large parental audience. Max rocked it out. He stayed on stage through several groups of kids and worked that guitar like he was born to be an 80s rockstar. Rock on Little Max!
The kids had a great time playing at the Children's Museum and there are frankly too many exhibits, rooms and play areas to include pictures of.
Lastly pictures of all the family and friends we visited along the way.
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| Celebrating Patrick's birthday at Grandpa and Grandma N's home in Minnesota |
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| With the Rothrocks in Sioux Falls |
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| Sophia and Beckett were the only ones willing to cooperate |
Me and my friend Shannon in Minneapolis
I was trying to include a few other pictures of yet more friends we visited on our journey but blogger has not been my friend of late.
Yes, this is an admittedly curt way to end but frankly I'd been avoiding doing this post because there is so much to include. So there. Got it over and now I can move on!
