Labor Day

I've been trying to be intentional about being "in the moment" more, so I've taken fewer pictures and videos at bigger family gatherings.  Here are three videos I took from our Labor Day celebration at my parent's house.  It was PERFECT weather:  65/70, then cooled off a bit more to have a fire.

(Side note:  I'm pretty sure I never complained about the hot weather this year, mostly because we have such great central air, but I'm not sad to see fall coming, that's for sure!!)

We had a wonderful time celebrating with the DeGeorge family from IL, the Horsmans, the Davis family from our church, and others.  The food, as always, was to die for.  Susie made a coleslaw with blue cheese and bacon that was heavenly.  I normally can't STAND any kind of coleslaw, but this?  This was excellent. Mike, again, made his grilled honey-balsamic eggplant--fantastic.  Just fantastic.

We miss you Greg and Andrea, and Eric!  :(

4th of July morning:

On the morning of the 4th we decided to head down nice and early to our lake.  We were going to my parent's house at 3:00, so that gave us plenty of time to swim, clean up, pack, and then head over there after a bit of cleaning.  

It was PERFECTION.

The weather was amazing, the kids were in great moods, we had the entire lake almost to ourselves, and there were no bugs.  Plus a great breeze.  

Sigh.  Wonderful family time.  :)  

Check it out!  I got Layla to wear a different dress!  

Father's Day 2013, Part 2: Berube Dinner

After Finn woke up from his nap we headed over to my parent's house for a dinner of grilled steaks, salad, and the best whiskey cream bread pudding you've ever had (thank you to Renee, and Pioneer Woman).  

Here's a little after dinner video entertainment.  

Father's Day 2013, Part 1: The Schaefers

The father of my children loves surprises.  I do not.  ;)  So three years ago I shocked Jonas by telling him on Father's day (Sunday morning) that we were going to skip church that day (which we neeeeeever do, unless ill...) and go on a little family outing.  We headed over to the Wabun Splash Pad in Highland Park/Minnehaha area, along the Mississippi River.  Ever since then, this has been our Father's Day tradition, so today was no exception of course.  Three years!  It's a firm tradition now! ;)

The first gift the kids gave to Jonas was allowing him (and ME!) to sleep until 8:15, when Layla woke up and came into our room, and 8:30 when Finn woke up.  A-MAZE-ING.  Then we packed and headed out on our little yearly family adventure.  

This year the kids both were NOT into the water, which was just fine.  The park was calling, and I had purchased a new picnic basket (from my Moms FB group...$7!) as a gift for Jonas.  He is always WAY into the idea of a picnic, while it holds a little less draw for me--at least the idea of a picnic with 2 small kids.  ;)  

Here are a few pictures of us in the swimming area.  On our way there we stopped at CVS first for an antibiotic prescription for Layla (she's got a slightly serious leg infection...we took her in to Urgent Care on Saturday), then went to Sweed Hollow Cafe for some coffee for Jonas, then to Trader Joe's to fill our picnic basket (I am always so thankful for the amount of dairy free treats I can buy there for my kids), and THEN on to the park.  

Odd camera setting, which I liked.  She really IS this white.  ;)

Eating chocolate covered cranberries...

Finn was SO CRANKY.  Crying and crying and crying.  

The loaded basket...I really do like that it has the built in glasses, silver wear, and plates.  

A Trader Joe's cheek...

Funny faces.  This was HER idea.  ;)

I just loves these cute hand-me-down suites from Aunt Renee.  :)

At our picnic spot, eating some great TJ's popcorn.  

THE Papa.  

She wasn't brave enough to go by herself, so Papa took her for moral support.  

She has always loved the Mokey Bars.  

I don't so much love them because it requires adult help.  ;)

She's loving it.  

The splash pad, where no swimming happened today.  

The view from our blanket, looking up.  

Feeding Papa popcorn.  

Mama's cool hat made the rounds too.  

Dancing by the tree.  

Twirling by the tree.  

"Ta-DA!"

Finn got in on the action too.  

Using spoons to eat the popcorn.  

On our way home BOTH kids fell asleep!  Finn was asleep within 5 minutes of the car moving, and Layla closer to home.  We each grabbed a kid when we got home, brought them up to their rooms, and they both stayed asleep!  I would call this the second miracle of Father's Day, after the late sleep-in by both kids.  ;)  Layla only slept until about 2:00, but Finn is still out as I write this, which is good since we're headed back over to my parent's house tonight for our Berube Father's Day annual grill-out.  The weather is simply perfect today--and the whole state rejoiced.  :)

Jonas is golfing right now with my Dad, Jon, and Greg.  It's "The old golfing gang," back together again.  I'm glad they have such a perfect day to celebrate!

Ah, a MN Summer Saturday: friends, food, water, and great weather! :)

I've gotta be honest.  We've had horrible weather for what seems like FOR.EV.ER now, but this Saturday was pretty nice!  We took full advantage of it--Jonas got a lot of yard work / gardening prep work done, and then we went out to boat on the St. Croix river with our friends the Roquets (who graciously didn't mind me inviting us along on their adventure...)  ;)

The weather was perfect that day:  breezy, slightly sunny, warm-ish, no bugs...sigh.  Love it.  I also love living so close to so MUCH water, and so many different kinds of water (i.e. rivers, streams, small lakes, medium lakes, ocean-like lake Superior, etc.).  This is going to be a fun summer with a swimming area 1 block away, I can feel it!  

But, on this day, the river was king!  Finn LOVED going fast, Layla did NOT.  So, that was fun.  ;)

We boated up-river for a while and then stopped at one of the many islands for the kids to play, and for dinner on the boat.  Here is a bit of play:

And some of dinner:

Check out her WHITE legs.  :)

Jump!

The view from the boat, down-river...

(And hey, check this out!  Do you see the floating outhouses down river there??  I didn't know that was a "thing," but I guess it is.  All the boaters have convenient restrooms available to them on a large stretch of the river, every mile or so.  Ah, love seeing my tax dollars doing stuff like this.  Seriously.  :)  

The ever present mode for Finn:  about to fall off.