Summer Adventures

 Our summer adventures continue. After our crazy Memorial Day weekend camping trip, we got right back into another week of work. On Tuesday, Elliott played his last soccer game. They won the game, we brought treats for the team, and then we met mom in Worthington to send the kids to the farm for the rest of the week and weekend. We had barely unpacked at home when we were packing the kids back up again. Mom only worked the Tuesday and Thursday of the week after Memorial Day so we decided it was a good time for them to take the kids. 

The kids had a really good time in Minnesota. They went to the New Ulm pool, rock picked, helped plant sweet corn, found and petted kitties, played outside, played legos, played games with Ryan and Emily, Elena came out for a day, and they just overall enjoyed their time. Mom and dad really enjoyed having them around as well. Hopefully, we can do it again sometime. 

While Emma and Elliott were out of town, John and I were stuck working again. We did do some fun things in the afternoon. We checked out Session Ale Works one night. It's a new bar and grill that opened on the west side of town. It was good, but they don't have any beer yet because of their liquor license issues, so that was a bummer. We went to church on Wednesday night. And John went to a happy house on Thursday, and we packed and grocery shopped. 

On Friday, we decided to go to Yankton and camp by ourselves for the first time. We had a really good weekend. We set up on Friday evening, enjoyed a nice supper of Chicken burgers and chips and fruit, and then we made an emergency run to Walmart for a couple things we forgot. 

Saturday was the perfect camping day. It was around 80 degrees, sunny, and not overly windy. We slept in, ate a good breakfast, and then went on a nice, long bike ride. We basically did the entire bike trail, and then hiked Gavin's point, and then biked back. It was a nice workout and a great way to enjoy the weather. Once we got back to the camper, John went fishing and I read a book for a while in a lawn chair. 

Then, we headed to Yankton. We went to Bomgaars and found a color changing turtle solar light to decorate our campsite with. Then we went to Ben's Brewing to have some beers on the patio and lunch from a food truck. We really enjoyed our visit to Ben's Brewing, and then we were ready to head back to the campsite. We went for another bike ride, and then made Fajitas for supper-which were amazing. Then, John went fishing again, and I enjoyed a walk and some more reading time. We ended with a nice fire, and then headed to bed. 

Camping without kids was a really fun experience. I missed the kids, and I know they would have loved the camping trip, but we will have many more opportunities to all go camping together. We enjoyed being able to relax, and just do adult things for one camping trip. 

On Sunday, we packed up and headed home. We did some laundry, unpacked, and then I decided to lift the laundry basket wrong and I hurt my back. It was really bad on Sunday, but now I'm doing better and I'm slowly on the mend. After resting my back some, we headed to Marshall to meet mom and dad at Brau Brothers and get our kids back. We missed the kids. They were pretty happy to see us, and we heard all about their adventures while we played games, drank beer, and ate pizza. 

We left around 7:00pm and made it home around 9:00pm. What a day. We had two very tired kids, who were happy to be home. 

This week hasn't been any less crazy. The kids have VBS this week. Elliott is going to VBS, and Emma is helping out. They are both really enjoying it. Also, Kristen volunteered to take the kids to swimming lessons. So, this week, and next week, they also have swimming lessons from 11:15-11:55 am. So, after VBS they go to the Tomczaks to get their bikes, bike to the pool for lessons, and then back to Tomczaks for lunch and hanging out until one of us gets off work. So, the kids have been very busy. 

That schedule continues all week. Tomorrow, we are bringing Tator Tot Hotdish for lunch to help contribute to feeding all the kids. And to top it off, this weekend we are camping with Jeff and Samantha at Platte. So, it's another weekend away and go, go, go. 

Emma also continues to have softball. She had two games last night. They lost both games pretty badly, but they continue to improve, and it is really fun to watch them play. I just hope they keep having fun and keep improving. 

I'm also late the next three nights at work. So, between that, my back still hurting, and trying to pack for camping, I will be very busy the rest of the week. But, it's summer. And we are staying busy and having fun. I wouldn't want it any other way. 

Pool at Brau Brothers 

Emma at catcher 

Proud Grandparents 

Emma being Emma 

Memorial Day Weekend at Lake Vermillion

 Well, school is out for the summer, but we seem to be just as busy as ever. The kid's spent most of the first week out of school at Jim and Barb's house. They helped in the greenhouse, made some money, played with Chase, played Legos, and watched some WNBA basketball. They had a really good week and enjoyed their time. John and I just worked, and had a pretty normal week. Emma had some softball games on Monday night, while I played on my women's slow pitch team. 

On Thursday, we headed to the farm to get the camper ready for camping, and the kids were ready to come home for an evening. So, we took the kids home, spent some time with them, and packed for camping. 

On Friday, I ended up with the day off. So, the kids and I had some fun together. We did some shopping, we ate lunch out, and we ran some errands. Then, when John got off work, we picked up Hannah T and headed to Lake Vermillion. 

We had arranged to camp with Hinners, but we booked the last two sites in the campground, so we were pretty far away from each other, and we got the handicapped spots, since they were the only ones left. Friday evening was a little chilly, but overall a nice evening. Hinners has some problems with their camper-they didn't have power for a while due to some blown fuses. So, we worked on that for a while. Then, we ate supper, had a fire, and got settled into the campground. 

Saturday was also a little chilly, and a little rainy at times. The kids all had fun biking around, trading Pokemon, and playing on the playground and in the trees. The adults played some card games, cooked food, hiked some trails, and enjoyed relaxing in lawn chairs. 

Sunday was the beautiful day. It ended up being sunny and warm. So, we got out the paddle board and kayaks and spent pretty much the whole day at the beach. I paddle boarded for the first time. I really enjoyed it. I started on my knees, did really well with that, and then stood up and did some. The water was really, really cold, so I really, really, didn't want to fall in, so I was cautious. Elliott and Emma also paddle boarded, and they did really well. Elliott could even jump up and down and mess around on the board, and he only fell off once. He loved it. 

We also got the kayaks out. And the Tomczak family came out to join in on the fun. Everyone did some kayaking. I think I liked paddle boarding more, but the kayaks were fun for something different, and it was the perfect day for it. After an entire day at the beach, we came back to the camper for some beef stew and bread, and then a nice campfire with friends. By 10:00, everyone was tired, and we called it a night. 

Monday was basically a pack up and go home day. We did some hiking trails and ate breakfast as a group. And then we were all ready to pack up and call it a weekend. We had a lot of fun and it was a great first weekend of camping. 

Lincoln also camped with us

Making clay projects with beach sand 

Fireside shenanigans 

Emma paddle boarding 

Elliott Paddle boarding 

Mom paddle boarding 

Stacy Week and Emily's Bridal Shower

 Another Stacy week has come and gone. I had another great week and got spoiled again. My birthday fell on a Saturday this year, and it was too wet to be planting, so mom and dad headed to town to visit. We spent the day with the kids playing games and enjoying the nice weather, and then the adults went to a couple breweries for some beers and then out to Barrel House for supper. I always love a good patio beer, so it was a great birthday. 

The next week was Nurse's Week, and we were spoiled all week at work with treats and little gifts. Then, I won Hospitality Nurse of the year at the Nursing Gala, so that was pretty fun. I also enjoyed a free Scooter's Coffee and a couple other perks during the week. 

The last celebration during my week was Mothers Day. We spent Mother's Day out at the Greenhouse. We helped for a while, and then we planted our own pots. We got almost all of them done, it was a pretty productive day. The kids really enjoyed working in the greenhouse as well. We also brought out a steak supper for Jim and Barb and they really seemed to enjoy that. 

Elliott's soccer season continues to progress. His team is doing pretty well overall. They have only lost a couple games, and they all seem to have a really fun time when they are together. Elliott loves it, and it's nice to have him active in something other than Pokemon and Legos. 

Emma had her first softball games last week. Her team did okay. They are a new team, and have a lot of learning to do. But again, they all seem to have fun and they look so dang cute playing softball together. And, she played shortstop for some of the game, and that gave me the warm fuzzies. 

Friday was the last day of school. Both kids are excited to be done with school and home for the summer. The kids got to go to Air Madness for their last day, and then I took them to Cherry Berry for a cool treat. 

This past weekend was a busy one. Emma and I headed to Minnesota for Emily's Bridal shower, and John and Elliott stayed home. Elliott had a soccer game, and John had some graduations and confirmations to go to as well. So, Emma and I left Friday afternoon. We got to Mom and Dads around 7pm and had supper, and then just visited and relaxed. Emma and I actually completed a crossword puzzle that was in the paper, so that was fun. 

Saturday was the bridal shower. We got there around 8:30 am. We enjoyed visiting with extended family, and then helped organize and bring presents to Emily to open. She made a good haul and opened a ton of presents. We also had a nice little brunch of egg bake, muffins, fruit and orange juice. It was a nice shower. Afterwards, we helped haul presents to Ryan's house and unpack them all the way upstairs in a spare bedroom. Then, we had a beer and visited with the wedding party for a while. We also talked about and made plans for the Bachelorette Party. It was a fun, tiring day. 

Finally, at around 3:00 pm we headed back to Mom and Dad's house. We played outside in the nice weather with Elena for a while, and then Emma and I headed to New Ulm to meet Holly and two of her kids, Sam, and Michelle for supper at Plaza Giabaldi. The food was really good, and the company was great. I really enjoyed catching up with everyone and meeting Holly's kids, who are adorable. 

After supper, Emma, Michelle and I headed to Black Frost for a drink (nothing for Emma) and then we headed back home. It was such a nice evening to catch up with everyone. 

Sunday was a church day, and then lunch, and then back to South Dakota. We made it home around 5:00pm, and we were pretty pooped from our trip, but we had a good time. 

This week, Elliott is out at Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's house. He is helping in the greenhouse and just enjoying being spoiled all week. I haven't seen him since Friday and I kinda miss the goofy boy. Emma has been staying at home by herself and she's doing great. She has the cat to keep her company, and she finds projects to keep her busy. 

Yesterday, Emma had two softball games. They won one, and lost one. It sounds like she had a good time though. I couldn't be there because I also had softball games with Big J's (our new sponsor for women's league). The games were at 6:30 and 8;20 and we didn't get out of there until after 10:00pm. It was crazy long. We also won one and lost one. And I am sore and tired today. I'm definitely not getting any younger. 

So, those have been the last few weeks. It's been pretty crazy, and I don't see it slowing down anytime soon. This next weekend in Memorial Day weekend, and we are camping at Lake Vermillion, so we continue to move at lightning speed!

Spring Happenings

 Spring is in full swing over here, and there are only 3 weeks of school left. The weather still sucks. We are dealing with every day being gloomy, windy, and hanging around 55-60 degrees. So, not terrible, but not great. I need some sunshine and warmth in my life. We are getting some rain which has been really nice, but I want some spring weather already. 

Anyway, Elliott's soccer games have started. All of the games have been pretty miserable to sit through weather wise, but Elliott's team is 3-0 and he is really enjoying his team. He has practice once a week, and pretty much one game a week. So, between that and Emma's schedule, and school and work, we are keeping busy. Most weeks we have something going on every night of the week. So, our weeks can get a little crazy. 

Emma has not started games yet for softball, but she has practice twice a week right now. She is really enjoying softball this year, which is a nice change from last year. Her confidence is building, and I hope she has a good season with her friends. 

This past Tuesday, we went to "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" at Jefferson High School. Jim and Barb came with us. It was a really good play, and the kids really enjoyed it. I always like to try and support the high school theatre departments and attend some of their shows, and I am never disappointed. 

Speaking of plays, we had our Spring Showcase at Bethel last night. The kids did a play called "A Kid's Life" and it was about what happens when the power goes out and kids these days have to entertain themselves without electronics. 

The evening started with a piano recital. Both kids did really well with their pieces. Elliott got really nervous, and he looked like he was going to burst into tears at anytime. But, he held it together. He played his pieces really fast, but got through them with minor mistakes, and he did a really good job. Emma looked less nervous, and she did really well. She made a couple mistakes, but overall they sounded wonderful and I am a proud mama. 

The play also went well. It was cute and the kids did a nice job. Elliott continued to be nervous, but he got through all his lines and songs just fine. His ears were so red though I thought they were going to start on fire. Emma provided some comedy during the play with her lines, and she really committed and did really well. She likes to perform and it shows. 

It was also an author fair. So, Elliott did a book report poster and Emma did an author study board. Both their projects turned out really well, and they proudly showed them off to us all. 

It was a busy evening, but a good one. We ended the evening with cheesecake and then went home. Elliott went to Grandma and Grandpa's house for a sleepover and we took Emma home to relax and call it a night. 

Today was another busy day. I started it off with a visit to the gym, then we headed to Sam's' Club to find some lunch to bring out to the Greenhouse. The Greenhouse is open for the season, so we headed there to help out, bring lunch, and then collect Elliott and bring him back to town for his soccer game. Emma decided to stay at the farm for a sleepover this time, and we brought Elliott to his soccer game at 3:00pm. He won his game, and then we took him to Triple Play to spend his Greenhouse earnings. He was one happy little boy. 

Then, we went to Everest for supper, and then home to unpack and relax. Tomorrow, we have church, then the Greenhouse to help and get Emma, and then lots of rain in the forecast. So, I may spend the rest of the day washing bedding, or cleaning, or doing something inside. 

Here's hoping for warmer, sunnier days soon!

Las Vegas- Day 3

 Sunday was our last full day in Vegas. We started the day off by having a fancy breakfast at Primrose. The food was really good, and the coffee was really good, but it was definitely a little pricey. We enjoyed our breakfast and then we headed to "The Arte Museum". It was a really cool immersive museum. One room had projections of waterfalls, and it sounded like, smelled like, and even felt like you were in waterfalls. 

We spent a good 90 minutes in the museum just checking out all the sights and smells. We really enjoyed it, and all I could think about was how much Emma would have loved it. There was even a part where we could draw a picture, scan it in, and it would be animated and walking around on the wall. It was pretty cool. 

After the museum, we continued walking through casinos and checking out the strip. We shopped for some souvenirs and enjoyed some walk around beers. We also did some shopping at some of their pretty famous shoppes on the strip. We found a really good Mexican Restaurant for lunch. We had the best meal there and just really enjoyed every second of that meal. We even got table side Guac, and it was amazing. 

We talked about doing some gambling, but we just never were really motivated to sit down and gamble. We were having too much fun taking in the sights and people watching. In the afternoon, we found a bar with live music and just enjoyed some drinks and music for a while. Then, we headed to the MGM Grand to see the Cirque Du Soleil show "Ka". I really enjoyed the show. The storyline was hard to follow at times, but the acrobats and performances were amazing. The stage was hydraulic, so it was crazy the way they would make the stage go straight up and down, or move sideways, and other crazy things. We really enjoyed it. 

After the show, we were hungry for supper. We went to Eataly at our hotel, and had some homemade pasta, which was absolutely amazing. We had some really good food and drinks on this trip. Once we were full, we headed to our room to pack and get ready for our early flight the next morning. We had such a good trip, but by this point we were ready to head home the next day. 

On Monday morning, we got up at 4:00am, and got ourselves to the airport for our 6:00am flight. We had a nice flight home, and then Jim came and picked us up at the airport and brought us home. We were happy to be home, got some laundry going, and then headed to bed for some naps. 

Once we were rested, we cleaned the house, got unpacked, and then went and got the kids from school. We showed them pictures, gave them a couple souvenirs, and gave them plenty of hugs and kisses. 

We had a really, really good trip. I could see us going to Vegas again in a few years, maybe even to catch a Twins game when they play there eventually. We also have more show and food to try. I think next time, we might invite another couple or some friends along to change the vibe a little. We had a wonderful time!

The Arte Museum 

Our drawing- it said Miss you Emma and Elliott 

These Lanterns were really cool 

Made out of licorice 

More drinks (and food) 

Our show

Kinda tired, maybe a little buzzed