Our last week in Winsted (and MN) was a fun one! We started by piling into Grandpa's boat for a fishing expedition on Lake Mary. Hannah was ecstatic when she caught her first fish - and was even brave enough to touch the squirming little thing before it got tossed back! She and Andrew both caught several fish, while Michael had a blast trying to hang headfirst off the side of the boat :) The next day we piled into the van with Grandma Cindy and cousin Andrew, and drove up north for some quality time with Great Grandma Donna in Two Harbors and some super fun waterpark time in Duluth. The kids thought that having a waterpark just down the hall from our hotel room was great :) All 3 showed a love of waterslides that rivals my own! Hannah was a little wary at first, but once she got going there was no stopping her - not even when the gigantic bucket of water emptied over the whole kiddie area! Michael got a big grin on his face anytime we got near the top of a slide, and left Grandma and Mommy more assured than ever that he was a bit of a thrill seeker :) In Two Harbors, we visited with Great Grandma and watched a boat come in - - the kids loved seeing the boat, although they were a little upset that the horn didn't blow! Andrew and Hannah also had fun chasing seagulls and jumping over seagull poop in the grass (no easy feat in that particular stretch of beach. . . .), and their catchphrase for the next 3 weeks was "sea-gull poop" - one would say it, and they would both melt into gails of laughter!! It was hilarious the first few times. . . . . . We had a chance to see another boat coming in while we were in Duluth, which meant that the kids got to see the big lift bridge going up and down :) Then, after feeding the seagulls their french fries, they explored the Canal Park museum before it was time to head back to Winsted. After a couple of quiet days of recovering, the kids and I drove out to see Alisson and Jeff, and their puppy Maisy. We had fun at the park and enjoyed having dinner and visiting before it was bedtime. That weekend was the annual Fourth of July celebration in Delano, and Manda and I took the kids to the carnival for an afternoon of rides and carnival food (mmm - porkchops on a stick!!) Hannah and Andrew raced from one ride to another, and went through the funhouses repeatedly!! Michael went on one ride with Mommy, but it was so steamy hot that he really didn't care about anything but staying cool - and the rides were not the thrill for him that they were for the big kids :) The next day we went back to Delano for the parade. All 3 kids collected candy - although Michael's strategy was different from the others' - he made friends with the people sitting next to him, and somehow convinced them to give him their goodies. . . . . :) Hannah waved to all the princesses, including daughter of our family friend - Amber, the new Miss Howard Lake! The bands and drumlines were also a big hit :) After the parade it was time to go back to Winsted and start packing up - - the next day Daddy arrived back in MN so that Mommy, Daddy, Hannah, Michael, Manda, and Andrew could all load into the van for a trip back to WA - - let the roadtripping adventures start again!! :)
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| Gearing up for an afternoon on the water - Hannah "helped" Grandpa Mark work on his new boat all week, and was thrilled that it was finally going in the water! |
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| Grandpa Mark, Hannah, Grandma Cindy, and Andrew |
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| Andrew was really hoping that he would catch a "keeper" |
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| Michael - the calm before the storm! It didn't take long before he realized that we were surrounded by water that he HAD to see up close :) |
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| Hannah's first fish!!!!! |
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| Grandpa may have been steering, but Michael was sure that HE was directing! |
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| Grandma keeping an eye on Hannah's line - Hannah was SO proud of herself for catching fish! |
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| Our new captain, Andrew, taking the helm. . . . |
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| Andrew and Tiki Tom at our hotel in Duluth |
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| Grandma Cindy and the kids in Two Harbors |
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| "Check out my cool shades" |
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| The boat leaving Duluth |
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| Hannah found a BIG steering wheel! |
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| Andrew and Hannah at the Delano carnival |
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| Michael - didn't mind the ride, but certainly wasn't excited by it either. |
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| Hannah, on the other hand, LOVED the rides! |
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| And she especially loved sharing a bag of cotton candy with Andrew - her first time having it, and she thought it was "just so yummy, Mommy" |
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| My band!!! The DC Marching Chargers were looking good at the parade! |
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| Chopsticks - always entertaining! |
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| Michael made himself comfortable and enjoyed the view while savoring a freezie. |
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| Princess Amber - - I still think of her as a little girl dancing at our wedding. . . . . |
