The Race is On

We rented these bikes for a ride around Bear Lake. It was a blast. So much fun. Two bikes, two families, one race. I don't think we meant to race but we did. I don't think MaKyra loved us trailing behind. Matt was up for the challenge. Although there were four of us pedaling, Matt was the real power. He would ask if my legs were feeling the friction. Then suddenly I would feel a lot of slack as he pedaled faster.

I don't remember who won but it was worth every cent to rent the bikes.

Minnetonka Caves

We went to the Minnetonka Cave. It was so fun. I wasn't crazy about the drive up the curvy, steep road to get to the cave, but the cave was pretty cool.

While waiting for the cave tour to begin, the kids enjoyed watching the chipmunks. They were really cute and darting from here to there. Emme loved them.Inside the cave there were around 400 stairs in and out. It was so interesting to learn about all the different rooms in the cave - stalagmites and stalagtites.

The kids loved the whole thing. At the very bottom, they turned the lights off so we would know how dark it is in the bottom. You couldn't see anything because the darkness was so thick. The tour guide said your eyes would never adjust to that kind of darkness. Peyton did not like that. She cried and cried til the lights were back on.

At one point, when we were in such a big room, the guide pointed to right above where I stood at a baseball sized rock and explained that it was that rock that held the cave up. If the rock were to dislodge the cave would collapse. Comforting words. Another interesting fact is that our ancestor was the one who discovered the Minnetonka Cave.

Bear Lake!

We headed to Bear Lake for a getaway with my family, Mom and Dad, and Shilo, Eric, and family. Our first morning there we headed to the chocolate store. Yummy! While waiting for everyone to get there goodies, we decided to confront this bear . . .We laid around . . .We ate our treats . . .

And just had fun!

June with Family

The month of June has been hard. My Grandpa Guy's health had been failing. It was hard and sad to see him grow weaker. Through the sadness, we did have joy. Our family gathered together. My Aunts and Uncles were able to come and spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. Chris, Randy, and Dad - oh, the stories they tell. I love to hear about all their crazy childhood experiences. They definitely had some fun.
Shilo, Tonya and I together. So great to get together with cousins.

Dad, Vicki, and Randy - I love my Aunts and Uncles and my dad.

Grandma Valone is so sweet and wonderful. I feel so blessed to have her as my Grandma.

Together with Ashlee, Shilo and Ethan. So fun to see them all!

Peyton's Haircut

Peyton had her haircut over Easter weekend. I don't think she was very happy about it.Still unhappy.
And it never got better. Oh, the price we pay for beauty.

Easter Sunday

Our Easter Egg Hunt

Love Easter Egg Hunts.An Easter egg hunt for the little kids and one for the big kids. As my brother-in-law called them "the last of the littles." So cute.

MaKyra getting the high ones without even climbing. She is getting so tall. Gabe still has to climb but he is good at it.

Face Painting

MaKyra had a free meal certificate for Winger's so we thought we would redeem it tonight. When we got there the hostess told us there was a lady doing free face paintings. The kids were so very much excited. She did a great job. Peyton got a rainbow and a horse on her arm. She was so excited about it and didn't hardly even move the whole ride home. She did not want anything to mess it up.

Parker wanted to have Spiderman just like Gabe. I loved that the artist gave them each a little different Spiderman so no one would be sad.

MaKyra chose the butterfly. I thought it turned out so cute. She even had sparkles all over it.

Gabe also had Spiderman. He had his first and Parker followed. Gabe wasn't thrilled to both be Spiderman but he was okay when he saw they were different.

Baby Lambs

My dad told us about all these little lambs out on a sheep farm so on Sunday we drove out to see them. So cute. My camera doesn't zoom as close as I would like so the little lambs could be seen close up, but they were adorable. I loved seeing them run around and hear their little bleatings. So cute.I just want to take the home and hold them. So so sweet. The kids loved them too. Peyton was asleep so she didn't see them but the other kids adored those lambs and didn't want to leave.