Indiana Dunes

While in Crown Point we also spent one day at the Indiana Dunes!

We had fun digging in the sand and running up and down the dunes!

Mermaid Taylor

It was quite a hike to get to the car so luckily we had our scooters with us.  The kids ended up riding their scooters back out to the car and had a lot of fun going down the long path!

This picture below won a photo contest, so we won another scooter....just what we need!  I got a bigger one for the boys when they outgrow theirs.

Fair Oaks Farm

Oma and I took the kids to Fair Oaks Farm last week. Despite it being July, it was chilly out!!! We had fun seeing all the cows and pigs at the farm and of course enjoying the tractors, train rides, and jumping pillow!!!

Ben giving a fake pig an ultrasound!

Pretty typical group picture....

Heather's Wedding

The final part of our Minnesota trip was spent at Heather's wedding.  Taylor was the flower girl and did a nice job!  I have very few pictures....trying to corral the kids was a big enough job!!!

The kids had fun at the reception! There was a photo booth that they loved, especially Ben!

Getting ready to eat some big cupcakes!

 

4th of July

We spent the 4th of July on the lake with some of Troy's cousins that  we don't see very often.  We had a great time swimming, going on the boat, and tubing!

 The big girls (Sophie and Taylor) decided to perform a show for everyone.  It included balancing chairs....

 and gymnastics!

 Ben showing off his skills!

 We did lots of sparklers!

 Watching the fireworks from the boat.  All three kids stayed up and outside to see the whole fireworks show!

Lake Time!

We spent the majority of our time in Minnesota at Troy's Uncle Tom and Aunt Jan's lake cabin.  We had a great time hanging out with cousins all week and not doing much of anything!

 

The girls (Calla, Annika, Sophie, and Taylor) in the dresses Oma made for them.

Taylor, Ben, and Sophie all caught fish!

We loved the boat rides!

We had s'mores, ice cream, or some other treat each night!

The girls (and Ben) in matching jammies!

Minnesota Trip!

We spent the first two days of our Minnesota trip in Minneapolis! Sunday morning we got up and went to the Children's Museum.  It was a lot of fun!!!

The kids...

Drew, Jackson, Annika, Ben

Calla, Taylor, Sophie

They had a fun Dora and Diego exhibit.

And face painting was a hit!  These pictures of Drew crack me up...

"You watching me Mom, I'm drawing on my face!"

 

 That afternoon we went to the Mall of America!  Taylor and Ben rode some rides and then we had dinner at the Rainforest Café!

 Poor Ben couldn't figure out his car!

They had a fun Lego store with a life size Olivia made out of Legos.

Taylor and Ben used souvenir money from Grandma Parker to make Build-A-Bear animals at the Rainforest Café.  Taylor made a frog and Ben made a lion!