Tractors!

On Friday late afternoon Michael's parents made the trip down to spend the evening with us to eat sandwiches & fresh picked blackberries, attend a football game, play 'train' and read books. Saturday morning brought Ford and Allis tractors out of the shed to get a good hosing down and quick inspection before Michael and Bob loaded them up on the trailer to take them to a nearby Steam Engine and tractor show with Austin. Cheryl and I puttered around the house for a bit before we left for the show with Ethan. I think this year they've had more tractors in the show than in years' past - due to the fact they advertised the heck out of it. The boys just love the show. Austin and I ventured around on our own and found him cotton candy....a must have when you're in a fair setting. 

The boys got to be included in the parade this year:

Ethan rocked at waving to the crowd:

This was the 37th annual show, I'm sure we'll be at the 38th show next August. It's become a little tradition that sneaks its way in just before we go back to school...

Smell & Kiss

We were at the park and Ethan was eying up the flowers...I told him to lean over and smell them. He did, so I put my camera up to my eye to take a picture and saw this:

He decided that after smelling the flower he'd give it a little kiss.

Is that adorable or what?!

Ugly Shoes & An Orange Ball

Austin's best friend in the whole wide world is Ryan. They are in 'school' (our term for daycare) together, and come September 1st will be in the afternoon 4K program together. Today is a big day - Ryan's 4th birthday. Austin was invited to go bowling with their family; Ethan and I were invited to tag along, so we did. It was fun to see Austin in action....after a few turns, we got him to stick his fingers in the holes and 'toss' it down the alley instead of setting it down at the line and giving it a push, hoping it was a strong enough of a push to make it all the way down to the pins. He did well today! 

It was fun to be at a bowling alley again...I haven't plunked my fingers into a bowling ball and whipped it down the alley since my early college years - when coworkers (from Culver's) and I would go after we closed the restaurant. Next time I'll have to rent the awful rental shoes and give it a whirl again. I just remember laughing a lot, having tons of fun, and that my scores were in the double digits. That's right - I stank at bowling! But I had fun, and that's all I remember so that's all that counts!

 

This Girl...

...just wants to have a little fun!

(Thanks Nicole for the capture! I still get dizzy just thinking about being in this spinning bowl!)

North

About a month or so ago, I was sitting inside Sceeters with two other women that have kids...and during our conversation it came up that out of the six of us adults (meaning us 3 women and our husbands) 3 of us have summer vacations since we teach, and three of us didn't....but could and did have time off the first week in August. I mentioned something about Bayfield...beaches...and another mentioned biking...and from there the trip was planned. On the calendar. Booked. 

We took our much anticipated mini-vacation "North" (per Austin) with these two other families...the adults were outnumbered. Six adults, seven kids. The kids' ages? All the way from 10 down to 19 months (Ethan).

We stopped just north of Mellen to see Copper Falls:

We enjoyed walking down to Bayfield's marina, and having three delicious pizzas delivered to our hotel's roof-top deck. A quick change into suits gave the kids a nighttime swim down by the little beach near our hotel. The next day we boarded the ferry and with bikes, went to Madeline Island. We biked to Big Bay State Park where we enjoyed a picnic lunch and plenty of water, sand, and sun time:

We enjoyed a fabulous dinner at The Pier restaurant (which has been totally remodeled and is simply awesome - both physically and the food! I had gazpacho and Spinach-stuffed Tortellini with portabella mushrooms, and can't wait to have it there again!) I also sipped on a huge sangria....then the kids headed down for another nighttime swim. By evening's end, the boys were tuckered out, but didn't want to sleep. I hope nobody heard me singing a slew of "You Are My Sunshine", "Hush Little Baby", "Twinkle Twinkle", amongst other songs way out of tune and off-key for 30 minutes. Hey-who cares? It worked.

Marie brought a magazine with that she just had been happening to read, and it featured Bayfield....The Candy Shoppe (yes, I bought and ate my Wine Bread. Cherry this time. Divine....), Hauser's wine and jams....sampled and bought both)...

On the way back home we went to Bayview Beach for another picnic lunch, sand, and water time....

...and a snack: