Backyard waterslide

Right at the start of summer I bought a backyard inflatable pool that has been sitting next to the backdoor for a few months.  Well, this weekend we put it to use!  The forecast was for hot weather, and Dan inflated the pool and put it under the slide in our backyard play set.  What a great idea that turned out to be!  He ran the hose over to the top of the slide and turned it on low.  It was a true water slide!  We had a blast!

Bye bye summer school, hello swimming pool

Today was Piper's last day of summer school classes and the conclusion of Native American Arts and Crafts.  I was able to attend the open house which was a museum of all the arts and crafts the kids had made over the week.  They had a really active week!  Piper really enjoyed this class.

Then after work and school we went swimming at Grandma Sue's pool, and Dan met us there with dinner on his way home.  Piper is getting really good at diving under water!  And Teagan is a crazy kicker - I'm interested to see how it goes when we take the wings off.

This is Piper doing a 'wee dab' in the water.  If you don't know what that is, I'm pretty sure I can't explain it to you.

And this is Teagan's 'I love this!  But I'm so cold!' general swimming face. :)

Evening fun with dad

While I worked late, Dan managed the home front, and had some fun playtime with the girls in the backyard.  Minnesota summer is amazing.  It *almost* makes up for Minnesota winter and spring, both of which bite big time.

The last week of summer school

Kellan and Piper started their last class today - Native American Arts and Crafts.  On Thursday they take a field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art to see the Native American collections.  Dan is chaperoning! 

A lovely evening

After dinner last night, we played in the yard for a bit and went for a walk.  The weather, in the 90s on Saturday, had dipped down into the high 70s - perfect weather for a stroll and a swing.

Racing

 

 Losing:

Great Artists, Great Art

Piper's class this week was called "Great Artists, Great Art" and was about... well, you know.  She learned tons of neat facts about some of the great artists like van Gogh, Pollack, O'Keefe, Picasso and Michelangelo.  She also created some of her own art in the styles that they're best known for.  Today they had a grande finale art exhibit, and displayed their work.  They were allowed to sell one painting, for "no more than $10".  I think it shows good confidence that Piper chose to sell her O'Keefe style rose for $9.99.  (I couldn't help but wonder about the kids who were given the chance to earn $10, and chose to sell their work for $4.99?)

Here are some pics of Piper and her display, and her art work.  She also created a poster on Pollack.

Visitor

This little guy is the neighbors' dog - he keeps sneaking under his fence to come hang out in our yard (and pee on everything).  His name is Reggie.  He looks kind of like Hero, and apparently has his mischievous streak too.

It always surprises me to look out the window and see him running around back there.  Whenever I try to collect him for return he barks furiously, like I'm invading his space.  Little stinker.

Summer event fun

Tonight the girls and I went to my company's summer event.  It was fun - they had a few neat things for the kiddos like a face painter and a caricature artist.  Piper and Teagan got some cool looking artwork but we didn't make it over to the caricature artist - the line was long and you had to sit for a while to get drawn.

Little reader

Teagan loves to snuggle on the couch and 'read' her books :)

 

She also loves to 'sneak' out of bed after we've tucked her in, which she's doing as I write this.  If only we could give kids a book and a reading light and let them have the joy of reading themselves to sleep...

Maple Grove Days 2017

Yesterday we ventured to the Maple Grove Days art fair and it was HOT.  It was in the nineties which is torturous for us as we're just not acclimated to that kind of thing.  But, we had a great time anyway. Well, for most of the time :)

Dan volunteered at the art fair for the first time and really enjoyed the experience.  He got to meet a lot of people from the Maple Grove Arts Center, where it's natural that he become more of a active member/contributer and community arts supporter.

We did get to see him several times throughout the day, and he joined us for lunch.  Our two biggest activities were making abstract paintings (the girls) and face painting (also the girls, technically arm painting for Teagan).

 

 

After the art fair, the girls' favorite babysitter came over and Dan and I went to see WonderWoman.  (Good movie.)  At the Champlin theater we discovered that they're going to be installing recliners and going to all-reserve seating, just like in NJ!  We're getting fancy here - I keep telling everyone Champlin is definitely up and coming. 

Then, we came home and when Dan tucked the kids in he found this:

We found out later that Teagan had sneaked into Piper's room and Piper had invited her to spend the night.  How precious is that?

Travel day

Before heading off to the airport, Dan took the girls to the park behind my old elementary school.  Here they are - kings of the slide.

And overseers of the baggage claim.

Heeeeyyyyooooo

Love this girl and her silly faces and expressions.

Our last day

These are some pictures from our last day in New Jersey.  The day started off very rainy, but cleared up mid-afternoon.  Which meant we were able to go to the pool club (and have it nearly to ourselves!), have a water balloon fight and sprinkler fun with Nina, and take a trip to Scoops in Opa's Model A Ford.  All in all, a good end to a really fantastic trip!  We miss NJ and Oma and Opa!