4th of July America is 250

We've had this tradition for the past few Fourth of July's. We are so grateful for some friends that live nearby that host a very fun and patriotic block party gathering on the fourth. This is the 3rd year we've attended (missed 2024 when we were in Vegas). They started this tradition in 2020 when the Edina Parade was cancelled due to covid and this gather has stuck ever since. 

We gather, sing a verse of America the Beautiful, do a popcorn reading of the declaration of independence and MLKs Dream Speech. Then there is a guest speaker and a SURPRISE for the kids, then they do a parade around the block. 

Thomas read a few lines, then it was time for the surprise reveal. A dunk tank! Where we DUNKED THE KING (aka the host's youngest son) but not before the kids answered 8 correct citizenship test questions. 

Thomas even took a turn in the tank. 

We got home then the girls and I changed and loaded up the paddle boards to meet a friend at the beach. Not our close beach but the one across the lake. So we pulled the boards to hidden beach, then road them across to point beach to play and visit. 

CRAZY busy hidden beach! 

Very sunny 4th of July. We talked about going to see fireworks but then a huge storm came through about 7:30pm so we opted to just head to bed about 9:30 instead of staying up to see fireworks once it stopped raining. 

June 29 - July 3rd

 

Monday June 29th we got new windows put in the office, Tuesday they came and finished up the framing/trim. I also had a raining swim that morning.

When miracles happen I have to document, all four kids were playing four square in the backyard. This did last only about 5 minutes before it ends in tears, yelling, and the start of a sibling war. 

That evening Kyle and I went for a walk to the lake while the kids were being couch potatoes. We take for granted where we live and this week we were reminded of the beauty that surrounds us. We just have to get out and enjoy it! We walked to the dock that is a quarter mile from our back door. It was a beautiful night. The resident muskrat made his way over then we saw a family of raccoons peeking out for their evening adventure. A mama and three littles. 

Wednesday I worked, then Kyle and I went for a heated early evening run. Phew it was HOT! We made it 4.5 or so miles, Oakley was with and he was so hot too. 

Boys had baseball practice, I showered and convinced the girls to come to the lake to see if we could see the raccoon family again. They had come out at 8:37pm the night before. 8:40 rolled around and no raccoons but I did see the same two muskrats. 

Made another walk to the lake Thursday evening. 

Friday morning I met up with a friend to run 6 miles around Lake Harriet. Started off as a rainy run, but it was delightful. 

Friday afternoon we went to the Edina Aquatic Park for a couple hours, enjoying summer! 

Weekend in Duluth (June 26-28)

 Friday, June 26th we drove up to Duluth for Emma's soccer tournament that weekend. They have been really good this season and this tournament was planned a few months prior. We learned last week they've played so well they qualified for the final four which will be our final tournament next weekend. 

We treated this like a mini-vacay and the whole family was in tow. We almost had to bring Oakley because I forgot to board him, but after he was on the waitlist for a few days a spot opened up and I was able to drop him off Friday. Also I had only one room reserved at the team's hotel... which was a king bed and a sofa bed... not going to work for the six of us. They were all sold out so we had to get the second room just down the road at another hotel. So the plan was for me and the girls to stay at the team's hotel and Kyle and the boys to stay at the other one. THIS was the sofa 'bed'! I even called downstairs to ask if there was some sort of topper to go on the bed... nope, it opens up to a HARD platform. The girls of course fought over who would be sleeping on it, but in the end they each took one night. 

We had dinner at OMC Smokehouse, then met up with the team at Bent Paddle Brewery and played some games while Emma hung with her team. 

Then we all went over to Canal park for some ice cream. 

Back at the hotel the girls got their swag bags us mom's put together. One of the items was a room sign, super cool! It was fun having them all up and down the hallways. We weren't all together but at least 4 on each floor. 

Saturday we knew we had two games, it was a bracket tournament. Well we knew we'd have three games but wasn't sure on the times until we played the first. The area was literally taken over by soccer players! Our hotel was full of various teams. We had breakfast in the hotel then Mary wanted to walk on the treadmill for a bit. 

First game was at 9:30 at anytime the ball was hit past the goal it would run off into this swamp area. It was a full search squad of parents and siblings to recover the balls. 

Pics from first game by Joe:

They won that one! Which meant we moved up and played at noon. Quick run to Target then lunch, and a new hairstyle for Emma's next game.  

(Pics of Oakley having fun at the boarding place)

Second game was at an adjacent field so we didn't have to worry about the balls getting lost. They ended in a tie and had to do a penalty kick off. 

  

Which we WON! We have a great goalie!

Joe's photos of the second game:

 

Coach didn't want them to swim in-between games so they wouldn't be tired. So they were all excited to swim after the second game (The next game was the championship game and wasn't until 1:00 on Sunday)

After they swam a lot of the girls went to watch two of their team mates stand in as subs for the older girls game. We didn't make our family attend ANOTHER soccer game so Emma went with her team and we hung out. Mary and I went to Fleet Farm for some shopping and saw the baby chicks. 

We met up for dinner with most of the team when the 6:00 U14 game was over. 

Sunday Kyle and I got a run in. He got a run in around the hotel and then for me I wanted to do a leg of the Ragnar run I'd be doing in August since we were really close to it. It was a 5.5 stretch and I had the map of it. So he dropped me off at the start which was a school, then picked me up at the finish which was another school and just so happen to have a soccer game going on, of course. They were using all the fields they could for this huge tournament. 

Anyway, it was a great run and took some of the anxiety out of the unknown, although when I do this at the end of Ragnar it will be my third leg and probably after little to no sleep... but at least I know what to expect. 

This was suppose to be a 'sidewalk' HA!

lots of hills!

The finish (of my leg)

Kyle picked me up, I showered in the hotel then it was time to check out. We went to Texas Roadhouse for lunch then it was time for Emma's game. Here's a pre-game photo:

It was a pretty INTENSE game, they were playing great but just couldn't get a shot in. Instead of penalty kicks they went into overtime with two 5 minutes halves. We scored a goal in the second 5 minutes which gave us the WIN! WOO HOO!! They got winning shirts instead of medals which I thought was super cool and way more useful. 

Great weekend and lots of fun! Excited they took home the win.