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! 

Start of Summer: First two weeks of June

June 1st morning humid run but I was so excited to see all the trees they'd planted on the trail. This used to be a gorgeous wooded trail, but they blazed down all the trees the year we left Minnesota (2019) as they prepared to construct the light rail. 7 years later the trail is finally back open (light rail not yet). They are attempting to restore the forest. In the deer photo, those stakes with pink ends are all the planned trees they're adding back. 

 

Tuesday we took a bike ride to sSebastian Joes. This is the start of Isaac being gone all the time, he's been going to friends nonstop. 

Emma had a home game that evening. 

With the start of summer comes a change in routine and BOY the kids were pretty irritated with each other. Non stop squabbles which was quickly wearing me down! Mary, Oakley,  and I going for a walk Wednesday evening. 

Thursday morning first OUTDOOR swim for me WOOHOO! Ducks were trying to claim the pool as their own. Also football practice has started and with High School football Isaac has to sell 16 of these cards, oofdah

Mary had been asking to make homemade ice cream again, last time we did this was in Wichita and we still had the box with the machine in the garage. We purchased supplies the few days before and decided to do it. As anything utter disaster, kids bitching at each other, Emma crying after getting hurt falling out of the hammock, oh ya know just a normal jolly-o'time. And then get this, out of that MASSIVE tub of ice cream, some how mom got a measly 1/4 cup because when I went to have more a few days later the entire tub was EMPTY!

That evening we got taco's for dinner (look at the size of this burrito!) then went to Thomas's baseball game. 

Outdoor swimming on Saturday morning again. 

 

Isaac had an early tournament game in Apple Valley (30 minutes away) Thankful for the live streaming video so we could just watch while we ate breakfast. 

Arguing continues so we decided to run some errands then meet Isaac and Kyle for lunch... searching for Mary an ice skate backpack so she can bike to lessons this summer we passed this random free petting zoo!

Had lunch then came back home, just in time for the pencil sharpening across the lake. I had forgotten about it but we could hear the bumpin' music from our house. I quickly got my drone out (which had all dead batteries) but managed to fly it over there to take a peek at the tail end as the crowd was breaking up. 

Girls went to a neighbor's birthday party that afternoon and Thomas met a friend at the water park. Once we got everyone home Kyle and I went on a date night, riding the ebike and escooter over to a restaurant on the lake. Felt great to get away. 

I worked at the hospital on Sunday so not much excitement then. 

Monday Isaac started his summer school class. He's taking personal wellness over the summer - they have four in person meet ups then just assignments to turn in the rest of the summer. Homework being four workouts a week. I'm teaching my 45 minutes barre class on Monday's and Thursdays. The kids do well at home while I'm gone for just two hours. On this day they were diving into playdoh as I headed out to class. And surprisingly enough they cleaned it up before I got home. 

Gorgeous flowers at the yoga studio:

Tuesday morning swimming 6am (I'll be swimming Tuesday/Thursday mornings outside this summer with some Saturdays when I can) It's straight down the new trail so quicker to ride my ebike. I decided to be a nice mom and bring home doughnuts to my sassholes. 

That afternoon we went to the water park (same one I swim at) We had planned to just stay til 2:30, which was when Isaac's friends were showing up because Mary had a babysitting gig at 3:00. Thomas and Emma wanted to stay so I ran Mary home to babysit, made sandwiches and brought snacks back then we stayed at the park until Kyle brought Mary back about 5 and picked up Thomas for baseball. Lots of fun in the sun. We wanted to squeeze this visit in because the rest of the local schools were getting out the next day and I knew it wouldn't be as crowded with two big area schools still in session. 

Isaac's group of friends, being so nice to let Thomas hang with them. 

Mary and Emma had fun playing after Mary re-joined. 

Long day outside, but great for me so I could rest and not have kids bickering at each other. 

Oh and an update of the office, they got the floor in!

Friday morning hill run! Phew!

And an evening out with the gals.