While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.~Angela Schwindt

It's a good idea to begin at the bottom in everything except in learning to swim. ~Author Unknown

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

This summer almost seemed to get a slow start. However, now I can't seem to slow it down enough!! We spent a full two weeks in Minnesota. It was so good to see everyone and get together and fish, and boat and swim and jump on the trampoline and of course eat. Perhaps I should have done more jumping on the trampoline than eating--but it was a good time and I thank everyone who put up with us while we were on our trip.

Now that we are back, I am still kinda trying to get back into the groove. Unfortunately, I have lost focus (again) and can't always easily decide which groove I am supposed to be in. I finally worked out yesterday--first time in three weeks!!!! May be that will kick my butt. That is not counting of course taking Twister on her walks. It has been so long since she has been out of the yard and on her leash, that it is insane to go with her. Make sure you have the right shoes on cuz jogging WILL be involved. School supply lists are already out in the stores for my third grader and first grader. Sign ups are going on for Zoey's soccer and Ike registered for football last spring. He needs to get his physical done and equipment pick up is next week.

My friend had her second beautiful baby last night (Aubrey Grace) and so we were able to babysit her toddler last night. Having Ava over was fun and my kids totally take care of her making sure she has everything she needs.

Zoey has been a bit sick lately with a fever. On the good side, it makes her sleep good--and long. On the down side--yesterday it was 102.8 and even though its way down now she hasn't totally kicked it yet. I haven't had to give her any medicine today, but boy is she mad at us for making her take it easy and rest and get better. Crazy girl.

No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one. ~Elbert Hubbard

The first segment of our trip has already passed (actually I already blogged about it but my computer lost it:()

We left Wyoming last Thursday with Zoey and Twister. Twister got a little nervous and threw up in the car shortly after we left. But that was the only hitch on our way here. We headed up north on Saturday and everyone had a blast! There was never a shortage of things to do. It was so fun to watch the kids tube, swim, fish, get minos, take off their fish and even put their own minos on!! We were sun toasted the very first day. I use sunscreen, but always forget to reapply and regret it later. So I was pretty red and then a mosquito bit my eye so that was swollen and purple for a few days. Because my eye was so swollen, I had one eye lid that tanned and one that did not. Fishing was good, but I didn't get a good keeper until the last night. Isaac even learned to drive the boat. He was SO EXCITED. My kids are exhausted but are having the time of their life! All of the cousins were there except for one. 2 one year olds, 1 four year old, 1 six year old, 2 eight year olds and a 10 year old. Hopefully this is the stuff they will talk about when they are my age and say "Remember when..."

Isaac got croup the Sunday before we came to Minnesota. We hoped it would pass before we left, but of course it got worse. We put him on steroids again and a prescription allergy med. He seems to be doing OK, but has a lot of coughing. He gets so sick of Chris and I always asking him about his breathing. But with so much going on all time, like full afternoons of swimming its hard to tell if he is just tired, if he just hasn't been swimming that much recently or if we need to get him to the hospital. Poor kid!

We have some more visiting to do yet