Summer Fun Comes To An End

Some of the best days are at the end of the summer. National Night Out is one of those days. We love our neighborhood, our neighbors and friends. I'm so happy that Katy can grow up with these kids and hopefully create long lasting friendships.

The end of the summer wouldn't be complete without the Minnesota State Fair! As with the past two years, I took two trips. One trip was for me to check out the entries I put in the Creative Activities show (and eat fair food of course). Skunked this year, no ribbons. My favorite comment from the judges was on the stuffed dragon. "It is soft and cuddly, but bears no resemblance to a dragon! Needs modelling, dragons do not have floppy ears. No expression or personality-no teeth." Whatever. Maybe I should have called it a happy baby dragon? Anyway it's still fun to see my stuff in the cabinets (even if the sweaters were shoved in the way back, you couldn't even see the elephant on Katy's sweater for crying out loud). Not bitter, no, not me.

The following day we headed out together. I found an open park & ride station and loaded up the girl and her stroller. Probably the last year for that I guess. The Kidway rides were great as always, the bumper boats being the favorite again. We added the trampolines this year. Katy loved it but I wished the kids running the place had at least a tiny bit of energy for it. They all looked pretty much asleep. I think the highlight for Katy was the misters outside of the grandstand. I bet she would have spent the day there if I didn't pull her away.

One last hurrah at Midway Stadium at a Saints Game before they move downtown to their new home. We finally catch up to Max and Adam who have been so busy this summer we haven't seen them at all! Most of the time was spent at the playground and bounce house as per usual but it was Zombie Baseball night so it made for good people watching if nothing else.

And just before school starts, we head up to Superior for more fun but you'll have to check out the End Of Summer Grand Adventure post for that :-) 

This summer wore us out! So many fun things to see and do, so little time. Guess it's time to rest up for school...

August Grand Adventure

This Grand Adventure started at A Baker's Wife Pastry Shop near Lake Hiawatha. Holy cats, this was some good eats. Katy and Evi both chose cake doughnuts with sprinkles and Rachel and I tried some danishes. We also got lattes and I brought home a loaf of the double sourdough bread. Very inexpensive and one of the best places we've gone so far. So good that I'm glad I don't live around the corner from there or I'd be there every day.

Our activity for the day was a stop at the Children's Museum. The girls waited (mostly) patiently while I signed us up for a membership. Should have done this years ago! Then there was face painting, dinosaur stomping and dancing and cooking in the 'around the town' room. Then we headed the Thomas the Train exhibit and finally up on the roof, where the girls played with lots of instruments.

I think we have two thumbs up for this Grand Adventure. Now with our membership to the museum, we can go again and again! And we'll definitely be back to A Baker's Wife for more delectable treats. We followed this up with the potluck and soccer game (see Summer Fun Part 2 post). It was a little too much in one day. But we made it through half of the soccer game and fell asleep soon after. At least Katy and I did!

Summer Fun Part 2

The summer was in full swing when we attended the Angel Foundation's Water Park Night. They closed the park to the public so we could all enjoy an evening of fun. Sadly it was a bit chilly but we had fun despite that. Katy splashed around and I lounged in the warm water. Because it started later in the evening, Katy got to wear her jammies home. She found that her pinwheel prize had great fun in the hand dryer and she got to get warm at the same time. It's the little things...

A rainy day pirate ship and three showings of The Pirate Fairy while mom cleaned the closets.

We joined around 170 other people at the Ethiopian Kids Community Summer Camp in Paynesville, MN. So many adoptive families gathered together to celebrate their kids. We missed the group picture by seconds, we just couldn't run fast enough! We set up our tents, had lunch and went out for ice cream and got back just as the beach opened up. The girls had a blast swimming and playing on the playground! (although Katy felt the grass was a little long) Then it was time for dinner in our traditional Ethiopian clothing and great food by Katar River Restaurant. It was so good! After dinner we gathered for s'mores. Evi headed to bed soon and Katy was my night owl as usual. Then Evi got up early. Good thing we had our own tents!

Katy got her first scooter and managed to slow down our walks by quite a bit. Who knew it would make us slower! 

A yearly event, the Uptown Art Fair. We enjoyed the food and I got to glimpse at the art as we walked by. That's fine, we weren't shopping anyway. It's just fun to look.

We joined our friends Brody and Piper for the Dakota County Fair. It's been probably 30 plus years since I've been there. It's in Farmington, where my grandparents lived. We used to get money from grandpa to go have fun. This year Katy enjoyed the horse riding contests and the midway rides and didn't care so much for the barns. Too smelly. The ferris wheel is the highlight I think.

We took our first kayak ride on the lakes! I've been wanting to do it for years. I've wanted to take Riley but she's too skittish. Then Katy was too young. We've finally made it. Next year she may get her own paddle but for now I'll do the steering. What a great ride and fun time with my girl.

Rachel and Evi joined us in August for a short, half-weekend. There was some splash pad fun in St Louis Park.

Then we joined the EKC folks for a potluck and a MN United Soccer game. We brought Sand Pudding to share. (not traditionally Ethiopian, I recognize that) The Abogida Roots dancers put on a demonstration, which Katy crashed. You just can't stop the dancing when it's in your feet! Unless it's my feet, then apparently I'm not supposed to dance. Just ask Katy. A good time was had by all. The girls enjoyed the game and they won!

Next up, another Grand Adventure!