SSS: Water, Water Everywhere!

I've always lived in cities surrounded by water.

Menominee, MI & Green Bay, WI - The Bay of Green Bay
Chicago - Lake Michigan
Madison - Lakes Monona & Mendota
Minneapolis - Lakes Calhoun, Harriet, Isles, Cedar, etc

At times I've probably taken my proximity to water for granted.  I couldn't imagine being land locked.  

Here's a peek at some of our times at the water over the summer.

I love this picture of Otto.  I try not to think too much about what my kids will and will not want to do/be/play when they get older, but there are days I sure hope one of them wants to live by the water and be up early and sail ships and swim and surf in the sea.  Doesn't it just look like Otto might be the one?  This was a special morning at Lake Harriet.  It was a Wednesday and usually I work Wednesdays. But the week this picture was taken, I had Wednesday off and worked Thursday.  For some reason this minor shift in my schedule made me feel like we were playing hooky (along with a SLEW of people at the Lake early that morning).

My favorite kiddie pool we played at this summer - the park at Minnehaha Falls.  My sisters Jamie and Katie joined us on this outing and we had a blast.  It started raining, and then down pouring.  It's always so much fun swimming in the rain!

My favorite big pool of the summer - Schuster's pool and patio.  I can't get over how wonderful it is to have not in-laws with not only a pool, but with such hospitality.  John and Diane's house is our 2nd house in the summer.  They always have everything we need on hand - food, baby formula, diapers, beach towels, swimsuits.  They made it so easy for us to stop by anytime and hang out.  Auntie Jamie often made Sno Cones for everyone!

The only man-made lake we've been to in the Cities.  A chlorinated lake with a sand beach.  It was great - the kids all played...and rolled in the sand, which might have rubbed off their sunscreen.  This was the one day we all got sunburns.  

Again, trying not to project my wishes on my kids, but Otto just screams BEACH BUM!

Max and Aunt Jamie drawing in the sand at Lake Calhoun.

Otto was all about Lyla this summer. Many times "only Lyla" he'd say. What a wonderful cousin Lyla is - playing with Otto, swimming with Otto, helping Otto fall asleep for naps, etc.

Even puddles are better in summertime.

Going...Somewhere Together

Heads, Carolina. Tails, California.

Somewhere greener, somewhere warmer.

Up in the mountains, down by the ocean.

Where? It don't matter, as long as we're goin'

Somewhere together. I've got a quarter.

Heads, Carolina. Tails, California.

- JoDee Messina

I love country music. More than ever during the summertime. And the song above is perfect for the days you just want to get in the car and drive.

We've been doing that more than usual this summer. Sometimes packing up and heading out camping. Other times loading the kids in for a shortened "car nap" so we can get to an activity and have more time to play. Still other times timing our day just right so we know all three will be sleeping, and Joe and I can drive and hang out without the distractions and "to do's" we'd be tackling if we were at home while the kids napped.

Lucky for me, when we've packed up and headed on an adventure, Joe, who happily chooses to listen to Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and others, yet insists he doesn't like country music, doesn't seem to mind when I turn on the country station. I love this because to me country music is quintessential for summertime and camping.

Speaking of...we just returned from a cabin in Grand Marais and next Friday we pack up the car again for what will likely be our last tent camping trip of summer.

Summer, Summer, Summertime!

Summer, Cristy, Jamie & Katie Chevalier. June 1983.

Summer.

When you have a name like mine you get a lot of questions - or assumptions - wondering if summer is my favorite season. But since it isn't, I quickly explain how I love all seasons, but summer usually ranks 4th behind the other three. Incredulous looks follow.

But over the course of the past few months something finally hit me (I really wonder why it takes so long for some things to click with me). It hit me that while I may not love the weather of the season, I do love the spirit of Summertime. The world is so alive, and has enlivened even more with each kid and each year they get bigger. I'm sure once they are in real school and actually have summers off from class, this summer's excitement - given they are 4 yrs, 2 yrs and 9 months - will seem like peanuts compared to what's to come.

At the beginning of summer I started a Summertime Bucket List because we kept tossing out ideas of what we wanted to do during June/July/August and I knew I'd never remember everything. Plus I wanted ideas at my fingertips for whenever we were looking for something to do. Any time I would wonder aloud about an upcoming event Max would say "Put it on our Bucket List."

And so here's our bucket list (with lots of fun things experienced by us this summer...note the ----- in front of things we've already done). Over the coming weeks I'll post a few entries sharing more details on the different Summertime things we've done.

Summertime Bucket List

------Pirate Party

Pizza & Sundae Bar Party

LH Cornfeed Aug 9, 6-8

Como Town

Children's Museum (Aug 12)

------- Science Museum

------- Valley fair

MN State Fair (Aug 23)

-------Farmers Market

SLP Rec Center

Bandshell Music/Movie

SLP amphitheater

WAC packs

------- Sculpture garden

------- Arboretum

--------Twins game

Bike Max & Otto to school

Trolley

Rollerskating

Bowling

Bike

-------- Beach (Harriet, Calhoun)

-------- drive thru ice cream pj's

Hike - three rivers, w backpacks

------- Camping/Fishing

------- Taylor's Falls

------- Whitewater

Itasca

blue mounds, glacial lakes

Tamarack nature (off 35E)

------- Minnehaha Falls/Bike/Pool

------- Hyland Park Play Area

------- Elm Creek Park Beach

Fort Snelling Park

------- Splash pad