Happy Birthday!

Celebrating Shawn's brithday with Logan's baseball team - the boys loved eating birthday cake (chocolate or white) after their game.

Valleyfair

We didn't do very well with the camera at Valleyfair. Only captured a couple of photos. It was a beautiful day with humid temps in the high 80s. Logan actually went on the corkscrew, the white high roller, the mad mouse roller coaster and a bunch of other rides. Carter is much more daring but unfortunately he is still a couple of inches too short for the BIG rides. Both boys still had lots of fun and the water park was heaven! They loved swimming in the new wave pool.

Junior Royalty Float: "Pan-o-Prog"

Logan is in the Twins jersey. If you double click on the photo it should enlarge for a better view. When Logan is 18 he will dream of being surrounded by so many pretty girls.

Chess Tournament

Picture of Logan and his buddy Zach at the Pan-o-prog chess tournament. Zach got 1st place (he has won every tournament he has been registered in) and Logan got 2nd. Logan was so excited to get his "tallest trophy" yet.

Pan-o-Prog is Done...And we are exhausted

Several months ago the kids said they wanted to stay home for our summer vacation. Amazing since we gave them the option of going to Disney, Myrtle Beach, etc. Instead they wanted to "do stuff around Lakeville." We met that expectation last week and are ready to go back to work and relax. Last night was the BIG pan-o-prog parade and Logan got to ride on the junior royalty float - pictures will be posted soon. Other pan-0-prog events we participated in this week included:

• Junior Royalty Competition - Little Master Lakeville (Logan)


• Chess tournament - Logan got second place in the K-3 division


• Tractor pull (Carter)


• Big Wheel race (Carter)


• Ice Cream Social


• K-9 Demonstration


• Kids Parade


• Main Parade


• Fireman Waffle Breakfast


• Medallion Hunt


• Orchestra in the Park

Somehow we also were able to fit in a day at Valleyfair yesterday, a trip to the beach, and lots of swimming at the Health Club Water Park.

Pan-o-Prog Tractor Pull

Another summer tradition. The Pan-o-Prog tractor pull. Last year Carter made the front page of the paper pushing his tractor. I noticed in the first picture below a newspaper taking his photo again - maybe he will be front page news again.

Pan-o-prog Big Wheel Races

Much of our vacation week has been spent participating in various pan-o-prog events (Lakeville Community Celebration). On Wednesday Carter participated in the big wheel races. This is serious competition with over 150+ 2-6 year olds participating in various categories. All participants get a ribbon and some candy - the top 3 in each age division get a trophy. Have to say this is more about the type of big wheel than ability - the bigger your big wheel the faster you go. But don't say that to the "suburban big wheel moms" who have been training their kids all summer.

Carter had a BLAST! He did well enough in the first wave to make it to the finals - but got "smoked" in the end. Oh well - his favorite part was hugging the Subway Man.

Cabin Memories - July 4th Weekend

Sara and I started our vacation week at the cabin. We spent 4 days/3 nights with the cousins. The kids had a great time taking saunas, swimming, setting off lots of fireworks, playing baseball, riding bikes, eating some good grub and participating in the 2nd annual cousin relay races. The weather was amazing considering the wet and cool summer we have had. The first generation (Sara's parents et al) are in Finland for 2 weeks so the next generation started some new traditions...."what happens at the cabin stays at the cabin."

Carter - Hosanna! Day Camp

Not to be out done by his big brother, Carter participated in a 3-day day Bible camp at Hosanna! this week. He had lots of fun singing songs, meeting friends, making musical instruments, eating snacks, and learning about Jesus.

Little Mr Lakeville Competition

Pan-o-Prog is the summer celebration in Lakeville. Logan decided he wanted to participate in the Little Mr Lakeville Pageant. It is for 5-8 year old boys...there is also a Little Miss Lakeville as well Mrs Lakeville. Logan's motivation was all participants get to ride on a float in the parade. He participated with 23 other little boys and girls and did great! They basically have to introduce themselves and answer one question. There were about 150 people in the theater and he wasn't nervous at all - they are suppose to dress in a costume that describes them....Logan was a Twins player of course!

Unfortunately, or fortunately after we learned about the year long commitment and various engagements, Logan did not win. One of the judges came up to us afterwards and said it was really close and he should definitely try again next year. I am thinking Runner Up is ok for this pageant family.

YMCA Camp - Logan

Logan spent the week at YMCA Camp Streefland. It is only a 5 minute drive from our house - but Logan wanted to ride the bus with his friends. He would leave clean and rested at 8:25am and return muddy and exhausted at 4:30pm. The weather was sunny and hot all week with temps around 97 Thursday and Friday. He had a great time, swimming, playing Gaga, riding the black hole, doing arts and crafts, learning archery and canoeing, and meeting lots of new friends.