What's Next?: Photo Madness!

I finally sat down and downloaded the photos off my camera since the beginning of May. Whoo-Boy! There were a lot to sift through. Sadly not enough for some events and loads too many of others, but as I have no ability to ration my photos here goes:

Remember how back in May Gregory turned 4? Yeah, we had a party.

We went on a field trip the first Friday after school got out. We went to Lark toys and then over the river into Wisconsin to get some awesome ice cream. I don't usually rave about any food, but this stuff was worth the drive!

I found this picture on my camera. It made me laugh. Now we will have a photo to put up if ever Charlotte's dog runs away from home.

Charlotte learned out to ride a two wheeler in this green haven.

We picked strawberries.

Lee thought he would help by moving my bucket. He spilled my bucket a few times before I started dumping my bucket into Charlotte and Greg's buckets. We still managed 4 pounds of berries in an hour.

Dan worked all of the fourth of July! And by worked I mean he got to work at 6 am and never stopped moving or seeing patients until 10:30 am the fifth of July. So the kids and I had to party without him. We filled the day with three separate parties and then watched the municipal fireworks. I, like any good mother of this technology age, didn't take any photos during the day. I got these two just before it got too dark:

Live action. Those two boys didn't stop moving until the fireworks started. It was fun to watch their glow sticks bounce around the darkened field after the sun set. Then with the first big bang Greg yelled, "This is so pretty!" Totally worth it. Plus, I've decided after three straight years of Dan working the 4th that at least its a holiday designed to be out and about with other people. It makes us miss him less.

After receiving no sleep overnight on call Dan came home and crashed for about four hours. Then he got up and in twenty minutes got us out the door to go camping. This is the shot of all the excitement as we were going through Culver's for dinner. As a side note, Culver's has got to be the best fast food restaurant around. Argue with me till you're blue in the face, but you will not change my mind.

And this is what the kids look like when I'm not trying to take a picture of the excitement. Who doesn't love a pirate eye patch?

Camping at whitewater state park on July 5-6th:

I thought it was funny that I had a photo of Charlotte's dog and then randomly one of Blue Sky (Greg's dog)

"Hey Look! Dirt Mom!"

A lot of going in and out of the tent happened.

Also once the tent was up Charlotte forced Greg to ballroom dance with her in it. He was not thrilled about the idea. That was pretty funny.

Walking over whitewater river.

S'mores

Dirty face

More s'mores

You guys, this is a picture Dan took trying to get Charlotte and me catching fireflies. That is next to impossible with our camera, but a good memory anyway. Fireflies have got to be one of the mid-west's best summer things. They were out in full force and dancing all around our tent. It was amazing!

Did you see that photo of Greg with squinty eye smile? Here's where he gets it from:

Here's a better attempt to get Dan not looking totally exhausted.

Breakfast the next morning. Toast over an open flame.

This is another amazing thing about the mid-west summer. A July morning looks like this green glory:

No dusty brown of the arid west.

Lee helped Daddy pack up the tent.

After camping we went to John Latsche state park. The entirety of this park consists of one hike up to the top of a hill overlooking the Mighty Mississippi. The hike is rated as difficult. Dan said, "How could it be considered difficult if the whole thing is just steps?" I'll tell you how, half an hour of steps up, none of those steps is even, and also try doing it with a squirmy 20 pounds sitting atop your shoulders. He uses ears as handles.