Drive In

We went on a family "Surprise Ride" last night after we got home with Jack and Scott got home from his meetings. (we have been doing Surprise Rides for years, it's basically when Scott or I say "surprise ride" and the boys hop in the car without a CLUE of where we are going, they ALL still love them and try to figure out the destination the entire drive)  We headed to Newton Iowa and went to the Drive In movie of Cars 2.  The boys had not ever been to a Drive In, that includes Scott.  We went about once a summer when we were little to one near the cabin, such fun memories.  

I had packed up a picnic dinner for us and we were there at 6:45, PLENTY early.  :)  We got our choice of parking spots and ate our dinner.  Played some football and ran around.  The movie started close to 9:00.  It was a pretty late night for our camper but it was SO fun.  The movie I didn't like so much, but the family fun was SO worth the trip. I think it would be hard to top the original movie Cars.  We had 4 boys sound asleep by the time we hit the highway home.  

Camper Boy Returns

We picked Jack up from camp yesterday afternoon...we were ALL excited to see him.  

 Jack receievd the "helper" award from his counselors Ben and Mick

 His entire cabin of boys

 Jack and his friends Christian and Seth

 Saying goodbye to Tree Topper 3

 Playing a game of Carpet Ball with Tommy, if you remember Tommy went to Hidden Acres last year.  He did not love the camping experience as much as Jack.  Read HERE to be reminded.  :)

 He was welcomed home with signs...made by Daddy

 by Max...

 ..and by Mommy

And a balloon in his room with a new Hidden Acres sweatshirt.  (check out the filthy dirty feet and the very same tee shirt we dropped him off in...although he tells me he did change his shirt for the mud pit day but other than that, he wore this one....eww crazy boys)  He was thrown in the shower RIGHT after this picture.  :)

A Baseball player and his biggest fan

A baseball player...and his biggest fan in the background clapping :)

Thanks to one of the team parents for these photos that just came last night.  

Hidden Acres

Sigh...this afternoon we took Jack to his first Bible Camp experience at Hidden Acres.  It's a camp about an hour from home. Tommy went last year.  Jack is in a cabin with 2 of his buddies, Seth and Christian.  He has wanted to go to camp since he was in Kindergarten, this was the first year we let him try it and we are doing the short week, he is done on Wednesday.  If he loves it, which I am pretty sure he will...next year he can do the full week.  

 Can't say I LOVE the angle of this shot Scott took, but I LOVE that it has all of the boys in it, and Jack's counselor Ben walking to the cabin with his load of stuff.  

 Sitting outside of Tree Topper 3

 There is a tire swing outside his door.  Can you HEAR Max laughing in this photo...he loved it.  I think he would have stayed at camp if they would have offered it for 1 year olds.  

Jack and his friend Seth outside of their cabin.

Say some prayers for Jack this week if you would...we think he will love it, but covering him in prayer never hurts.  Thanks...the house feels VERY quiet without him.  I already went through and cleaned his closet and drawers out so it will be organized once again when he gets home.  :)  I don't think I realize how much time I spend with Jack, he is with me most all of the time...so it's very odd without him.  I think Max will really miss him in their room too.  

Cabin time...

Warning...this is a long one but hopefully worth keeping up with...

We just got back from 10 days at the cabin in MN.  My parents went to Alaska for 10 days and offered us the use of the cabin if we wanted.  That took NO thought...so we moved on in. 

We got there on Wednesday...just Jack, Max and me.  The big 2 and Scott stayed home due to some other commitments.  We met my college friends Niki and Lisa there...they had their kids, minus Lisa's oldest Caleb.  The 3 of us try to get together every year in the spring and this year it didn't work out...so I was happy when they said they could make it.  

THURSDAY

 Thursday morning...it was cool so we spent the morning playing with the fun toys in the back on the driveway.  Lots of kids...

 We then snuck off for a boat ride a VERY full ride.  So fun.

 Max snuggled right in with Lisa

FRIDAY

 This picture almost makes me cry...to think that after ALL of these years we now sit on the dock and look out at THIS bunch of kids who get along so well, who are all being raised very similarly...who truly NEVER get in arguments with each other.  It always amazes me.

 Jack made little pools for Max to play in

 What a bunch...missing 3 of our 11

 Trying to capture Max 1 yr and Megan 2 yr together...she wasn't interested.

 Max WAS interested.  :)

 These girls...they are the ones who have been my friends since we were 18, we sat in the Caf, the Country Kitchen, dorm rooms and talked for HOURS and HOURS about our dreams.  About our husbands, our kids...it is a JOY to have shared so much of life with them.  We all stood by each other in our weddings...and here we still are...see it makes me cry.

 Max playing in the rain..

 Max and his baby

SATURDAY

Saturday everyone had left...Max, Jack and I had the day to ourselves.  This is what most of it looked like below...

SUNDAY

Father's day...I will post on that later. We celebrated that early.... Sunday night Tommy, Drew and Scott came up and brought along 3 of Tommy's best buddies as well.

MONDAY

Monday the boys went to play mini golf at Pirate's Cove, the weather wasn't real great.

 A little go carting action too...

Max loving the boat rides, not so much the life jacket but LOVED driving the boat

 This picture makes me swoon...

TUESDAY

It was a monsoon on Tuesday so we headed to a local hotel Waterpark for the afternoon

WEDNESDAY

More rain but we sent the boys out when it was misting...they had fun fishing off the dock

 Max took a really long nap...so nice.

 Thinking about tubing then decided it was too cold.  :)

 Max went fishing inside.

 Sharing his ice cream cone with Daddy

 Julie, one of my closest friends from growing up...happened to be up at her cabin for a few days.  We had dinner on Sunday night with her and her 2 boys.  Then stopped at their place to say goodbye on Wednesday as they were heading back home.  So many great memories with Julie.

 Scott taught Max how to do the dustpan

THURSDAY

Lunch in Nisswa at A & W

More chilly weather...the boys tried to fish but opted for the warm indoors.  Snapped a few before they ran inside...

 Lovely boating weather don't you think?

 Max LOVED to drive the boat when it was parked at the dock.  Waving to his fans

 Daddy teaching Max how to throw rocks off the beach

 Shooting some hoops at the neighbors...

 as the afternoon went the weather began to improve...

 we snapped some pictures while the weather was beautiful

 Tommy and his buddies

Christian, Noah, Tommy, Nathan

 looking for "ish" aka Fish...so cute

The boys decided it was nice enough to go tubing... 

 FRIDAY

Friday morning we woke up and the weather was PERFECT...and we had to pack up to leave.  So sad.  Lots of sheets to be washed and bags to be loaded.  Max didn't have a care in the world running around the yard playing peek a boo with me...

 ahh to be 1 year old..not a care in the world

 HUGE highlight...Friday morning the Wendy's in Nisswa was having its Grand Opening.  For those of you that don't know Jack is OBSESSED with Wendy's and the Frosty drink.   We have been following the building progress of it for MONTHS.  Mom and Dad have been sending pictures of the progress, newspaper articles etc for months.  And what were the chances we would be in town for the actual GRAND OPENING?  Well we added one more day onto our trip and stayed for the opening.  We were the first ones there...we almost had to fight to keep our spot in the front.  (and I am NOT kidding about that)  Scott had even gone into Brainerd and told the Wendy's headquarters there about Jack and needing to know when they were officially opening.  We were serious...

 ...so the door opens

 ...and the regional manager was waiting for Jack.  He had heard all about him and asked him to come in back and MAKE the first frosty ever at the Wendy's.  Oh my...could be the highlight of Jack's year.  Seriously BIG deal for him.  

 We started off with appetizers of Frosty's at 10:30...Scott came a short time later with the rest of the boys and we ate lunch there.  

 Here we are...note the Grand Opening sign in the back.

 All of the boys...trying out the outside tables.

 It really was the prettiest Wendy's I have ever been in...

I asked Christian to snap a family photo before we left...I think he did pretty well.  

It was a wonderful 10 days filled with so many memories.  It was a constant turnover of people and so much fun.  We ate and ate, laughed so much with my girlfriends, laughed at the gaggle of teenage boys, enjoyed a few quiet moments together in between it all.  The cabin is such a blessing, such a wonderful place to escape too.

P.S. Hope you are still with me...think this is a record long post with 60 some pictures.  :)