Camping in Custer State Park

Our first weekend camping outside our "urban" campground....Custer State Park - we love this park!!

 All set up and ready for our weekend!! AND we love this spot...it's 95 feet long......

And the second most reason we love this spot...is we can sit back, relax and watch the kids play right from the camper!!

Our friends the Renken's joined us on Saturday...and 4 adults set off with 8 children - ages 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, & 6 months.....for a HIKE! Needless to say...the Egge crew did not make it as long as the Renken crew probably would have liked (we were carrying Adi from the moment we got out of the truck)....but we did it....1/2 mile in and 1/2 mile out... :)

 

Look at this motley crew of kiddos.....and the only one brave enough to sit and enjoy lunch with them!

The view from our lunch spot.....

 Ana and Eli just kept saying...."Hiking is the BEST!"

Look at how HAPPY this little guy was!! Of course he was happy...he had it the easiest of all of us....being carried on his Daddy's back!

 

Our feeble attempt at a family photo.....

 

After the hike we came back to fish....again 4 adults and 8 kids on a dock....7 of whom all wanted to fish was pure CHAOS! I think we may even had one fishing pole lost to the lake....(Ema's) but was quickly recovered because it was tangled in Eli's line....phew...a tantrum averted......

And believe it or not...there were even a few fish caught......

 

 After the fishing excursion it was back to camp to make dinner, play and relax by the fire....oh and maybe a little marshmallow roasting....

Thanks for a great weekend Renken Family!!

An Evening at Hart Ranch....

I love the fact that swimming with four kiddos is getting easier and easier......the kids and I spent an evening last week at Hart Ranch swimming.....for once I was actually able to sit in a lounge chair and watch them enjoy the water.....(if your wondering where Adi is...she lost her swimming privileges this evening by not eating her dinner.....)

After swimming before the big thunderstorm rolled in there was even time for 1 train ride!

MN Visitors

Our friends the Berge's stopped in for a visit for a couple days on their way out west......we had a great time catching up, letting our kids play....and even introduced them to a little "urban camping"

I think Adi was taking note of the fact and enjoying not being the "baby"......

 

Cheers!

Bathing Beauties....

Ready for Summer!!

Preschool Graduation.....

Another one done....so hard to believe....2 kids through preschool already. Eli is off to Kindergarten next year and couldn't be more excited about it!

Eli with Mrs. G - she has been the kids' preschool teacher for the last three years.....

First to Last Day of Preschool....

First Day of Preschool - August 2011

Last Day of Preschool - May 2012

Kindergarten Program

We have LOVED the school we put Ana in this year.....what she has learned over the course of this year has simply amazed me....and the ability at which she can already read has also just shocked me!! The evening of the last day of school the kindergarten class put together a program.....it was a compilation of all the things they have learned this past year...with lot's of singing and speaking parts.

Psalm 23

Old MacDonald had some vowels.....

Ana with her teacher Mrs. Pierce....

First to Last Day of Kindergarten

 First Day of Kindergarten August 2011

Last Day of Kindergarten May 2012

Gymnastics Awards Day

The kids were in Gymnastics that last three months of the school year....and loved it!!

Outdoor Fun

Before school got out....we had some amazingly nice days!! Now that school is out it's been cold, windy and raining!! Definitely ready for the warm weather to return!