Only in Minnesota

What else? Log rolling class! Laura liked it a lot, Adam just liked swimming with his buddy.

Fireworks version 2

We did our fireworks at home on the 5th of July

Fireworks!

We found a great spot to watch Missouri fireworks!

Team Smiley

The kids went parasailing today! The parasail had a big yellow smiley face on it. They had a great time!

Parasailing started the day, but we also drove go karts again, visited a rock and gem store, jumped off the dock one last time, and drove out to a restaurant that turned out to be a dud. Tonight, we plan to find a place to catch some fireworks.

We're leaving tomorrow, one day early. It's been fun, but we're satisfied with our time here and it will make Saturday's visit to the air show in Duluth more fun if we have a day at home in between.

Vampire day

Today was "recover from sunburn" day. Adam's healed up nicely, but Laura's shoulder only seemed angrier than ever. Avoiding the sun became the goal, so we went to the extreme by touring the Osage Caverns. It turned out to be probably our favorite cave with a  natural 'shower head fountain' that falls into a 'bathtub drain' and some little spikey deposits made by capillary action that look to me like the pieces of wheat in a triscuit. We came home via two swinging bridges that you can drive over and stopped at a diner for lunch. Down-time at home, then back out to see a movie: The Incredibles 2. Spaghetti dinner at home - super al dente like we had in Rome and everyone liked it, even Adam. Then a dip in the pool since the sun was behind the trees. To bed!

Coving!

Had a blast on the boat today! We zipped around the lake, bounced on the waves, stopped for lots of swims, and the kids earned some sunburns.

Total lazy bums this afternoon and date night tonight.

Thru Sunday

After the pirate ship, we came back to the house and ventured into the little cove below us. It's not officially a swimming hole, but it's not officially not a swimming hole either. We brought the paddle board and 2 big blow up pool mattress-y things and had a ball. The waves from the boats wakes were a hit with the kids. And we only saw one snake. :)

Sunday, we swam in the pool twice, played mini golf and drove go karts. It was the kids' first time on go karts (glad that Adam looks 10) and they both loved it. We might have to go do it again before we leave. For the record, Laura won.

Dad showed up this evening! I'm so glad he could come. We fed him and hooked him up to the kids' Words with Friends accounts, so they can all play each other now.

Tomorrow, we have a pontoon rented for the morning and then tomorrow evening, Grandpa is hanging with the kids while Jim and I go out for dinner.

Ahoy Matey!

We started the Missouri lake vacay with the cheesiest of all tours - a pirate ship cruise. We all had a good time being silly. There were a few actors who started with a little show, then we boarded the boarded the pirate ship, made the bad guy walk the plank, rode over to the island and found treasure. It was cute and fun and a good intro to the lake. The kids got to steer the boat. Lunch was delicious at their affiliated restaurant and they brought a parrot by for us to hold. Maybe the kids are too old, but we had fun anyway. You're never too old to pretend, Laura keeps reminding me. We all need more joy in our lives :)

Mini golf