Laura's making dinner

Along with some other new chores, we added a special one for our big kid. Laura is responsible for one meal each weekend. Any meal, any menu, and it must include fire (cooking). 

She has been amazing! We're not just talking Mac n cheese from a box (though that would be perfectly acceptable). The first day, she made empenadas and they were incredible! Beautiful and delicious! Other amazing selections over the weeks have included pasta with your choice of cheese sauce or marinara, dinner rolls, Tikka masala rice, sweet naan, mashed potatoes, potato pancakes, roasted carrots and a beautiful spinach salad. The girl is putting me to shame! It's been really cool to see her tackle big things, learn along the way, and have a beautiful meal to be proud of at the end. 

Same shirt, different weekend :)

Summer play

Laura was in another play, this one Midsummer Nights Dream. I wasn't sure how they would make a kid's version of it, but they did such a good job. Laura had a comic roll. She was the tailor who plays the moon in a play inside the play. She did great. Even when the prop broke (see the video at the end).

Catch up!

Here's some pictures I know I wanted to post from last spring and summer, but don't think I ever got around to it. If there are duplicates, oh well. 

These beautiful ladies had just played in their spring band concert and were celebrating with ice cream. 

(Laura, Angie, and Jasmine)

Same :)

Laura got to be in the zoo band last spring. They went to Como Zoo, played for a bit, then played in Como town & the zoo. It's her first time to use a lyre!

My phone has so fun affects that the kids find amusing

Laura had fun making war paint with chalk one day. 

Also, a Bob Ross painting out of chalk

I attempted to sleep in Adam's loft bed. That's the ceiling you see.

I didn't make it. I think it was the heat if I remember right. Adam loves it.

Laura's been playing with my hair a lot lately.

So, I played with hers

The kids had a jam session

Jim and I went out on a date

Ava and I lounged in the sun

We met Kim in La Crosse and found a pool of course

Pretty view of La Crosse

Laura stylin'

smoochy face

Mississippi river

Cool fountain into the Mississippi river outside the Eagle Center

I have no explanation 

Eating pizza while walking thru the canals.

Soft boiled eggs are my fav

Ava dug herself a cool spot

My lilac is also my fav

We will never know

Squirrel!

Adam started band!

Laura got braces

She's handling them beautifully

Laura and Jim hung up our new kayak (thank you David and Linda!)

We love you, Jim

Rusty's doing great

Ava's getting old and wise.  But still derpy.

Huh.

'nother date, or maybe the same one?

Crabs really love their hamster wheel

I got a Mary Kay makeover

Jim and I went to a concert

amazing weather!

mini-ninjas

And fun with an old game