Last Day of Fun Before School Starts...

Our last beautiful day before Ava started 1st grade, we decided to take off to Sioux Falls and have a family fun day.  We first went to Great Plains Zoo where the kids enjoyed all the animals.  Then we followed it up with Thunder Road.  Who doesn't love go-carts and bumper boats?  It was an awesome day and we all had so much fun in the sunshine!

Ava's Room Move...

 We converted the toy room into Ava's bedroom.  This was her room as a baby until almost 3 years old, and then when Owen was born, we converted it into the toy room so the kids' rooms would be together on the other side of the house.

 Ava had been asking for a while to do something about the sleeping situation since Owen was waking her up a lot.  He would often get up and open her door very early in the morning, or be up in the night crying and that would wake her.  We decided due to those reasons in addition to the fact that she was outgrowing her old room, to let her move into the toy room.

 Her old room is quite a bit smaller than her new room.  We had to go through all the toys and donate some to make room.  While her new room felt huge, she was able to fill it up with all of her American Girl stuff, stuffed animals, and books. She loves to have lots of "stuff" so this extra space will come in handy.  

 It was a family affair getting everything moved and painting both rooms.  The lime green went away for a new turquoise color.  

 This is Ava in her old room across from Owen which is now the toy room and painted gray.

A Visit to Lake Shatek & Msc Pics from July....

 Heather & Gavin

 All the kids and Jill who was gracious enough to bring them all swimming.

 Brad & Owen braving the chilly waters, the older kids are all on the swimming dock in the background.

 Ken, Kelli & kids, Mark, Heather & Gavin, and our family

 Picking vegetables from the garden...kids absolutely loved the garden!  They were very good at pulling weeds and were careful to ask to make sure it was a weed!  They especially loved when it was time to pick!  Beans were a highlight as we had a never ending crop all summer long!

Daddy & Owen "shaving"

Arnolds Park Day with the Sieve's....

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We enjoyed a beautiful day down at Okoboji with Gary, Joyce, Joe, Lori, and James.  We ate at Maxwell's Cafe outside, then rode rides at Arnolds Park which the kids loved, and ended the day with a ride on the Queen.  It was an awesome day!  We always enjoy our days down at the lakes!