Ten on Tuesdsay.

1. We are in the midst of a true heatwave here. Two things that keep me cool: frozen grapes (I froze 2 bags on Sunday), and water bottles full of ice water. I can sit out there til the cows come home with a bottle filled with ice and water. Once the ice is gone, I'm done.

2. This is our last week of summer. School starts a week from today. Why on earth does it have to go so fast? I guess we're as ready as we're going to get, by which I mean we've sharpened the required 60 pencils.

3. This morning we took advantage of the hot weather and stayed home. Ha! We watched Epic, made Buckwheat Krispie Treats and Frozen Salted Chocolate Banana Bites. Yum!

4. It's too hot to run. I have no problem with running in five degrees, but running in 85 or 95 is completely out of the question.

5. I feel like the kids and I are torn between doing a lot of nothing this week and a lot of stuff. I think nothing is winning out. I see Alla with her nose in the third Benedict Society book, and Fisher constantly playing outside (95 does not bother him), and I have to remind myself that they are happy doing those things, that we don't have to fill up our (last) days with going, going, going. A slowdown might ease us into the school year.

6. That said, I'm sure we have one beach day left in us, maybe a cool morning for us to canoe.

7. Just.one.more.thing.

8. If I'm being honest, it will be more of this. Thanks, Buddy, for capturing what I do best.

 

9. The kids got to see the Okee Dokees at the fair this past weekend, but they played an even longer, less hot show last week, and we stuck around for a picnic lunch and a photo with the greatest Minnesota band.

10. My favorite part of the fair, and it's always over in 10.3 seconds? The Giant Slide!!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. Though I am in no way a heat-loving person, I went out of my way not to complain about the 90s when they visited in July, because they're good for a beach day, and also it gets quite cold here and we try and stockpile sunshine while we can. Anyway, apparently I was so welcoming in July that the good old 90s are back this week! Woo!

2. Yesterday we celebrated with a late afternoon at the beach. Two hours of Alla trying to catch a fish.

3. Today we celebrated summer's heat with our first trip to Como Pool. The pool has a way-cool zipline that Alla got up the nerve to try three times!

4. Two weeks from now we enter school mode. I'm not thinking about it.

5. The kids won a gift card to Creative Kidstuff last week so I think we might take a break from being in the heat tomorrow and venture over to pick it up and spend it. Alla had her eye on a fairy cape, and I'm sure Fisher will find a Lego set of some sort.

6. This weekend is the State Fair!

7. It's still supposed to be in the 90s!

8. Alla has embraced The Mysterious Benedict Society series, and as she's now on the second book, I am reading the first. Definitely for Harry Potter lovers.

9. From the Famer's Market today: rainbow carrots, three-color green beans, cucumbers, and big tomatoes. I only grow the cherry variety in our garden, and now I'm thinking some bacon is in order!

10. Had this delightful summer meal tonight: zucchini and corn taco seasoned quinoa - a favorite of mine and Ron's, and edible for the kids - win!

Ten on Tuesday.

1. I'm thinking everyone is dying to see pics from our trip to California, so since I haven't even plugged in my camera yet, you're stuck with iPhone pics. Here we are on the way to the wedding of Renee and Will! Kids in the backseat...Mom and Dad up front.

 

                  

2. Full length, minus Fisher's suit jacket. Sorry, you can't have them, they're mine.

3. Boys in the limo.

4. Girls in the limo.

5. The following are a series of photos taken by my iPhone camera obsessed children who walked around the reception like a bunch of crazies with iPhones.

6. Aunt Ronna and Keila.

7. Oh look, there is one of the crazies. This was in the first 5 minutes that there were any exposures left on any of the disposable cameras.

8. I love this one!

9. A little shot from the bachelorette wine festivities.

10. That's it for wedding iPhone pics, but if you want to see photographs, as in taken with my actual camera, head over to J.J. Killins Photography for a recent summery session!