Emmy's fun with Kate and Grandma

Emmy went to the ranch and the Shrek play with Grandma and Kate.  She loves Kate and enjoys her time with Grandma and Kate.  Bobby and I had guests over in our new pool - Jill Stenberg and her kids Charlie, Lexi, Eli.

Eckert pool is open!

This past weekend our cousins from Chicago and Uncle Kyle came over along with my parents and the Moldenhauer family for some swim time since our pool is finally complete.  It was cold out (74 deg) but that didn't stop them.  Adam was the first person to jump in the pool.  Everyone had a great time and the pool has had people in it every day since.  Today my friend Jill is bringing her kids and the next day I have some girlfriends coming over to catch up!

Summer fun and heading to the fair

 We went to the ND State fair over the weekend.  The kids got painted at a booth where Emmy chose a rainbow on her cheek but Bobby chose an ice cream cone on his arm.  We looked at all kinds of farm animals.  Bobby likes to talk to the animals in a low voice which is very funny.

 Emmy asked me to take some photos of her here and later on the kids picked slushies for a treat.

They both rode in the tea cups but chose separate cups to ride in (Bobby had to ride in the orange cup).  I was nervous that they were riding apart but it went just fine.

 Bobby is shorter than Emmy and so he didn't qualify to ride all of the same rides she went on due to height restrictions.  Robb and I separated so that I could go with Bobby and Emmy could go with him.

There was an obstacle course there that Bobby went on about 30 times....over and over again.  There was running, climbing, sliding and I couldn't believe he wasn't worn out after all the times he went on it.  Then he found a dino ride with a steering wheel that he loved.  Other people came up to me to tell me how cute he was since he was giggling and had a big smile on his face.  He did this ride multiple times as well before he headed back for another 5 times on that obstacle course.  Emmy joined him for some of these reps and she really had fun too. 

 On the way to the hotel we had one tired boy on our hands...fell asleep within 5 minutes of the ride to hotel.  The hotel had a huge water park with three big water slides. At first I had to talk Bobby into going down the slide with me.  Robb went with Gpa Kelly and Uncle Chad to have a drink so it was just Aunt Stacy, Cam, Mason, Gma Launa and I at the water park.  Emmy and Mason had no fear and went down the slides continuously holding hands as they walked up the MANY stairs to the top.  Bobby and I took our first ride and he was hooked.  I ended up getting talked into about 30 more trips.  He kept saying "One more time mommy" and when I would tell him we'd already went one more he would say "two more times mommy"  Over an hour passed and it was way past bed time so I promised him more slides tomorrow.  The next morning after breakfast Robb took him down another 30 times and of course Emmy and Mason couldn't get enough of those slides either.  We then headed to Cassidy's wedding in Velva.  It was extremely windy and off and on rain but we toughed it out and the kids were pretty good during the long day and evening there.  I got some great pictures.  Emmy had the idea of both giving mom a kiss and it turned out to be one of my favorite pictures ever.

 Emmy went with her cousin Kate and Gma Launa to the ranch yesterday and Bobby was really missing his sister.  When I picked him up at school he was crying to his teacher that he wanted his sister.  I talked him into helping me pick out swimming toys since our pool is now finished and promised him a special day.  We went to Orange Leaf and he picked out his favorite flavor then we headed to the park.  He was a good date and I think I took his mind off missing his sister.  He did find her a water canon at the store he thought she had to have though.

Our little fish

 The kids have been in a pool every day this week.  We went to the water park with the Groetkens and Moldenhauer families.  Then I went to the kids' swimming lessons this week.  Bobby was right at home in the pool and Emmy was busy diving, doing floats, and doing the "chicken, airplane, soldier" swimming otherwise known as the backstroke.  She has really gotten great at swimming and since our pool should be done in the next few days this is a very good thing this summer.  My little fish were pretty excited to see me there!

Bobby's favorite show is Ninja turtles and so I got him a costume that he now would like to wear forever.  He is much cuter than the ninja turtles but his ninja moves are much better wearing the outfit!

A fun day with the kids

Mom is back from Peru and so we spent some time swimming in the pool.  Bobby was only naughty a few times....one being when I told him to stay out of the big pool during rest period. I turned my back for a second to get Emmy a snack and next thing I knew the lifeguard was blowing his whistle at Bobby to get out of the pool.  Yup, that's my kid!  We did the walk of shame out of the pool once I retrieved him.  He is very brave this year and is swimming in the deep end with his life jacket on.  Emmy is a pro swimmer and I don't worry much about where she is since her swimming skills are excellent.  After swimming we played at the park and then the kids picked out treats at DQ.  Bobby wanted a smoothie and Emmy chose a chocolate dipped cone that they both shared with me.

Peru

U Mary sent me to Peru to scout clinical and service opportunities with Msr. Shea, the Dean of SHS and the VP of academic affairs.  It was amazing and the 3 full days I spent there were very busy.  I am sure I will be back and I plan to bring family so they can experience the culture and people as I did.  It was an exhausting but very rewarding trip.