Happy Summer Solstice!

I had a hard time getting up and exercising this morning. I just wanted to snuggle.  None of us may get as much sleep as we are used to sleeping side by side, but we are getting in some tender quiet moments before we are jolted into our day.  I managed to get up and bike ride this morning.  The goal: thirty minute ride, without getting lost, and find a church.  Our host said I would have no trouble finding a church in this area.  In fact I came across five churches in the span of a five minutes.  I even came across an Immanuel Lutheran, the same name of the church where I was married almost twelve years ago in Crystal Lake.  The Immanuel Lutheran Church here is across the street from a favorite park we have been to before. I may have been called a “Jesus Junkie” a few times for mentioning that I want to go to church while on our trip, but as long as I don’t make anyone else go everyone is okay with me going.  I’m looking forward to a new experience.  The only drawback, I forgot to pack some dressy clothes, so jeans will have to be my dressy wear.  The good news is if I offend anyone I won’t have to see them again!

Scott and I did tag-team exercise.  Once I came home he went out for a ride. When I came back from my ride the kids were playing ice cream man. Cody loves when I make noises while I am pretending to eat the ice cream. I “ate” his ice cream and then I tried to eat him.  “You can’t eat me.  I am the ice cream man!”  Brooke loves to pretend, but then snaps to reality awfully quickly if I don’t play by her unwritten rules. I tried to pay for my “cookie dough, mint chocolate chip, rainbow sherbet ice cream” with a five dollar bill pretending it was a $20 bill.  Suddenly the pretend session ended. A $5 bill was not a $20 bill.  My kids are usually up by 7 and ready to roll.  Our host’s kids are ready to roll closer to 10.  My kids were getting bored and started to beat Ed to a pulp. He is the kids’ favorite pile-on-adult.  In hopes of giving the other kids more time to sleep we slipped out to the park.  If you are ever in the area I highly recommend the Miracle League Ball Field and Park.

Brooke loved the question wheel/ fortune teller.  It is similar to an eight ball.  You just ask a question, spin the spinner, and wait for your answer.

Brooke decided to play restaurant when we returned.  I ordered a mini-chef salad and some pizza. The mini-chef salad was taken off the menu promptly after ordering.  The chef decided it was too much work.  Scott discovered one of the kitchen pots had a sticker that proclaimed, “For pretend use only.”  Bummer.  We were really hoping to make some dinner in the four inch diameter pot.

Scott and I split my salad from Lambert’s dinner last night for lunch.  One salad created three meals.

After lunch we headed to the Bass Pro Shop.  Cody and I had never been before.  It was quite the experience.

Alligators at the Bass Pro Shop.  The kids loved watching the alligators.  We hopped in and out of every single boat there.  Cody pressed every button there was to press.  He didn’t even have time to smile for a picture.

Brooke and Cody were very excited to see quads again.  The Bass Pro Shop had water falls, multiple fish pools, turtles, alligators, a museum on archery, and bears.  The kids started to tire and we relaxed on some chairs for a little bit.

Scott and Brooke had great fun teasing me about the bears everywhere.  Allstate was advertised everywhere for boating insurance.  Scott decided to get in a little work and promote Allstate on the road.  “You’re in good hands!”

We are warming up the barbeque for dinner and heading to Andy’s Ice Cream after dinner.

Since there is not as much driving time these last few days and I am enjoying myself so much I am struggling with getting posts together.  Only two more nights to sleep in luxury!