As Harper continues to get more and more comfortable with new people and situations, I am totally going look into her request for gymnastics class.  She has been practicing and practicing, and according to her brother has "mad skills".

Ummm, yeah. Totally can't do that!

Bennett went on a field trip today to the Skatin' Place.  It was his first time roller skating and playing laser tag - but not his first time in the arcade.  He loved each aspect of his trip, and will be booking his next birthday party at that venue.  He came home with sore knees, and the product above - and quickly created this commercial.

After dropping the kids (and only a few tears) I spent the day at school. I still have yet to meet anyone on my team - which is a bit unsettling, because I have a list of questions - but I did get a decent start on adding some color to the white white walls.

I still have one big empty corner, and  a bunch of details to buy (like for the sink "self help" station filled with band aids and Chapsticks and hand sanitizer), but it's coming along, I guess.

They can't go downstairs, Andy.  There is no wall to run around!

Micky and Phil taught Bbones how to make knots while at Rose.  They made slip knots and sailor's knots and some other kinds (but I may have quit paying attention to the knot dissertation on the way home...).  Upon arriving back in the burbs, Bennett quickly found the longest rope he could and knotted the it all up - over and over until it was perfecto.

Today, he moved on to making knot bracelets.  By combining the knowledge from his teachers, and the all-knowing youtub, Bennett used parachute cord to make some Green Bay Packer inspired bracelets.

They turned out pretty cool, and he plans to take orders - and knowing the little entrepreneur, will likely charge a fee.

Headed home from Rose, we had to make the obligatory stop at the Motley Icecream Silo.  If you have never been - you need to make it a priority to stop.  Not only is is great service, it's easily the best hard ice cream in the state.  (and, there is a rocket ship!)

With my camera back in working order - I of course - snapped a few pics.  This snapshot speaks to the exact personalities of Bennett and Harper. 

 

The boy with a waffle full of chocolate peanut butter explosion ("this is epic!!") and the girl with a cake cone topped with sweet cotton candy ("mama.  isn't it so pretty???"). Spot on.

The Cali cousins arrived earlier this week, and today we finally got to head north for visit. They spent some time visiting Grandma and Grandpa, and hit up the farmsteads and Pat and Darrell even stuck around to watch the Viking Day Parade.  The day was spent laughing and listening to stories.  When the West Coast and Midwest collide, it's definitley a picture worthy weekend.  So, where are all the pics??  Hmmm??  They would tell a better story... 

(Ok - I dropped our beloved iphones in the lake.  AP's is dead - and a replacement is on the way.  He was unexpectedly OK with losing his direct connection to work.  I was stunned by the lack of stress - especially considering my phone was on the fritz, too.  But, after a night in a bed of rice, and some quick internet suggestions, my phone will be up and running by tomorrow.  So, no pictures of our weekend, yet.  I'm hoping to pirate some from Cindy - who had her fancy camera and was snapping away...)