A Day With a Niece and Nephew (07/31/22)

Today Greg and I spent the day at Bunker Beach, a local water park, with Allison and Rylar, our niece and nephew. Allison will turn 12 years old next month and Rylar will turn 11 years old in December. They both wanted to go to Bunker Beach for their birthday activity this year. Allison has been there a couple times, but this was Rylar's first time. 

We had a fun day there. Greg and Rylar spent most of the day riding the water slides together, and Allison and I spent most of the day floating on the Lazy Loop. When we weren't doing that we all spent time together jumping waves in the Wave Pool, which is pictured behind in us in the following photos. 

We all had a great day together! Happy early birthday to you both. Your Uncle and Aunt love you!

Cookie Baking Night (07/25/2022)

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Carissa, Allison, Rylar, Enzo, and Abigail. 

Tonight we enjoyed the fruits of Greg's labor and put our new oven element to use by making chocolate chip cookies. 

We played a new game tonight called "Happy Salmon". It's very active for a card game and the kids seemed to like it. 

A couple Cookie Baking Nights ago was Carissa's "graduation" night. We'll still see her from time to time in alumni status. All of the older kids who have come through Cookie Baking Nights made a fleece blanket many years ago. They used it whenever we watched movies together. I told them they could take it home when they "graduated". Carissa got her blanket tonight. I think she was about 8 years old when she made hers. 

Another Cookie Baking Night has come and gone, and another little birdie has flown the nest (always welcome to return). 

As usual, a fun time was had by all. 

A Day With A Niece 07/16/2022

Today, Carissa and I spent the day together to celebrate her 17th birthday (which happened a couple weeks ago). After the nieces and nephews turn 8 years old, we give them the choice of receiving a gift from us for their birthday OR doing an activity with us. Since the time she was old enough to choose, Carissa has always chosen the activity. The other kids usually like to choose an activity themselves, but Carissa always lets me choose it. Much of the time, it's some variation of she and I driving around in the car together for the day with stops along the way (often there are surprise visits from Uncle Greg along the way, though that didn't happen this time). 

This year, we went on a "chocolate shop tour". 

First we visited Abdullah candy store in Apple Valley. Abdullah is a local candy maker. They sell their products in many grocery stores and craft shops throughout the state. This is their one retail store in the state, and it's worth the trip. 

We had lunch at "The Smoothie Cafe" in Savage. Her mom told me she had been to one when they were on vacation in Florida, and she really enjoyed it. I kept our lunch destination a secret until we arrived there. She was very excited when we pulled into the parking lot. 

Since we were already on the southern end of things, we kept going and visited the Largest Candy Store in Minnesota, which is in Jordan. It is a sight to behold, and it earns its name. 

   

That candy store had an old fashioned photo booth (with old fashioned prices). It was $2.00 for two strips of pictures (in color), one for each of us. We couldn't pass up that deal. We had fun doing it, as you might have noticed. 

We finished the day at one of my favorite chocolate shops, the Droolin' Moose, also a local shop. We didn't take a picture there, but we did have a fun time. 

While we were driving around all day, between stops, Carissa and I played the game "Things" It's a card game that's usually played with a group of people, but I've always used the cards from the game as conversation starters when I have teenagers in the car with me. Carissa and I have played it during our past mini adventures. We pick a card and then take turns trying to name as many things we can think of that match that card until we run out of ideas. 

Some of the cards we drew were: things that no one knows about you, things you were wrong about, things that don't go together, things that are hard to measure, things you wish you were good at, things that are not true, etc. 

We had a lot of great conversation around these simple little cards. It's a nonthreatening way to have a conversation that goes a little deeper than "So, what did you do yesterday?

It was a great day together. Happy Birthday Carissa! You are loved by your Aunt and Uncle. 

Cookie Baking Night 07/11/2022

 Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Allison, Rylar, Enzo, and Abigail. 

The heating element in our oven went out last night, so tonight's treats were of the unbaked variety.

We made finger Jello (Knox Blox as we called them when I was growing up). I made the Jello ahead of time, and the kids cut it into shapes with cookie cutters. We also made Rice Krispies bars. 

It appears we spent more time doing the activities of Cookie Baking Night than we did taking pictures of it tonight. 

When the fun was over and the house was still, Uncle Greg did the quiet work he does everyday to take care of our family. Tonight that included fixing the oven. Heating element installed. We're back in business. Thank you Uncle Greg!

Cookie Baking Night (06/28/2022)

Tonight is Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Carissa, Allison, Rylar, Enzo, Abigail, and special alumni guest, Ethan. Tonight is Carissa's Cookie Baking Night graduation. In a few short days, she will turn 17 years old. She is, of course, welcome to continue attending Cookie Baking Nights, but this allows us a chance to celebrate the time she's had here, and it gives her a little freedom as she moves into the busy year ahead as she soon will start her senior year of high school. 

It is also her birthday choice. For supper, she chose Mac&Cheese, hash browns, and raspberries. For her "cookie" this evening she chose a classic, dirt cups. 

It's not a graduation night without a graduation cap and picture boards. 

Since Ethan (now 19) was joining us this evening, he read us our Bible lesson from the Jesus Storybook Bible. 

For the first time this summer, we took a walk to the local gas station and picked up a treat. 

The fourteen years that Carissa has been with us at Cookie Baking Nights has gone by quickly. We have enjoyed them and look forward to watching her grow into the young woman God plans for her to be. 

Come back and visit us soon, Carissa. 

Another Cookie Baking Night and another Cookie Night Graduation has come and gone. As usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night 06/13/22

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Carissa, Allison, Rylar, Enzo, and Abigail. 

Tonight we made two different treats. In honor of Uncle Greg's upcoming birthday, we made one of his favorite treats, butterscotch marshmallow squares.

Because it is getting warmer outside, we went with treats that don't require the use of an oven. Our second treat was Chex bars, which is the complete opposite of Uncle Greg's favorite (more like his kryptonite), but they don't contain coconut, so they are a little more the kids' speed (sometimes you have to compromise).

Bible Time: We're still working through The Jesus Storybook Bible. Tonight we read "Filled Full" from Matthew 13, Mark 6, and Luke 9 as well as "Treasure Hunt" from Matthew 13.

We also played a game we haven't played for quite awhile. It's called the "Books of the Bible Cup Game" (the title is a work in progress). This game isn't on the market currently. But if you have access to some cheap plastic cups and a label maker, you too could own this game. I came up with this game several years ago in an effort to teach the children the books of the Bible. We've played it sporadically throughout the years. 

It's pretty simple. There are 66 cups. Each cup has the name of a book of the Bible on it. 

We divided into two teams and split the cups up into "Old Testament" books and "New Testament" books. 

I called out the books of the Bible from the Old and New Testament and each team had to find the books, run them down to the other side of the yard, and line them up in order. 

Can you guess who the main runner was for the Old Testament team? 

We ended the evening with a lively game of "Headbanz". Since it's very close to Uncle Greg's birthday, we let him choose the game tonight. 

Blocks are a little more Abigail's speed at this point in her life. When I brought them out, a delighted "Ooooooo" escaped from her lips. 

Another Cookie Baking Night has come and gone and, as usual, a fun time was had by all. 

Cookie Baking Night 05/23/2022

 Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Carissa, Allison, Rylar, Enzo, and Abigail. Tonight, we made sugar cookies and strawberry mousse. 

Enzo and Rylar cut rolled out the dough and cut them out with a cookie cutter. 

Carissa spread melted butter on the dough and Allison and Abigail sprinkled them with sugar. 

To make the strawberry mousse, we cut up strawberries and added them to whipped cream. 

Then we spooned the mousse into plastic cups and topped them with a fresh strawberry. 

We ended the evening by rolling down the hill in the backyard. 

This is what we call the teenager version of "rolling down the hill". 

Another Cookie Baking Night has come and gone and, as usual, a fun time was had by all (even the teenagers).