Pray Ball!

Yesterday was an adventure! 

60 or so of us from the parish, including our pastor had a day we called Pray Ball! We started with Mass at 6:30 am. (Yes, it was early. But Jesus.) 

I took no pictures of the Mass. But it happened, I promise. 

Then we caravaned to Milwaukee, about 3.5 hours away. We had all pre-purchased parking passes and parked very close to one another. Because we tailgated. It was kinda rainy. But it was okay! 

Then we went inside to find our seats for the Cubs vs. Brewers game. 

In the interest of full disclosure, we went with a whole bunch of Cubs fans. Even our pastor is very big into the Cubs. As for me and my house, we were rooting for blue. (Both teams have blue.) We aren't big baseball people. 

So why did we go on this crazy adventure? Because we also try to expose the kids to things that we, Husband and I, aren't big on. We take them to lots of museums, concerts, and theatre because that's what we enjoy. And the kids enjoy that too. But how will we know they aren't big baseball fans if they've never been to an MLB game? 

And going to an MLB game with friends is a fun way to do that. 

We are very glad for the experience. I probably enjoy baseball the most in the family, and I had a nice time rooting for everyone. Having no bias towards a winner makes sports a lot easier! 

It was nice that the Cubs won. (For our friends!) And at 10-3 it was a very fun game to watch really. Lots going on. I enjoyed that 2 of the Brewers' points were home runs because then Bernie, their mascot, slides down a slide and waves a flag. 

There was a Cubs home run too, right at the start. That was exciting! 

And the very last pitch broke a bat which is also kind of fun to watch! 

After the game, it was still really very rainy. And it took an incredibly long time to get out of the parking lot. And then we still had the 3.5-hour drive home that was almost entirely in the rain. 

I was bummed because there was meant to be another tailgate for pizza after the game, but we kiboshed that because of the rain. So, of course, all I can think about is pizza right now. 

But we are still glad that we went! We enjoyed our time together, our time with Jesus, and our time with our friends. Pray Ball 2025 was a little bit wet but a whole lot of fun! 

And that concludes our family's July adventures. But don't worry, August still has some fun up its sleeve before school starts. 

The Weekend

 So it was Christmas in July, and we went to pick up the kids! 

They changed up the parent program, and I liked it! Less bugs. Less anticipation of seeing your kid right there without being able to grab on to them. 

We got our kids! It was so nice to see them! M burst into tears when she hugged me for the third year in a row. I get the complicated feelings like that, I did that too back in the day. It's a combination of happy and sad and love. 

After we loaded them up and hit the road, they opened some presents. (Not big things!)

And we listened to some Christmas tunes all the way to my parents' house. 

We got there late, like 9:00. Both kids showered and were checked for ticks--found none! We started the camp laundry and went to bed early. 

Saturday was mostly chill at the house. Until the evening when Husband and I went out for the main event... Hanson! How can I pass up a chance to see them, my well-established favorite, for FREE! They were part of Rib Fest. 

We got brisket instead of ribs. And Husband regrets it. He didn't love the BBQ sauce. 

We bought M a shirt.

So there was a Heat Advisory. And I was definitely feeling it. About halfway through the concert, I gave up my amazing center standing seat for a seat sitting in the bleachers. I have no regrets. 

It wasn't my favorite set list I've heard from them. No "Crazy Beautiful" and I still haven't heard "Against the World" live, which is my current goal. But I enjoyed seeing them and spending time with Husband. A nice end cap to our week by ourselves. 

To be fair, the kids were allowed to come with us to Rib Fest/Hanson, and they declined. They were sick of being hot. 

Here's a MN thing that made me happy. The porta-potties were Biffs!

Growing up, it was the only porta-potty company I knew. So much so that it because vernacular. 

"I'm going to go to the Biffy!" "Someone tipped over the Biff." "Where are the Biffs?" you get the point. 

Even now, I have to stop myself from calling all porta-potties that. So it made me happy to see them. And Husband thought I was a nutter for taking a picture. 

Yesterday we made Amish Friendship Bread before we left. It's like the chain letter of baked goods. I thought it was gross. But I had been "mushing" the bag for 10 days and so felt obligated to make the bread and take a picture to show my friends. 

Then on the drive home, the kids were thrilled to get two different tiny McDonald's toys. 

And now we are home! Until our next adventure! 

Off At Camp

This week the kids have been at Camp! Here's some pics of my two having fun! Thanks, camp photographer!

We actually don't get them back until this afternoon, but I can tell from my notes from them and these pictures that they are having a great time. I think the most fun they've ever had at camp! 

Camp was a very big part of my life when I was growing up, and I am so glad we can let our kids have this experience. 

M was initially very mad at me because this year, I made the decision that they were not going to camp with their friends. In fact, last week there were 5 of her friends in the exact same cabin she is in this week. But part of the magic of camp is figuring out who you are without the preconceived notions of your friends from home. This was her 4th year going to camp. We did a short 2-night, with friends at our practice camp, then 2 years at this camp to get the lay of the land. She was ready for her own experience. 

And she really did have a good time. This was her Wednesday note, where per the multiple-choice questions I asked, she indicated that camp was more fun than last year. 

If you want the rest of the translated answers:

• The salad bar (she is my picky eater but actually loves a salad) was good. 
• Something other than canoeing, sleeping, and capture the flag has been her favorite activity.
• She has been to the art yurt (her favorite space) So many times. 

I can't wait to hear more but I am so thankful for them to have had time with new friends, nature, and Jesus this week. 

As we waited to drop them off we listened to a summer camp classic. Yes my car screen is dusty. I swear I dust it multiple times a week and it doesn't seem to matter! 

I am excited to see them and thrilled that the week, from what we can glean from some notes and pictures, was a success! 

All the Summer Things I Haven't Shared.

So in between and before VBS/Dino Digs/Indianapolis/Totus Tuus, there were other things our family did. Here's a little recap from June until now!

Our kids were in Camp rock the Musical. C was a Camp Star-er. M was a Camp Rocker. 

And friends came to see the show, and it was really great. 

I went to a string art class with my mom! We had a nice time, though I am really bad at pounding nails. 

M had her follow-up echo. I think she is good. The doctor would like to run some different kinds of tests to check on some other things, but we decided to hold off for a while since we aren't worried. 

I went out with my friend and ordered the jumbo margarita that was on special. It was massive. And I couldn't finish. BUT they had to go containers that factory seal so I brought most of it home to Husband which worked out incredibly well!

We literally never go to Wal-Mart but decided to go on a family adventure to Wal-Mart but like a small town little Wal-Mart, and it was quite delightful, actually. It was very much empty and we just browsed. 

4th of July was the most low-key. In the best way. 

We had red, white, and blue Jello. We had our traditional glow stick fireworks on TV party. 

It was delightful. 

This past few days the kids went to my parent's. 

Husband and I went to see a show. 

3 of my cousin's kids stopped over to visit. They live in North Carolina so don't get to MN often. 

C is the baby baby in this picture. And the blonde kid is another cousin's son who wasn't at my parents and obviously M wasn't born when this pic was taken. But still. 

C went on a fishing trip with my dad. 

M got to go to iHop with my mom. 

Husband and I went to a card-making class, and it was fun!

M also got to go to a fishing pier with my dad. She didn't catch anything, though. 

And today is a normal day, and we're all at home together. But that's the other update on what we've been up to this summer that I haven't already written about.