Fourth of July

 

 

Daddy and fur-sissy stayed with us

the week of the Fourth

at the Lake Minnebelle cabin.
 

 

We had good weather for:
 

boat rides

kayaking

walks
swinging
swimming
naps

and fireworks!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Flower Girl

 

 

Daddy & fur-sissy flew into town.

They didn't arrive until late

but Sara stayed up

and went with mommy to pick them up.

 

She was thrilled to see them both!

 

That weekend,

Sara was the flower girl

in her uncle Alex's wedding.

 

There were approx. 300 guests

and the aisle was long,

but she walked the entire way

with the ring bear!

 

Mommy cried.

 

She had fun dancing with daddy

at the reception.

 

Alex and Jessica gave her

a bracelet, necklace, and minnie mouse!

 

 

 

 



Como Zoo

 

 

We took off first thing in the AM

and met our Boll cousins

at the Como Zoo in St. Paul.

 

It down poured once we arrived.

Luckily, it was lunch time.

 

We found shelter in the Como Zoo cafe

and ordered a bite to eat.

 

Once we finished eating,

the sun was out and it was hot and muggy.

 

Sara LOVED watching the polar bear.

He swam back and forth

right in front of Sara.

Her mouth was wide open in awe.

 

After visiting the other animals,

the older cousins had a blast on the rides.

Sara napped in her stroller.

 

 

 

 

At the end of the day,

the kids put on their swim suits

and played on the splash pad.

 

 

 

 

Once we returned to Hudson,

Sara was still awake

so I treated her to the Wisconsin Mac 'n Cheese

at Noodles & Company.

 

My favorite - and hers now too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Play date with Eli

 

 

After breakfast with Esmae,

we met up with our friend Eli

for a play date at the splash pad.

 

It was a hot summer day.

Perfect for water fun.

 

This was Sara's first time

at a splash pad.

She is a big fan!

 

 

 

 

 

Sara & Eli still weren't sure

how to play together

but I'm sure they will be best of friends

just like their mommies.

 

 



Breakfast with Esmae

 

 

One of our first outings in MN

was to meet our newest cousin

Esmae Marie Boll.

 

 

 

We met at the Original Pancake House.

Sara loved seeing "the baby".

 

Esmae is a beauty

and she didn't even cry once!

 

I'm happy Sara has Esmae

to get into trouble with in the future.

 

Like her mommy did with Esmae's daddy!

 

 

 



NC to MN Road trip

 

 

This summer

Sara & I decided to take

an extended trip to MN/WI.

 

We asked Nana (Matt's mom)

if she'd be wiling to go

on a cross country adventure

with us.

 

She agreed

and flew out to Charlotte.

We had a couple days to play

before we hit the road.

 

We drove from our house

to Crawfordsville, IN.

Approximately 9 hours!

 

Sara was a great traveler.

Mommy drove while Nana entertained.

 

In the morning,

we took off after breakfast

and made it all the way to Hudson, WI.

 

We had a quick pitstop in Eau Claire, WI

to play with Sara's friend Lucy Kabat.

 

Mommy & Nana

were both impressed by Sara.

 

She is a

go-with-the-flow

type of girl.

 

 

 

 



Saying Goodbye

 

 

Sara & I took an impromptu trip

back to Minnesota

a couple weeks earlier

than we had planned.

 

 

 

 

It was good to see family,

despite the circumstances.

 

Sara was a nice distraction for everyone.

 

 

 

 

We also decided that Sara

looks an awful lot like her namesake.

And they both LOVED books.

 

So special.

 

 

Despite some allergies for both

Sara and Mommy

(see swollen eyes below),

and a three hour delay in Chicago

during our return flight,

our visit went quite smoothly.

 

 

Sara is a wonderful little traveler.

 

 

 

 

French fries help with

long delays at the airport.

 

 

 

RIP Uncle Art.

Your suffering is over.