Swimming Lessons

Kyler and Norah took swimming lessons again at The Falls this summer.  We did the third session at the end of July/beginning of August.  Norah had a great experience with swimming lessons.  She did the class where I got in with her, and she had a great time.  She did everything the teacher asked her to do, including going under the water one day!  This was her first time doing swimming lessons, and she really enjoyed it.  Kyler had an okay experience this year.  This was Kyler's second year doing lessons, and last year he did the class where I got in with him, and this year he did the next level up, so I did not get in with him.  He went the first day and did great, then we were going in Minneapolis for two days, and when we came back he had a substitute teacher, and that didn't go over very well.  Then on Friday of that week lessons were cancelled.  The next week was better, and he did a good job the rest of the time, but just needs to work on putting his face in the water and going under.  I think part of it is just that he needs to be around the pool and being in the water more.  The only pictures I have from swimming lessons are Kyler going off the diving board. :)

Walking out...

In the water!  He wasn't so sure about this, but I'm glad he did it. :)

Grace's 9 Month Pictures

About a week after Grace turned 9 months, we were able to snap a few 9 months pictures of her!  I think they turned out pretty good. :)

And because you can't take pictures of just one kid….. :)

Minnesota Zoo and Twins Game

A couple weeks after we got home from the cabin, we headed North again!  This time we stopped in Minneapolis though. :)  We left on a Monday afternoon and headed to The Cities.  We checked into our hotel, and then grabbed some dinner and then got settled in for the night.  Tuesday morning we got up and headed to the Minnesota Zoo.  We enjoyed a fun morning seeing all of the different animals at the zoo.  Another cool thing at the zoo this year was the Big Bugs exhibit.  They had huge life-sized bugs that moved, shot out smoke or made noises.  Kyler thought the bugs were really cool, but Norah wasn't so sure. :)  One disappointing thing about the zoo was that there were no giraffes this year.  Norah was really looking forward to seeing the giraffes, but when we got to the zoo, their exhibit wasn't even on the map anymore. :(  After the zoo, we headed back towards our hotel to get some lunch and take naps.  When the kids got up from their naps, we changed our clothes and got ready to go out to dinner.  Just as the kids were getting up from their naps, my parents pulled into the parking lot of the hotel.  They had come down from the cabin to hang out with us on Tuesday night and Wednesday.  We all got ready to go to dinner and then headed out!  We were meeting one of my good friends from high school and her husband who live in the Minneapolis area.  It was so fun to see my friend Lindsay and her husband.  We enjoyed a wonderful dinner with them, as well as my parents.  It was really nice to catch up with them and spend the evening together.  After dinner, we headed back to the hotel for the night.

On Wednesday, we got up and ate breakfast, checked out of the hotel and then loaded up to head to Target Field for the Minnesota Twins game.  This was of course one of the main reasons we planned this trip! ;)  We got to the stadium pretty early so that Kyler and Erik could watch batting practice and try to catch a ball and get an autograph, but no such luck! :(  The game started at 12:00, and it was a beautiful day for it.  Our seats were shaded and on the isle (Erik did this on purpose of course!), so it was perfect.  They even had a mom's nursing room so I could go feed Grace!  Kyler loved the game, and sat and watched the whole time, and Norah did pretty good, but needed to get up and down a few times. :)  It was awesome to have my parents at the game with us to help out with the kids.  We actually made it to the end of the game, as it went pretty fast and was over by about 3:00.  After the game, we loaded up in the van and dropped my parent's off back at the hotel.  Then we headed home!  (With a short stop at the outlet mall of course) :)  This is the second year we have done this trip, and it has been such a fun little tradition, I'm sure it's going to continue next year!  Here are some pictures from our trip!

Checking out the otters

They were swimming around right in front!

Grace checking out the otters

One of the big bears

The leopard

Tiger

Kyler and Norah by the Tiger

Camels

Entrance to Big Bug Exhibit

Big Bee :)

Our little butterflies :)

Penguins!

Grace and the penguins :)

All done at the zoo!

Thanks for a fun morning!

The golden glove :)

Kyler at the game

Trying to get autographs :)

Great stadium!

Grace at her first Twins game!

Norah and Grandma waiting for the game to start