Thursday, August 9, 2012

Friday Fun: Minnesota Style

I can't believe we're already heading into the middle of August. I feel like the summer just started, but we're already thinking about school again. My oldest will be in second grade and my six year old is starting Kindergarten. It will just be the boys and I home this year...strange. I remember when I had one child and the prospect of having a second one seemed daunting, I mean, how would I ever get out of the house? Now the idea of just having two at home seems like a breeze!

We've been trying to sneak in a couple more fun activities before the girls head off to school. I thought I'd share two of our recent family outings - they both took place last Sunday.

After church we took our boat out onto the river. It was the first time we've done this since moving into our new river house last spring - and boy is it different than a lake! We had to keep on the lookout for rocks and deadheads (floating logs). The Mississippi, in our neck of the woods, is very narrow, which gives it a cozy feel - and as long as you want to drive the boat, you can just keep on going - until you come to a dam, that is!

We stopped at the "Sandbar" that we've been hearing so much about - and it was breathtaking. Here are the pictures I took.







My youngest was thrilled when we saw the "Choo-choo"
on the trestle over the river. I wish you could have seen
his face light up!
After we came in from the river I took the girls to a drive-in theater in a nearby town. We joined my brother and his family, my parents and my uncle and his family. It was a blast!

Me and my gals - my oldest is holding her latest
manuscript!
 

Some of my nieces and nephews and my girls
We saw the newest Ice Age - it was a great movie.
What about you? Have you ever been boating on a river? Ever been to a drive-in theater? What activities are you trying to do in these last few weeks of summer?

11 comments:

  1. Fun stuff!

    I love boating on Lake Michigan. I have been boating on a river. We were fishing.

    Nothing better than summer drive in and popcorn!

    Your girls are adorable! Thanks for sharing your summer fun!

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  2. Looks like fun! My first date with my husband was to a drive in theater. We watched Lake Placid :)

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  3. I loved the Drive In! I remember seeing Superman there and Star Wars and maybe E.T.! But down here it's so hot, I don't know if I could stomach it. I think it finally closed anyway.

    Love the photos!!

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  4. Yes, I've been boating on a river. :) My favorite was a river boat dance on the Thames in London. Um, I think I reference London so often in my comments it's a sign I need to go back. :)

    I'm fitting in tons of time with friends this month. Yay!

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  5. How fun! And you're right, sandbar stops are so cool. My family had a boat growing up, so we often went fishing or just toodling in various Texas lakes. My favorite were the nighttime boat rides. It was whole different world after dark - from the type of fishing (switch to catfish instead of bass), the countless stars, and the lights on the boat. And I always knew we were safe because Dad was a certified SCUBA instructor and excellent swimmer. Consequently, we all swim like fish and love being in the water during the hot Texas summers. Thanks for sharing your beautiful pictures and have a great weekend!!

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  6. Loree - I've been on Lake Superior, but not Lake Michigan, although I've seen it in Chicago - I bet that would be so much fun. And thank you, I think my girls are pretty adorable, too!

    Julie - wasn't Lake Placid a scary movie? Did you have to cuddle up next to him?!?! Ice Age was a fun movie, but it scared my six year old a bit and she sat in my lap for most of it, which I enjoyed more than the movie!

    Jessica - this time of year the evenings cool down to a pleasant temp and the mosquitos are gone, so it was perfect weather to be outside. You can see in the photo that we're in jeans and sweatshirts. I wouldn't want to go in the heat of July, though. Superman, Star Wars and E.T. would be so fun to watch at a drive-in!

    Melissa - you're making my mouth water for London! I didn't go on a ride on the Thames, but we crossed over it many times. :) I'd love to go back, especially now that I've been watching the Olympics there - I miss it, too. Have fun with your friends!!

    Donna - I couldn't agree more, I love night time rides! It is like a whole different world. I thought that the other day when we were on the river, it's so different than the lakes that we're used to. Don't you love how protected you feel by you dad when you grow up? I remember not being afraid of driving in the Minnesota winters, because my dad was never nervous and always in control...hmm...makes me think about my relationship with God. Dads are so important in our faith journey.

    Thanks for stopping by, ladies! Have a great weekend.

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  7. Loved the drive-in theater idea. Took our teenagers a few years back to a drive-in about an hour away. It was their first one. Had to dodge a lot of cigarette smoke. Ugh!
    This will date me, but I remember going to the drive -in as a child and watching "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" with Don Knotts along with "The Incredible Mr. Limpett." Good family movies even today!
    I was so envious seeing all of your family in jackets and sweatshirts! We're sweltering down here and topped out at 108 degrees in DFW yesterday. Dress cool for ACFW.

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  8. Have not been boating on a river but we do go out with friends on the bay and ocean for some tubing fun. I have never been to a drive-in movie. Would love to!

    I asked my kiddo if there was anything else she'd like to do this summer and she said she wanted to try all four new frozen yogurt places that opened up in town. LOL!!

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  9. Ava - one thing I absolutely love about Minnesota is that the days are hot (we usually average around 80-85 degrees in the summer), but the evenings are cool. We do go through a "snap" as we call it in the summer where the days are hot and the nights are hot, too, but that usually only lasts a couple of weeks. In the winter we usually have a cold snap in January where the temps dip way, way low, but that doesn't last too long, either. We're actually a fairly moderate climate. And, by the way, I love Don Knotts films and thankfully there was no smoking at this drive-in! :)

    Jennifer - I haven't been boating on an ocean (unless you consider a cruise ship boating!), but that would be fun. I love your daughter's last minute summer ideas. :) Sounds good to me!

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  10. Awesome pictures, Gabrielle! Looks like some wonderful family time! : )

    I've never been boating on a river, though I did whitewater raft when I was about 12. I went to the drive-in with my parents when I was younger, and my hubby and I used to go to the drive-in when we were dating. We also went once when our oldest was a baby, so the last time was about 15 years ago. I think they've shut the place down since then. It's a shame that drive-ins seem to be a thing of the past. :(

    Thanks so much for sharing, Gabrielle! Have a great weekend. : )

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  11. What a great way to spend the last few days of summer! Good for you, Mom and Dad!

    I'm spending the day tomorrow hashing out my proposal while my champion and our 10-yr-old daughter are going to the beach to spend the last weekend of her summer soaking up a little sunshine and sand in the bathing suit. They're hitting the famous Crab Cooker on their way out - an extra special treat since it's just the two of them.

    Have a great weekend!

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