Most recently we've had soooo much rain the ground has been saturated and now our basement is leaking. The window well spung a leak and filled up to the base of the window! 
Happy 5th Birthday Callie Girl! Three party's this year! IceCream cake at Aunt Polly's, Cupcakes at Grans and a giant 5 layer cake made by Marshall at our house! Plus a visit to Laubers. What a Lucky Girl! You definitely look 5 now Callie. You can even reach the handle to the front door! 
Boy can this girl Hula-Hoop!
The countdown to 5 has begun!
They sure took to it, amazing how fast that happened! The next day we were already on the summer schedule of sleeping in late. And sleeping in some unusual spots including the kitchen floor? Surrounded by a fort of boxes? 
We celebrated Memorial Day at the Rummage-o-rama and the Corn and Brat Roast on the Square followed by our first visit of the summer to Lauber's for IceCream, faces pressed up against the candy counter. Another sign that summer is finally here! 
The kids did some full participation in the rummaging, selling some of their things and making pretty good money. The point of course being to get rid of some things, but they ended up taking some of the money they made and buying other rummagers things, or getting them for free!!
The beach has been the theme of the summer so far. Both Callie and Trent's classes had end of the school year beach parties. Trent brought Hot Dog Octopus to his pot-luck.
We went to our beach here in town for the first time this summer.
How great is this? Movies on the Beach! It was a very cold night, but we brought lots of blankets!
Of course we have been spending a lot of time at the lake. Callie caught her first fish of the season. The lucky fishergirl that she is, on her first cast!
Marshall has been doing long daily walks with the dogs in the nature conservancy. We join him on occasion. The ticks have been in abundance this year! So much so that I am finally accustomed to them and not getting the creepy-crawlies after every outting.
Father's Day weekend was spent with my Dad in his favorite spot, the sailboat on a windy day. We sailed two and a half races. Only a half race because we tipped! I couldn't believe it! I've never known my Dad to tip. Especially with two people on board! We were doing so well too! As we were swimming there he said to me, "I already saw myself wearing the shirt!" Bummer. Hi-5's after all the other races, especially when we snuck in a 3rd place finish at the finish line! Callie made up a special song for Marshall for Father's Day. Happy Father's Day!
Trent had a sucessful turtle hunt. We caught 5 turtles - 3 big, 2 small. We separated them into two buckets. I carried the little turtles up to the porch. If you've read any of my frequent animal antics post, you know we do follow the catch and release (after a day.... or two) program. 
Unfortunately with the distraction of Trent falling into the swampy water off the pier yet again, we left the turtles defenseless down at the lake to be pilfered by a lazy predator during the night. You may have heard the term shooting fish in a barrel? I was really disappointed in us, but it was a good lesson. There was only one "body" so we had hope the other's had escaped. We gathered up the remaining little turtles to return them to their home. Every place we go up-there has a nickname. I think I will call the turtle swamp, Trent's Bay. We released the turtles in Trent's Bay and Trent convinced me since we were there we might as well try and catch a couple more since his buckets back at the cabin were empty. We were really in hot pursuit of this particularly elusive turtle. I mean it was a real chase! I perfected a new style of paddling the canoe. Picture me standing gondola style in the front. Who says you should never stand in a canoe! If I didn't think at any moment I could be swimming in muck 5 feet over my head, I would consider bringing a video camera, because it is America's funniest home video material for sure. We have more fun doing this! And I get the best work out chasing swimming turtles all over creation! Anyway, we finally caught the turtle, and realized, it was missing its back foot. Totally open wound. At this point I was ready to ban the turtle hunting for life! Ugh! How could we have been so irresponsible! Again, a good lesson to learn. With as much fun as it is, I could hardly deny the pleasure, and we caught many more which we did keep safely. We even caught one that we caught last year. I know because it has a tumor like thing on the side of it's head. 
I'm hoping next year we will catch "stumpy" again, then I will feel a little better about the whole thing. On a side note: I didn't take it, or even look at the results, but there was a poll on facebook that asked, "Should hunters be able to put their hunting pictures on Facebook?" I thought it was the lamest question. Anyway I hope I have properly conveyed the fact that I accept complete responsibility for the turtle casualties and vow to never let it happen again. There, my conscience is clear. 
Every time she would cast out her line, she would pull in a fish. Grampy would cast it out for her, nothing. Callie would cast it - FISH ON! She would get so excited, and Trent so jealous! 
The food at the cabin is so great. Especially eating the fish we catch. Lunches are particularly fun. We had a campfire lunch at the Third Island. Marshall made his speciality, "Camp Cakes" Sandwiches and dessert. 
Callie and Trent did a little "mountain climbing". Callie is such a little monkey. I can't believe how she made it up this hill all by herself!
Our Picnic lunch is always at Leach Beach. Trent has his skiing down to the point of waving to the crowd. Callie took her first official crack at it up and down the beach.
She loved it so much she didn't want to stop, unfortunately her daddy boat and grampy boat ran out of gas!
The highlight of my year happened this past weekend! Trent got to play hockey at the Admiral's Game. When Marshall and I used to go to games I would watch those kids out there and smile. I couldn't wait to have our kids doing that. When we got the invite I couldn't have been more excited. I spread the word. Trent had 15 cheering fans! Owen even brought his cow bell! He played for an hour before the game and then during the first break of the Admirals Game. We dressed in the lower level. The professional players were here and there. Trent is more excited about a high five from Uncle Luke than a professional hockey player, so that was no thing for him. For me it was fun to get the "backstage" experience. He also got his picture with the mascot Roscoe. 
The kids game before was the first time Trent played on a full sheet of ice and against a goalie. He had good stamina and even with the goalie scored a goal. 
When they played during the Admiral's game they sent all the kids on the ice, it was pretty much a free for all. It was only six minutes, so he didn't get to score in front of the whole stadium, but he still enjoyed his time in the spotlight. He took a victory lap around the rink waving to the people in the crowd and high-fiving all the coaches on the bench. I was so proud of him for his confidence. (Click the triangle to play the video.)
I felt lucky we got off with only buying one bucket of balls. I sent him quietly on his way down the toilet. I wonder how long until the kids realize he's gone?
Another $5 so Trent can "flip like a Jedi". The Carni Man really sent him up like a slingshot. To get an idea of the height, look at the first picture again. This time he is completely above the contraption.
I took 34 pictures in rapid succession to bring you this one! Urg!
Today was spent enjoying breakfast at Marshall's parents. Then getting our first taste of summer at the lake. The kids spent all day on or in the water. It's still a bit cold, but that didn't stop them.
Tomorrow I play tennis with the ladies group. I'm just sub-ing, but that's how it started at the end of last summer and I got in 6 straight weeks!
4 more days of school and then the time is ours!
