Last Summer Bash - Part 1

Betsy and Paige decided that, instead of traveling all around Minnesota to visit family and friends, they would rent a cabin in Nisswa and have everyone come to them.  That worked for us!

Before we went up Betsy and Kristin kept telling us this cabin was not going to be like the tar paper shack - we were really going to rough it.  We were told there was a toilet and shower, but that we should try to use the "satellite" toilet and take showers in the lake...what?!?  (Didn't lake showering become passé like 15 years ago?)  It's nice (sometimes) to have low expectations because you are often pleasantly surprised.


Claire felt right at home at her perfectly-sized kid picnic table.

She even shared it with others.  Cheers Daddy!

Not such a bad place for a shower.

As usual, Betsy planned a delicious feast for every meal of every day :)  I would have put the excel spreadsheet of food organization on the blog - but there's not enough room.  Claire thought the sloppy joes could use a kick (note the tabasco sauce).

One final stir should do the trick.  

So what is this hot sauce stuff anyway?

Maybe everyone would just prefer catsup - I know I would!

We also got to celebrate cousin Liz's 2nd birthday.  With lots of Dora chocolate cake!

No talking, no smiling, this is serious eating.

Great Uncle Bill and Great Auntie Louise joined in the fun.

I think she's offering you her empty fork - so you fill it back up with cake!

TOO MUCH SUGAR!!

Cheers!  (This is one of Claire's new tricks).  

Coming off a sugar high?

Auntie and Uncle got the girls camp chairs (somehow Claire got gifts even though it wasn't her birthday!)  Our next lesson will be how to sit like a lady.  

See how cousin Liz sits so nicely?

Oops, I think Claire is wearing off on her...

Dinner for the little kids...

And the big kids!

Claire apparently has no fear.  She preferred the giant slide to the kid slide.  Pop Pop decided to sport this flotation device (or "spare tire" as he called it).  

She is also obsessed with bubbles.  If I ever find this bubble tube again I'm buying 20 of them.  She can actually get bubbles out of it (as opposed to licking the regular bubble wands we have at home).

 Family photo!

Liz chillin on the dock.

And back to dinner - or the binky for Liz.

Claire is her father's daughter.
Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

And my favorite...Exhibit D:

At least we were smart and had them eat in their undies.

Grammy was a genius and broke out the playdough.  It kept them busy through the adult dinner.

Good times!