Summer pocket photorama

I have two cameras.  I attempt to empty my Nikon's memory card on a regular basis.

My Canon . . . that sits in my pocket, purse, or whatever bag I have on hand, and I carry it almost everywhere.

It's been in my pocket all summer, and tonight I thought, let's empty this baby out and see what's on it.  A random mishmash of lots of events.  And this is the abbreviated version!

 Viggo plays air hockey with friend Caleb.

The V-man and I joined friends for a movie night at the library.

 Elin does her vision check-up at the pediatrician's.
They used to have to hold up black, plastic paddles to their eyes.
Both Viggo and Svea used the paddles.  And there was a considerable amount of cheating (the paddle would mysteriously move aside while trying to read the letters or shapes in the tiny rows).
Now there are cute little eye patches instead.

 The girls and I loved to visit the local gardens this summer.
This is the tomten door.

There was an art class at the garden that day.  So fun for us to look at the beautiful paintings.

There was a chipmunk.  We fed it peanut pieces from the tops of our ice-cream cones we bought in the gift shop.

Elin loves maps.

There were tons of these flowers, and nearly every one had a big, golden bug on it.

The girls go through a pile of dropped rose petals.

Elin consults the map again.
She let us know we were still there.
She's so handy to have around.

Svea and Viggo go on goose patrol.  That morning, they swatted the geese out of our garden with reasonable success.

We went to Ikea and met up with our friend Kevin!

Yes he chased the kids around Ikea in his chair.
Looking at lighting with Nate and suddenly seeing Kevin zoom by with the children running in front of him screaming with glee is a sight I will not soon forget.
Quite honestly I thought we were going to be kicked out for being completely unruly. 
That would have made our visit to Ikea all the more fun!

After Ikea we all went over to the Mall of America.

So when we lived in Delaware, people would ask me if I had been there.  To the Mall of America.  I remember opening up a checking account and the teller at the bank seemed surprised and disillusioned to hear that I did not frequent the MOA and that I was unapologetic about not really being a Vikings fan.

This was the first time I had been to the mall since somewhere around 2006.
We were there for what, half an hour?  That was enough.
I'll be back in six years for my next visit.

 It was super-fun with Kevin though.  Elin was busy showing him all the Lego stuff at Legoland.

 Then we walked around the outside of Lego to see the lego artwork.

Minnesotan lego murals.

 All made up of itsy-bitsy lego bricks.
I want to have that job.

We hit an overpriced gift store.
We were in desperate need of a tutu.
It was for Elin.  To convince her to go #2 in the potty.  We are not ashamed:  we buy our children off when it comes to potty training.  (It works!)

Now we were in the parking lot at a local grocery store and I had my camera with.
Check out what is parked near the pharmacy drive-thru.  Now there's a cure for what ails you!

I made them stand there and took their picture (I was not the only parent doing this.)  How often do you get to see the Oscar-Mayer weinermobile?

Yep.

And the kids got weiner whistles.
I got coupons.
I think they got the better deal.  But I am just saying, if you have three children that get weiner whistles all at the same time, do not unwrap them and then get into a car with them.  That is a recipe for insanity.

Here we are at the craft store.  Ice cream cones at the cafe for the girls - Viggo and Nate were up at the lake, and we needed to a) get out of the house and b) have a treat.  (Elin is warming her hand on my hot chai tea latte.)

 Our church recently celebrated it's birthday, so there was lots of fun stuff to do after the service.

Horsey rides.

Elin and Svea were just in heaven.

Svea loved riding on Spirit.

Viggo loved the inflatable obstacle course.

The end!