Up at the Cabin

The kids and I had a great time up at my parents' cabin.  Unfortunately, Bill couldn't make it.

Uncle Mike was there to help Brennan take the fish off the hook.

Pretty good-sized sunny, Bren!  Nice catch!

The kids with their cousins.

Uncle Mike was constantly putting worms on hooks and taking fish off hooks.  He didn't get a break for hours!  The kids had a blast!  Just catch and release this time...

Char was very proud of her catch!

The kids and their grandparents.

Self-portraits

Char is getting pretty good at taking pictures of herself. 

Beauty Day

Char and I did some fun stuff with our nails.  Mine are the multi-colored and Char's are the ones with the butterflies on them.  We enjoy doing "home beauty shop!"

Char is getting very good at braiding and fancy hairstyles. This picture shows how good she is -- wish I had a better head of hair for her to practice on -- I'll just have to keep growing it out! 

Having fun at Tally's

We were out at our favorite lakeside restaurant, Tally's, and Bren decided to interview Bill. (Also, do you notice Char saying, "Cut!" in the background?  Little stinker!)

Rasta Barbie

Char likes to create her own looks for her Barbies.  She makes clothes for them (sometimes out of tissues!) and does up their hair in different styles.  Here she went a little binder crazy and ended up with a Rasta Barbie look.

Relaxing Saturday Afternoon

This Saturday we took it easy for a change.  No yard work, no parties, no running around, just having fun together.

First, we hit Pizzaria Lola, a local pizza shop that's been featured on a national television show.  Click here to see the episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPFWkpYZ_f0

We still like Punch Pizza better!

Then we went for a walk by Lake Minnetonka's Wayzata Bay and stopped for ice cream in the town of Wayzata at Ben and Jerry's. Bill  had a new flavor called Schweddy Balls.  It was named after a funny skit on Saturday Night Live.  -- You can watch it by clicking here (an ad will be first, then the video). He proceeded to say the name, "Schweddy Balls" over and over, embarrassing us all!

Charlotte's Injury

So she makes it through ski season after ski season, racing and skiing harder than any adult I know.  She wipes out sometimes, but no tears, no injuries.  Then one day she decides to flip off the monkey bars at school and -- fractured ankle! As you can she, she's not too happy about it.  Four weeks in the boot, just as summer is starting is not appealing! No swim team for weeks, either!

This is Char's self-portrait.  The kids are so creative these days.  I don't even know how she did this.  It looks like her picture is hanging in a museum!!

Weekends at White Bear Lake

The Sparks Family favorite pastime: boating.

Always picking up rocks or shells.

 The kids get the best spot!

South East Metro Swim (SEMS) team

Bren joined the swim team!!

There he is - the boy of the right.

Swimming.

Wondering how he did (two first place and one second for the three events in which he competed!)

Char waiting to swim

Bren doing what Bren loves best - building things.  Here he is with a Lego plane he made.  Loves the Legos!

Crazy Look

Char with her crazy hair and make-up look from the school carnival.

Hula Girl

Char really could hold the record in hula hooping.  She can do it for hours!  Here she is listening to music while hula-ing.