Thrill seekers!

My boys take after their mama in the fact that they love to go on rides!  The higher, the faster, the bigger the thrill, the better.  So in an effort to make the most of these last days of summer we spent 5 hours at Como Zoo and Como Town Amusement Park.  My cousin, his girlfriend and her 3 year daughter also joined us for a day of fun and Colton brought a friend with as well.  All 7 of us got wristbands and the fun began, up first the swings, then the tilt a whirl, bumper cars, Tornado, Frog Hopper, Tea cups, Pirate ship, Soaring Eagle and more.  The boys had a blast riding the rides with their friends and us adults got to join in the fun as well!  After a couple hours of riding we headed in to the zoo to check out the animals and get some lunch and then it was back to the Como Town to spend an hour hanging out in the splash pad which felt amazing as it got quite hot and humid yesterday afternoon.  Another fun summer day complete, can't believe school starts in just 7 days!

Great Minnesota Get Together

Frankie and I haven't missed a State Fair since we started dating almost 15 years ago so when we found out he was leaving town for work for 11 days of the fair we knew we needed to jump at the change to go Opening day of the State Fair.  We headed to the Fair early (arrived at 10am) in order to hopefully beat the crowds and the crazy heat that was predicted for the day.  We knew we wanted to hit a few of our favorite things like Machinery Hill, The Home Depot Booth so the boys could build something, The Little Helping Hands Farm, The Animals Barns and of course the Kidway to enjoy some rides.  We also enjoyed plenty of our State Fair Food Favorites.  We enjoying Big Fat Bacon on a stick, Pronto Pups, Cheese Curds (twice), Smoked Turkey Leg, Mini Donuts, Hawaiian Shaved Ice, Alligator on a stick and a giant bucket of Sweet Martha's Cookies!  I have to say that I fully enjoyed our family day at the fair and made the most of it as we had to say Goodbye to Daddy the next day and won't see him for 11 days :(  

Water fun

The boys and I spent the weekend at the lake again.  It was a pretty typical weekend filled with relaxing, friends, food over the fire, S'mores and of course some swimming and tubing. Our friends took us out on the boat again with them.  We started our day with a stop at a sandbar to swim and collect clam shells.  Then we got back on the boat so the boys could tube for over an hour and then we ended our 4 hours on the water with another stop at a sandbar to swim again!  I love being out on the water, wishing summer wasn't coming to an end so fast.

Out of State

About two years ago Frankie was asked to do a little traveling for his company and we were both excited about his new opportunity.  He has been busting his butt with his career and he has made quite the name for himself and I am as proud as ever.  The first trip was exciting, the boys and I brought him to the airport and counted down the days until we got to pick him up again.  The trips throughout the next year were very spread out and we managed them just fine.  Well lately he has taken on a new role within the company and he has been traveling a bit more.  Okay, a lot more.  I would be lying if I said it was easy or something I enjoy but it comes with the job I guess.  Some of recent trips have been 8 - 11 days which is a very long time to not have my parenting partner at home.  In the last 29 days he has been out of state for 21 of them!  We have been taking it day by day and I am so Thankful for all my family and friends who have kept me distracted while he is out of town, I don't know that I would survive all these trips without them.  It doesn't help that most of his trips are to the west coast so the time difference causes some problems, I am usually in bed before he if off work so we don't get to unwind and chat about our days like we do when he is at home. He has been pretty good about calling when he has some free time or sending little texts throughout the day but it just isn't the same.  The boys have adjusted to him being gone better than I could have hoped, they are just such easy going kids and adjust to change well but there are still nights when they ask when daddy is coming back or mornings when Mason says he doesn't want me but wants Daddy (as Frankie is the one who usually gets them up and off to daycare)!  When Frankie left home 8 days ago I gave him a long hug and tried hard to not cry but as he walked to the boys' room to give them hugs and say Goodbye the tears started to flow (this was a first because of his traveling), I wasn't ready to say good bye for that long again.  I tried to hold it together but couldn't any longer which I am sure didn't make it any easier for him to leave.  I am hoping the travel slows down sometime soon but right now we know there are more trips coming up (just don't know exactly when yet).  As I get ready to go to bed tonight for the last time alone for a couple days at least I am happy and relieved.  I can't wait to see him tomorrow and give him a hug and welcome him home and have my parenting partner back - single parenting can be very challenging sometimes!  

I have kept Frankie up to date on what is going on back home by sending pictures to him via text, here are a just a couple from this last week while he was out in Seattle.

Splish Splash

Well I decided that our deck was missing something, it just seemed a little bare.  So I filled that empty space with a POOL!  The boys are in love with it.  Tonight after we got home from National Night Out they stripped down to their underwear (thank goodness for a privacy fence) and they jumped right in.  I am starting to think that my kids have gills with as much time as they spend in the water.  I am sure we will get plenty of use out of our new deck pool during the next month with the hot August temperatures!