Carter. Is. A. Teenager. AGHHHH!

Carter turned THIRTEEN today.  I cannot believe that he is a teenager.  Not sure a whole lot will change - seems like he has been a teen for a few years with the "attitude" already!  :) Where has 13 years gone.  From that little 6lb 9oz baby boy to a boy who is not that much shorter than me!

Happy Birthday to you, you teenager you!  In your eyes, you are probably the only teen without a phone... maybe someday, buddy! 

We did a little bowling this morning for some fun. You got a little "moody" when your 3 year old sister was beating you but once you got a strike, you got back in a better mood!  Here is the scores from the 1st game. 

Bunch o' Blondies!

Can you tell this group of cousins are related!?  Look at all that blond hair.  Wonder who will actually keep it and for how long!

Carter's New Appliances for the next 20 months!

It has been a while in the works, but Carter got his braces on today.  At this point, it is looking like he will have them on for the next 20 months but up to 24 months if needed.  He got the colors gold and purple on them - for the Vikes, I guess!  He said that maybe next time he will gold and green for the Packers!

Hopefully his "I" teeth will come in!  That is the part that makes me a little nervous.  And, as of right now, he said that they really are not bugging him yet.  We will see.  I remember my teeth being sore for a few days after getting them on & needing to use some of the wax cause they were bugging my gums!  They were also sore after having them tightened!
Teagan came over to hang out with Dawson, Kendall and Boston, while I took Cooper and Reese with me.  I guess this is what they were doing while we were gone an hour and a half!

 

 

Bridal Shower for Auntie Heather! And, ITS SOOOO HOT!

It has been sooooo HOT lately and today is no exception! I don't think that we will be spending too much time outside unfortunately - we would fry! Jen is hosting the bridal shower at her house and I think that she has had some fun getting for it!  She has outdone herself with lots of decorations, little flower vases (I got to help with some of those!), the cute invites, and the food (with the help of her personal chef, AKA Uncle Joe!).

Auntie Heather has been super excited about her upcoming shower.  I remember feeling like the wedding was more "real" after my shower.  After the shower, the wedding seems to be right around the corner!  Her shower is still a month and a half away, but with Labor day, other birthdays (DJ's and CJ's, Drew's and Joe's), Bachelor party, Bachelorette party and so on, this was the best weekend to have it! 

We are NON game players.  We would rather spend time with our guests - chatting, eating and having a good time.  So, this is a game free shower.  The way they always are!  :)  The only "game" that we played was to ask guests to bring a bottle of wine for the bride-to-be - a bottle that they could keep to use during their first year of marriage to celebrate a FIRST!  The food was so delicious, Heather (and Eric) got lots of nice stuff and lots of bottles of wine to celebrate FIRSTS!

I did not take too many photos... I got a little busy handing out presents, and so on.  Might have to borrow some from another camera - I know Nana was taking photos, so was Auntie Jen, maybe Auntie Jamie - not sure if the bride-to-be was!  But, for now, these will have to do!

Bride-to-be with her mom and her future mother-in-law (also a Linda!) and a photo-bombing Teagan!

 Auntie Heather and all the VIM's - Very IMportant Moms!  Oh, and cutie-patootie Tanner!

Had to post the FUN present that Jamie, Jen and I gave the to-be-newlyweds - a Chevron print patio umbrella, and matching bucket with an orange outdoor candle holder along with some patio string lights that they wanted!  Heather mentioned to me that she saw this umbrella and "wished she could register for it, but it was already on clearnace!"  Wish and you never know who is listening!

 Neat sweater that Auntie Jen made for Teagan!

 Auntie Heather with her helper, Reese!

fun with friends!

Jen was in town from Duluth for the fair.  They were staying at the hotel down the road from us so we went down to swim with her kids for a little over an hour.  It is amazing how much the kids have grown - Jack is already 17!  The kids had a blast swimming and Jen and I had a little time to catch up with each other!

Juicy watermelon faces and Sprinkler fun!

I did this last year with the kids so I thought I would do it again this year... along with Boston and Cooper since I have been watching them.  One of the joys of summer, WATERMELON!  Dawson loves watermelon (they all do actually) and he will ask for it over the winter also.  So, when summer comes around, there is lots of watermelon for this gang!

Carter's new due and a chuck of watermelon!

Even with no front teeth, he can still eat his favorite summer fruit!

Kendall is going to have sticky hair after this piece of juicy watermelon!

Reesey and her yummy piece of watermelon!

 Boston with a big piece o' watermelon!

Look at this adorable watermelon face!  Okay, maybe some of it is left over from lunch, but he is cute anyway you look at it!

 

 

After the watermelon the kids wanted to go in the crazy sprinkler!

Wouldn't be a day out in the hot sun without a few kids taking a drink out of the sprinkler!

 

 

Bye-Bye Cozy Bay... for this year!

We had a good time at the resort this year.  It is a nice resort and maybe we will come back another year?  Bret and Suzette were wonderful hosts.  The kids had a great time boating, water tubing, playing at the beach, going to the turtle races, fishing and just having fun.  Daddy and I had a great time, too, but we are tired... you know that saying "ready for a vacation after your vacation" that is us.  It is a lot of work, but I know that these are the memories that the kids were have.  They will treasure.  It could be a tradition that carries on for quite some time.  Until next year!  Homeward bound... for some naps!?

Pretty morning glory outside our door.  Fun to see it open in the morning and as the day wears on it closes!  I want some of these at home!

The last sunrise of the trip and oh, what a good one it was!

A heron that hangs around here - on the dock for a short while, then he took off for the floating dock!

Look, daddy and mommy are in a photo!  And, we actually got a family photo for the year!

Stopped for lunch along the way home in Mille Lacs!  The kids were AMAZED at how BIG the lake was!  It just kept going!

I am not a fan of docks and you would NEVER catch me walking out on this one!  No railing.  Sheet of plywood basically under your feet.  

Kendall did not want to go on the dock either, she was not feeling 100% still.  So, we took some selfies!