Kids' Summer Bucket List - Later Weeks:)

Kids’ Summer Bucket List

Okay, so I might have tried to bite off more than I could chew with this bucket list this summer (not that I ever try to do that).  I had completely forgotten just how worn out I get at the end of pregnancy.  We’ve had fun, but it is becoming much more low-key around here as the big day gets closer. 

Kite Flying

The girls both got some awesome kites this spring and we finally got to try them out.  Unfortunately, it was much windier earlier in the day before Daddy got home.  They were still able to get the kites up though and had a blast.  We will definitely have to try it another time – probably after the baby is here and I can run with them again.

Ella's Unicorn Kite

Hannah's Flamingo Kite

Walk around ISU Campus

On the way to visit my parents, we stopped in Ames, IA to visit our alma mater.  Christopher and I both enjoyed showing the girls where we lived and where we had classes at.  They both loved the library and checking out the buildings.  We also had to pick up some new shirts for the girls and some new Cyclone gear for the baby!

Campanile

Ella's new shirt

Hannah's new shirt

Baby's new onesies

Carriage Ride in the Old Market

While we were visiting my parents, we took the girls to the Old Market in Omaha.  They have been talking about going on a horse-carriage ride for a while and we thought this was a perfect time to go with Grandma and Grandpa.

Circus World Museum

This past week, my nephew stayed with us so I tried to plan some new activities for all of us.  On Monday, we went to the Circus World Museum in Baraboo.  The girls were really excited for all of it, but especially loved the elephant ride and the magic act.
http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/

Big Top Circus Performance

Circus Wagon

Circus Wagon

Ella Balancing on the Unicycle

the girls with their cousin

Elephant Ride!

Elephant Balancing Act in the Kids' Interactive Circus

Fun Mirror!

All Caged Up

Hannah Balancing on a Ball

Roche-a-Cri State Park

We headed up to the family cottage on Wednesday, but it was a little cold to be in the water.  (It is strange to be saying that in the middle of August!)  Instead of heading down to the lake, we drove up to Roche-a-Cri State Park to check out the hiking trails there. The girls and my nephew seemed to enjoy checking out the petroglyphs, pictographs, hiking trails and the top of the cave outcropping.  I was just happy that I could make it to the top at 37 weeks!
http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/rocheacri/

My girls had interesting ways of posing this week

303 Steps to the Top

View from the top of the rock outcropping

Another silly pose

Cottage Time

While we were up at the cottage, we got to spend some time with Grandma S and Great Grandma and Grandpa Z.  They got to go fishing, but ended up catching more with the net at the dock than with any fishing poles.  The girls also spent a lot of Thursday swimming.

Feeding the Fish

Hannah posing with her mud balls

Magic Show by Great-Grandpa

We were able to finish off our cottage time with a special magic show put on for the girls and Kyle by Great-Grandpa Z.  Hannah and Ella decided that they wanted to perform their own show at the end as well.

Ella's disappearing dog Magic Act

Hannah's disappearing unicorn Magic Act

Cave of the Mounds

On Friday, the last day my nephew was here, we went to Cave of the Mounds.  Hannah and Christopher were the only ones who had been there before, and I for one, was definitely impressed.  Ella, however, wouldn’t let go of Christopher’s neck throughout the entire tour!
http://www.caveofthemounds.com/

Holding tight to Daddy