4th of July Weekend: Steamboat Lake

Berkeley never wants to be left behind... so she is sure to stick close to the car when we are packing up!

It was a nice day... first stop swimming the afternoon away!

Watch out... Ben will squirt anyone in his path!

Then it was off to fishing.  These two have a new found LOVE for fishing this summer.  They are so excited when they catch a fish.  Benjamin even held a fish for the first time this weekend! 

Boat ride with Grandpa

Nathan getting ready to catch the BIG ONE!

Hanging out in the lake!

Mommy caught a sunny... I think they are so much prettier then some of the other fish. 

Daddy caught some fish too.. the fish were biting and we go to have a fish fry for dinner!

Grandma planned a 1/2 birthday party for the boys. 

Auntie Kristin and Soraya were there for the party too!

and no day is complete without some flying dog tricks!  Berkeley loves to chase water. 

Family photo with the self timer... what a nice sun set!

Group shot!

Roasting marshmallows.... they are pros!

Bedtime stories by the camp fire!

THE INCIDENT...

So while fishing... we felt like broken records... "be careful the hooks are sharp... don't cast by your brother"... but of course no one listens.  Right as I was taking this photo Nathan hooked Ben in the leg with a fish hook.  Oh goodness... Ben is fine, the hook didn't go all the way in so no real damage was done.  The silver lining was that Ben didn't want to cast next to Nathy boy any more... we will see how long this lesson lasts:)  

So much fun!  Thanks Utechs for a good weekend.

4th of July: 2013

This shirt says it all!!!

BBQ at Gramma and Grumpy's House

Nathan took this photo... yes... maybe someone other then me will start taking photos! :)

My 3 favorite firecrackers!

So excited for really big sparklers!

Their festive uncle Sam hats!

Sparkler Kisses!

Quick family photo!

Then off to hunkle Steve's house ... (we always park at his house as it is really close to the place we watch fireworks).  I love this photo... Nathan sure does love his hunkle Steve!

Auntie Christine left work at 6pm in Madison and drove straight to Woodbury... just in time for fireworks.  

There were lots of kids... both big and small... with fireworks at Hunkle Stephen's neighborhood party. So lucky to have nice weather and fabulous friends and family to celebrate with.  Happy Birthday America... land of the free and home of the brave!

Love Always,

The Utechs

ECFE Summer Party 2013

This was the 3rd annual ECFE BBQ.  Our friends Tom and Jamie were the hosts this year.  These kiddos have all been friends since they were babes... it is crazy to think how fast the last 3 years have gone.  This years agenda was to catch up with each other (we don't see each other as often as we use to) and to have fun!  Here are some of my favorites!

Swinging like a big boy!

The mommies

The kiddos

Nathan and Norah and their CRAZY selves!

Yummy popcorn

Surprise... the ice cream truck came!  Nothing like +15 kids standing by the ice cream truck... couldn't get much more MN summer then that:)

The Utechs turn!

Ben picked a double chocolate cone... this kid loves chocolate. 

Some of the kids on the curb!

Thanking the ice cream truck for coming to our party....

The best idea ever!  an outdoor movie.  Tom got a projector from work and with a white fitted sheet attached to the fence.... we were in business!  The kiddos all changed into their PJ's and got glow sticks and popcorn.  We all snuggled in for Madegascar III.  

It was such a fun night... again... a perfect summer night activity!

and then there was these two... This kid is NEVER going to a drive-In alone!!! 

and these 3 are NEVER going to get the KEYS when they turn 16!!!

Thank you Tom, Jamie and Taylor for a wonderful summer party!  Fun was had by all!

"Yummy... can I eat this one???"

I will always LOVE the Pine Tree Orchard.   I think that the orchard is beautiful, I love the drive and it brings back so many wonderful memories from my childhood.  We picked strawberries last year but the boys were less trustworthy with their picking options.  This year ... they would pull the big juicy red strawberries and they state..."Yummy.... can I eat this one???"  I said "one more" about a thousand times.... needless to say they had sticky little hands, and red stained smiles:)

Picking his strawberries just like Sal in the book Blueberries for Sal.  We had to bring our pails with us just like Sal... however ours were plastic and hers is metal so we didn't have the cool PING sound:)  Needless to say we didn't see a bear either!

YUMMY!

They loved the irrigation system. 

Helping daddy

My FAVORITE BOYS!

Nathan loves to take photos with my camera... this is a bad habit to have him in... however he is getting pretty good at it!

Tasting just one more!

Notice my hair band around Nathan's neck... he insisted on wearing it.  He also insisted on wearing a hair binder around his wrist to Peace of Mind school the other day!

BROTHERS and BEST BUDS!

We have this same photo from last year.... the power of the self timer!  I love it!

...and as always the highlight of a visit to Pine Tree is always the tractor ride!

Love Always,

The Utechs