A Day on the Lake

Emma and I had the opportunity to spend yesterday at Lake Lowell with my good friends, Heather Tucker and Lindsay Mangum, both teacher that I work with.  Heather's grandpa, Al, has a boat that he loves to share with people.  He told Heather, get some people and let's go boating!  So when I got the invitation for a girls day at the lake, this Minnesota Girl, was all about it!  I can't even remember that last time I went boating and tubing.  Probably when I was still living back home in the Midwest.

Emma was so excited to go, not really knowing what to expect of course.  This would be her first time on a boat ever!  

We packed our towels, sun screen, sun glasses, and snacks to share and off we went to have a girls day with the ladies and Grandpa Al too!

Everyone that wanted to tube got to.  It was such a blast!  It made me miss Minnesota a bunch.  How nice that I have such great friends to spend time with at the lake here!  They took it nice and slow for the little ones when it was their turn, but there was NO MERCY for us adults.  Lindsay and I both were injured...nothing major...but no the less...enough to make us feel a little old.  

I enjoyed so much watching Emma start off a little nervous with everything, but them quickly the fish in her came out and she was having a great time.  That girl was jumping off the boat, into the middle of the lake mind you, swimming around.  I was so proud of her!  

Emma cried when the day was over.  Even though we had been out on the water playing for 6 hours and even though she was getting super tired, she begged to stay!  Needless to say, she feel asleep on the way home!  I am so glad that one of my kids got my "Minnesota fishiness" in them!

 Emma started off pretty nervous about everything...

but soon it was all FUN!!!

 Emma cuddling up with Lindsay enjoying the ride!

 Tubing with Lindsay

 The little ones playing in the middle of the lake...off the boat.  Yep...you read that right...these two were so brave jumping in the water off the boat and swimming around!  I was amazed!

 Heather, Katie, Lindsay and Kim

 Mommy and Emma 

 Lindsay and I ready for another beating!

Emma and Heather - got her up to 25 mph with Emma on at the end of the day.  Turning into a dare devil!

A Bug Friend

Tonight I was out weeding the flower beds in the front yard, when Caleb came out to see what I was doing after his bath.  He had on his pj's and slippers.  He is hanging close by me when all of a sudden he reaches down and off of a leaf picks something up.  He yelled, "Hey mom!  Look at the big bug!!"  It was not a scared yell...but excited.  I look over and he is holding this Praying Mantis in his hands.  I was SO SHOCKED!!!  My son, Caleb, the one who last summer cried in fear of the butterflies in the butterfly room at the fair, is holding a big bug!!!  I had to get my camera!

 Meet Caleb's friend, Manny!

Fairview Swim Night

We love our annual swim night with our church!  Always a good time for the kids to get to play together and adults to visit.  Pastor Nathan - our Children's Pastor - plays with the kids, they get super excited about that.  At one point tonight, the kids and Pastor than were playing "monsters" or something in the pool.  I had to get a picture of them!

Gotta love our church family!!!  They are such a blessing!

My Little Ball Players

T-ball is done for the summer!  What a fun time Caleb and Emma had!  Looking forward to next year and watching those little t-ballers try to play ball.  

NOT A VAN

I will never forget the day that I had to get our mini van...I was so crushed!!!  It was November of 2007, our twins were growing inside of me and we knew that we need a vehicle that had enough room to haul two babies, all their STUFF, a teenage boy and us.  The van was our only option for not breaking the bank.  I never wanted a van!  EVER!  I remember saying, many times growing up, that I would NEVER own a van.  Fate was laughing in my face the day we signed the papers on our van.  Don't get me wrong...it got the job done.  Our Toyota Sienna was a super vehicle and met our needs well.  But it was still a van.  

Recently, Rick and I have been talking about getting a new car.  The van has been paid off for a long time and the miles are getting up there.  Getting something new now while the van was still worth something was the biggest draw.  We figured we would wait until fall so we would only be paying half time daycare, so that would help.  Rick started keeping an eye on the online ads for cars.  We kind of knew what we were looking for and the price range that would work.  Monday night Rick showed me a car listed online.  It was in our price range and the kind we were wanting.  Can't hurt to look right!?! So Tuesday Rick went in to look at it.

Well, I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Wiese Family....Sue Ling!  She is a 2009 Kia Sorento.  She has 23,300 miles on her.  We got a killer deal!  They gave us $5000 for the van, which helped even more!  I told Caleb and Emma that this is my NEW BABY...they didn't like that very much.  

I love her! SHE IS MINE...Rick has the truck...the camp trailer... and I have MY NOT A VAN!!!!!

 

What is more fun...

What is more fun than a day in the sun....at a FREE park...with a picnic lunch...water to cool off in...great playground equipment to play on!?!?!

NOTHING!!!!

Happy Independence Day from the Wiese Family

Happy 4th of July from our house to yours!  I do love this day...relaxing...grilling...swimming...warm weather...fireworks...desserts...red,white and blue every where...pride for our nation...family and friends...the list goes on and on!

I am not one however to really love huge crowds of people.  July 4th for us usually means home and maybe venturing out to see fireworks.  As a kid, I love heading to the lake...living in Minnesota there are 10,000 so there is lots to choose from.  I spent a many a 4th's swimming and eating with family.  I do miss that!!  I wish I lived closer to my family in Minnesota so my kids could experience that.  But quiet home/family time is good too!

Today I hurried to do NOTHING.  I think I was actually dressed by 11AM...maybe.  HA!  It was great!  The kids swam in their backyard pool and played together all day.  They are so creative!  What they come up with makes me smile and laugh a little too!  I slowed them down enough today to get a couple of pictures.  Caleb, of course, complained the whole time I was taking them...."My legs hurts!"  "Are we done yet?"  "I need to sit down, I don't feel good!"  GEEZ!  You would have thought that I did a two hour photo shoot with them. It maybe...MAYBE...took 10 minutes!  I am a mean, cruel mom!

They are just the cutest little things I ever did see!!!! 

They make the Minnesota in me come out...wait for it..."OH FUR CUTE!!!!"

Of course, it wouldn't be the 4th of July at the Wiese house without Kabobs!  WE LOVE THEM!!  But this year, we tried something new.  We usually have steak, chicken and/or shrimp kabobs.  But I saw a recipe for Smoked Sausage Kabobs and thought they looked good.  I will give anything a whirl once. So we did.  THEY TOTALLY ROCKED!!!!  YUM!!!!  Seriously though, put anything on a stick and it is the BOMB...am I right...you know I am!

(see recipe below)

 We have enough here for many days of leftovers...I see no cooking in my future!!!  SCORE!

Happy Eaters!!!

I also found a different spin on cucumber salad...which is one of my all time favs!  The seasonings in it were different than I had ever had.  So we gave that a spin too.  Again...KILLER!!!!  I could eat just that all the time!

(see recipe below)

For dessert...fruit pizza...need I say more...I think not!

 Bring on the fruit pizza, baby!!!!

 We had to let that yum supper settle in our tummies.  Caleb and Emma, however, were very excited about going to the fireworks.   They asked every 10 minutes if it was time to leave yet.  we heard a lot of "It is NEVER going to get dark!!"  Kids are so funny!

Finally...FINALLY, it was time to head to Caldwell for the fireworks.  They usually put on a pretty good show.  It is not Melba...but then again it also doesn't have the crowds that Melba does.  Did that one year...Rick and I swore we would never do it again! YUCK!  We waited an hour on the lawn of the College of Idaho for the show to start.  It is always fun to people watch.  I saw a first...a man giving his dog "bunny ears" for a picture.  Hmmmm....  Then we had this little girl that would NOT quite starring at us.  That is really annoying.  I have always made my children keep their eyes on our business, not other peoples.  It was even freaking Emma out.  I guess we just looked like super fun people and she was just wanting to hang out with us! HA!  

 Why were people starring at us...we are perfectly normal!?!

Waiting for the fireworks to start!

Some pictures from the Caldwell fireworks!

We hope that all of our friends and family around the country (and those in other places around the world) had a great Independence Day!  We hope you took time to be thankful for the country that we live in and the freedoms that we have.  

Smoke Sausage Kabobs

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup spicy brown mustard

2 TBSP canola or veggie oil

1 TBSP soy sauce

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 tsp ginger

1 1/4 pounds smoked sausage cut into pieces

cherry tomatoes

mushrooms

green pepper

onion

zucchini

In a large bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients.  Add the sausage and vegetables, toss to coat.  Drain and save the leftover marinade.

Put together your kabobs on metal or wooden skewers.  Grill the kabobs. Spread on the extra marinade while grilling.

Cucumber Salad
6 large cucumbers, sliced
1 tomato, diced
1 onion, diced
1 TBSP salt

1/2 cup cider vinegar
4 TBSP oil
2 TBSP honey
1 tsp celery salt
1 tsp basil
1 tsp ground mustard
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 dried oregano
couple dashes of cayenne pepper

Put slice cucumbers in a strainer and toss with the 1 TBSP salt.  Let it stand for 30 minutes.  Make sure the strainer is in the sink or over a bowl.  The salt will draw out the water in the cucumbers.

In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing ingredients.  When ready to serve, rinse off the cucumbers.  Add the tomatoes and onions.  Toss with dressing.