Ely August Visit

Monkey

Ellie & Mav

Sit still for a photo? No!

Run away from a photo? Yes!

He thinks it's funny that I'd try to take a picture of him sitting still with his yes open.

Mosquitoes love Mav, especially the forehead. 

Such a ham.

Walking down to the lake.

Brody giving out his landscaping expertise. 

Surveying the property with Grandma Cindy

This is Brody fishing...making someone else hold the pole.

Ok, he really did catch quite a few fish on his own. Grandpa Steve took them off the hook.

First ride on the pontoon, complete with snack time.

Brody did well swimming on his own in the deep water.

Jumping in off the dock with daddy.

Swimming with Grandpa Steve.

He had moments of hesitation, but if you don't ask him and just do it, he usually ends up having a blast!

Outside the wake.

Is that a boy having fun or what?!

Leave it to daddy to push the limits.

More tubing!

Brody & Grandma Cindy took the inflatable boat to a nearby floating dock...."don't lose the paddle!".

Making Grandma Cindy do all the work.

Making Grandpa Steve do all the work pulling him around the dock.

We made a visit to Ely in August and the weather was picture perfect! Brody got to do everything on his wish list. He went tubing, he swam in a nice wetsuit, he went fishing, he went on the pontoon, he took a sauna, he went for a nature hike, he picked and ate lots of berries, and lots of other fun stuff. Maverick had a blast, too!

Bekki & Hagen Visit ~ Trip to the MN Zoo

Brody, Hagen & Maverick

Whoops: Nice photo turned into a tackle session.

We had the whale pool out for some fun in the sun.

We headed to the zoo one day. Stop #1 was seeing the giraffe. 

Stop #2: Sitting on a tiger.

Calvin & Hobbes

Maverick loves to look at the fish tanks.

The ever popular penguin stop.

Maverick climbs the slide in the Bee Hive.

Brody & Hagen stacked the honeycomb.

We ended the day with the splash pad.

Except Maverick, the wanderer.

He conked his head, shocking, I know.

We got to hang out with my friend, Bekki and her son, Hagen a couple of time while they were visiting from Texas. The three boys had fun playing together at our house and also enjoyed a nice summer trip to the Minnesota Zoo.

Audrey Visits

Audrey came for a visit a couple of weeks ago and the boys (especially Brody) really had fun seeing her!

Audrey, Brody & Maverick ~ July 2013

Maverick was more interested in the graham cracker than taking a picture. Brody was showing off his monkey toes by holding his graham cracker in them, gross!

Audrey & Brody

Kelly & Brody

Audrey's cousin, Nikki, came by our house for a visit from Wisconsin and brought her pugs. The one in the red is Kiah. Kiah used to be part of our family and has been with Nikki since Brody was a baby. It was so fun to see her again!

Brody & Kelly in the whale pool, which ended in a water fight.

The last hint of his black eye showing.

Maverick loves the park. He would wander around seemingly aimlessly until we realized he was looking for the stairs every time!

Weee

Racing

We took a walk to the park and Brody rode his bike.

A little bonfire with s'mores of course!

Maverick shares a snack with his buddy.  Note that Audrey's fabulous hairdo was done compliments of Brody. He loves to do hair!

Mieska Gathering 2013

The "greats" with GG.

Take 2.

GG and her kids.

Mav & Papa (& Ellie)

Mav and his Ellie

GG

A failed attempt at getting the Docken cousins together for a nice picture.

Maverick loves sand.

Mav loves playing in the house, too.

There was a lot of sand castle making happening.

The little boys enjoyed scooping sand, too.

Whitney helped Brody make a big castle.

Mav LOVES walking up and down the dock.

I hope he loves swimming in lakes next year when he's big enough.

A little soccer practice with the boys.

The weekend of July 27, we headed to Sue & Julie's for the annual gathering of the Mieska crew. It was a cool day, but the kids still all played in the lake and had a blast!