Express Ranch

One of our favorite places to go is the Express Ranch. I have been going there on occasion to see the Clydesdale horses since before we ever had kids. We went yesterday, again.

 They also have 2 ponies, a zebra and a donkey.

 The barn is historic, an Amish refurbished one.

Friends, Ethan and Camilla, came also.

 They are massive and SO friendly.

 Elina found the dogs, of course.

 One of the horses got new shoes.

 A life-size replica.

The hooves tend to "pancake" out due to the weight of the horse.

Summer fun

The summer continues to roll forward with alarming speed. To escape the oppressive heat, swimming is a must! Elina had some friends over to play at the pool (Isak did have a pool birthday party two years in a row to which no girls were allowed, so you can see her point of view that it was her turn).

 Julia, Sayre, Sofia, Elina, Grace and Anja

 Suddigt!!

I am having trouble with this new fancy Nikon camera. I have only had it 3 months, but it keeps taking unclear pictures. I think I am going to return it because I just can't have pretty pictures like ruined!

We had a bigger pool party, too - one where not just girls or boys were allowed, but the whole family. But when inviting Mormon families to a backyard pool, however, it really only takes 3 families for the pool to fill up quickly. We had a great time and ate some awesome food (not pictured).

But no summer is complete without also spending some lake time:

 Bästa vännerna!

 Shawnda, Jessie, Elena, Elina och Sadie

 Elena, Julia och Anja.

 Två mammor tog med sina barn och det blev ett helt gäng! 

(Och ändå saknas 2 från denna bild)

Ja, och hundarna  var med förstås!

 Isak och Elena.

 SÅ roligt!

 Julia gillade sanden.

 Och Anja kan nästan simma.

 Glada syskon.

 Och två till.

 Shawnda, Elina och Sadie.

Vattenparken är också ett måste. Träden runt omkring fick sig ett par rejäla törnar i våras när tornadon drog genom stan, så det finns nästan ingen skugga kvar. Det hade jag inte riktigt räknat med så Elina blev lite solbränd efter detta besök.

 Anja doted on her doll.

 Elina

 Julia was hard to photograph...

Wet and happy!

Sailing at Lake Thunderbird

This was Isak's second year at Lake Thunderbird sailing camp, and we got to spend the last day with him on the lake (pictures from last year HERE). And since this is my forum for bragging about kids, I think will. Throughout the week I had been told from various people at the boathouse, "Oh, you son is Isak? He is a really fast sailor!"

On Saturday, when we went out on the lake to watch the kids sail, Skipper Rick remarked that Isak was a very good sailor, holding his rudder still, tacking and jibing as needed, and looking straight ahead. When we came back to shore, Elina, who had been riding in the safety boat, told me the people in that boat had coined Isak "the best sailor" while watching the kids. And Isak came in first, just as he won all the races this week. Since he is not the kid who is used to winning everything, this made him especially happy. (Though he is reminding me that he beat everyone at bowling last time he went with his scout troop...) He was given the award for "Fastest Sailor" at the awards ceremony. But best of all, he had a wonderful 6 days on the lake!

 View from the boathouse porch.

 Julia is no longer a complete lose cannon around the water. 

She actually stayed and played at the water's edge.

 Elina rode on the safety boat.

 Anja loves boats!

 And Julia told me she was floating inside "the house"!

 Anja and Skipper Rick.

 Julia.

 Isak getting his "Fastest Sailor" award after his teacher, Phil, explained how he had won all the week's races.

Derigging.

And here is a series of pictures of Isak sailing:

He was one of the last to push off from shore:

But he soon caught up with his friends:

And here he passes one of them:

Pulling in between two other boats and getting ready to turn left:

And he's on his way:

And here he is on his way to "first place":