The boys of summer and of the block, need no explanation! This is what the “dog days of summer” are about!
Monthly Archives: June 2010
Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis, Minnesota
On Father’s Day, the boys and I loaded up the car and took Ashish to Lake Calhoun for a relaxing day in the sun, sand and water. We had a picnic lunch, in which we ordered from The Tin Fish. We feasted on shrimp nachos, “the Lake Calhoun Lunch” and fish tacos. I stood in line for 1 hour (that’s how popular it was- every apparently had the same idea). The nachos and tacos were well worth the wait. I think we’ll pass on the tilapia in the future that came with the lunch. For $30, there was plenty of good food to go around. Happy Father’s Day to a man that defines fatherhood. I couldn’t have picked a better man to be the father of my children. Love you! And…to my Dad back in Chicago who has always loved me and taught me to respect myself and that men should respect me as well.
K’s 1st Birthday!
We were invited to monkey around with a special birthday boy! Cupcakes dressed in theme (monkeys and nanners!) and a birthday boy that amazed me with his ability and sheer enjoyment of living in the moment…and wearing a hat that his Mommy picked out for him. (I could never get my kids to wear hats.) What a milestone…for all involved. K is lucky, but all of us are even more lucky for having him in our lives. We look forward to more “playdates” with them all- very soon! 
My friend and her friend, holding K’s little brother. He reminds me so much of Tiger!
Good Cake!
More Cake served up by Mommy!
My friend and her friend, holding K’s little brother. He reminds me so much of Tiger!
Good Cake!
K’s little brother C looks on in the midst off all the excitement. Pour joys, sweet blessings… Congrats to a most deserving and loving family that we are so happy to be able to call our friends!
More Cake served up by Mommy!
Strawberry Fields Foreva!
There is something about a sun-kissed berry on a warm summer day that melts away your cares that makes your mouth happy. Though we have a small patch in our organic garden, I thought the boys would get a kick out of picking strawberries at a farm. I’m pretty sure Tiger ate more than he picked. Nishad was all about comparing the colors to find the most ripe in a deep red hue. After a short drive home, we came home to feast upon more berries…and more berries…all $5.90 worth were gone in a day. But, we did decide to make a fresh strawberry coffee cake too! 
I highly recommend “Apple Jack’s Farm” for an all around family fun experience. They are some much more than just apples! The three of us ate lunch in the bakery/cafe for $20.00. It was surprisingly tasty! One of the women that works there even came out to our table to see if everything was good. On a side note, the “cow train” is up and running daily as well.
WOZ Promo
Follow the yellow brick road to the Minnesota Children’s Museum where you’ll find that “somewhere over the rainbow” is actually in our neck of the woods! The Wizard of Oz exhibit runs from June 12th and blows out of here on September 12th. That’s plenty of time for you to brush up on your lollipop guild lyrics and dust off your ruby reds.
The Kids and I were fortunate to be invited to help film a promo to be aired on PBS for the exhibit. It worked out really well because it was the perfect rainy summer day- typically, we would have headed to the Minnesota Children’s Museum anyway! Even though the boys have never watched the Wizard of Oz, they enjoyed all the hands on displays and colorful atmosphere that generates energy! Some things I loved as a Mom:
1. Even though I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old there were enough varying things that they each gravitated to something- even a 30 “something” Mom was excited to play.
2. I loved the way the room was arranged. I actually could sit back and let the boys explore without worrying that I couldn’t see them in my view or that I would lose one of them.
3. The exhibit down-plays the “scary” wicked witch and monkeys. Let’s face it, there are scary enough things in life. The “dark side” was represented by the wicked witches castle that had low lighting on it and a spider web that older kids could climb. My 4 year old was ecstatic that he could climb to the top by the torch. 
Thank You to the Minnesota Children’s Museum for having a brain to get this exhibit here, the courage to let everyone freely explore without fear and a heart for sharing this with us all!
