Minnesota Road Trip

Summer has been great so far! We kicked it off a week before school got out by going to Peru. Then, the boys spent 2 weeks attending Sunshine Days (Communion Prep School). We had a week of "free play" (nothing planned for a week) and then headed to Minnesota for an 11 day vacay over 4th of July.  The Daddy's flew in order to miss less work while Tara and I road tripped the 22 hours with the 4 boys. On the way up there, we stopped at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. We wished we had stayed an extra night at the resort because it had so many fun things for the kids to do! Minnesota was beautifully green and lush with the freshest, most crisp air. So many lakes that you can't help but feel relaxed up there (around 11, 800 of them in the state!).  Temps were in the 50's and 60's at night and 70's and low 80's during the day. Tara's parents were so fun and accommodating! We loved our road trip there, our week long stay on the lake and our road trip back (INCLUDING, the minutes of insanity that we all felt around the 9 hour mark in the car. LOL!).  We have 1 "free week" again next week and then the boys head to Cousin Camp for a  week with Nana and Pops. Then, we are off to Seaside for a week with the Knott's and the Simmons'!
Can't get any better than this!

Pedicures and swimming slumber party with Rylee and Parker during our "free play" week!

We also went to Splash Town
 with our friends, the Bowles.  The boys went down the Free Fall slide several times! I was too scared.....

More fun during "free play" week! We rented a house on Lake LBJ with the Bonazzi's for a weekend.

Too fun. I was sore for 2 days after all the bouncing. [read: old]

Tan-Tara Resort. Amazing views.

Lake LBJ

Tan-Tara Resort. Amazing views.

                       

Minnesota!

Cross Lake town square. Delicious pizza and then old time candy and ice cream shop!

Great fireworks show over the lake on the 4th of July!

Reido and Daddy four-wheeling!

Aunt Tara and Cole.

SILLY BOYS. Videos of the boys trying on their rentals for Maegan and Blake's wedding. They even asked if we could buy instead of rent... :) 

NINE!

I've known Cole for 9 years. Loved him from the moment he was in my tummy.

And now, he is only 1 year away from double-digits.     SHIT!  

In the last 9 years, we were blessed with Cole and Reid. Can't express how happy and thankful we are that God chose us to be Mommy and Daddy to those 2 little loves.

Happy Birthday to our oldest baby love!

Dad wasn't too happy about Cole's cake selection.... :)  Can't blame him, considering he lived in Dallas for the last 3 years of his life. :)

Cole's girlfriend is Brianna (blue t-shirt....). So cute and super athletic. :)

Nana and Pops after everyone left the birthday party!

Birthday party at Sandlot. They played Dodge Ball and Kickball. 

I LOVE THIS KID WITH MY WHOLE ENTIRE HEART! 

We got him a mountain bike for his birthday. Wish I had captured the excited look on his face!

Peru Tour

The boys and I took an 8 day trip to Peru for my cousin Isabel's wedding. Joe wasn't able to go due to work and although we missed him, we had a WONDERFUL time! This was the boys 3rd trip to Peru. We got to see my sweet Grandma and all of my aunts, uncles and most of my cousins. We spent the first 3 days in Lima, then headed to Ica (country side) for 3 days. We all stayed at Hacienda San Jose, built in 1688, where Isabel got married. WOW.  One of the most beautiful outdoor wedding receptions I've ever attended and of course, Isabel looked gorgeous! Close family stayed there, but there were a little over 500 guests at the wedding.  The boys swam and played on the acreage. We then headed to the coast where we stayed for 2 days. We stayed at the Hotel Paracas and visited the Ballesta Islands (boys' favorite part of the trip). We rode bikes with the boys along the seawall, swam, ate the BEST, most fresh seafood and just enjoyed the company of our family.  We spent the last part of our trip back in Lima. The boys acclimated quickly to the kiss culture (kisses every time, all the time),  loved the extra attention, getting spoiled and were speaking some Spanish by the end of the trip. 

I am so grateful for my family and the opportunity for all of us to spend time together in such a beautiful place!!! 

We flew together on the way to Lima. :) 

Love these 4. :)

"Como Mamina, no hay ninguna".  "Like Mamina, there is no other!" My second mom with my babies.

Navigating! :)

with Jules, Fiore and my sister. Love these girls!! Such a great time!

Dining with the Clarke side of my beautiful family!!

Somewhere off the coast of Lima.

Church where Isa got married on the hacienda grounds.

The woodwork was incredible!! 

Isa and Benjamin during their first dance. Isabel looked like she was floating as they Waltzed. 

I stole these next 3 pics from the professional photographer that photographed their wedding. 

Beautiful! (stolen picture)

Everything was perfectly placed. The weather couldn't have been better for an outdoor reception. (stolen picture) 

With my Mamama! Such a funny and witty lady!

My 2 little lovies.

Paracas. Perfect.

The sunsets....

My beautiful parents!!!

On the boat to the Ballesta Islands. This boy falls asleep as soon as we get on a boat. He sleeps for 15 minutes and then wakes up. Happened on every boat trip we took in Peru!

Sister and Marice. :)

Love this one!

Boys playing with Mamama's wheelchair. :)