Family Weekend!

On Thursday we got to take a much needed mini vacation to Brainerd. It was only two nights but it was so much fun. It was pretty last minute and completely unplanned. Carl took off of work but we weren't completely sure it was going to work out. So we didn't even decide for sure where we were going until the night before. So basically it was a typical spontaneous Hagen trip. :-)

When we got there Thursday we checked into our hotel and headed to Nisswa for pizza. I had randomly heard of a place called Rafferty's recently and since we didn't know anything else about the Brainerd area, we decided to try it. We were so glad we did! There is literally nothing in Nisswa - it's like two blocks long. But for two little boys it was a pretty fun two blocks.

After dinner we found some 10 cent rides and trains to play on that kept us busy for quite awhile.

Carsten wanted to ride this so badly so we let him have a turn when Tyler was done. He was so excited, but it turned into the most terrifying moment of his life when the horse actually moved. Tyler was happy to finish for him.

The first of many Babe the Blue Ox sightings on this trip.

They had so much fun moving from car to car on this cute little train.

And then we found The Chocolate Ox. Wow. It was a cute little candy shop with the best ice cream in the history of the world. It was soooo good. We were really tempted to drive back there another day because it was that good. In fact, I want to go right now. Just wow.

Carl was wishing he had ordered Superman ice cream like Tyler. They both thought it was pretty fantastic.

The best cookies and cream ice cream cone ever made. And Carsten was lucky enough to have it for his very fist ice cream. My white pants did not do well with a one year old feeding himself oreo ice cream.

Sometimes unplanned, leisurely days are the very best. It was exactly what we needed. A relaxing night with nowhere to go. We all had SO much fun just hanging out together and exploring this cute little town.

I will be back soon with pictures of Paul Bunyan Land!

And Now For the Children's Museum

I've been wanting to take the boys to the Children's Museum for awhile. And on Tuesday when we woke up with nothing we really needed to do I decided to go for it. That place is amazing and always fun.

It was good that Carsten found this and loved it before Tyler found the real tools. Otherwise I'm not sure he would have liked being kept from the big kid stuff.

How fun is this?! Tyler loved using real tools. I think he would have stayed in that spot all day if he could have

Who knew these things would be so fun to play with at a museum?

Or a little room full of ribbon? So fun.

These two just love playing pianos. And a painted one? Even better.

He must have a big family to feed.

Every other parent who came anywhere near Carsten moved very quickly away from him. This boy loves water and he is a professional splasher.

Such a fun day.

This is Summer

We have been having a blast so far this summer. I don't know if it was the long, cold winter or what, but this summer is amazing. We have just been having so much fun! We've been visiting different parks, splash pads the zoo and even the Children's Museum one rainy day. Beware. There are a lot of pictures ahead. I'm even going to split it into two posts. Because there are a lot. :-)

Splash pad fun!

Fun on the farm!

And bugs. This was not my favorite part of the zoo. But I have sons, so I guess I'd better get used to bugs and creepy crawly things.

This thing is what nightmares are made of.

Tuckered out!

Tired best friends. :-)

These are not at all related to summer, but I just had to.

 Not one tie with pajamas, but two. How cool is he?

And this guy. He can't be left alone for two seconds. And even that is a bit much because he is climbing everything these days!