Summer Fun!

So, one month down, one and a half to go! Summer has been very nice and relaxed for the Rasmussens thus far. I love the lazy, somewhat slower pace that summer seems to take on. The kids have swim team/lessons every evening, but other than that we are just free to play and enjoy our HOT summer days. Here are some things we have done to entertain the troops:

Sleepovers with siblings - isn't that what summer is all about?!?

Sadie and Abbie at their summer dance recital with famed dance instructor Caitlin McGrath.

Swimming with cousins, or really anyone that shows up in our back yard.

Drex got an expander put on about a week and a half ago. This is our first experience with orthodontia. We have to turn the key twice a day and I was pretty worried that it would hurt him a lot, but he's been really good about it. They said we would notice a big gap between his two front teeth after awhile. Sure enough. . . . Now he's twins with his mom!

Building forts. This has been a favorite pass-time, but this one the kids built with cousins Jake and Trevor was pretty much the mother-load. It came complete with a master suite, two guest bedrooms, a living room, family room and bathroom. The kids slept in it for a couple of nights until mom (I'm such a meanie) insisited that they clean it up before Sunday.

Pretty much just being silly. Also a favorite pass-time.

Teaching baby sister how to eat popsicles. Okay, so I'm not just a mean mom, I'm a bad mom!

Making edible play-dough. The kids loved this, and the best part was, we had lunch already made that day!

The Grandma Ras Retreat

First off, how can I possibly follow up such a fantastic post as the previous one?

So, our kids have some pretty cool grandparents. Every year Grandpa Rasmussen takes all of his sons/sons-in-laws/grandsons on the Grandpa Ras Rendevous. They go camping, hiking, do service projects, have flag ceremonies decked out in full scout uniform, etc. My boys have a ball every year. So, this year, Grandma Rasmussen decided that it was about time the girls got to play, too. Thus, the Grandma Ras Retreat. Only, for us, there was no camping or scout uniforms involved. Only a whole lot of pink, purple, princess, ballerina, barbie, frill and foof.

We got to stay at the Desert Oasis Resort in Scottsdale for two days and dress up like princesses and ballerinas, paint fingernails and toenails, make crowns, bracelets and necklaces, decorate picture frames, color, play with paper dolls, picnic, swim and dance to the infamous Hannah Montana. The girls got goodie bags filled with stickers, bracelets, pencils, lipgloss, candy, you name it. They each also got a tutu that Grandma Ras and Aunt Angie made for them. Needless to say, these little girls had a blast! At one point, Abbie said, "Mom, this is the best party I've ever been to!" We are very grateful to Grandma and Grandpa (resident photographer and pizza delivery boy) Ras for all of the hard work and love they put into this. Check out these cute girls:

All 4 Princesses














Atlie










Sadie










Ballerinas Jo and Abbie














Ballerina Jo Picking A Winner

The Little Stuff

Sometimes it's just to be grateful for the little stuff. And it's even better when it's 2-Ply. Who's with me on that one?