Relaxing in the North Woods

Yesterday we visited the Whale's Tale Water Park for the fourth year in a row—once again with free passes from some friends up here. I work hard to put all skeevy thoughts out of my head and just enjoy myself at these kinds of places, but I feel like I can practically see the bacteria. But in truth, it's always a fun day. Pete convinced me to go on the Banzai Pipeline, which was by far the scariest ride I've ever been on, wet or dry. Pete's screams were drowned out only by my own. (See promotional video here.)

We awoke this morning to a forecast calling for cloudy skies and possible showers this afternoon, with sunny weather on deck for tomorrow, so we decided to hold off on going to the fair. This morning Andy took Pete and Julie canoeing at Echo Lake while Steph and I checked out the Garnet Hill outlet (but alas, we came home empty-handed).

After lunch we had a bocce tournament, and I won! Bocce is a great game for kids—and for spazzy moms—because you don't have to be big or strong or fast or even terribly coordinated. We got eaten alive by them big back-woods 'skeeters, though.

Then we headed to Chutters for our usual penny-candy pigout session. Here's Andy on the ride home:

Comments

[TheNag]

The better to kiss you with?

[Judy]

Angelina eat your heart out!

[Stephanie]

Awesome

[steve]

Sounds fun.

My father and I had a tradition of visiting the Minnesota State Fair each year (until I moved to the South). Our first year, he and I were standing along the clear plexi-glass wall along the floom ride, watching the water splash as riders drifted by.

I was thinking about all the bacteria that must have been in the water when my father turned to me and said "I bet that water is just one enormous petri dish."

It was a special, bonding moment for us.