Two Rivers 2015

July is here again, which in addition to the 4th of July, means it is time for our annual trip to Two Rivers State Park.  As has become tradition, we stayed in caboose #5 (sorry no picture!). 

 

Also, a tradition is a visit from Grandpa Joe and Grandma Betty.  We were extra thankful they came because this year we forgot a lot of necessities.  Driving out we realized we forgot matches and the girls' toothbrushes.  When it was time to cook dinner, we also discovered we forgot the hotdogs and charcoal.  Grandpa Joe put his Boy Scout skills to good use and they managed to make fire!  And, Grandpa and Grandma shared their hotdogs with us.

 

 

 

 

The bike ride through the grass was not as easy for Liz, who had her scooter.  I asked if she was having a hard time walking her scooter.  To which she replied, "Mom, you don't walk a scooter; you walk a dog.  I'm pulling my scooter!" 

 

 

After dinner we played a rousing game of UNO. 

 

 

Saturday morning we went for a walk before heading to the water. Liz and Michael managed a faster pace than Kate and I.

 

 

Kate was not feeling the walk and a meltdown ensued.   

I have to be honest, our time at Two Rivers involved a fair amount of rough moments.  There is lots of screaming and dramatic reactions to bugs.  Invariably the suggestion that we eat anything other than candy and chips causes great debate.  And, any moment we are not at or in the water, the girls are bored.

 

 

Thankfully, another set of visitors joined us on Saturday. 

Grandma Terri and Grandpa Phil spent the morning and lunch with us.  We waded in the water and ate a picnic lunch on the beach.

 

 

Saturday afternoon was spent playing in the sand and water. 

Per usual, we all waded out to the sand bars too!  (No pictures of that; it is safer to leave the camera on shore.)

 

 

A favorite this year was being buried in the sand.

 

 

 

 

Before leaving Sunday morning, we visited a couple camping with their horses.  I believe this was Tuffy.  Tuffy and his owners were very gracious to let us hang around and ask questions.

 

 

Thank you for another year of memories, Two Rivers.  We will see you in 2016!

Two Rivers: Year 2

We headed out to Two Rivers State Park on the afternoon of the 4th. The girls were exhausted from a late night of fireworks the previous night.

 I was relieved when they both passed out as we were driving down 84th St.

 The first order of business was checking in, changing into swimsuits and ice cream cones!

 The Platte River was fuller than last, but not too deep or too strong for the girls.  
They LOVE splashing and wading. 

Kate was showing me her sand beard.  After swimming in the river the girls have sand everywhere.  I mean everywhere!  

Before dinner, the girls rode their bikes around the caboose park.  
Look, Kate is riding without training wheels!

 Grandpa Joe taught Liz how to roast marshmallows.

But, when it was time to try eat, Liz wasn't quite so sure.  Her eyebrows tell the story.

After dinner with grandpa and grandma, Kate, Michael and Grandma played Princess Bingo.
***

The first night in the caboose was rough.  It stormed and woke everyone up.  Then, Kate had the hardest time falling back to sleep due to the bug bites she got earlier in the evening.   It took us awhile to get into stride on day two.  We were all tired and itchy.  It was wet and overcast out.  Michael suggested we go to the outlet malls!  Retail therapy was exactly what the three girls needed! 

By the time we got back to the park, the sun was shinning and it was perfect swimming weather. 

 This year we tried out the small swimming lake.  Once the girls adjusted to the cool water, they had lots of fun digging holes and filling them with water.

 After spending time at the lake, we went over to the Platte River.  I don't have any pictures because we decided to wade to one of the sand bars and I didn't risk carrying the camera.  *Disclaimer -- it was never more than knee deep for the girls and the current was mild.*  

We had the sand bar all to ourselves. The girls ran wild and Michael and I soaked up the sun. It was a wonderful afternoon.

I am sure we will be back next year!

Our christmas tree

At the last minute I decided that we needed a Christmas tree. It just didn't feel like Christmas without a tree.

Kate really enjoyed putting ornaments on the tree. Each ornament needed to be put in the "perfect" spot.

Liz also "helped".
I had fun and I hope the girls did too. It was more than just decorating a tree; it was making a memory of our Christmas traditions, at least I hope that is how the girls remember the evening.

a new tradition

Last night we drove around and looked at Christmas light displays.

Kate was having troubles seeing out of her window in the backseat, so Daddy let her sit in his lap. [Note: we did not drive all over Lincoln like this! It was only for a block.]

We told Kate we were going to Candy Cane Lane, a street in Lincoln where all the houses have candy cane cutouts decorated with lights in the yard. Kate was very confused. I think she envisioned a street similar to the game Candy Land. Confusion aside, I think we all had a good time. Hopefully, this is the start of a new tradition!