Andy: You know how I would be able to become a shapeshifter?

Me: How?

Andy: Well, if God existed, and if he only needed five more pebbles for a perfect collection, then I would give him five pebbles in exchange for a wish.

Andy: What stupid song is this?

Me: I don’t know the title of it.

Andy: It sounds like raving sunshine.

Sung to no particular tune while running back and forth on the couch: “Oh, how I love to stay home / With pleasure / It’s my favorite thing to do / To stay home sick from school!”

I think he’ll be ready to go back tomorrow.

We had Andy’s birthday party the weekend before we went on vacation. We had it at Eagle’s Nest again, but we don’t have any pictures of the kids playing, only eating.

Have we ever mentioned that Andy likes Spongebob?

I know this is confusing, with all the pictures out of order. Sorry. This batch is from our vacation to Park Rapids, with the exception of the pictures taken on Andy’s birthday. Those were posted earlier.

On the Sunday of our trip, we made an excursion to nearby Lake George for their annual Blueberry Festival. We somehow missed all the activities that were actually related to blueberries (except for buying some blueberry jam and having blueberry pie at the diner), but we did get to see the parade. We hung out at this playground while waiting for it to start.

The playground was a pretty good place to hang out while we waited, because it was in the park where the parade vehicles lined up before the parade. Also there was Smoky Bear, handing out candy to the kids.

Andy got a good haul of candy at the parade.

Our resort had two play structures.

The other one was at the beach. Unfortunately I don’t have any pictures of Andy playing on it, or any pictures of Andy at the beach at all, but this is it.

Jay tried to teach Andy the real way to play shuffleboard, but he (and I) had fun by just going, “Ready, set, shuffleboard!” and then trying to hit each other’s pucks (or whatever they’re called).

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The major outing of our trip was to Itasca State Park, where we all walked across the Mississippi (headwaters). For some reason I can’t find my Itasca pictures! But don’t worry, when they show up, I’ll make a new post. I wouldn’t want to make this too easy for you guys.

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And finally, Jay took Andy horseback riding near Detroit Lakes. (I was the designated photographer.) We had to wait around for quite a while before the horses took off, but there were lots of cool animals to look at while we waited.

The sign says it all.

No warning sign, but we kept our distance from this guy anyway.

Still, it’s not always easy to wait.

Finally!

And then he still had to wait while everyone else got on their horses.

And…they’re off! Jay reported that Andy did extremely well on the ride.

Wolverine and Super-Dog

So, I’m less than two weeks late getting these pictures posted. For me, that’s not too bad.

Here’s Andy, ready to go to his first day of first grade.

The backpack doubles as a Nickelodeon Universe souvenir.

Here’s Andy at our traditional Perkins breakfast before the first day of school. (If you do the same thing two years in a row on the same occasion, that makes it a tradition.)

And here he is in his first-grade classroom with his new teacher, Mlle Geimer. When I commented to him what a nice picture this is, he said, “Of course. We’re friends.” She and Earmuff are friends too, it seems.

Andy tripped on the stairs this morning.

Andy: Ow! I sprung my leg! I can’t go to school.

Me (from the kitchen): Sit on the couch and I’ll come look at it.

Andy: Ow! Ow! Ow! … Bring me a pickle.

Me: How was school today?

Andy: Great!

Me: What did you do?

Andy: Cool stuff.

Me: What kind of cool stuff?

Andy: That’s top secret information.

Andy, how old are you now?

We spent Andy’s birthday at a resort near Park Rapids. Here’s Andy on the big day, backlit by the view from our cabin.

Ninja Andy! The costume was a gift from Grandma Cheryl.

The traditional birthday breakfast in bed.

The box that the ninja costume came in became a house for some of his toys.

Andy’s birthday-cake-in-a-frying-pan.