Grandma Jan and Grandpa Walter Visit the Millennium Garden

 Grandma and Grandpa came to visit us and we took them to the Millennium Garden. In case you're wondering, Ainsley was very sassy and wouldn't be photographed.  I, on the other hand, have never been more photogenic.

Love,
Cameron

Purple Belt Graduation

Here are some photos of my graduation from green to purple belt in karate.  These photos were stuck on the old camera too.

Here I am doing a demonstration of my skills.

Mr. Salas is giving me my purple belt.

The proud graduate!

Love,
Cameron

More From Lake Itasca: The Lost Photos

Our normally trusty little Sony camera died this week and in an effort to empty it out, we found some pictures from our Lake Itasca trip that Cameron took.

Here is Ben at Preacher's Grove.

Here is Ben with a sculpture at the Headwaters visitor's center.

 

Here is a self portrait of me and Ben near the headwaters.

 

 

Here is a self-portrait of me with the first few yards of the Mississippi River behind me.

Here is my picture of the big white pine.  Dad and I thought it was a better shot than his.

Love,
Cameron

My Last Day of School

Today was my last day of school.  Mommy and Daddy both took me today.  Daddy took this cute picture of me next to the lockers.

Here is my with my teachers:  Miss Amanda, Miss Sue, and Miss Lacey.

I will miss going to school, but I am looking forward to pre-school in the fall.

Love,
Ainsley

My 8th Birthday Party

We had my 8th birthday party at my karate school, Dojo Karate.  It was a lot of fun to have all of my friends and my brother and sister there. 

We started out warming up.  Didn't Ainsley look cute in her karate outfit?

After some basic karate moves, we took a break and played dodgeball!

Then Mr. Lefavor brought out the kicking towers and we all got to do flying kicks! Ainsley and Ben did awesome.

After kicking the towers, we got to do battle with Nerf like swords.  Most kids were nice.  Ben and I really went after each other. 

Mom and Ainsley even had a turn.

Just before dinner, we all got to break boards with our hands.  Ainsley  had some help from Mr. Lefavor, but she did an awesome job!

We ended the party by having a massive Nerf gun battle.  It was soooooo much fun.

Love,
Cameron

Atop the Foshay Tower

Mom and Dad and I visited the top of the Foshay Tower this morning.  It was awesome to see everything in the Twin Cities.

This was the view facing south.  You can see an airplane landing in the left, just above the horizon.

This is the IDS tower, where you might recall the boys and Mom and Dad having brunch a few years back before I was born.

This is Capella Tower, where Dad used to work.

 This is Wells Fargo place, and we just thought it was cool.

 

Here's a cute shot of me and Mom.

 

And here's another of us, sitting down and resting while Dad took more pictures.

Love,
Ainsley

Lacrosse Showcase

While Cameron was in Minneapolis, I was in St. Paul competing in the Minnesota Swarm's box lacrosse showcase for 3rd and 4th graders.

In the end, my team won 4-3.  It was a lot of fun to play at the Xcel Energy Center.

Love,
Ben

Cameron's First Karate Tournament

Today was my 8th birthday and it was also my first karate tournament.  The morning started very early because we had to be in downtown Minneapolis by 7:30 in the morning.

After some waiting, it was time for my first competition - intramurals.

I did pretty well.  In fact, I came in first in my group.

I was pretty excited.

My next event was the Mega Team, which is where everyone at my school competes together. The official photographer took these two pictures of me.

We ended up winning the Mega Team competition!

I came in third in my last event.  By then, I was really tired I was ready to be done.

Love,
Cameron

Hunting Eggs on the Farm

We went down to the Bierstedt ranch for Easter. We started the weekend by putting together the Skyward Summit, the latest contraption at Park Biesterdt. We paused to take a few pictures of the sun while it set.

On Saturday, we had an egg hunt. There were eggs everywhere.

Later in the day, Aunt Michelle sent the boys on a scavenger hunt.

While they hunted, the rest of us teeter-tottered...

Played with the cats...

Or watched the funny baby cows run around!

In the morning, we got up early and went to Easter church at 7am!

Love,
Ainsley, Ben, and Cameron