our story: Summer Wrap-Up

Chad's Birthday

Happy with his new driver!

Heusinkvelt Family Trip to Johnson

Bowling

Glow Golf

Go Carts

This picture perfectly depicts the difference between the girls and boys when it comes to a photo opportunity.

Boys #safetyfirst

Girls #strikeapose

Fishing

Tubing

Not sure whose idea it was for all three of them to go together. Although Blake had the advantage by being able to hold on to both handles (Brock and Carter could only hold onto one), Blake's shorts ended up getting ripped to shreds.

Marshmallow Guns

Marshmallows EVERYWHERE!

Ew.

Champion Marshmallow Shooter

Roller Blading

After roller blading/biking upon our arrival to Johnson to check out the usual scenery of the marina, Sophie and I so desperately wanted to complete the 5-mile challenge of roller blading all the way to the beach (which is halfway around the lake). We picked out our day, got our supplies ready, and set off on our adventure.

An hour later and we had finally arrived! We wouldn't have survived had it not been for Nicki Minaj sing-a-longs and remaining hopeful after every curve. "I think I see it! I have a feeling we are close!"

We knew we were there when we made it to the gas station across the street from the beach. We were so excited to relax with some slushies and snacks.

What I thought was a delicious Pepsi slushie turned out to be root beer. Not a fan.

Still little enough to play in the sand...

And still little enough for "Mom, watch me! Watch this! Look!"

"I'm going to throw up mud/sand for this picture!"

"Ewwwwwww!"

As we relaxed at the beach, the sudden realization came to us that the boys were all fishing and Chad had the keys to the vehicle that we left with Grandma and Ella back at the house. There was no other way to get back to the house other than roller blading back! We could either roller blade back or wait for the boys to get done fishing, which could have been hours. We decided to make the trek back to the house -- but this time, instead of going back where we came from, we were going to complete the circle that takes us around the whole lake. The first five minutes were great! We were so excited! The other 55 minutes, however, were...what's the right word...memorable. Everything from yelling "PAPA" at every red truck that passed us, to trying to roller blade on gravel roads alongside the cornfields. At one point, we thought we were lost. We thought we weren't going to make it. But we persevered. We did it. We roller bladed around the entire lake. I told Sophie that we could check that off of our bucket list now. She said wouldn't have put roller blading around a lake on hers. Haha!