Bucket List Repeat...

The kids are at such awesome ages...

I just love that we can do things as a family that everyone enjoys...stuff off of our original Bucket List ...

Friday Night Family Date at Canterbury Park!

Horses, Live Music, and snacks!
Yes Please!



(Yes, he's blurry in this picture - he never stops moving! Hails asked me to snap these - I was camera-less on this particular evening -but never without my camera phone...I wish it took better pictures like that Droid Charge I had!)

We never put any money down on the horses - but we are going to need to start.

Every time the kids pick a number -based solely on their ages, how old they wish they were, etc etc -

The horses end up coming out up front!

It's a fun way to spend some time outdoors as a family...

And honestly, is there anything a city slicker can find more majestic than one of these beautiful animals around here?

The Bucket List...Making Multiple Stops...

While it's true, we already did this activity off of the Gust Gab Summer Bucket List - We decided to do it again...

It's outdoors, it's close to home, it's fun, and best of all, it's FREE!


Yes, another trip out to Canterbury Park ~

These animals are just so beautiful - I have always loved horses...

And one of the greatest things about going on a Sunday afternoon?

It's FAMILY DAY!

Free face painting for the kids...

Or, well, arm if you are our little girl...

And FREE pony rides!!

And you guys...look at our little girl up there riding on that pony. First timer here folks! First timer! D hopped right on like the cowboy he is and rode around the ring - and about an hour later, when he was going to go again - she declared she was too - and that she did!

We are so proud of her, coming out of her shell more and more each day to embrace what life has to offer her!

The kids had a blast...

And the petting zoo was pretty cool too!

Thankfully, with all of the other stuff going on - the kids only wanted to climb this monstrosity for a few minutes (and not a few hours!)

I wouldn't care on a regular day, but why must there always be some unsupervised kid climbing the outside of these structures giving the little ones ideas?

GAH!

It was Navy Week in the Twin Cities (I know! Who knew?!?) So there was a pretty cool military fly over taking place as well - I'm not sure where it was based out of but it was sure fun to watch the planes going overhead in their different formations...

Yep, for a couple of hours, this big city felt a little bit more small town...and that, that my friends makes me very very happy.

Friday Night Races...

So one of the things on my Summer Bucket List is a trip to Canterbury Park to watch the horse races...
It's been awhile since we've been out there - and I love that it's a family friendly place to hang out, outdoors no less...

Such a bummer that on this very day I shipped my SLR camera back to the Canon Factory in VIRGINIA for repair...it would have come in handy...but never fear - my trusty new point and shoot will fill in just fine...

Grandpa Larry & Grandma Tammy were in town to visit us - they haven't come here since our wedding - six years ago -

So it was a rare treat to be able to entertain them here... Auntie Christy & Madison joined us too

Everyone had a blast - despite the expressions on the pre-teen's face...

In fact, I saw her rockin' out with H...

To the 80's tunes sung by former American Idol contestant Jessie Langseth...



I took D to get up close & personal with the horses...but since it was just he & I - I didn't get any decent shots...But we both had fun rubbing noses with these beautiful creatures...


Grandpa & Grandma treated everyone to giant buckets of popcorn...


And D got a few grandpa whisker rubs...
Is there anything better? I so love that even though we don't see our family more than a couple of times a year - our kids pick right up where we left off and know no boundaries...they love unconditionally...

3 Generations of Gust boys...


H kept picking the #4 horse for every race - because she's 4...and I swear - the #4 horse won like 5 races we watched - next time - we're putting money on the kid's choices!

It was a great time - a gorgeous summer evening, visiting with family & knocking something off of our bucket list! I'm hoping we'll get out there again this year...