I think that the above photo summarizes the 4th of July with kids. That’s my brother, Doug and nephew, Jack. My sister-in-law took it at the not-so-secret fireworks viewing spot atop the Southdale parking ramp.

We had a lovely long weekend with a houseful of relatives. Our kids had a pack of cousins to run around with for days.
Seriously, does it get any better than a pack of cousins? Since we live hours away, they don’t get to hang out very often and it was fantastic!

Now come the post-holiday blues. Our house is (a little more) quiet and I need to switch gears to get out of holiday mode and get back to work…
Anyone else feeling that way?

Hope you had a Happy 4th Cribsheeters and would love to get a chance to see you next weekend at Java Train on Saturday! (see post below)

Happy Father’s Day!

Here are some paternal type links for you this overcast Sunday.
Wise advice from father’s from Saturday’s Variety section - “Dad’s Keys to Life”
A poem written by St Paul father, Todd Boss “This Morning in a Morning Voice”
that Laurie Hertzel mentioned in Sunday’s Books section .
And an oldie but a goodie that I dusted off from the web that makes me laugh every time. Ian Frazier’s “Lamentations of the Father.”

So here we go - Father’s Day is Sunday. I realize it’s late on Friday - so you are probably well on your way to starting your weekend.

But here goes the yearly question - what do you plan to do?
We usually go to the Stone Arch Festival something for everyone there - cool vintage cars, art, photography, pottery crafts, kids activities, good food and great music. I think one of my favorite views of downtown Minneapolis is from St. Anthony Main. Plus it’s fun to walk down and take a close up look at the dam.

My husband is feeling like keeping it simple and NOT manuevering a double stroller around the masses. So we’re going to skip our yearly tradition this year.

I checked out other options:

there are Weiner Dog races at Canterbury

the Parktacular celebration in St. Louis Park

Back to the 50’s Auto Show at the Fairgrounds.

just to name a few.

But just like I felt on Mother’s Day - he is feeling like he wants to split some time to himself and to spend with the family (no crowds)

One simple wish? A solo run without pushing a 70 pound double stroller.
Check! I can grant that. What else? We’re still figuring that out.

What are dad’s out there requesting - where/what will you do to celebrate?

ps: We want to say a special Happy Father’s Day and congratulations from Cribsheet to the father we wish we didn’t have to know but check in on frequently - Matt Logelin .
I’m sure many of you have heard has a book in the works. Congrats Matt! You know we’ll all be anxious to get our hands on the book as soon as it comes out.

Time to start thinking Father’s Day ideas. Even though the grass is so dry these days it doesn’t need a cut - these are a cute cupcake idea for the lawn ranger in your life.
You can find the recipe here from Family Fun magazine.

Do you have any Father’s Day inspiration, creative ideas or traditions to share?

Ours will be low key - but fun. My husband is taking Sunday off work - we rarely get to spend a weekend day together as a family so that is a treat in itself.
My Mother’s Day goal is to hit a farmer’s market or two to gather shade loving pretties and plant our window boxes with the kids.

Mill City Farmers Market has some Mother’s Day goings on tomorrow. More here - Mill City Farmers Market.

If you want to spend your day on Birdwell Island…just saw and ad - Mother’s get free admission to the Childrens Museum in St. Paul on Sunday. (Yes, Clifford the Big Red Dog is still there.)

For more ideas - check gocitykids calendar

________________________________________

And for your reading enjoyment….

Just wanted to alert you to two features to look for in this weekend’s Star Tribune

In Saturday’s Variety Kim Ode shares the results of the reader’s query for Mother’s Memory Box put out a few weeks back - what kind of quirky and sentimental keepsakes do mom’s keep from childhood?

And Sunday’s must read (hopefully while Mother is enjoying breakfast in bed) is Gail Rosenblum’s profile of an amazing local mom and her charming kids.
Look for her story on the front page on Mother’s Day.

What are your plans for Mother’s Day?