sunday

 This morning we stepped outside and it felt like we were in Punta Cana again, it was so humid and hot.

We have air conditioning in the cabin, which doesn't get used very much. Wisconsin is not usually that hot, but today it was.

Here's most everybody at the sand bar.

This one stayed back and enjoyed her own peace.

They wanted tubing, which is fine, but it goes on and on. They're never ready to quit.

We had a picnic lunch at the beach.  It gets tiresome dragging the kids back and forth and it was way too hot in the backyard, so we brought the food there instead.  It was good--nice.  Heidi dragged over a cooler with water and juice and pop.

Dan took these two for a ride.

Here they are, back again, safe and sound.

Daredevil.

Here, at the end of the day, the overheated GRANDPA took a turn.  Usually he'd rather water ski, but at the moment he's taking care of his back.  

And that's the end of that.  It was a lovely weekend, made possible by the patience of everyone involved.  The pictures don't capture the sheer INTENSITY or miscommunications or misunderstandings, or straight up FIGHTS that occur.  They don't include the screech of an adorable one year old baby--and I do mean screech.   Dannell was literally holding her ears, alternating with covering her eyes at one point.

Plus he throws everything.  Everything.  Overhand as far as he can.  Food. Rocks. Clunky toys that could hurt someone.  The TV remote. His mother's phone.

What happened to that tender little newborn of a summer ago?    I've teased his parents that he's turned into a varmint, a mammal.  They roll their eyes and rub their temples.

We reminisced about how Heidi used to holler at p.j., "Stop making that NOISE!"    Oh, yeah.

People all the time say teenagers are difficult.  I do not agree. I think the hardest time of a child's entire life are from 9-18 months--agile, mobile, non-verbal, no sense at all, moody, getting teeth, unpredictable sleep.

Pssht. Teenagers sleep like rocks for twelve or fourteen hours at a time.  They make no horrible noises--in fact it's hard to get a conversation out of them most of the time.   They're helpful if you ask them, and confine most of their messes to their own room.    It's pretty deluxe.

Okay, onward.   This summer is swiftly coming to an end.  Happy Birthday, Guys!  love, Mom and Dad