monday

There's a picture Jay took at 6 am, all the sleepover that followed the birthday party.  

The pictures all loaded in reverse order, but it doesn't even matter. The afternoon ended with cupcakes, which is always a good thing.

All these cousins spent the day to help babysit and play and they are champions, so patient.  We took them to the park, but first had to wrassle that giant stroller up from the basement.  We did it though.

The patio was plenty hot.  The coolers were still full of drinks from the party, so that was handy.

This though?   What good can come of a one year old child, a large puppy, and a bag of flour?

Absolutely nothing.

We intervened before the destruction could occur.

This is the heaviest metal tractor in the house and he loves to carry it around.

And at the end of a hot day their parents all took them home again.

Love you all, Grandma

fun at the lake

Our niece's family came and spent a couple days.

They're very easy company, were so much fun to have, felt like they'd been here a hundred times.

They taught Jay to play Euchre, which he loved.  The girls are very good at it.

Dani was so happy when this girl came downstairs in the morning.

Alicia's flowers are loving the heat.

This wildfire smoke was a challenge.   It really becomes uncomfortable at points.  Our niece's family had been in Duluth before they came to us, and it was so hazy they couldn't even see the lift bridge or some of the sights.  This is weird because usually the view in  Duluth is bright and clear.

Well, not when the Boundary Waters is burning. They've evacuated the whole area.

This little niece very cooperatively wore the life jacket and I didn't even have to argue with her.

Thank goodness.  I don't want to argue with a sweet kid and she was perfectly confident in the water.  But still.

Two guys snorkeling at the sand bar:

The map of the smoke warnings

Heidi took everyone to the bookstore and to get ice cream while the men went to find barbecue and a butcher shop, and our niece's husband cooked a gorgeous supper for everyone that night.

This was a great time, and everyone is hoping they come back again.

Always love, Val