a fighting boat ride

 We took this little child on a boat ride for fun, and partly to get her out of Heidi's hair while she was packing.  She likes boat rides.

The other child came along and we would have taken her alone, but she wanted her dad along too.

Cool.

 What I did not expect was the fight over this seat.  They pulled each other by the clothes and the one in the red jacket crawled painfully right over the pony tail one.

 Oh my goodness.

I was glad Dan was along, honestly.

I love you scrappy cousins.   Love Grandma

a few pictures from last weekend

 Gosh it feels like this was a long time ago.  This has been quite a week.

 They're calling to that bird flying away.

 There was lots of cuddling with this little baby who is growing like crazy.

Love, Mom

happy birthday, dannell!

 It sounds like it was a wonderful day, complete with fancy cupcakes.

 Having a birthday during the first week of school is a challenge, but that's okay.

We're used to it now.

I was trying today to remember what year it was you and John met, decided it might have been 1998?

That sounds about right.

Anyway, we've had a lot of fun, broke up a lot of fights, changed a lot of diapers, and wiped so many noses.  Millions of little meals have been cooked and socks folded.   Along the way we've both figured out a lot of things.  (Like that a lot of things don't actually even matter.)

And some things will never be figured out, and that's okay too.

So much love--your dedication to your own family and ours is something I don't take for granted.

Happy Birthday, Honey.  We love you so,  Jay and Val and Everybody

happy birthday buddy

 Happy Birthday, Buddy!

I went looking for some old pictures of you tonight in celebration, and found some fun ones.

You were such a pretty baby.  The girls loved to entertain you and help you eat your lunch.

 Awww.

You are a great, enthusiastic cousin, love your cousins SO MUCH.

 Obviously the whole family is better because you are in it.

Growing up fast, you daring little devil.

 What was that about a beautiful baby?

You're a beautiful kid, and we love you like crazy, your energy, sense of humor, your devotion to your whole family.  We are lucky to have you.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Buddy.

I hope it's a great year.  With love for always, Grandma and Grandpa and Everybody

labor day and kirsten is here

She drove, with her friends, from Florida to spend the weekend with us and meet this little peanut.

These two came along too, and they love Wisconsin.

The little brown one chased balls in the lake until she was shivering cold.  The brindle guy smelled everything and escaped for a romp through the lily pads and swamp.

When he thought Kirsten and Payton were leaving, he finally emerged.

The kids played games in the evening.

 Watched movies

 He was trying to cook chili when a storm blew in, knocked down a tree, and the power had to be cut so the linemen could get the tree out of the road and the electrical cord back in place.

 Kids watched the whole process:

 Then the power was restored, and cooking could continue.

 This is Julia, on her niece's tablet, with their old dog:

The chili was delicious and so were the salads and salsa, and what isn't, actually?

There were wild babies and toddlers, older kids all so excited to be together.

Kirsten?  It's lovely having you here.   Love, Mom