preparing the pigsty

These pictures were taken when no camera is normally grabbed for a cute picture.  This is the wrapping up of the cabin for the year and it is not pretty--not like leaves in trees, or funny, wild babies bowling. This is just a straight up mess.

We can't leave anything fabric or paper because mice will get into it.  Hey, though, are you looking? In the picture below, see that ceiling over that fish cribbage board?  It's been painted with a sealant paint and is looking fine. The new roof is on and the ceiling is improving.

Now do you see all that crap all over the room?

Can you please deal with that and get back to me later?

Yeah.

We took that approach and threw away lot.  First we started with the oil from the frying of shrimp and cheese curds.   And the fridge was emptied and washed.  

 And so forth and so on, and bedding was all brought to the laundry.  We wash sheets whenever, but the blankets, not really.

This winter I will wash them all so we start fresh again next year.

Eventually the kids gave up and took their babies and went home.  There was one little guy, b.g.'s little brother who never agreed with anything all morning and continued to kvetch and gripe and they took him home.  How can anyone that angel-lovely be that ornery?  Well?   He was.

In two weeks we will return for a short finish visit and call it over.  But this was the last family weekend and it was great in so many ways, including having the opportunity to even listen to a cherub gripe or his long, skinny cousin shriek as if to shatter glass. (Cheeze Itz? TAKE THEM.)

I love them all so much, and extended time in each other's company is nothing but a gift, including  all the ways we probably frustrate the babies.    Life. Whee.  xo all you people.   I love you beyond all sense, Grandma and Grandpa too.

October, 2013

xo.  love, Val

and the dock is removed, October 2013

It was a beautiful, cold evening, and the dock is way too heavy and the plan is that this dock is not going back in next spring.   We hope we can replace it with something less unwieldy.

And then inside were baths.  Here's Alicia with p.j. helping her supervise, and the dog also near.   Oh my.   Crowded much?

love, Val

babies bowling

On this dark, cold Saturday, Dannell took the notion that we should all go bowling and started looking for a bowling alley in rural Wisconsin.

She located this one by phone, four lanes available.  Four lanes is all they have, but that was great.

As we entered the bar Dan asked, "So what are the rules regarding fighting in the bowling alley?"

The guy looked confused for a second, then cast his eye upon a sea of little children and a grin crept into his comments, "Well, no kidney punches, no rabbit punches, no bleeding on the rug..."

We laughed.

$2.50 a game per person was fine. The girl running the place brought pizza after pizza. We had fun, rambunctious, loud fun.

And this was just too darn funny.

Webster, Wisconsin?  You did not disappoint.     love, Val

a walk in the woods

 It is beautiful back there.   Some claimed bear poop was found.

I am not sure.

This is the Barbie house Heidi made out of an old book case.  They had so much fun with this all weekend.

 And video games of course, Dan trying to assist people far too stubborn and clueless for their own good.

love, Mom

the last weekend at the lake, 2013

It was cold, but mostly okay.

Except for today when it rained and snowed.

John and Dannell had their tenth anniversary.   This was their gift, this crazy pumpkin trio.

We all enjoyed it all weekend.

 We played some games.  Here's Scattigories, where we do not keep score or follow many rules.  It's too much fun to get hung up on particulars, and it's unfair to all the dyslexic people among us.

 

We spent a little time in the field, now that the hordes of mosquitoes are dead.

This is the dog, waiting right by the door while Alicia puts kids to bed.

Okay, onward. There are more pictures.  Love you guys, MOM

no reasonable explanation

For the most part, the software would not allow me to insert any space between the photos for comments.

It's one of those,"Talk among yourselves," things.  Unexplained.

But that's okay.  Less is often more.   Above is a picture our neighbor took about twelve years ago. The little exhausted guy wiping his brow is James.

You know this rowdy crew:

These are my mom's parents who are hugely missing at this point.  Gigantic, painful, absence of them.  We band together and that does help, but there are those times where air hardly enters the lungs, and best wishes in heaven, you guys.  We sure do miss you HERE.  Oh my goodness.

These are my grandsons a couple months ago on the hill next to the house.  This might, in fact, be one of the best features of the home.

Here's my favorite rainy day photo, Alicia:

Lori's daughter was born this week and is she a little lump of gorgeousness.   This is Lori and her back in 1986.   Lori?  I want you.  I look forward to kissing your sweet grandchild on the cheeks.

Aww, this picture, always a favorite.  Sam's eight now and those joints in the back legs are slow and sometimes stiff, especially on a smooth floor or climbing stairs.   James?  He's same as ever, finally feeling good again.

Aww.

And that's that for tonight.  Who knows what will be in that folder next week.

love, always and forever, Val