one last trip

So we did technically camp and go to Minnesota State Parks one more time over Labor Day. This time, we served as tour guides, showing my parents a few of our favorites up the North Shore. This trip was so last minute, Mom managed to find a campsite for their RV at an RV park. The kids slept in a tent on the site and I slept in their RV.

Jay Cooke:

Gooseberry Falls:

Splitrock Lighthouse:

It was a lovely way to sunset our summer.

Brett built a bridge

At his summer internship, Brett worked with a crew that built this bridge and learned how to clear buckthorn.

Happy 16th Birthday Reggie!

 

I looked at the update I sent the adoption agency for his 16th birthday. I wrote this about Reggie: "Reggie is high energy and motivated, but also loyal and thoughtful. He has matured in his faith and ...he holds the respect of his friends and within his community."

I also found what I wrote when he turned five and think it's funny: "I love and hate Reggie’s sense of adventure. He will boldly take on any challenge, pick up any critter, and jump without looking, and do it all with a smile on his face and a contagious gut laugh.  It nudges me to live life so carefree.  It also terrifies me..." Still true.

Reggie's birthday was a good day for a trip to Valleyfair, so I paid for him and his friend while the others had to pay their own way.  I think we made cupcakes, but I have no proof. I'm getting so lazy! 

Green Bay Training Camp and Family Fun

 

Lydia and I didn't make it to family night in the stadium due to illness - and you-know-who takes the pictures. 😞

July happiness

Moving right along to July, we spent the 4th at Papa and MeeMaw's, helped Grandma and Grandma settle into their seasonal home, and, oops!  I lied.  We did stay one night in a very unique state park cabin on our way out to help my parents!

Lydia, Bonnie, and I had a girls' day out in Minneapolis.  We got some of our favorite food and went to Aqualand to get supplies to start setting up an aquaponics aquarium.  We started with just the live plants.

I helped Reggie with a project, too.  He wanted to frame some of his football cards.

This is the cabin we stayed in at Flandrau State Park.  It was originally a Civilian Conservation Corps kitchen shelter. It had a non-functional stone fireplace that I failed to photograph.

We were surprised to discover that we had a snail in our aquarium.  She must have been hidden in the aquaplants!  We named her "Sneaky".

UP fun again

In 2024, the kids and I road-tripped around the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  Last summer, we returned with Bryan and stayed in a VRBO in Houghton, where he went to school.  We took a college tour.  The kids were not impressed. We went out for pizza with a friend and mentor who worked for the university.  Bryan participated in a golf tournament.  The kids and I went exploring!

The UP really is beautiful and underrated.