Life on the Lake

We are back at Mille Lacs and life is easy. The skies are blue, the grass is green, and the lake is great to watch.

Ahh--Two of the Cutest Babies Around

Caryn's blog is so much fun--we get the Brayden updates. Here is Brayden, as Caryn says, with a "cheesy smile" when posing for the hat picture. I love "cheesy" smiles.


I spent a couple of days watching Addy and this little smile was pretty typical of her personality. We had a lot of fun!

A Weekend at Big Sandy

The FMCA Rally was another good time with some work, some play, and a final opportunity to spend time with good friends. However, it was nice to get back to the lake.

Here’s the 6:30 alarm clock--still works! But you just can’t complain cuz she’s so darn cute.





Even later in the day she is still a happy girl.

Fun, fun, fun

When the weather is fine you do a little swimming. Addy didn’t even mind that the water was a “little” cool.

And when she’s inside there’s always something to do. This little monkey sings “The Witch Doctor” and Addy likes to shimmy, shimmy, shake, shake to the music.

Laugh a Little

Turn up the volume and listen to Addy laugh.

Red Hat Luncheon

There was always something going on to keep us busy. One afternoon we had a Red Hat Luncheon. It was great fun to get back together with all the gals, and the entertainment was superb (funny)!

Evening Entertainment

We had good entertainment every night. Mitch particularly enjoyed Three Men and a Tenor, an acapella group we had seen in Michigan.

Marlene made her return on Friday, so Renny was happy.

Dan and Cari's kids

Friday night Greg’s band played again, so Mitzi and Mindi crashed the party. With them were Mindi’s two, Masayda (almost four) and Cassian (almost two). Everyone was ready for a really wild night. Just not exactly the way wild happened though!

As we (all 600+ of us) were sitting in the ice arena waiting through announcements for dinner to begin, the tornado sirens went off. Hey, it’s Minnesota, be aware but don’t panic. All of a sudden Dan (brother, Rally Master, and former cop) said “It is time to head for safety!” and directed everyone to locker rooms and bathrooms. Mitch is trying to calm people (out of towners) and get them back into the building. I’m in a bathroom with 50 people, two dogs, and a drunk with a bottle of wine (important things to take with one in case of a tornado)!

Tornado, Willmar, MN July 11, 2008

No, I did not take this picture. Remember, I was in the bathroom. But our fearless photographer was able to catch a couple of remarkable pictures. The tornado came down about one mile from where we were (no damage to any of us) and destroyed three homes in the Willmar area.

Dance, dance, dance

The saying goes in Minnesota “If you don’t like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change.” With that the tornado was gone and the party went on. Mitch and the troops had a great evening and I danced the night away with Masayda and Cassian.

Masayda now thinks that if you live in a motorhome you dance all the time!

Monaco Pre-Rally

Here we are at the Monaco Pre-Rally in Willmar, Minnesota. Having volunteered for the Gate/Greeters committee we established "The Gate." All of the 313 (or so) coaches went past this corner, got checked in, and eventually parked in the five days we did the gate. Then the party started.

How many Monaco North Centralers does it take to put a a canopy tent?

Who drives this coach?

The coaches are rolling in and everyone is scrambling to get their job done. I figured if this little gal could drive the rig, there shouldn't be a lady out there who couldn't give it a try!

More "Checking In"

The work of greeter is a busy task--there's tallying, checking in coaches, lining up the parkers, and of course having a good time.

Keeping Busy

The Rally wasn't all work. I took a fun craft class that Shirley taught. My Paul Evert's RV Country t-shirt took on the braided look and even got rave reviews when I wore it later on!

Lazy Ike and the Daredevils

We have entertainments each night and "Lazy Ike and the Daredevils" provided great rockabilly music one night. Turns out that Lazy Ike is Greg, our niece's husband, and this was the first time we'd heard a whole show of his. They are great!

Dancin' the Night Away

Everyone loved the music, put on their dancing shoes, and...Larry and Al dancing together, Audrey and Elaine trying to dance with Larry (but he preferred Al or by himself--good dancers only confused him! Kent, Bill, and Tommy just like to have fun!