The sun sets on Big Sandy

Tomorrow we leave the Minnesota summer--family and friends, grilling burgers on the pontoon, finding chanterelles in the woods, deer ticks and mosquitoes!!

We're off to Wisconsin and a Monaco Pre-Rally in Manitowoc.

Valley Fair

With one day open before Caryn and the boys flew back to Florida, Shayne and Sarah thought we should have a day of fun at Valley Fair. Again the weather cooperated and we hit the water park. All the kids enjoyed cooling off. Then we tried out the rides. Brayden liked the duck plane, Addy liked the roller coaster, and Rylan...







liked the stroller in the shade!!!

We love you, Mom!

Back to Iowa for the reviewal and funeral. We celebrated the life of a very wonderful woman. She was remembered by many friends and relatives.

It is always sad to say good-bye, but Mom lived a very good 91 years and knew that her future was in heaven. She had no regrets and was ready for a better life. She was an inspiration to us all.










A funeral is such a mixed blessing, missing one person, but seeing so many friends and relatives that one hasn't see for so long. Mitch had a chance to catch up with high school buddies and many cousins.


Macy and Addy

The Mitchell get together

We usually have a Mitchell get-together when Caryn comes to town, you know, eat and drink some more with the aunts and uncles and cousins. Greg was a great hit with the little ones.

Because Jason had to teach a cooking class on Thursday, he had to head back to Florida without the rest of the family and would be unable to attend Granny's funeral.

At the lake

The weather was great and the Floridians got used to the water. We played as much as we could.












Yup, we played and played.

We also celebrated my birthday, I was one day older than I was yesterday!!











Brayden also climbed to the top of the lookout tower which isn't too far from the cabin.

Iowa

Mitch's mom was sent to the hospital and we decided we needed to be there, there being northern Iowa. It turned out that we spent much of the next two weeks there as her health continued to fail.

Caryn, Jason, and the boys were to arrive from Florida for their vacation, so we drove back to Minneapolis to pick them up at the airport and then back down to Garner so Caryn could visit with Granny.

Fortunately Granny had had a really good day a couple of days earlier and all the grandkids had a chance to talk to her on the phone, but she passed away before Caryn got a chance to see her. Granny knew what she was doing, though, because now the funeral could be the next week and all the grandkids would be able to be there. So with funeral arrangements made, we headed back to northern Minnesota for "vacation."

July 4th Weekend

The weather was the best--hot and sunny. The water warmed up and we played and played (and ate and ate)!