This old house

Any improvement would be a big improvement but this one went a long way. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for this idea and paying for it.

Outside we got the gutters cleaned, the pool cleaned and the evergreen trees trimmed as well as getting rid of the rest of the poison ivy.

We are really missing the girls now and it sounds like they are really missing home too despite having a great time in South Carolina with Grandma & Grandpa. Latest update HERE.

just the boys

Grandma, Grandpa, Kendall and the girls are all having a good time down south despite the extremely hot temps. An update on Grandma and Grandpa's blog. Meanwhile we are enjoying some milder temperatures up here.
The boys filling up their squirt guns in the pool and at the park.A few home improvement projects over the weekend thanks to Grandma Paula.Well, the cats out of the bags. It was to be a surprise for Isabel when she got home but Mikey was too excited and blurted it out during our video conference.A trip to Greenfield Village today.
Mikey sat in on this class with Miss Navel and was very cute answering questions.
Petey really liked this puppet show, standing right up front to get a good look.

nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina

Maria, Carmen and Isabel are spending 2 weeks in South Carolina with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Rose helping take care of cousin Kendall. Photos HERE

cloudy with a chance of fun

You simply cannot plan your day around the weather. We learned that up north. Although we are glad everyone else did because the lake was empty! It was supposed to downpour but never did at Cass Lake anyways.A few years ago Anthony pulled this old boat anchor out of the lake to reveal that it was made in 1971 by family friend Samira Essa. How cool is that! Sitting in the lake for almost 40 years.The kids enjoyed some more tubing with this new 4 seater!
The Karate KidWatermelon slushies

This little piggy went to farmers market

Leigh has managed to get a couple bike rides in with the kids.I don't know who enjoys playing dress up more, Carmen or Peter.The girls have done a fair amount of reading this summer.Ever wonder what pennies would look like after being run over by a train? We found these 2 left by the railroad track.We enjoyed some subs by the train tracks. This particular train completely stopped for a moment and Mikey got to touch it.

so long, farewell, and many thanks

that's a wrap

The kids vacuuming out the vanThe perfect smore!The beach in Elk Rapids before anyone else got there. So calm!Is this a sand castle or what?After reading about Treat Farm (circa 1840) in the local paper. We drove to the sand dunes in Empire and made the mile long hike to the old farmstead. Poison ivy prevented all of us from making it to the top of Mt Baldy for the scenic view but Grandpa Bob and Maria made it!After the hike we drove over to the beach in Empire and had a great time on the waves with Rachel and Jeff and their 3 girls; Nora, Audrey and Alice.