The Grandgirls

Last Saturday the grandgirls came over to spend the afternoon with the grandparents while Denise and Tommy picked their football drafts. We had lots of fun together. I am going to be teaching Mikaela piano lesson this next year so we got a jump start on her first lesson. It was a little challenging to have a piano lesson though while Elise decided to learn how to climb the stairs. Mikaela assured me that she never tries to climb the stairs while at the very moment Elise had her eyes on the stairs. We decided to spot her while she took her debut ascent. Oh, she was so proud of herself and thought it was great fun. We also had some swing time, played a game of Whoonu, took a walk, braided Mikaela's hair, played outside and had one of Mikaela's favorite meals - lasagna from Valentino's - not to mention that it is one of Grandma's favorite meals also. I hope that the girls had fun - I know that I did.

Mikaela ready for her first piano lesson. Elise is determined to make it to the top. Mikaela and Elise in the backyard. Elise is off that blanket in about 2 seconds Mikaela and the giant cosmos.Elise loves to swing - you can tell by her smiles.

We found this giant frog in the window well.

Dan is a Happy Camper

When we moved into our house almost three years ago Dan got a tractor to help out with the yard and he seemingly has a great time riding around on it bouncing up and down and all around. This summer though his days on tractor time have been really limited due to the fact that the tractor has been broken down more than not. After obtaining what he thought was a needed part he found out that also another part was needed. After getting that part and tearing the whole tractor apart he realized that the problem was much deeper and he didn't know how to fix it. We were really no closer to having a working tractor. I am an empathic person and knowing how he feels about his tractor time, I simply suggested that maybe we should just look at getting a new one, a little higher quality than before. Well, he thought about that for a mere minute and said, Yes, I think that is what we should do. Now, don't you all think I am a nice wife to suggest he buy his new tractor. It is red, my favorite color and he is once again zipping around, cutting grass and enjoying a bouncy ride on his tractor.

Thankful for Friends

This past Tuesday night was a night I had been looking forward to for awhile. It was birthday bunch night. We were celebrating Karen's this time. My group of friends have gotten together for our birthdays since our children were very small. At first we gathered during the day for lunch but as our lives have changed and we have jobs and our little ones have grown up we have been together for supper. One friend has moved away (we miss you Marilyn) and Jill was not able to make it on this night (we missed you). God has been so good to encourage me during our times together and I am truly thankful for each dear one for upholding me through the years.

Home Again

We spent our last day in RMNP doing some hiking and some shopping in town. Dan and Brian spent some time in the library while I hit a few of the tourist shops. I wanted to buy a new sweatshirt and pick up a few gifts for the kids. One shop that I thought was really cute was "Estes Bark", a store devoted to dog accessories. Even though I thought it was a really cute store I didn't buy anything there - sorry Maggie. Being rather worn out after a shopping spree I met the guys back at the library and we went to get some dinner. We attended a program in the park that evening and said our good byes to Brian.

The week in Colorado quickly passed and we found ourselves on the road again. There is a lot of pavement between Estes Park, CO and Rochester, MN. We left on Thursday morning after a delicious breakfast of crepes with fresh peaches and raspberries at our B&B. We swung through Mt. Rushmore on our way to the motel in Rapid City, SD. It is impressive that someone could actually carve those four heads in the side of the mountain.

We were on the road again the next day driving through the Bad Lands. We stopped in Albert Lea for dinner and Kathryn , who was working, and her medic partner came to visit over dinner and then we pressed on to home. It was really good to get back into the more fertile countryside of MN after driving through so much prairie land and then to arrive back home again. God was especially good in our travels for safety and providing everything that we needed. It was good to sleep in my own room and be home, sweet home. We did have an enjoyable visit with Brian and the sights were just wonderful.

Rocky Mountain National Park - Days 3-5

We left Grand Island Sunday morning and made our way to Colorado. We arrived at our destination mid afternoon.

This is the road up to Estes Park where we are staying this week. I was able to get one picture before the battery died on my camera. It was a series of twists and turns through the mountainside - Very pretty to look at but not so much fun to be doing the driving.

We arrived at the Eagle Cliff House where we are staying this week and Brian met us there shortly after. This picture is taken on the front porch.

Monday was Dan's birthday and we went to Botanical center in Denver for the day. It was a chance for Brian to do something away from the park and we were trying aclimate a little bit to the higher elevation. The weather was a quite warm and sunny that day and the flowers were really pretty. We got to see some of the same ones that we are growing at home and some that we tried to grow but couldn't

We stopped on the way home in Boulder and ate at one of our favorite places - Old Chicago

After returning to Estes Park we went to see where Brian lives. It is a cute litte cabin with a great view and a babbling brook running right along side of it.

Both evenings so far that we have been here we went to the park for an interpretive lecture. The first night the presentation was about life on the alpine tundra and last night about the weasel and how it survives through all the climate changes that the park experiences. Thus ends the day on Monday.

On Tuesday - day five we drove the Trail Ridge Road. We went up to the ridge through Old Falls Road - a narrow, one way road that winds through the mountain side. We stopped several times and took a couple side hikes seeing all kinds of flowers and birds plus a few other critters. Here are a few of the views that we got to see.

We ended up at the Alpine Visitors Centers where Dan and Brian continued up another path to the furthest place to go. Here they are at the top.

We have been having a great time and I am amazed at the creation that we see all around us. I thank the Lord for his goodness in giving all this beauty to enjoy.

Summer Vacation - Days 1 and 2

We are excited to be leaving on our vacation to Colorado. I have only been there once before, many years ago and am excited to see it again and to visit with Brian. We had an added adventure to the start of our vacation when Dan had to have a root canal on the morning we left. Thankfully Dr. West was willing to come into his office of his day off and perform the procedure, thus sparing Dan the pain of having to deal with an aching tooth for the whole week. It barely even put us behind schedule. We left early afternoon, heading down to Altoona. Dee grilled us some great steaks that night and Mary cooked a delicious dinner to go with them. We had a nice time visiting with them. Saturday morning found us up to hot muffins and coffee before we headed out on our road trip.

Dan got a new toy for his birthday - a really cool GPS so we won't get lost.

We arrived in Grand Island, Nebraska early afternoon and decided to visit the Stuhr Museum, - a museum of prarie pioneers. It was very interesting with a railroad town all set up with businesses as you would have found them in the late 1800s.

They had some displays of produce grown on the prairie. This is a green bean - the Jolly Green Giant has a challenge to beat this.
This is the local dentist's office located inside the local hotel.
Get a look at these dental devices - Yikes. Dan was especially thankfull in view of his recent root canal that we have progressed in the area of dental care. I was asking "Where's the nitrous?".
Here is poor Dan - stuck in jail.

I sprung him loose while the sheriff next door was distracted.
This is inside the veternarian's quarters. This vet specialized in care of horses and this is an operating table for a horse. We also visited the blacksmith, hardware store, the mill, the shoemaker, the dressmaker, post office and many other interesting places including several turn of the century homes. . They all looked very authenitice. However, the AED seemed a little out of place.

After spending the afternoon at the museum we topped off the day at the Valentino's buffet. It was very delicious. Tomorrow will be another adventure filled experience.

School Shopping Once Again

I had the pleasure this past weekend of going school shopping once again. Mary was here from Iowa along with Katelyn and Dakota. They came up for the birthday party and then spent the weekend here with us. Between Friday morning and Saturday we had bought nine pairs of pants for Dakota and ended up taking five pairs back. It seems that each place we went the prices were cheaper and the selection better. In the end, he got some nice pants for school with a pair of shorts thrown in for fun. Katelyn was on a mission for skirts and we were able to find a nice selection between several stores. Both are set for school to start. We enjoyed a stop at the coffee shop, a couple of bon fires with smores thrown in, and more food to eat than necessary so we also took a nice walk to balance it out.

Birthday Party

This weekend has been a busy one with two birthday parties - one for Elise, her 1st, and one for Denise. They share the same day but each got their own party this year. Thursday night our home was bustling with activity as we celebrated Elise turning one. She wasn't quite sure about all the hoopla but I think that she had a good time judging by how she enjoyed her cupcake.




She also had lots of fun opening her presents. She wanted to stop and play with each one as she opened them.

She had a little help from Dad and big sister.

There were balloon games in the back yard. The favorite one for all the kids was throwing water balloons at Tommy. I think everyone was a little bit wet by the end of that game.

Two Birthday Gals