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| Ice cream at Nelsons |
The first week of August we trekked up to Minnesota to see Joel and Megan and then over to Wisconsin to spend some time at a Lake house. It was such a great trip. The 13 hour drive up there was actually pleasant. The kids did really well - probably because they were so excited! When I asked the kids what their favorite parts of seeing Joel and Megan were, Jenna said Ice cream at Nelsons, Sarah said Molly the dog, and Matthew said the popcorn machine (I don't even think they actually used it)
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| Drinks with everyone's name |
We stayed at Joel and Megan's house for three days and the kids loved it. It was the first time we saw their house and were impressed by his card collection. And impressed he let the kids sleep in the room with his card collection. We loved their house and would move into it right away if it wasn't in Minnesota. On Tuesday we got to see
Dan which was very exciting since he is just a disembodied voice on our Thursday night game nights.
Besides eating ice cream at Nelsons, we went to
Snuffy's Malt Shop for burgers and milkshakes. It is similar to Steak and Shake and mighty tasty! Joel and Megan made us spaghetti one night and fajitas another night. The fajitas were so spectacular that we made them again later. Thanks for the idea Joel and Megan!
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| Joel's cards |
On Wednesday we drove to
Minoqua,
Wisconsin to stay at a
gorgeous lake house with the McClelland family. That evening we saw a water ski show. Before the show, one of the skiiers rigged his jet ski so that he could "walk" on the water. For anyone who read Firefight, like me and David, it reminded me of what the main character, also named David, used to walk on water. I had to get a picture.
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| Walking on water |
The house was right on the water and the
McClellands had rented two jet skis and a pontoon. They had tubes tied to the back of the jet skis so that the kids (and adults, ahem) could ride on the back and be whipped around. It was so much fun! I had never driven a jet ski before and I loved it! Both Erik and I took each of the kids out with us. Then we had the kids on the back with the tubes. Matthew is not a strong swimmer so I went on the tube with him. We fell off and that was the end of that for him. He was done!
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| The deck outside the house |
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| Jenna and Grace in the boat |
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| The view of the house |
Shelly is from Wisconsin so she wanted to be sure we tried real
Wisconsin cheese curds. They were delicious! We rode on the pontoon for a few hours munching on cheese curds and drinking delicious beverages. It was great fun.
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| Drinks and "real" cheese curds on the Pontoon |
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| Matthew and Daddy on the jet ski |
School really starts early. Next year there is a vote to start August 8th. Ugh. Just when it is starting to get really warm the kids go back to school. Today was the first day of school. Jenna is in 5th grade and ruling the elementary school! Sarah is in 2nd grade and Matthew is in pre-K. He will go to kindergarten next year. This year the 5th graders get lockers and Jenna is sharing a locker with Grace. She is ecstatic!
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| Jenna: 5th grade, Sarah: 2nd grade, Matthew: pre-K |
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| Jenna and Mrs. Soroka |
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| Sarah and Mrs. Robek |
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| Matthew and Mrs. Brady |
I'm sure it will be a good year.
- Our book club is reading the Magician by Lev Grossman. I really like this book but am doing a good job not reading ahead.... we will see how long this lasts.
- While on the trip I finished Changeless and Blameless by Gail Carriger. These are fun novels. I also finished Graceling by Kristen Cashore. I loved this book but Joy said the sequel is not worth reading so I won't. I like to follow good advice since sequels (ie insurgent, allegiant) can burn you.
