Firepit

We decided to make a few minor changes in the landscaping in our backyard.  The first step was moving the firepit to allow room behind it.  When we put it in, our pine trees were about 6' tall.  Now they are about 15' tall and have grown well over the mulch line.  It is difficult and frustrating to mow under the outstretched tree limbs, so we will be moving out the mulch line beyond the tree limbs.  I am anxious to see the finished product, but today's progress alone was a welcome surprise - I planned today to be a relaxing day in the backyard, not a work day.  It was a hot one out there, but Evan got it done!  :)

Filling in the new firepit with Class 5 gravel:

The old firepit, blocks removed:

Taking a break in the shade, over half done:

The finished product:

You can see in the front where the old firepit was:

Another view, this time the old firepit in the back:



Pontooning on Grindstone

We spent the afternoon today on Grindstone Lake at Sondra's cabin.  Sue and John have a new pontoon, so we toured the lake on the pontoon before the boys went swimming.  You couldn't beat the weather this weekend (after the storm) - 80s and sunny.  GORGEOUS!!!!

Pulling up to Sondra's dock to pick us up:

Ryan got to drive the boat with John:

Not to be outdone, Loren and Carter took the wheel:

Biwabik

We ventured even farther up north on Saturday morning, to Evan's hometown of Biwabik.  We spent the afternoon with his family and the evening at his 30 year class reunion.  It was a great time - I wish I had taken photos at the reunion!  I did snap a few this weekend, but not nearly enough!!!!

A pair of bald eagles on a nest just outside of Biwabik:

Evan and his brother, Jim, sporting a 40 pound weight loss - way to go, Jim!!!

The view from Evan's high school best friend, Sean and his wife Corrine's, new cabin: 

I met Sean and Corrine for the first time this weekend.  He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force and has lived in many states during his 20 years with the air force, never in MN.  They purchased a cabin on Lake Eshquaguma, the same lake that Evan's sisters are on, so hopefully we will be seeing more of them over the summer months!

Hail and Tree Removal

We went up to my parents' house on Friday night and when we left our house, it was 103* on our car thermometer.  We arrived there and it was 86* and when the storm hit after dinner, it was 76*.  We had huge hail, about golf ball size, and lots and lots of rain (about 4-5").  The lawn was underwater by the end of the storm - crazy!!!! 

The next morning at 7:30 a.m., my parents had their silver maple tree behind their house removed because it had split and was nearly laying on the ground on all sides.  As sad as we were to see the tree go, it has opened up their back yard a lot and we can see the entire field and pasture.  Thank goodness for help removing the tree - it was HUGE!!!!!

Bunker Beach

The boys and I are trying to beat the heat on these days when the heat index is above 100.  Yesterday we spent the day at Bunker Beach and today at Lakes Beach.  Loved them both, but I'd take Lakes over Bunker because of the size.  I can easily keep an eye on both boys at Lakes and it is more difficult alone with both of them at Bunker.  They are at two different stages in swimming ability and it makes it hard to watch both at once.  We alternated between each of their favorite areas and luckily, in one spot - I can watch Ryan on the big slides/obstacle course while still watching Carter in the kiddie pool.  If only we could stay in that area all day!  We also went on the bigger slides, lazy river, and wave pool.  It was a perfect way to beat the heat!!!

This pretty much sums up Ryan's energy level at the beach:

All smiles coming down the slides: 

He reminds me of a jack-o-lantern now, he has lost 7 teeth total!

Carter happy as a clam in the kiddie pool!

It was a cluster at the boarding area for the lazy river.  We weren't the only ones with the idea to cool off at Bunker yesterday.  We waited in line nearly 45 minutes to get inside!

He can't quite master the climbing wall, but he gets higher every year...maybe next year! :)

Flowers

I received flowers from my boss this week for my birthday.  There's just something about getting flowers that puts a big smile on my face.  It was a wonderful (and unexpected) surprise!

Champions Club

Dad, his cousin John Rabe, Evan and I went to the Twins game on Monday night and had the best seats in the house - in the Champion's Club.  Evan got the tickets from someone through work and it just so happened that they fell on the night of my birthday.  Being in the Champion's Club isn't hard to take.  You arrive to Valet parking, food and drinks are unlimited in the spacious restaurant and then you are waited on in comfortable, cushioned seats all night.  It was a great night, despite the Twins loss!