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Carter and I on our morning run.  He bikes and treasure hunts while I run.  :)

Eating fresh-from-the-oven cinnamon rolls when Evan was out of town:

I did a few hours of clean up in the yard and it looked much better:

The boys and I riding the shuttle bus to Como Town:

The boys talked me into stopped at Buffalo Wild Wings on our way home from Como.  It was way past their bedtime when they went down, but you have to do those things now and again!  It means so much to them! :)

Carter checked out new chapter books from the library and couldn't put them down when we went to Bunker Beach.  He can read a chapter book a day now.  I am so proud of my little reader, heading into first grade:

We started our vacation by meeting Mom and Dad in Pine City at the Pine County Demolition Derby.  The boys loved the crashes, but Carter ate too much cotton candy which gave him a stomach ache and Ryan's ear plugs didn't fit right which gave him a headache, so both ended up leaving before it was over.  Kyle, Dad, and I stuck it out until the very end:

The boys were featured in Como Town's Fan Photo Friday (bottom left):

Carter biking with me on my morning run up north:

Evan launched the boat in Grindstone's very, very shallow water.  He had to paddle (and push) the boat out about 300 yards before he could start the motor.  When he tried to start it, he found out he had a dead battery.  He ended up paddling and pushing 300 yards back to shore to load the boat back up.  Ugh!

Kyle and Grandpa playing a sunset game of horseshoes in the backyard:

Evan and I boating with my boss and his wife last week.  We enjoyed the most beautiful sunset over Prior Lake:

Evan put a new battery in the boat and successfully launched the boat.  Still in very shallow water, but this time he was able to get it going and make it to Sondra's.  :)

Carter boating:

Panoramic view of Grindstone in front of Sondra's cabin:

 Carter and Evan checking out the loggers' progress:

Carter enjoying a Popsicle in Grandma's bathtub before bed:

Kyle can drive both boats now.  Time for us to relax and let him do the driving.  :)

Grandpa teaching Kyle the art of filleting fish.  This is the kid that couldn't take his fish off the hook alone last year!  He has come a long way and did a great job filleting:

I love this picture Evan captured of the boys enjoying a lemonade break in Grandma's tree behind her house:

Kyle fishing with Grandpa and Evan.  Their ritual every night when we put the little boys to bed.  Great quality time together! :)

Vacation

We were up north at Mom and Dad's last week on vacation.  The kids were up there for 10 days in a row.  Evan and I worked on Monday and Tuesday, and were up there the rest of the time.  It was a great getaway, full of rest, relaxation, and good quality family time.  It is so hard to come back and get back in the swing of things after a week of no scheduled activities!  I'm so thankful for our time up there!!!!

Grandpa and Ryan in the boat:

Carter and Kyle in the "dry zone" of the boat.  Kyle won't let anyone with a wet suit in the front where he keeps his stuff!  ;)

This loon surfaced as we were boating by.  It quickly dove again when it heard us coming!

Kyle swimming in front of Sondra's:

Carter and I scoping out picture locations:

This day will come only too soon:

Dad and Larry Helwig went flying one evening:

They were right over the deck - if you zoom in on this picture, you can see Dad waving at us.  Amazing what a zoom lens can do!!! :)

Carter checking out the logger's progress:

It was amazing to watch the jaws grab several small trees and you could hear the blade cutting them off at the base:

After it cut the trees, it piled them on the side, where the skidder picked them up and brought them up to the loading area, where they were loaded onto the logging trucks.

Ryan drives the 660 now.  How on earth did that happen?

Those long legs are going to catch up (and pass) his parents' before we know it!!!!

Evan and Ryan washing fresh potatoes from Grandpa's garden for dinner:

Ryan playing football in the front yard with Grandpa:

Grandpa snags a nice catch:

Carter and I went to the neighbor's pond:

Sandhill cranes are in Mom and Dad's yard every morning and evening:

My view from here...riding behind Ryan on the 4 wheeler:

We were following Grandpa and Carter in the woods:

Grandpa and Carter go on nature walks every morning when they wake up.  Evan joined them yesterday as they walked to church (2.25 miles):

Boating

Yesterday's weather looked iffy all day, but around 3:00 the sun came out and it was absolutely perfect weather.  My jobshare partner, Heather, and her fiance, Chad, Evan and I all headed down to my boss, Jeff, and his wife Judy's house to go boating.  We had so much fun out on the boat, just cruising around, listening to music, talking, eating, and drinking.  It was very relaxing and just what we need to ward off some of the work stresses coming our way these days! :)

Judy (she just got back from 2 months in Indiana for chemo and proton radiation on a brain tumor.  Hard to believe because she looks the picture of health.  Think healing and positive thoughts for her):

Heather and Judy (probably discussing wedding plans - Heather and Chad are getting married in 32 days!):

Jeff driving and Evan relaxing:

Heather, me, and Judy:

Chad, Heather, Judy, Jeff, and Evan - this is a tough life, but someone has to do it!

What a perfect evening - I loved every minute of it! :)