The summer went way too fast and it is starting to look and feel like fall around here (it is almost October after all). Obviously I haven't posted much for the last month - almost 2 months. I guess we have been too busy trying to squeeze everything we can into the last days of summer. It has been hard to get started with posting again when there are so many things I want to write about. So I figured I would just go ahead and post some pictures and quick comments of some of things that have been keeping us busy since August. Hopefully I will get back into the habit of more regular posts soon.
In early August we spent almost 2 weeks in the U.P. We spent a few days in Marquette which was enough time to get to Quayle's camp where we spent some time with Ken's parents and his brother Jim and his family. We even managed a family picture with almost everyone looking.
Owen had a great time fishing with Uncle Jim.
And Zora had a great time picking and eating blueberries with Rayna.
Before we left Marquette, Owen rode in his first bike race - the one mile Little Rock, part of the Ore to Shore Mountain Bike race. Ken rode along with him and it was hard to tell who was more excited. He did great, despite a big wipe-out just before the finish line the resulted in a scraped knee, bloodied elbow and even some blood on his number plate.
Ken and Owen cross the finish line
Owen shows off his finisher's ribbon.
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From Marquette we headed east to my family's place on Lake Superior, near Brimley, MI. We had a great week of weather and spent our time playing on the beach and swimming in the Lake. Rob, Kelly and their crew were there for a day at the end of their stay there and we also had a visit from the Lakenen's and Andrea and Jessica stayed with us for several days. It was so much fun for me to watch Zora and especially Owen, now that he is a little older, enjoy and discover so many of the things that I loved (and still do) about being at Birch Point when I was a kid.
Owen checking out a big freighter as we finished our lunch at Clyde's Drive-In. After Clyde's we headed down to the Soo Locks in time to see this freighter go through the locks.
Owen, Piper and Cross at "the Point".
The weather was warm and the lake was calm and Gram took the opportunity to wade into the lake.
and apparently couldn't resist the temptation to take the plunge and go all the way in. It's not every kid that goes swimming in Lake Superior with his 95 year old great grandmother.
Owen tries his hand at kayaking.
Owen and Granpa washing their feet after a swim.
When Zora wasn't crawling on the beach or playing in the water, she was in the backpack with Ken.
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Towards the end of August Mike, Ginney and their 3 boys came to visit us in Madison for a weekend. We tried to hit the highlights, including a trip to the Memorial Union Terrace and downtown to see the Capital. We didn't make it to the Farmers Market but did get out to our CSA's farm just outside of town.
Cade and Zora in the bike trailer, ready for a ride to the Union terrace. Ken got a workout pulling these 2 on his single speed.
A trip to the Union isn't complete without ice cream and climbing on the giant chair.
Our CSA had a corn boil while they were here so we headed out to the farm and picked some corn. We learned that each stalk has 2 ears and the top ear is the good ear and that the corn is great right off the stalk - no cooking necessary. Crisip, sweet and delicious. We also learned that if you are the last ones out of the corn field there isn't much food left to choose from at the pot-luck.
Keagan picking corn.
The boys on the old tractor.
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Labor Day weekend I decided to take Owen and Zora and head back to the U.P. were we hung out with my Mom and Joanna. I was a little worried it might be pretty cool up there by early September but we had beautiful weather again and spent more time swimming, playing and walking on the beach and Owen had a great time collecting rocks with Grammy and hanging out with Joanna's dog Rosie (seeing him with Rosie made we really wish we still had a dog or lived in a place where we could get one). We even spent an afternoon in the Soo so Owen could go to the Valley Camp, a retired freighter turned into a museum ship.
and snuggled up in their towels after their swim.
Owen and Aunt Manji on the Valley Camp
Owen and Grammy looking for rocks.
