Summer Vacation

Last day of 4th grade.

School is out and our summer schedule has begun. My summer hours are shorter, thanks to cuts in the district budget, but it is a perfect time for me to work less. Less work means less money going towards a babysitter and more time for summer fun. One of the fun things we have done is to spend a week up in Northern Minnesota at a rented Lake Home. It was a new place for us to try and it was wonderful.

The fishing was great! We caught a lot of Northerns.

Isaac's first Northern.

Isaac has his own style of fishing.

FLASHBACK to 2003 to realize that this is not the first time he has attempted this fishing style, but the goggles were a new addition this year.

Isaac and his cousin Rylan in the boat.

Our family

We went to the lake with Dan's family. (not pictured are the spouses and children)

The lake had a wonderful sandy beach. Isaac enjoyed making sand angels.

Cicada Lake State Park Field Trip

Dan had a chance to go along on a field trip with Isaac too. The 4th graders went to Cicada Lake State Park and had a chance to fish, hike and learn about boat safety and fish identification.

In honor of our Mothers and others :)

To honor of our Moms and Grandmas for all that they have done for us...

My Mom with the 3 of us (1979)

Dan's Mom with Isaac (2004)

Dan's step-Mom with Isaac (2003)

Grandma Jessen with Isaac and I (2008)

Grandma Kitty with Isaac (2001)


AND ISAAC, who made me a Mom...the most wonderful job I could have in the world.

Art Field Trip

I was lucky to be able to join Isaac's class on a field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Art and the Walker Art Center Sculpture Garden. We had a great time! The only problem was that we only were able to see a small faction of what the Museums had to offer. We will definitely have to make another trip there. Isaac enjoyed using the camera and along with the dozen or so pictures that I took that day, we had a total of 177 pictures!

Sad news

Just two weeks ago our family gathered to say goodbye to Grandpa Jim. It turned out to be a wonderful family reunion of sorts. The adults talked and the kids played. It was a great chance to catch up with each other.

All of the "walking" great-grandchildren. (missing from the picture is baby Maren)

Just a short number of days later, this sweet little boy Evan (who can be seen with the blue striped sweater holding the claw in the top picture) was killed in a horrible accident. Losing your 6 year old child is unimaginable. Countless number of friends and family came to the memorial service. Our hearts are breaking for his parents, sisters and family...

Grandpa Jim

Today we said goodbye to Grandpa Jim . . .
. . . he will be missed by all who knew him.

Remembering

It is hard for me today to not remember what happened...so many days this month have sad memories for me. So, I'm trying as hard as I can to remember happier times like these:





I miss my Dad...