Birthday weekend of July 21, 2011

John and I went out to a new restaurant for my birthday called the Cru. It was a GrandView. Wow...we loved it and now have deemed it our new favorite restaurant up here. When we got home we went over to our new neighbors, Dennis and Gail's and Dennis opened up a 35.00 bottle of wine for my birthday. Needless to say, I can't drink wine and I was pretty puny all day on Friday.

But, not to dampen the party, but Jeff and Peggi, John and I went out to Manhattan Beach to celebrate my birthday. Wow.....lucky to have so many friends. We had a nice dinner and I had a Bloody Mary, so perked back up.

Saturday night we go to Becker's to celebrate my birthday and when we get back to the cities, Jackie is throwing me a family party.

(I will probably have to join AA soon!)

Life is good.

July 15th weekend 2011 The kids and The Plant's

Karaoke......a family affair.. Ryan and Heather, a beautiful duet.

Go, Johnny D, go!

Heather and Kayla.

John is directing something and Matt is looking on.

Jeff can't carry a tune so he just chilled with Bella, Maddie

and their dog Homer.

Guess our singing wasn't so bad after all.

What a fun weekend. Jeff and Peggi are wandering tramps this summer since they sold their lake place this spring. They mostly stay with Peggi's mom in Nisswa, but decided to stay with us this weekend. Ryan and Heather decided to come up and bring a couple they chum with a lot, Kayla and Matt. We skied, ate, drank, sang and played games. It was a good time.

One day last week...July 2011 The Baby Eagle

John and I were just chilling in the house on a windy, cloudy, rainy, hot, humid day, when John noticed that our neighbors were all congregating on our deck and appeared to be looking at something...low and behold a baby eagle....(although not small) was sitting on our lawn. He is definitely going to be a big bird.

4th of July 2011

Brothers Chris and Kyle and their clan.
The kids..

We still get the Lego's out on the living room floor.

Little David makes the older kids play with him at

times. They really like it.

David on the dock.Ashley trying to read and tan.

Heather and Ryan and Jeff on the dock.

Boy, did we have some sun burnt kids...yes, we

did use sun block.

Jeff.

Chase, Connor, Amber and Lexi.

Heather and Ryan chilling to the music.

New neighbor, Gail and Connor, singing.

Left to right: Amber, Lexi, Ashley and Paige.

4th of July weekend is always the weekend that my family comes. On Friday night we had our new neighbors come over for a grill out. Gail and Dennis are from Sioux City, IA and their daughter, Paige is a very gifted guitar player and musician. Paige and my niece Ashley are both from Iowa, and they are both in show choir. Needless to say they had a lot in common and ALL the kids knew the songs Paige played on the guitar. It was really fun to see all the talent...and smiles.

We spent a lot of time in the water over the weekend the weather was wonderful.
The kids floated on rafts, played in the row boat, skied, tubed and swam. Ashley hit a milestone, she finally slalom skied. It was pretty exciting.

Jackie and Grayson at the lake

Dinner with Jack and Jan
Peek a boo on the boat with Nana

Jackie and Grayson

I don't like this life jacket thing...

Nana and Grayson

Yum!! A boat ride and a peanut butter sandwich.

Jan and Jack Hasbrouck, our neighbors decided we would go out to dinner...there was no company yet and a free night for all of us. We went to Ivan's and had a good meal.

Jackie and Grayson arrived and we all went for a boat ride. He did fairly well in the life jacket...when John went fast he liked to walk from front to back and sometimes lost his balance.

It was a fun weekend with the little guy.

Play time with Grand kids

Charley and Jane's legs....
Grayson and Charlie....arguing who is going to
break the dog out of the kennel.

Well you know......

Jane and I haven't been able to spend much time together since Florida...so she was babysitting

Charlie and I was babysitting Grayson, so we decided to make it a play date. Grayson and I went to Jenna and Andy's to see them and they actually played pretty well together. Charlie was all about sharing at first...then he decided to give Grayson hugs and loves. Well....Grayson wasn't too sure about that. It was really cute. They both seem to like books. Jane made an awesome rhubarb dessert so we ate while they played......good times.

Father's Day 2011

Cousins Sydnee and Grayson

Heather and Mom

Ryan and Grayson chillin.
What cuties....sorry I cut off Grayson's mouth.....lol

Awww, Mom always gives me the best bottles.

Syd and her buddy, Bella....

Father's Day this year was at Mom and Don's.....we thought we would go for a pontoon ride, but we never made it. All the kids were there....Tony, Jeff, Jac and Ryan and also brother Kyle showed up

We just grilled out and had good conversation.

May 26, 2011 Home again.

A good reason to come home!
Another good reason to come home.

Several NOT so good reasons

to come home....more to follow..

We arrived home safe and sound and it is always a transition to go from one home to another.

You hate leaving all the good friends in one place, but always great to get on with the friends in the other place. Confusing eh?

Yep, the ice decided to go out on our bank at the lake and did about $4,000.00 damage to our docks and bank. Gotta love mother nature. Oh well, I guess we were lucky it wasn't a tornado!

Been busy working outside and in at both houses but got them pretty up to par now. We met with yet another real estate man and re-listed our Cannon Falls house. SOME DAY it has to sell.

All is well and gearing up for Memorial Day weekend here at the lake...all the kids will be here

except maybe Tony. Should be a fun time.

Smyrna, Tn visiting Julie Barker on our way home.

Julie and I
Ditto

Julie

We stopped in the Nashville area on our way home and I called an old friend from college and we got together. Julie and I spent the afternoon together, looking at pictures, hearing each others stories and reminiscing the old days. We then picked up John back at the campground and went by the Nissan Plant where she works...and then out to dinner for a good steak! It was so nice to see her again.