A Post Forgotten -- From this summer

Each time Oliver and Lucius come over it is an adventure.  More fun things happen and we love to have them.  Oliver loves to line things up as he did with the sidewalk chalk out in front of the house.

Oliver the "line" king.

Oliver also likes to "Paint".

Let's paint.  (You may ask what's in the bucket - that's Mormor's secret)

Of course all of the rocks need a bath.

Now I can ring the windchime.

Bubbles -- what fun.

Look how high they go.

"Uncle" Bob's car (picture by Oliver)

It's not a big slide but it's fun just the same.

A new sidewalk chalk canvas.

Art and picture by Oliver.

Rocks found in sandbox (Picture by Oliver)

Copper seems to be saying "where is mine?"

Lucius after the trip to the dirt in the planter.

Fall Colors

Gary loves to take pictures but has been limited in what he can do because of his back.  So while we were at the trailer this past weekend he took some shots at the lake and then we took a little side trip on the way home to enjoy a some of the wonderful colors that God painted.

As the sun was setting on Saturday evening.

The morning steam on the lake.

The morning steam.

A county park with lake access we found on our drive.

Colors on the drive.

More Colors.

Trip to the MN Zoo with Casen & Brianna

Monday morning, Eme, Casen, Brianna and I headed to the Minnesota Zoo for a chance to check  out the animals and spend some time with each other.  Our first stop on our walking tour was to check out the monkeys.  The little one in the front ventured toward us but as soon as I got the camera ready to snap a closer picture -- off he/she scampered to get further from us.

 

Then it was further up the trail to the Moose who was relaxing in the shade and the elk who were hanging out in the cool long grass.

Next we visited the farm.  Brianna checked out the goats who seemed very friendly.  We saw this silly little piglet trying to beat his siblings at getting the food or maybe he was just trying to get higher than all the rest.  We couldn't really tell, he just sort of jumped up on top of mom.  Casen curled his nose at the smell of the animals at the farm.

 

We saw camels taking it easy in the pond and pronghorns up on the hillside and the prairie dogs making holes and just standing up checking out the scenery.  We even had the privilege of hearing the prairie dogs bark at each other.

The lazy bears were just sleeping on the rocks.  Not a very interesting trio to our two little ones.

We finished up by having a spot of lunch and visiting the Minnesota Trail.  According to my phone and a program called "My Tracks" we walked a total of 3.4 miles at an average speed of 1.02 miles per hour but at an average moving speed of 2.76 miles per hour.  Any way you look at it we had a great time seeing all of the fun animals at the Zoo.   

                                                                                                           Thanks Eme and Brianna for sharing your Zoo coupons with Mom/Grandma.  Casen and I had a great time.

A wonderful Walk in the park

On Saturday morning Mick and J invited us to join them on a little walk in the park.  They picked us up and we headed to a park they knew of.  It's nestled among a busy shopping area and apartments but a lovely walk just the same.  With Casen in his stroller we started out, stopping about half way around to eat some lunch under some beautiful willow trees. 

Then completing our walk we stopped by the Container store and then it was off to Grand Ole Creamery for some ice cream to finish out time together. 

Thanks Mick, J and Casen for a fun Saturday morning.

Happy Birthday Margaret & Michelle!!

Today is Margaret and Michelle's birthday and what a beautiful day for two beautiful women, wives, mothers, daughters, and friends.  When they were born we prayed that they would become women who were individuals in their own right and that they have become.  Both have wonderful little boys (our grandsons) to nurture and raise and godly husbands to support them. 

We are so very proud of who they have become and pray that they will continue to feel the love and support of their mom and dad. 

Happy Birthday ladies.  Have a splendiferously wonderful day.  (And remember, we are here to look after those little guys if you would choose to take time for a little refresher break.)  We love you.