End-of-Summer Happenings

The remainder of summer seemed to fly by once we returned from Italy. I really can't believe the first week of school is over already. Actually, since our school was under construction all summer, we couldn't get back to work in our classrooms until 2 days before workshops started. Banning elementary teachers from school in August is pretty stressful! I usually spend a few days setting up my classroom in early August and then relax for the rest of the month. Not so, this summer. It was a real marathon getting everything done in time for the first day of school, but I made it! I really wish I had taken some before and after pictures. The change in less than 2 weeks time was amazing!

Following are a few pics of the events leading up to the school marathon.

First, we got together with my siblings on a Sunday afternoon for some pickle making. I arrived after the process was well underway since St. Ansgar's was celebrating 140 years as a congregation that day, and I had a few extra services to play for.

Chuck, Paul, Joyce, and Ted were already busy stuffing the ingredients into jars when I got there.

Chuck decided the dill reminded him of mistle-toe.

Joyce replenished the cuke supply for more jar stuffing.

Pat tended to the brine and filled the jars after we stuffed them.

Chuck did a great job of labeling the jars - 2009!
We still have several jars remaining from 2007, which is a good thing since these won't be ready until after Thanksgiving.


Here's the whole crew, with some of our supplies.

We celebrated our 36th anniversary on the 25th by going to Norton's in Red Wing for a delicious dinner.

I spent the last few days in August at Diane's cabin on Lower Hay Lake on the Whitefish Chain. We had the most gorgeous weather and the lake was as smooth as glass the whole time. We actually kayaked around the whole lake! The opening across the lake is the channel to Whitefish Lake.

I also had a chance to do a little babysitting for Maddox.

His current favorite toy is Syd, a character from the movie "Ice Age."

Daddy has big feet!

Maddox was a little "glazed doughnut" - his nose never stopped running all day, and I think he was trying to catch the drips in his bottom lip in this picture. Silly boy!

Maddox loves his well-worn blanket!

Kyle's birthday is September 6, so we usually end up celebrating it around Labor Day. This year we went to Cowboy Slim's in Uptown - mmmm, good!
One of their specialties is tater tot hotdish, served in an iron skillet. If you eat the whole thing, you get a free dessert, which Kyle was determined to do. The dessert was a whole pie. We all thought he should share it with the rest of us, but he took the whole thing home to eat during the week. Oh well, it was his birthday.

Maddox was "napless", so Jenna and Corey were kept busy entertaining him.

I can't believe Kyle is 32! Seems like just yesterday that he was Maddox's age! Time definitely flies! On Labor Day , we got up really early, picked up Kyle, and headed for the Fair. It was nice and cool, and very uncrowded, at 8:00 in the morning! We hung out until about 1:00, and then left just when it was getting hot and crowded. No pictures, though.
So much for summer!