Minnesota, Part II: Cloudy with a side of Torrential Downpour

Mid-week we had to get a little more creative.  There were two days of solid rain so we found some indoor activities to keep us occupied: baking, playing cards, beading, bowling, napping, eating, drinking, eating, drinking, eating, drinking...you get the idea.

Most days Paul would get up with his dad and go fish around 5:30 or 6:00 AM and Lucy and I would lay in bed until about 7 or so before we headed to the big house for coffee and breakfast.  This was such a special time; we would usually get there before anyone else was awake and Bob and Lois would get to love on Lucy before the competition arrived. 

As the trip has grown, it's been mostly females that have been added to the mix.  That's what happens when a family full of boys grows up; they meet girls.  So, good news for all of us add-ins, because it has become a tradition that one afternoon all the girls head to Otter Tail for an hour of shopping followed by lunch at a restaurant in nearby Perham.  It gets more fun every year as we add more girls!  And this year, lucky Shane was the only boy invited.  Check him out flirting with Diana as Lucy watches!

Back Row: Nora, Katie, Melinda

Second Row: Lois, Jesse, Amanda, Sue, Joy with Shane, Josie, and Kay with Lucy

First Row: Me and Diana

 

Bowling!

A rather intense looking game of poker.

This is so sweet because, well, a sleeping baby on a great-grandmother's lap is just sweet! 

This picture proves two things:

1. I was actually on this trip and

2. Lucy is in the stage of grabbing everything, necklaces included!

Nora playing with Lucy.  I can't go into how much I love Nora without sounding a bit creepy, but putting it briefly: she is such a special girl; woman, actually.  We were reminiscing about the time we first met, about seven years ago.  Paul and I had driven to Colorado to stay in Mark & Sue's cabin in Cuchara.  We stopped in the Springs to get keys, sheets, towels and soak up a few hours of their time; we arrived late at night and Nora had given up her bed for Paul and I, and we found on the pillows a note that welcomed us to town and to her room with two sticks of gum, one for each of us.  I almost died right there.   That little girl has turned into a high school graduate and I'm more impressed with her every time I see her.  On top of being beautiful and fun, she is wise and mature beyond her years.  She is headed to culinary school in the fall and I know she has a bright future ahead.

And the two of them were having so much fun playing,

and it just kept raining,

so we just kept shooting...

A variation of 'Sink the Bismarck' in the Rec. Room.

Teaching 'Celebrity' to the group.

A game that has clearly been around for about a kabillion years, and whatever someone once paid for it, it wasn't enough.  We get it out every year and try to get those damn red puzzle pieces into the damn board before the damn thing pops.  Good times.

Minnesota, Part I: Sunny-Side Up

This trip is so fun.  There's not an eloquent way to share what we did for seven wonderful days; it was a ton of fun and we did it ALL.  The first few days we had PERFECT weather.  The kind of weather that shows up in photographs advertising the state.  Warm sun with blue skies during the day making any and all outdoor activities a possibility and cool evenings with glass-like stillness on the lake with a sunset you hate to see drop below the horizon.  Of course that just means beer drinking, washers, bonfires, s'mores and game night in the Rec. Room so we deal...

The Minnesota trip has been taking place for 60+ years and as someone pointed out - with the addition of Lucy, Dasheill and Shane - five generations have been enjoying this vacation at the lake.  Same resort, same family, just more of 'em; the group continues to grow every year, we now fill up all nine cabins and this year we topped out with 36 people on our peak day.  

Here's what we were up to in the beginning:

Steve had his two favorite things for a whole week: Lucy and fishing!  I'm pretty sure this smile plastered on his face will get him through 'til next year.

Sue, Nora and Lucy.

Bubbles!

View from Cabin 5's front door.

Nora, Lucy and Mark.

Naptime.

Bob and Lois. 

Geez louise they are so great.  Just look at 'em!

Dad and Lucy at dusk.

Happy First Father's Day to Paul!

Amanda and Lucy.  I know she isn't 'official' because her and Jack have yet to take the plunge, but I can only imagine that the relationship we have is what it feels like to have a sister-in-law that is really, really wonderful.  Lucky Jack, but lucky us too.

Lucy and Shane.

Lois and Lucy reading "The Very Hungry Caterpillar."

Lucy and George.

A portion of the crew at Happy Hour.

 

eight months

There is so much to catch up on, but I must pause to acknowledge Lucy's 8 month birthday before I get serious about posting the fun stuff we've been up to.  Adorable Independence Day gear courtesy of the Roche's.  Thank you!

 

Backyard Barbecues and Hangin' by the Pool

At the pool!

Grace and Lucy in their matching tricked out floaties.

The sippy cup.  Sometimes a means of getting fluid in this child; sometimes a chew toy.

This represents what could be a single photo out of a flip book: on her tummy, on her side, on her back, on her side, on her tummy - she rolls and rolls and rolls.  

 

Right  Because you girls worked really hard on that walk.

It's just really too bad she's never happy...

I needed to do some baking before we headed to a party at a friends' house and Paul wasn't at the farm for the afternoon so I thought I would take Lucy over to my parents house and I could cook while they played.  I had just put the carrot cake cupcakes in the oven and was getting ready to start on the deeeelicious cream cheese frosting when I thought, "gee, it sure is quiet in there."

And this is the scene I came upon.

Some of Lucy's best buddies -  black & white dress and always on the run: Miss Izzy, Grace has the cute yellow bow and Sam is the youngest perched up with a little help from his Mom.

Lucy and Grace

Lucy and Uncle Sam by the pool.  Again.

There's a story behind this one.  Lucy thinks it is HILARIOUS that you can throw a ball, tell Buckley to go get it, and she will bring it back as fast as she can.  The concept is too funny for her to not laugh at.  I mean, it is strange that we have these little animals that run around our houses and we throw toys across the lawn only for them to bring right back to us.  I used to think the purpose was to get Buckley some exercise and tire her out, but now that it also entertains our third wheel it's effective on a whole new level.