Anti-theft system

I stopped to drop some things off by the oldest who is living in an apartment near campus. I guess she hasn't needed to go many places during the summer....

Dog days, literally

The dogs took advantage of the last few lazy days before school.

Garden Grad

The middle graduated from high school this month - time just flew by. She planned a beautiful garden party and the weather was really cooperative - which is a big deal in Wisconsin.

Suit Up!

Since the kids were little, they have wanted a swimming pool. This year the timing, budget, and the stars in the sky aligned... and we bought a pool. I worried that it was too small to actually be much fun, but we spent ALL summer in the pool. And I'm sure it didn't hurt that it was the hottest summer on record.

How small is it?

This weekend we went to visit my dad who lives in a small town in the middle of Iowa. How small is it, you ask?

On a local radio commercial, the announcer said, "We're located a mile past the stop light." A mile. Past the stop light. The light - THE ONLY ONE.

During dinner I asked the server if we could make it to the local race track in ten minutes. She replied, "Ten minutes? Oh, Lord honey, how big do you think town is?"

And you know the blue signs on the highway that tell you what attractions and amenities are coming up at the next exit? I know, you can't tell in the picture, but trust me... it's BLANK.

Small town

This weekend we are visiting my dad, spending some much needed time relaxing. The small town pace is so different and welcome.

When the kids were little they loved that we let them go all over town alone. They had no idea that in a town of 400 people, everybody knows when the grand kids are visiting, and we got updates all day long.

My favorite part of visiting has always been how the kids adapt and find things to do. I love that that hasn't changed as they've grown up.

Lost in a good book

One of the cats

Climbing trees

When I was a kid...

When I was a kid, summer got so hot you could cook an egg on the driveway. Oh wait, that's now.

Hot? Pfft.

This is July 4. This is 104 degrees. This is the electric company trying to restore our power. Good thing our city's celebration has a festival with a beer tent.

Best Parade Plan. Ever.

Our community has a big Independence Day parade, and our family is usually connected with at least one group that's marching. I took this picture from the route with my phone:

Time for a little trim

I missed a whole season...

Just like that track season is over. Maybe because the weather was so nice, it seemed to go so fast. Welcome to softball season.

last of summer

This week, the youngest learned to wake board. The first day or two looked something like this....

back again

For her 18th birthday we surprised my oldest daughter with a family trip to New York. We debated that for a long time - we have to plan way ahead to save for something like that. And we knew if we did an 18th b-day trip, we were committing to two more. We decided that we will only get one chance to do it, and we should. So glad we did.

they all rolled over and...

The oldest and her friends are all making the most of their time together before they go off to school - they were all so tired....

my commute home today

My bike route home from work cuts right through the midway of the state fair grounds!

"grandma's garden"

just play along ok?

The middle daughter wanted to go to a concert in town, but the venue is in a dicey neighborhood - a parent-on-site kind of area. None of the other parents wanted to chaperone, so being the great parent I am, I took one for the team.

Ok, the real story is that I listen to alternative music too, and this was the perfect excuse to go to an awesome concert: The Summer Set, Downtown Fiction, Hot Chelle Rae, and We the Kings. And the other parents still think they owe me.... :)

beach bums

Although Lake Michigan is just a few minutes away, we never seem to spend much time there. Today, the middle kid and I were driving around (getting ready for her driving test) and we found ourselves near the lake. We wandered down some rock paths to the beach, and got some beautiful photos.

you don't see this very often....

better get going on that....

My middle daughter has a giant dry erase board in her room. She and her girlfriends made a list of the things they want to do this summer. Seems ambitious....