3rd Place Finish

Landen and Nathan finished up their baseball season on July 15th.  Northwestern won against Highmore, lost a close game to Faulkton, and won against Warner to win 3rd place in the End of Season Tournament.

It was a fun and fast season of watching these boys play!

Queen for the Weekend

After the 4th of July, it was time for Rachel's check up at Mayo.  It was the first time we were there since 2014.  The big kids were spending their weekend with Grandma Melius & their cousins in Minnesota, so Rachel got to be an only child for a few days.  The appointment went well and Dr. Bite was pleased with how everything turned out.  

We had an early supper with cousins Kevin and Christine and started on our way back home again.  We woke up early Saturday morning in Sleepy Eye (how appropriate!) and then made our way to Huron for a benefit golf tournament for cousins Cyndi and Chase who are in the process of adopting. 

I hadn't golfed in a good 13 years (I'm finding myself realizing lately I haven't done several things in 13 years!), and we all had a fun--can't believe I'm saying that!--18 holes of golf.  My drives left something to be desired, but my putting was acceptable. :)  Rachel took advantage of her down time to practice her skills, too.

She had quite the weekend getting pretty much everything she wanted and usually doesn't get--Bug Juice, Pepsi, an Oreo Blizzard, and a plate of grilled pineapple and sunflower seeds at Hu Hot.

No wonder she told me after our return, "When I grow up, I want to be queen!"

July 3-4

We weren't quite ready to take off our party hats on July 3, so we kept them on for a couple of more days!

Nathan and I ran/jogged/walked in the Wild West Days 5K before the Melius Reunion in Faulkton that morning. Nathan ran the 5K, but after I got lost (I wasn't the only one!) and took the walkers' route, I probably completed a 4K for my jog/walk. :)  

It was a fun run, but Nathan was proud to take 4th place.  I'm not sure what place I got, but I wasn't last!

We enjoyed our day catching up with family and stayed for the amazing fireworks show at the ballpark that night.

The next day was the traditional 4th of July parade in Faulkton. Our kids always like to ride with Grandma on the Cresbard Area Right to Life float.

After that, it was a relaxing afternoon of a picnic in the park, carousel rides, swimming in the pool, eating ice cream and touring the Pickler Mansion. We finished off our 4th with supper at Grandma & Grandma Melius' house with more swimming!

When you're in the Carousel City, you HAVE to take a ride on the carousel!

Kallas family time

We really have been traveling to one place or another since our trip with the Melius family.

A couple of days after our return, we spent an afternoon in Aberdeen with the Kallas family, as almost all of my aunts and uncles were home for their class reunions.

Great-grandma, Grandma Shirley and Gabriel

The Seven Kallas Sisters

It is always a blessing to spend time with our families . . . even if it is just a few hours together. 

Meliuses on Lake Minnewaska

We spent the last week in June at Lake Minnewaska with the Melius family.  It's crazy how it's been three years since our first vacation there!  This one was just as much fun, although the weather was cooler.  We never heard any complaining, however, as the kids still went tubing, fishing, and swimming in the lake.  Finding seashells was a favorite thing for the little girls.

Thanks to Uncle Jason, the kids were able to get plenty of time on the boat.  Nathan cleaned adn collected the fish they caught for the three days and Landen fried it up for us on the last night, too!