Last weekend, Tim and I went to Green Bay to visit the kids. Nicki and Megan took us out to eat at an Italian place to thank us for furnishing them with a couch and love seat for their new apt. Tim and Lee spent two days working on rebuilding their deck that they had to rip off to do some foundation repairs last fall. It looked smashing when they got it all done! I took care of Isaac on Fri while Tara worked and we had a grand time. He is certainly a busy little fella, didn't get much read in the 3 books I brought with!

This is Isaac enjoying the little rocking horse his great-grandma bought for him at a thrift store. It makes noises and sing a little song.













This is after the mean pony bucked him off onto the floor!

A friend and I from church took 8 of the youth camping last weekend at Amnicon Falls by Superior. We had a great time enjoying the wonderful things of nature, omelets in a bag, Lake Superior, and the no-flush toilets! They are a great bunch of kids and very mature spiritually but they ARE still kids! Other than the jumping from a 20 ft. cliff, swimming in huge waves, and starting hands on fire (on purpose), Roger and I thot we did a pretty good job chaperoning! We left with 8 and brought 8 back with only a few minor injuries. We decided that all you really need to keep teenagers happy is water to play in and lots of food. It was a great adventure!

Yes, those are our kids swimming in the 6 foot waves. Roger and I spent 45 minutes counting heads and wondering if they should be in there.

Me doing who knows what--looking for rocks, I think!

This is one of the falls in the park where we camped.

The last two mornings have really felt and smelled like fall and it makes me sad. The late perennials are blooming, lillies are finishing and the birds are loading up for winter. I need to find a winter hobby so it won't be so long--the only highlight is football--go Vikings! Here are some pics from my gardens. The biggest one had a tree fall on half of it so will look better next year! I'm off on another camping trip today with the youth group from church. We're going to Amnican Falls up by Superior. I'm sure I'll have more pics from that trip. Later!

Here are the two youngest children. As you can see, Maggie (schnauzer) doesn't enjoy being quite so close to Sophie. Maggie is 12 and sleeps alot, Sophie is 1 and never stops moving til she crashes. She has kept me young and I get to take a trip to the woods every now and then to find her. They are sweet to come home to every day cuz they think I'm great all the time!

Thought I should put the rest of my family on here. This is Nicki (left) and Megan. Nicki just passed her RN boards and moved from Mankato to Green Bay. She has a job in Appleton. Megan graduated from UW Green Bay and is starting an accelerated nursing program in Jan. They decided they missed each other and are now living together. I am very proud of them and their great work ethics. I will get Matt on here as soon as he stands still long enough to get a picture!

My brother in law and I took a little hike to the top of the hill by our campsite and this is the view of the Mississippi. It was a great hike except, in keeping with John's always adventurous personality, we decided to skip the trail on the way up. I was glad for the trail on the way down anyway so I didn't have to slide on my butt!

We had a great week with Isaac--you can watch him learning every day! He's obviously going to be a water person like his grandma!! Tara and Lee left Sunday and then I went camping with my sister, Barb, along the Mississippi by Winona. It was a relaxing and enjoyable time. We always have fun together and it's great to have a sister to whom I can bear my soul--thanks Barb!