60

Mom turned sixty this weekend!  Since she got a new camper this spring, we really wanted to do a big family camping weekend, but since all of the campsites with electrical hookups were booked up months ago, we decided to make our own campsite at Luke and Annalyse's house.  They parked the camper out front, and some slept out there and some slept in the house.  It worked really well with so many people we needed to accommodate.  We spent time on the boat, went swimming at the sand bar, and the kids gave the slip and slide a try.  The main attraction though was the GIANT bounce house that my dad ordered for the kids to jump in all weekend.  It was so large, it basically covered the entire front of Luke and Annalyse's house.  The kids had a blast jumping and going down the slide.  We got Mom an epic Peanut Butter cup cheesecake from Josef's cheesecake bakery in Chippewa.  It probably weighed ten pounds.  It was super decadent and special.  

It was really wonderful to spend some time all together as a family, especially after all the separation in the past year due to covid.  Mom is such a special person and it was great to be able to celebrate her with some fun times together.  Happy Sixtieth Birthday, Mama!  You are so loved!

 

Delta

 The corona virus cases have been pretty minimal this summer around here.  There have been a handful of new daily cases, but it has been relatively comfortable to start doing some more things in our community and feel pretty safe.  However, because there was a huge percentage of people who have yet to get vaccinated due to misinformation about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine (and political reasons), the virus has not been stamped out as we had hoped.  Instead, it is mutating. The latest variant is called Delta and it is seeming to be more contagious and more serious than the original strain.  I saw this quote the other day and it really summed up my feelings on this:

I'm really having a hard time accepting that kids sacrificed 16+months of their childhood, 2 school years of normalcy, mostly to protect adults from a virus that they're now choosing NOT to get vaccinated against, making kids who can't vax more vulnerable and holding everyone hostage.

I'm sure Delta will be hitting our area soon.  And then who knows...do we continue our plan of sending our kids back to school? When will the kids' vaccines be available?  There is just so much that is unknown.  It is so scary and fatiguing and frustrating to still be dealing with this.  Nolan made this sign when he heard about Delta and hung it up in his front window.  I mean, if my nine year old gets it, why don't adults? Get your shot and mask up, or there is no end of covid in sight. 

39

Eric turned 39 today!  We celebrated with dinner with his parents on the weekend and his favorite chocolate peanut butter cake.  It really is the best cake ever and I think it was the best I've ever made it.  We all went together on some new speakers and a album holder for his record player which has been in storage since he lived in Milwaukee.  He spent all evening sitting on the floor listening to different albums trying to get the sound just right.  Happy Birthday to an amazing husband, father, and friend!  We love you!

Cabin

 A walk out at the cabin is always a great way to spend a Saturday!

Garden Harvest

 Today was potato digging day at Grandma and Grandpa's.  The kids all like to help, especially Nolan who is a very diligent worker.  Olivia always seems to end up finding and "rescuing" toads, which is fun too.  It was a very large harvest this year, but many hands makes it go fast.  Livi also helped to harvest some green beans from the greenhouse.  I love all the hands-on learning they get to do at Grandma and Grandpa's garden!