Beach Week Part 2

Playing board games by candlelight.

 

We stumbled into what we think is the local's restaurant, where the retirees were burning up the dance floor and we had amazing dinners.  When one of the gentlemen stopped to ask Alida if she would like to dance, she politely declined. 

 

Fudge and ice cream on the boardwalk.

 

Burgers at home.

 



That rolled and turned and made me want to vomit watching it.

 

The Ferris wheel is a bit more my speed.

 

Random parrot on the walk back.

 

And Fourth of July on the porch,

 

watching fireworks and the storm.

 

Jaws Kite!

 

We watched the movie Jaws here too.

 

And, some other scary movie that I can't quite remember because I was so taken with my boys comforting one another during the scary parts.

 

Beach Week!

Very shortly after unpacking, we packed up for the beach. 

Okay, well we really just never unpacked our suitcases and just loaded the car and left, so it wasn't too hard.

 

And we found our spot and hunkered down for the week on our new coast.

 

I even was able to get four smiling kids at once.

 

And we've found if you stay at the smaller, less popular places,

 

You get vastly superior, less crowded beach space.

 

More room to screw up at the boogey boarding.  

Or screw up at tent placement.

 

No worries, you can always retreat to the pool.

The Weather Here in May

It rolls in fast and big.

And this was welcome water for the new yard.

 

But it was intense. 

Those are not frosted glass windows.

There it is: hail.

We will not escape frozen weather yet, it seems.

Moving In

And then we landed at this place, where the view from my back porch is a pond across the way.

 

And Alida and I agreed that this shower curtain is lovely.

Neither of us being floral pattern sorts, I think we were both surprised.

And we have an eat in kitchen again instead of keeping this table in the basement.

The dog's bed, that will need to move.

 

The master bedroom is ridiculous, as all new master bedrooms are.

 

This is apparently a problem no matter where you live. 

I have a pantry!

Our American Flag has a covered front porch home!

 



We will do just fine here, we're sure.

 

The children and dog will likely never leave this room. Although it has already been rearranged, as we figured out on day one that the television backs up to Nick's bedroom wall in this configuration.  I was talking with Nick and all I could hear was Ben yelling at a video game through the wall. 

 

Nicholas was already staking out where to lay on the floor in the first five minutes.

 

And children, dog, cat, and parents are all in the same space again. And for the first time since 2013, four children are not sharing one bathroom.  We will now be able to discover who really is incapable of using the toothpaste they put on their toothbrush instead of just spitting a glob into the sink and refusing to rinse it down.

Moving On: Kansas

The girls celebrated their birthday with grandpa and grandpa and friends in Kansas after we moved along from Minnesota.  I kept moving with the cat toward our new home, and Patric moved in reverse to get the kids and bring them the rest of the way a few days later.

There was quilting.

And lessons on sewing, which takes more than just sewing.

 

But then you get to run the machine!

 

And time spent at the ranch is always enviable.

My Favorite Tradition

Attempt to fling the children off a raft while you drag them from a boat.

 

Grandpa had us shorten the rope by half  this year.  It made an impact.

 

Surprisingly, Elaine stayed out for nearly every ride.

 

Except Nicholas always has to have a solo run.

 

And I had just put the camera away when grandpa flipped the entire raft, child and all.

Gaining some air.

 

And since it really was not even 70 degrees outside, the children declined sitting in the water for water skiing this year.  We'll get it next time.

We love our new traditions too

Evening fires for actual warmth in June.

And water balloon fights in the yard.

Happy Birthday Girls!

Twelve Years Old today!

Way back then, we had no idea how very much we needed you to complete our six pack.

 

 

Today, I cannot even imagine my days without either of you.

We love you!