Back to School...

Well, after letting a month and a half go by without updating this blog, I better hurry up and post our "back to school" edition.

All three kids are waking up early and strapping on their backpacks... including 3 year-old Leila. She started preschool this year, so rides the school bus with Michael and Emma.

I miss my baby, but she's doing great. Both the teacher and bus driver said after the first day that she was "all smiles". Not including the bus ride, she's only at school 3 hours a day, but it's four days a week. I'm very proud of my little school girl (and her big brother and sister, watching over her as they do).

Michael started 7th grade-- and football-- this year. It's been amazing to see his hard work and commitment. They practice for two hours nearly every day after school, and he puts in a good effort while he's there. The coach has him playing defensive end and left guard. They've had a couple of scrimmages with other schools so far, and Jon's been there watching him play and helping coach.

Jon took a few weeks off from work for some much needed rest & family time... which of course he's spent mostly on work around the house. Right now he's outside on our roof, pounding nails. Our shingles were badly damaged after several years of shoveling off snow and chopping ice dams, so Jon has made it a priority to better insulate our attic and re-shingle the roof. Hopefully there's no rain before the shingles are back on... I asked Jon what would happen if it did rain now, and he said "bad stuff."

I didn't blog in August, but we did a few fun things. One day we joined Phil and Jill at their cottage on the lake for some inner-tubing and pontooning...

We went to a music festival in Somerset to watch our nephew Adam (Phil and Jill's son) perform with his band, Solid Gold.

At left, Jon and Adam.

We took a day trip to the Wisconsin/Minnesota border and visited some beautiful state parks in the St. Croix area.

We hiked and let the kids do some impromptu rock-climbing. We window-shopped and even made an actual purchase... (see my new hutch, below).

The hutch cost only $140, which I thought was a good deal for something so functional and nice-looking. I am able to store most of my canned fruit and veggies in the bottom section, with my glass collectibles finally out of boxes and on the top. AND there are cookbooks in the middle section. See how usefull?? I say that's $140 well spent :).

Our grandson, Jack, stayed overnight last week. Jonathan and Lindsay's work hours are such that one or the other of them is usually home with him, though Lindsay's grandma has filled in as caregiver, when needed. But every other weekend both Jonathan and Lindsay have to work nights, so Jack will come over here and stay with us.

He is more shy than he used to be, but after awhile warms up and wins everyone over with his big smiles. He LOVES to watch his Aunt Leila and her shennanigans. He sits unsupported and crawls; he pulls himself up to standing. He takes a few steps (with help).

To close, I'll post a picture of the memorial bench that marks the grave of my father-in-law. It was finished recently; Jon has sat in it and thinks it's very comfortable.