Susan's News, Visit With David, Sesquicentennial, and Camping- Whew!

The summer has been flying by... come to think of it, so have our LIVES. It doesn't seem like that long ago when I first met the young lady pictured below. My stepdaughter Susan was four years old when I met her (and her dad). In the beginning of our acquaintance, she regarded me warily, with the most soulful and sad light blue eyes I had ever seen. It was as if she were wondering "What do you mean for my life? Why are you hanging around my dad?"

 

Susan and Jay

It's been twenty years, and I think (I hope) she discovered I am a benevolent force in her life. Certainly she has brought me a lot of joy over the years and I consider her one of my best friends. So why am I getting all deep and reflective on my darling Susan?

Baby Johnston!

Because we just received THIS in the mail a few days ago... a sonogram picture! Susan and Jay are expecting a baby in January. WOW. We are pretty excited. The two of them plan a visit to Wisconsin in September to attend cousin Adam's wedding, so there might be a baby bump showing by then. We are very happy for Susan and Jay and know they will make great parents. Susan has been showing her maternal side for years in all her kind dealings with her younger brothers and sister. And Jay has shown himself to be great with kids... infinitely patient and a steady (but fun) presence on all of our kid-packed outings.

It was fun finding out this news while Susan's brother David was visiting us from West Virginia.

David

David stayed with us this past week while we helped celebrate Colfax's sesquicentennial... 150 years since the village was founded.

It was a busy week for me and many of us who work in town... there were all kinds of special events we participated in, including a parade on Saturday. Emma, Leila, and I marched with the library group in the parade.

Village of Colfax

 

Fellow-librarian Jolene and I, getting ready for parade

 

Some of the library moms and kids marched with us

Random cute photo of Leila

Emma and her friend Breezy, the day of the double rainbow

David was a good sport tagging along with us to all our different events that week. There were softball games, a trip to the beach, and a street dance, among other things. We did manage to bring him to visit Grandma Jane during the week. Here are a few pictures:

Kids in Colfax

Grandma Jane and Leila by fairy garden we planted

Leila wearing her Magic Mama groupie hat

Magic Mama, a children's performer, at the library to kick off sesquicentennial



 Earlier in July we went on a camping trip to Coon Forks county park in Augusta. We camped with a couple of friends and their kids, and had a lot of fun cooking over the campfire, kayaking and swimming with them...

The girls loved fishing

Beach bums

Mmm... coffee

Michael kayaking

Did you know some Amish camp? Kind of neat to see

Michael helping Rowdy set up his tent

Kevin and Jessy

 

Mom and Dad visited recently. Dad, Jon and I drove to Gilman so he could show me the Bragg family graves at that cemetery. His grandmother's gravestone is there, among others. He pointed out where the old family farm used to be and shared some of his reminisces with us.

 

 

Bragg family site at Gilman Cemetary



I will end with some pictures of Jack and Leila, from a little get-together in Eau Claire they had a couple of weeks ago.

Maybe next year no training wheels?

Our little white-headed boy

Bugs and Frogs

 

I think Jackson will be very happy to meet his future Kentucky cousin someday soon...

 

 

PS:  Look forward to seeing some of you at the Hurlburt Family Reunion this coming weekend. Our garden is kicking into gear so expect to pick up a few free vegetables from us :).

 

Here you can see summer squash, tomatoes, and sunflower plants