July...Busier than Ever

Kelly brought balloons home for George.

He was really excited!

Mary Kate and George kept spinning all day

Later that day, we celebrated

 George's Golden Birthday:

2 on the 2nd. 

Jimmy's birthday is on the 3rd,

so they shared the ice cream cake.

Kelly, Luke, and Mary Kate helped George 

open his gifts.

 Looks like not everyone was

excited about the event. Andrew and Matthew

had their own game going.

The cupboards are finally getting installed. 

Kelly read the directions and the guys 

did the rest.  George wants to go up and help grampa.

Brotherly love.

Matthew and George with matching shirts

Kelly's orchids were blooming...

made me think of Izzy who grew them in Miami.

We took a different route home on the 3rd and crossed

the Four Bears Bridge over Lake Sakakawea.

4th of July parade in Rugby...I wasn't quick

enough to capture great-nephew Connor

driving his grandfather's tractor.

Sara and Doug are trying out Bob's homemade hooch.

I put the kids to work on Monday and taught

Julia how to make scotcharoos..they were almost 

all gone by the time we left on Tuesday. I forgot

to get a picture of RJ who made the pancakes

on Monday and Tuesday mornings!

Ana, Sara, and their families came to the Germans

from Russia convention on Thursday. The kids spent

most of their time in the pool that had a waterslide.

Ana and Sara helping George pick out his pizza!

Early birthday party for Grace (July 27th) 

and Grampa Bob (July 29th).

Jimmy's family joined us on Friday to swim and

 party  Grace and Bob.  We had pizza,

cupcakes, and ice cream. The kids were in the pool

until 11 p.m.!

Kathy, Andrea, and Aaron joined us for the party.

Lydia (I think), George, and Julia

George is 2

Matthew and Andrew 

Father and Son

Matthew helps George "swim"

Mary Kate and George testing the water

Mary Kate is 4

Bob and three of the kids: Ana, Sara, and Jimmy

The kids had a great time at the dance

and made up their own moves

Andrea did a "selfie" of the gang at the dance

En route to Minot on Sunday, we crossed the bridge

between Lake Sakakawea and Lake Audubon

High diver was a big hit

at the State Fair on Sunday

We spent 5 1/2hours of fun at the Fair

with Doug, Sara, RJ, and Julia

before their plane took off for Minneapolis.

Their connecting flight was canceled,

so they spent two days at Ana's 

until they could get a flight on Tuesday night.

Bob's college roommate John and Gayle (and

John's sister Judy) met us for breakfast

in Rugby on Monday morning.  We gave them

a tour of the duplex before they headed to the

Peace Garden to meet Gayle's sister.

Bob and John shared stories! :-)

I went out to pick grape tomatoes and lettuce

and found these in the garden on Tuesday.

A friend recommended the Kelvin Klinic for good food,

so we headed there on the 29th for Bob's birthday.
He wanted a steak, but they had them only on weekends.

So, the next night we went to the Birchwood Steakhouse

which did have steaks!