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! 

 

June....already!

The first sign of "Spring" on the farm

was the robin's nest in May; the irises

finally bloomed the first week of June.

Last day of school for Cecelia, Lydia, and Claire :-)

My garden on June 7th...watch the progress

Iowa and Texas friends arrived on June 8th.

We took them to the International Peace Garden

on the North Dakota/Manitoba border.

Bob and Jeff at the 911 Memorial.

Bob, Diane, Deb, and Jeff 

The beams are from the World Trade Center

towers that were destroyed in the 911 attack.

Over 125 varieties of cactus in the solarium

at the Peace Garden. They treated us to

ice cream for relief after the heat of the solarium.

On the 9th, we had to visit the Geographical Center

of North America cairn for a photo!

Then, we went to the Prairie Village Museum

in Rugby for the rhubarb festival and car show.

Clifford Thempson grew up in the area and

was a bit taller than Deb. I forgot to take a 

pic of the rhubarb treats--we ate them all!

After two very busy days, Jeff and Deb left the farm

on the 10th to continue their trek to Alaska.

So nice to have them visit.....now they're on their way

to another adventure!

Tom and Trina's family en route to our 

next family adventure in Killdeer. They

arrived on Tuesday, the 11th.

Our trip began on Wednesday, June 12th.

(Jimmy and Kelly's 20th Wedding Anniversary)

We stopped at Jimmy's bin site near Dodge,

dropped off something Bob fixed for Jimmy,

and watched the bin crew from Minnesota

work on erecting the newest bin.

Luke was driving the girls crazy on the golf cart

when we arrived at the farm.

Jett, Caiden, Andrew, and Matthew crashed

after their morning on the golf course.

Later that day, we met Ana and the girls at Medora.

Kelly's nephew Isaac came along to join

the girls and watch the musical.

Kids are free on Wednesday and Sunday, and they

were invited to come on stage. Can you find

Cecelia and Lydia?

They were in the back row!

A tribute to Teddy Roosevelt by the horseback riders.

Ariana is 20 on June 13th

We had angel food cake with strawberries and

whipped cream to celebrate. I think all 21 cousins,

ranging in age from 20 to almost 1,

from both sides of the family came to the celebration!

The hungry golfers ate pulled pork sandwiches

before having their cake and eating it, too!
(Andrew, Matthew, Caiden, Jett)

That evening we all went to the golf course clubhouse

to celebrate Andrew's graduation from high school.

Cousins from both sides of the family shared the fun

on the patio overlooking the golf course.

The weather was perfect for cornhole, Jenga blocks,

and running around the golf course

Andrew's graduation photos! He will be headed

to the University of Mary in Bismarck this fall.

Friday, the 14th, the water heater quit. How many men

does it take to figure out how to wire the new one?

Isaac is heading out of the room, figuring that Tom,

Bob, Travis, and Jimmy had enough heads!

It took a while, but they got 'er done. Then they needed

a lunch break. Tom, Travis, Dash (the dog peeking

through the deck door), Jimmy, and Bob.

 

Jimmy, George, and Luke posed for a picture,

but Mary Kate wanted a solo shot!

Claire "helping" Kelly change George's diaper....

We helped Kelly's parents celebrate their

50th wedding anniversary at 4:30 Mass

followed by a dinner and program. Kelly's older 

brother Steve was MC and introduced "Dan" (Andrew)

and "Nancy" (Grace wearing her grandmother's 

wedding gown), and bridesmaids (two of Kelly's sister

Rachel's daughters).

Andrew is wearing Dan's yellow ruffled shirt.

"

Andrew and Grace pass by Kelly's brother Shane,

his wife Rachel, and baby Zander (almost 1).

We watched a video about Dan and Nancy's life

after the reenactment and introduction

of all their children and 14 grandchildren.

Andrew brought his cap and gown 

to the church, so we could get a photo.

And some of the kids wanted a photo, too.

Cecelia, Josie, Andrew, Luke, Grace, Lydia, 

and Eliza. Luke was holding my glasses 

and decided to wear them for his picture.  

This was the end of a busy week for us. 

We left for home on Saturday morning.

Tom and Trina had left Friday morning

for family events en route back to Iowa. 

On Sunday, Trina found "Bambi"

 in her flower bed by the house. 

Music in the Park and free ice cream

on Wednesday.  These guys did Everley Brothers music.

Cousin Eugen came to visit from Germany. We partied 

at the lake and at Steve's farm. L to R: Bob and Diane,

Eugen, Connor, Jerry, Steve, Kathy, Andrea, 

Barb, Brad,Maureen with Danielle, and 

in front Haylee, Kimber, and Elliott.

Introducing our cousin from Germany 

to the shotzke tradition: Leon, Steve,

Jerry, Frank, and Eugen

Shotzke2...bottoms up

Amarula and creme de menthe: Springbok

is actually a South African drink. :-)