Birthday Shout-out

Auntie Katy turns the big 3-0 today! Happy Birthday, Auntie Katy!

Bedtime

All right. So I had another one of those moments where I thought, "Oh, I'll remember how cute she looks sitting in her rocking chair, just before bedtime, reading to herself." Then I decided to just take the picture.

Photo Op

Monkey see, monkey do. We have a budding photographer in our midst, albeit the camera is turned upside down. She must get that from Grandma Weets. Hee, hee. :)

When we tell Ava to "smile!" or "say cheese," this is what we get. It reminds me of Braylee's "cheesy face."

Ava loves her rocking chair & dolly.

All's Well That Ends Well

Ava and I went down to the beach on one of our last days of the summer. It was pretty windy this day, but we still can say that we got to the beach this summer.

It was a really nice summer--visiting family, meeting new neighbors & people, moving to a bigger place (all our own!), going to parades, making homemade pizzas, going for stroller-walks, and catching up! Thanks to all of you who joined us--it was a good one.

North Shore

Jason and I went to the North Shore, near Grand Marais, at the end of the summer so Jason could get his open water PADI certification. (They did two shipwreck dives in Lake Superior. Yeah, I know, cool.) We stayed at the Cascade Lodge, and this was the farthest north we've been. It was a refreshing change of scenery--more camping, family/Mom & Pop lodging, definitely more woods. While Jason did his dives, I took photos, enjoyed a very nice lunch at the lodge's wood-fire restaurant, and read The Time-Traveler's Wife, which, for me, started off well, but has gotten progressively worse. And I was so excited by the book cover! Some questions, though, about the future, or concerning patience, loyalty, knowledge, etc. have been interesting to consider.

Watching Water

Ava watches carefully how the water comes out of the pitcher and over Grandma's hands.

I thought, "Oh, I'll remember how cute I think her feet look in the water." Then I thought, "I better take a picture." I think it turned out pretty neat.

Countryside Friends

While out on a stroller-walk with Ava, I

thought I should take a picture of a view

that I love so much. The church is within the

grove of trees to the left of the road sign.

Murdock's elevator, further off in the horizon line,

is between the two groves.

Much to Ava's entertainment, Maggie

would dig out the cold, fresh water that

had newly been put into a large pan for her,

following a long morning walk.

Meet Bumper, caught cat-napping (ha, ha!)

at the top of Ava's stroller (above the seat).

Ava even pushed her around like this and the

cat didn't move. It's no wonder that Bumper

took a road trip later this summer to Murdock by

riding on the trailer. She jumped off when Grandpa

had stopped at a shop; he sure was surprised!

Meet Lucky, half horse, half dog. Maggie

and Lucky are buddies. Lucky lives next

door to my parents, so when my dad takes

Maggie for a walk or snuffling in the mornings,

Lucky comes bounding up the ditch or running on

the road (nails going clickety-clack), to join them.

One of my best memories of last summer was watching

Lucky's and Maggie's heads bobbing up & down in the wheat

field, getting pheasants up now and then. Late last summer,

Dad thought he better ask Ronny, Lucky's owner, if it was all right

that Lucky come with on our walks. Ron replied, "I was wondering

why that dog was so tired."

My girls! Ava and I went over to see the Wentzel girls, whom

I babysat many years ago. The girls are now as old as I was

when I was babysitting them. All of them were in our wedding.

From left to right, they are Emily, a junior in high school; Megan (I think--it's still hard to tell you two apart!), a sophomore in college; Shari, their mom; Ava; Mallory, a sophomore in college; and Laura, a sophomore in high school. We had such a fun night catching up! We love you girls!

Cat Chores

Ava & I went to Grandma & Grandpa's

to stay for a week in August while Grandpa

did some maintenance on my car. Ava

loved crossing the bridge Grandpa

built for Grandma's boy & girl fisherpersons.

Grandpa also instructed her in the fine art

of cat chores. See below....

Once she was done feeding the cats,

Ava would follow behind them with both

of her arms turned up, as if to say, "Is there

one for me?" She finally snagged one (above) and

the poor cat actually cooperated, so no child

or animal was harmed in the taking of this picture.

She is so pleased with herself.

Intrigued by how all of it comes out. One of my

favorite pictures.

Sometimes Ava wouldn't dump it all out

at once. Other times, she would set the source

pan off to the side, grab a handful of cat food, squat down,

gently brush two or three cats to the side with her

free hand, and then vigorously throw what was in her

hand into the dish (above). Then she'd go back for more,

as to draw it out so it took longer. She does the same

when feeding Maggie; she'll drop one bit of kibble (from a 1 cup

serving!) in the dish and poor Maggie is salivating all over the floor

by the time we're halfway through.

One of the gang.