Jim and cousins

 Jim's new beard didn't scare his grandgirls at all.

 These two are having a snuggle and watching the news.  If they are lucky, they will get to shell and eat some peanuts.

Sometimes all of these girls snuggled on the couch and read before bed.

 

 Sometimes the "8 and under club" (I wonder what 9 year old's little sister came up with that name.) couldn't let Lillian continue to sit on the couch and read.

Sneak Attack

Door County Cherries

 What are these bucket heads up to?

 Cherry picking with cousins!

 We quickly filled up two buckets

 This year there is a bumper crop

 Uncle Pete!

 We then had to pit all of those cherries.

Ella, Lillian, and I took on the job.

 Good thing we had Aunt Ella's energy and enthusiasm to keep us going.  She quickly made a pie and some freezer jam.  MMM!

Lillian was integral to the pitting and pie process.

Piggly Wiggly and Ida and Miki arrive

 The girls and I enjoyed shopping at Piggly Wiggly.  Look at that selection of chocolate chips!  No wonder we Americans are so "big boned."  Of course, I picked up a bag!

The Portland, Oregon cousins arrived!  Miki and Ida did not want me taking any pictures of them, so you will just have to visit their blog if you want to see them.  Here they all are (that is Miki's head and Ida has ducked down) in the balcony where my parents sleep.

Tour, tower, and swings

 Grambee is a guide for The Ephraim Historical Foundation.  We joined Grambee's tour and learned all about the history of the village.  The tour included the Moravian church where Pierre and I were married and the school house.  I highly recommend her tour.

 We returned to Peninsula State Park to climb the tower.  These views show just a little bit of Green Bay, a part of Lake Michigan.  They don't call them the Great Lakes for nothing.

 

 Proud Owl at top of the tower

 Rock Compound

 These kids love to swing.  Thanks for hanging up the swings, Jim.

Al Johnson's, games, and cousins

 After swimming lessons at the YMCA, we headed to Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant.  This is whipped cream with a little hot chocolate.  She followed this up with Swedish Pancakes, of course.  Sugar rush!

 Jim went to his men's group to discuss important things, so we stole Grambee and brought her along with us.

 Mexican Train!  Grambee is a great game player.

 Here are the woods where my mom played as a child.  She and her sisters made stone paths, some of which are still there.  Now, these woods are along the path to my aunt's house. 

 My aunt was hosting 8 grandkids and their parents!  They took my girls for the afternoon so that my mom and I could have lunch with some old friends.  My friend, Sara, was my best summer friend and her mom put up with me basically living at their house for many summers.  They conveniently live next door to my aunt. My girls had a wonderful time and did not want to leave!  Thank you Brestins!!

 This reader spent much time in this corner of the couch.

 The quiet readers

Look what Sylvia found in a drawer!  Hats from the Salt Lake City Olympics!  Add a mini rainbow slinky and you have non-stop fun.

Grambee and Jim, shenanigans, and a lighthouse

Where is Pierre on this fabulous vacation?  Home working.

We are glad to be back with him now.

As we drove down the road to the cottage, Sylvia said, "I feel like I am going to paradise."  

Lillian and I agreed.

 A paradise with goofy hats.  Who is behind these shenanigans?  Grambee, of course.

 My cousin dropped by to visit with her two little girls and Grambee sprung into action with paper hat creation.  My girls joined in and helped to keep the little girls entertained. 

 The Double-Daring Book for Girls and a Max Finder Mystery

We also visited the tiny local library.  There, my second cousin once removed did a fabulous kids' program including an Egyptian Cinderella tale and a chance to be wrapped in toilet paper to look like a mummy.  She was fantastic.  

Yes, in the summer, these woods are thick with relatives.

We went to the lighthouse that is now a museum in the State Park.  Because it is way up on a bluff, the tower is not very high.  It is also a very nice house for the time and is furnished with period pieces.  Eagle Bluff Lighthouse opened in 1868.  The historical society has some diaries of the lighthouse keepers that provide detailed descriptions of everyday life.  One keeper had 7 sons and carved a yoke for each one so that they could each carry two buckets of water at a time up the cliff to the lighthouse.  Isn't running water marvelous?

 View from the house

Peninsula State Park is one of our favorite places to spend time. 

 View from the bluff.

Grambee helped Sylvia make some environmentally friendly bug spray as one of the steps to earn a badge for her new Brownie vest.  This year Sylvia will be a Brownie and Lillian will be a Junior.

Stateside

The girls and I  flew went to the United States of America to visit my family.  It was a long journey and they were strong.  First, although you will see know photographic proof of it here, we stopped to see my sister.  Sylvia was reunited with one of her favorite dogs, Bo.  The girls spent about 10 hours playing in the yard and swinging while I recovered from our voyage.

 We stayed a couple of nights and I was able to take a nice run with my sister and to glimpse her whole family.  My niece and nephew are now teenagers and tower over me.  They are both impressive athletes; Sam's specialty is soccer and Sophie is a swimmer.  They have crazy busy schedules that make me very tired.  It was wonderful to see them all and we are very grateful for them and for their hospitality.

 Their neighborhood is lovely and the girls couldn't get over the large lawns and beautiful parks.  We took Bo for a long walk and found many fabulous play structures at the nearby park.

 We are grateful that the swing set is still standing.  Maybe they can ship it to Ottawa when they are done with it.