New Beginnings

September was beautiful and busy. 

We started school, split wood, played at the lake, chased rainbows, built the basement, pressed apples. 

August

It's not very exciting just titling each post by month, but it is direct, right?

In August we finally did what I've been dying to do for years: nothing. I cleared the calendar and we had free weekends to do fun stuff or house stuff or just enjoy the amazing, bug-free best of the UP summer. It was spectacular. 

Building bat houses with our 4H group

Riding to/from the river

Camped and swam

Finished summer camp!

July

In July we celebrated with fireworks in town, finished up some great soccer seasons, visited with friends, stayed cool in lakes and rivers, and picked blueberries. We also did some family bike riding, which was a huge success as O gets more and more comfortable on the bike!

June

We dove right in to summer in June, but summer didn't cooperate. It's been mild and WET creating ideal mosquito habitat. The mosquitos this year are so plentiful that our normal defense mechanisms aren't cutting the mustard. For much of June, we felt confined to the house; Bug dope and headnets cast aside. But we did get some beach time, boat time, and family time nonetheless. 

For our big vacation, the kids got sick, then it rained and was cold when they were better. We also took a mini vacation on the east end and the weather warmed up and gave us a reprieve from the mosquitos and the eternal spring.