Sending off summer

School starts tomorrow, which means summer is over in this household.  We have been soaking up every last moment, especially enjoying time at our local lakes with recent warm temperatures.



Swimming at Starbuck Beach in Lake Minnewaska.




Daddy is so much fun!




Dane wanted to play some tennis nearby.



 Later this evening, Ben and Jen camped along Lake Minnewaska, and we enjoyed supper with them around a campfire.  We also walked to the local Dairy Queen for a treat.

The following day, Grampy and Grammy invited many friends to enjoy the day at their lake home.  I didn't take too many pictures, but everybody enjoyed the lake!



Dad and his closest brother Brian went for a canoe ride. 



This week, we went to Elk Lake four different days.  The beach is always so much fun. 

Today, the kids found this baby snapping turtle in the lake.

Dane learned to swim very well recently and started going off the diving board without a life jacket a week ago!

Today, he went for his first solo kneeboard ride and did great.  I was in the water getting him started, and Daddy was driving the boat, so there are no photos or videos of this milestone.

We and 226,000+ others braved the heat and the crowds to take in the "Great Minnesota Get Together" on Saturday.  We met Mike's siblings and their families, and I must admit it was quite a challenge to keep all 13 of us together in the crowd!

Zach and Dane walking the midway.

Nora was happy to have cotton candy!

These cookies were so delightful- fresh from the oven!

The streets were seas of people.

A cutie and her cone.

 I am becoming a morning person.  There is something about the promise of a new day that makes me so grateful.  The skies this morning were so beautiful and misty that I couldn't resist taking a slew of pictures during my bike ride.

 Mike and the kids went walking through some of the pasture this morning and discovered a few wild plum trees.  I had Nora lead me back to them so we could pick a few.

She looks so grown up here...

This way, Momma...

Success!

A beautiful view of our barn from near the newly discovered plum trees.

Farewell, summer!  You will be missed until next year!