Van Citters: Still catching up with pictures...the last of the midwest

I'm determined to get caught up with pictures... in part because this is my running log of the fun times that we have as a family. So, one month after returning from the midwest, here is my last set of summer pictures from Wisconsin and Minnesota...

We were fortunate to spend quite a bit of time on Lake Superior. Mom and Dad's new boat is really a great size for taking a family out on the lake.

Mom and Dad's new boat

Nicholas and Donovan inside the boat.

Doug relaxing on Long Island

Lily staying cool. ... actually on this day, the water here was almost as warm as a bathtub. In all our years of going up to Lake Superior, I've never seen it as warm as it was this summer.

Nicholas and Doug - a different trip - a different side of Long Island...

Lily

Nicholas, Donovan and Lily - on their way out to the boat.

Donovan being pulled by Nicholas at the Washburn Marina.

We also introduced Nicholas and Donovan to the go-karts this summer. They both really enjoyed it, especially when they were racing against someone they knew (Donovan and me, versus Doug and Nicholas, versus Uncle Chris).

Doug and Nicholas - before Nicholas' first go-kart ride.

The start - Nicholas and Doug

Nicholas lost his second front bottom tooth while we were in Wisconsin. His top left is now starting to get wiggly.

Fishing with Great Grandpa. Nicholas really liked putting the grub on his hook and casting out. Donovan also enjoyed fishing, but I don't think he ever stopped talking. Lily was pretty relaxed throughout the whole trip, and had one of Grandpa's special seats all to herself. The trip ended after several small/medium fish were caught and Donovan learned that Grandpa's "bailing bucket" does NOT float.

One of my favorite parts of the summer was that the kids were able to spend so much time with their cousins, uncles, aunts, grandma, grandpa, and great grandpa. We had lots of parties, fireworks, and playing with water.

Hael, Neel, Lily, Donovan, and Nicholas

Uncle Ray spinning Nicholas in circles. On the left are Hael, Donovan, and Neel.

We only went canoeing on the river once, but spent a lot of time swimming in the river. This is Nicholas' first canoe trip where he was able to sit in one of the "grown-up" seats. Nicholas really matured a lot this summer, and it was clear that he enjoys being so grown up. His emotional development over the past three months has been very interesting, and it is very interesting to see how he now takes responsibility and ownership, knows what is expected of him (and typically follows those expectations), etc.

Donovan, Hael, and Lily at Great Grandpa's playground.

Nicholas, Neel, Donovan, and Lily

Nicholas, Donovan, and Hael running from Great Grandpa's house to Ray and Malu's

The Dums ladies - Malu, Sarah, and Mom

Dad and Grandpa

Ray and Malu had everyone over to their house for a great party, complete with fireworks, bonfire, marshmallows, and water fight... (Ray, Donovan, Grandpa, and Dad)

Malu and Nicholas

Lily, Dad, Nicholas, and Donovan

Water fight!!!! Hael, Neel, and Nicholas. Donovan played it safe, far from the action.

Dad, Lily, and Mom

And, another party at Mom and Dad's house. Here, Nicholas, Hael, Donovan, and Lily watch Uncle Chris light off "black snake" fireworks.

Sarah, Neel, Donovan, Nicholas, Lily, and Malu sitting around the campfire.

More fireworks... each of the boys was big enough to carry their own sparklers.

Finally, I don't have many pictures of our house in Rochester. We didn't spend much time inside - since we were always going on bike rides, finding new playgrounds, or going to the pool with the waterslides. This is the view from our porch. We looked out on the ever-busy gravel yard, with heavy machinery working all day. On some days, the truck traffic in and out was constant, on other days is was pretty quiet. To the right of the gravel pit was a huge field... it was really an ideal place to be situated.