Flatwater Classic

Big day today. We raced in the Flatwater Classic. Larry and Sue provided the motivation and hauled in the boats from points northwest.

We paddled from more or less Western and Addison down to Chinatown.

One more trip to the Renegade

This aft, we went back out to the neighborhood art/craft fair. More fun in the sun.

Last Day of Summer?

Hit the Ohio Street beach with the Mercs. Never been there before. Same with Olive Park. Both were awesome. 75 - 80 degrees and blue skies.

We took the Chicago Ave. bus both ways and met a lady with a broken foot as a bonus.

E.B. built another habitat and decreed that this beach is "as nice as Nicolet Bay." High praise.

A couple from Grandma Sue

Birthday Girl

Someday we gotta buy a brush.

More birthday

The Renegade Craft Fair was going on today too so we took the birthday girl on a tour of the Fair in full regalia along with her court.

Owie smashed Johnny merc and E.B a few times to keep them focused.

Nata Birthday 1

Third birthday party today. Princesses all over the place. Great guests: Bill and Dawn, Jenny, Johnny Merc, Zoe, Audrey, Grandpa and Grandma, Grandma Bonnie. Parents were there too but barely count.

Strawberry shortcake.

Full Extension

Mayfly.

More picking

Elliot tried to battle Grandpa Owie. The master finished off the apprentice and stuffed his undies full of straw requiring a de-pantsing at the picnic table. Then, some blue flavored ice cream to ease the damage to he pride.

Also, Viking apples were the best, hence the Viking horn fingers in the pic.

Apple Picking/Owie Birthday

Went to Apple Holler in Wisconsin to pick apples. They had games, rides, a buffet. It's quite the place. It is two exits north of Mars Cheese Castle and the Brat Stop if that means anything to you (and it should).

It's a bit early in the season so we had to be very selective with our apples. This required quite a bit of taste testing. Everybody got their pesticides for the year covered, I think.

Door #5

Basically, it was awesome.

Door #4

The Merc's place in Ephraim had a spectacular view of the harbor and sunset. Elliot and Johnny hunted mushrooms in the woods and snakes in the marsh.

We saw a pileated woodpecker and bald eagle the same day.

The Dickinsons and Mercs had a sea battle at one point.

The snack bar at Penninsula had chili cheese hot dogs made with nacho cheese. Not bad.

Door Pics #3

Running started in Milwaukee on the way up and really never stopped.

They were deer in the orchard.

Elliot dug a "habitat" on the beach for several hours one day. Even when his back was hurting, he kept on going because he "had a lot of work to do."

Door Pics #2

Elliot used a turkey feather as a sail to help Julie ride faster.