Photo Op

Of course we had to take a group photo of the kids for Gramma but we are amateurs, so enjoy the improptu photo shoot!!

Starts off okay
Do you guys see the resemblance in our kids?
Silly face!
Everyone frown or be mad! Just to give them a break.
What is Ben up to in this picture?

They are beautiful, loveable, adorable kids, all of them!! And as much fun as Mick and I had, I don't think it even ranks close to how much fun these cousins had together. Mazzy being the softy that she is, cried when we were leaving and I tried to explain to her how goodbyes were really hard on me when I was little too, which sent me into a fit and made me have to walk away and put my sunglasses on in a hurry! These kids are so special, each in their own way! Thanks kids and adults alike for such a wonderful trip to our northern home!

BRRR!! Lake Superior is COLD!

Jack stayed on shore with the smart/old people!!

WHOA!! Ahja was the first one to go all the way under. She didn't really swim after that, and I can't blame her!!
How beautiful is this scenery? It is a 8 minute walk from gramma's house!!

Ben is doing some beach yoga, transitioning from down dog to crescent, LOL!
Run Sam run!!
When the water is that cold you have to dance to stay warm!
Can you tell that it's cold?
Love the cousin action!!

Uncle Neil and Aunt Susie's Paradise

We had such a good time out at Susie and Neil's! It is so pretty out there that I took a TON of pictures so I put them all on this slide show. Thanks again for having us out Susie!! Come back to Georgia soon!

Can you guess the Loon?

Is the loon above or below?

Big Randy took Mick, Caleb, Mick's dad and Ben fishing out on the 'big' lake (Superior). Then he took Mick and Sam fishing inland, and inland was the way to go or Sam was the horseshoe. Look at the good ole Walleye, we cooked it up and it was YUMMY!!!
Here he is with his first fish ever caught with a Snoopy pole. Go Sammers!!
He's not so sure about holding it by the mouth!

The Lake Walk

So we took a trip down to Duluth to do the Lake Walk that I've been wanting to do since we first went to Minnesota. We got to do it but it wasn't the fun that I expected because it was so hot and the kids and adults got cranky and tired. Next time we'll take the bikes and all will be well with the universe. Any who, I got to see a tall ship and a sunken trolley like ship that kids were jumping off of and the kids got ice cream and I got a teeny bit of shopping, so all in all, GOOD day!

Dad and Ben in the castle
Cousins at the spitting fish. They don't look all that happy, except for Mazzy, of course, because it was a long hot day of walking and not much fun for the kids.
The stud and the kids. Mick went 'redneck' on them and walked without his shirt because it was so hot! Of course, this was probably the hottest day all summer!
Ahja peeking out of the castle window.
Kids in the doorway, the boys were trying to keep the girls out!! That a way boys, keep it up!
Me, Sam and Ahja in the gardens, they had such beautiful flowers and roses here!!

PARTY TIME!!!

So little Randy and Tara had an awesome party while we were in town. It was held at the "Men's Crisis Center" but for this occasion, women and children were allowed! We had such a good time and it is always fun to spend time with friends and family. I'm sad to say that I don't have any pics of Randy and Tara so that I can give tribute to them. So if any of you reading this have any from that day, please send them on my way!!

Look at the four (of many) cousins, I guess these are four men of the family that everyone has always grouped together as look alikes. SO funny to me that Mick is the smallest. Look at Travis the BEAST,(third from left) he is TALL, which is what makes me scared of Ben's big feet! And who knew Chris (fourth from left) was that tall? Not me, not Mick!! I think I see one of my kids in Jesse (second from left), I'll take that for sure though because he is a handsome kid, they all are, but who is the handsomest of them all???? That's right MICK! What is a party without Foosball!!? (sp?)
Randy was awesome giving the kids rides on the trailer behind the four-wheeler!
They weren't excited at all!! The trailer wasn't even hitched up before they jumped in!

Cute pic of crazy cousins on the swing set!
'Big' Randy, Donna and Tony aka "Boner". Donna was my kick butt partner in Cribbage!!
Uncle Seth and Lennon, getting ready for the poker game!
Mick and I were going to try and get a picture together when all of a sudden.....Boner jumps in!! This picture just cracks me up! Look at how delicately he has his hands draped on Mick's shoulder!! LOL!
Another bad attempt at a picture for the Georgia Kempffers!
Me and my sis/bingo 'nerd' partner, Amy!

Is that Travis that kept passing gas? Poor us, we had to cover our faces!
Travis and Teresa! Some of our FAVORITE people in Minnesota!
Smoochy, smoochy, Big Randy and Mick.

An attempt at getting another set of Kempffers family photo but Whitney was not happy about it! They are a cool family. Lucas is going to visit Georgia someday soon, right Lucas?? Meet the Cottonmouths?;)

Out on the Break Wall minus Gramma!

ICK! I have to put a picture of me on here though! Sam is so cute, the wind rips out on this break wall! That's why Gramma won't go out on it!

I love the complete adoration in Sam's face looking at his Daddy! Mick's just thinking 'camera nazi'. Apparantly I joined the club of camera nazis in MN!
Amy, Caleb, Ahja and Mazzy! So cute but Mazzy wouldn't give her serious smile!
Cousin LOVE!! Just missing baby Jack!
I love this picture!
Amy said as I was taking this, "If mom were up here should would freak out seeing you down there!" And I truly think she would have. I wish I would have gotten a picture from land of the whole break wall. It was very long and big.
Cute sisters playing bunny ears, Mazzy didn't know not to give them to herself, LOL!
This is where we found Gramma after the break wall, sitting peacefully at a picnic table!

Biking along the lake

Look at this gang of bikers! They rode from sun up to sun down it seemed. Thank goodness one of Gramma's 'connections' brought over an extra bike for Ben to use.
Sam on two wheels. It was purple and he didn't care. He was so proud of being off his training wheels, he rode whenever he could. He was out riding the block at 6:45 one morning. Thanks Gramma for getting up!! ;)
Cute cousins posing on a rock!
There is never enough time to throw rocks in Lake Superior. They could do it all day!
Look at how handsome Caleb is, Cheese!
There's another handsome one, Smile B!