~Quarters for Grandpa P~

We have been collecting the State quarters since they started to mint them in 1999.(the same year MR was born).  I remember thinking it would be a long time till they were all available! Well I guess this is the year that we should finish them up! We have a map that I bought in 2000 to store them in. Each new quarter we find we  put in the state that is on the quarter and now we only have Alaska and Hawaii to find! Grandpa P is saving them as well. He has a few more that he needs and the kids are having a good time trying to locate them for him. Here are a couple of photos of them going through the quarters they had saved to see if they had any Grandpa P needed. I think MR said they found 3!!! She was bummed when she found the correct state but he needed one minted in Philadelphia and the one she found was a Denver. Or something like that!

They will keep their eyes peeled!

~JM ENJOYS A STORY WITH MR~

Last night MR was lying in her bed reading a story to JM. They both seemed to be having a great time! It is nice that the older kids are finding it easier to have fun with JM all the time! He is blessed with his big brother and sisters! As am I.

~AT EAGLE'S REST~

~THE ONE THAT DIDN'T GET AWAY~

We spent a week at Lost land Lake in Wisconsin last week. The weather was good and we caught all the panfish we could eat! I think one of the most exciting days had to be when EM hooked this 34 inch 15 pound Northern PIKE!  Grandpa with the help of my brother Mark actually landed it...but my was it exciting!

 

EM had gone out fishing for panfish (mainly bluegill and perch) with Grandpa, Uncle Mark and me. We had been having good luck on a weedbed and went back there. EM's line had been all tangled so Grandpa had just spent time straightening it all out. He had been stuck on the weeks several times and said he thought he was again. I pulled on the line and realized he had a fish and said keep reeling. He said he thought he was stuck again. Dad pulled on the line and said "no it is a fish". About that time the northern jumped out of the water and we saw it was indeed a FISH!! Dad took the 3 foot Scooby-Doo pole that EM was fishing with and started working it in. That was when we realized we had no net in the boat...after all we were just fishing for panfish. I pulled up the anchor and we watched the show. Eventually the fish got tired and my brother found some fishing gloves and tried to pick it up. After the 3rd attempt at that he realized he was going to need to pick it up in the gills. So the 4th time he got both hands into the gills and in the boat it came! We put it in the livewell and headed back to camp.

I ran for a scale and sent Scott for the camera. After capturing this "fish story" with a few pictures they released it. At first it went belly up, but thankfully they were able to keep it moving and it took off back to the deeper water where hopefully it will live a long life!

EM thought that was fun and the next day thought he would catch a "big One" again! My dad told him in his 60+ years of fishing that was the largest fish he had landed...but I don't think EM really understood what an unusual moment that was!

The girls caught fish as well. MR really liked the bluegill and perch and SJ caught a couple bass..so that was fun too

~MULCH ANYONE~

 

We got some mulch put down around the flowers. The kids were a big help. EM is really a strong guy! He could push the wheel barrow where ever we needed it! The girls had fun making things look nice!

~BACK TO SCHOOL~

EM is having a speech class one day a week this summer. He gets to ride the bus and really thinks that is something special. The other three were not sure what to do with themselves while EM was gone. It is funny...while he is here they argue, but miss him while he is gone. Go figure!

~VISIT TO THE ZOO~

I'm going to try and catch up the blog. Sorry it has been so pitiful this summer! We have been traveling and have had extra things going on with friends from church that have taken every extra moment of my time. I do love to capture some of our special moments here, so hopefully I can post a few things and catch you up!

 

The MN zoo has a new exhibit. It is the Russian Bears. We took a day and checked it out. The kids happened to be right in front when the bears went into the water....so they really got an upclose view. Too bad they didn't have the camera with them!