Allie didn't care for her dad's driving, so she decided to take over!

Allie and Grandma

Incredible view, huh?

This last weekend, Dustin headed south for his brother's bachelor party and I headed west with my family. We had a surprise birthday party for my mom's cousin Jan. Her and her husband recently moved (as in last week) back to SD. Jan is from here, her husband is from Maryland where they have been living for as long as I can remember. The view of the river from their house is amazing. I'm told it's about a mile or so to the water from their house. However, I'm also told that there are snakes in the bluffs, so you won't see me trekking down there! Jeff and Cindy were kind enough to let me, Nichole, Randy and Allie crash at their house (Thanks for everything!!). It was so stinkin' hot out! At one point, the thermometer at Jeff and Cindy's read 112 degrees. It wasn't long after seeing that that Nichole, Randy, Allie and I headed for the river!

It's Friday the 13th!

Better refresh your memory ...

Plus a little trivia for you.

The telling of a secondhand story with an apocryphal spin may be one of these. (Answer)

Children born at midnight have the power to see these. (Answer)

Happy Birthday Mom!

Weekend Project

This last weekend was spent painting Nichole and Randy's house (it used to be white with black shutters). It was a lot of work, but I can't believe the difference a couple gallons of paint makes ... ten to be exact!

Fredrik, Susanne, Klara and Karl

Allie, Klara and Karl

Enjoying the fire

Klara's first S'More!

Swedish Invasion!

Our "family" from across the pond came to visit us last week. Fredrik was an exchange student and stayed with my grandparents many years ago and we've stayed in touch all these years. When I was in Paris ten years ago, he was there on business and was able to meet up with me. My parents stayed with his family a couple of years ago when they were in Sweden. It was so great to finally meet his family and to see him again. It had been far too long!

Soldier

by George L. Skypeck

I was that which others did not want to be.

I went where others feared to go, and did what others failed to do.

I asked nothing from those who gave nothing, and reluctantly accepted the thought of eternal loneliness ... should I fail.

I have seen the face of terror; felt the stinging cold of fear; and enjoyed the sweet taste of a moment's love.

I have cried, pained, and hoped ... but most of all, I have lived times other would say were best forgotten.

At least someday I will be able to say that I was proud of what I was ... a soldier.

It is the Soldier

by Charles M. Province

It is the soldier, not the reporter,

Who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the soldier, not the poet,

Whoe has given us freedom of speech.

It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,

Who has given us freedom to demonstrate.

It is the soldier, not the lawyer,

Who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the soldier, who salutes the flag,

Who serves under the flag,

Whose coffin is draped in the flag,

Who allows the protester to burn the flag.

The Employee Committee

Me and Amanda

The Dunk Tank

Summer Picnic

We had our annual summer picnic Friday night. It was a perfect night for it and the picnic was a huge success. I somehow ended up being the emcee for the night (I'm still not quite sure how that happened). And someone thought that it would be great to have the President of the Employee Committee participate in the dunk tank from now on. Lucky me! That water was freezing!