So because we hadn't spent enough time together, and because we had to cancel our summer vacation to Banff and Glacier, we rented a house in the Woodlawns, Texas, and hung out. Coronavirus cases skyrocketed as we arrived in Texas. Yay! More time together, just us!
Father's Day was spent at Surfside Beach, Texas. It was like tailgating, but on the beach. I didn't trust the minivan to make it in the sand though. Luke learned he loves to boogie-board.
El Jardin beach was small, but peaceful and calm.
We headed to Galveston to scope out potential spring break destinations for the kids when they are in college. See the storm approaching? The storm full of lightening? Lifeguards come around and suggest you get out of the water, but many don't. Luke continued to boogie-board well past my comfortability with lightening + water.
Downtown Houston was a ghost town, so we were able to explore mask-free!
Marie (10) at the water wall.
Berg (17) and Bog (15): BFF's and roomies on this trip.
We visited the sad, lonely baseball stadium.
20 hours of driving, each way.
We were lucky enough to break up the drive on the way home with a stop in Kansas City at the Kemp's house.
It was fun to see our buddy, Deacon Kemp, and his family. And then I could once again hear Eva complain about how none of my friends have kids her age.
After we retuned from Texas, summer was pretty normal. We got to see the Kemps again, with the Hoffmans, at Scott and Lisa's lake place on Lake Trowbridge.
OH MY GOODNESS I have almost the same earrings as Lisa?!?! Who knew I was so stylish?
Luke, Jack, Hugo Hoffman (13) and Nelson Zak (9).
Ol' Man tent. Some good-lookin' hubbies!
Luke was able to attend a week of boyscout camp at Camp Wilderness. Instead of eating in the mess hall, food was brought out to a picnic table for their group. It was a pretty "normal" experience, with less mingling. Luke was bummed because his favorite thing to do all-day, every-day, carpet ball, was not allowed to take place.
Grandpa Gerry, that trooper, he went with Luke to camp for 1/2 the week.
Fishing instead of carpet ball: Tolerable.
But Camp Cormorant was cancelled for Marie. So I brought camp-puppy to her! We fostered our first round of puppies with Turtle Mountain Animal Rescue. Raymond, Sam (now Truman) and Jack (now Corbin).
Loads of pee and poop to clean up. But so fun.
It was the most fun to get to connect the pups with their forever families and continue to get updates about how they're doing. Truman and Corbin's owners are friends in St. Paul and they still get to have playdates.
The kids wanted to try fostering baby kittens next. So we had two sisters: Josie,
I'm not sure if it was all the biking I did, or the fact that I just don't see any young people wearing pigtails anymore, but I decided it was a pigtail kind of summer for me. And oddly, I didn't seem to be the only mom that had decided that?
Our Hankinson clan of girls was able to get together at Kelly's lake, but we missed Jill!
Janelle and I found our new, calming, hobby: Digging up baby oak trees. Janelle's daughter Elena was not impressed, even when we REPEATEDLY showed her how you could still see the acorn from which the tree was growing!?!?! EXCITING!!! Or, we've just become crazy old ladies....
The derby at Oxbow was still on! I'm not sure Bill was very impressed with Chris' golfing skills. But they looked good doing it!
Buckhouse summer weekend happened in Aberdeen this year; Minivan lineup for the Buckhouse sibs.
Grandma Tree beat all of these people at minigolf!
A few years ago, I gave Halle a birthday gift of horse riding when I knew we were going on a Buckhouse vacation to the Black Hills. And she's been asking for horse riding over and over again every since. So I found a place just north of Detroit Lakes and took them.
Eleanor wanted horse riding for her birthday too. And Marie and I came along for the ride.
Kids always want to ride the horse by themselves. I was scared to death that the wrangler didn't even lead Eleanor by the reins. But she was right, Halle and Eleanor did great and rode the horses all by themselves!
Halle's horse was named Monte, Eleanor's horse was named Miles, Marie's was Waylen and mine was Levi.
While the girls were at our house, we also made a stop at the Davies pool to visit our favorite cashier...
And our favorite lifeguard.
I'm not sure Eva loves anything as much as she does this job?
And then we had to do something very sad this summer. After 2 years was spent battling colon cancer, Carter Schinkle died.
Carter was the only boyfriend invited back in 1999 when we went to Cancun for spring break. Carter plus 7 women. And we were all so lucky to take this trip to the Dominican with him for our 40th birthdays prior to him getting sick.
As Chris posted: "What are the odds that two guys from Groton would marry 2 gals from Hankinson? Today I mourn for
Jill
and the family of Carter. He made sure that everyday he would give his all to make memories for them and they will always remember those times. We shared a laugh this week about playing basketball as kids and how I was proud of him for how he reacted to tireless treatments and setbacks. I didn’t think it would be our last exchange. It’s a reminder to talk to people. Make connections. Reach out. You’ll never be sorry you did, when you find out it was your last. I hope you’re lacing up some Jordan’s and hooping pain free today buddy."
Erika, Kelly, Tara, Jamie and Janelle grabbing a drink at the bar after Carter's funeral. Jared Ackerman accidentally called Chris "Carter" a couple times, which was awesome.
High five and a smile for Carter!
Of course us small town gals brought food. But bringing a kitten was a first? Our sweet Ginny was just patiently waiting for her forever family to be ready for her.
Ginny became Princess Buttercup and she couldn't be more loved by this family of Schinkles. Jill tells me that she found Cam lying on the bed with Princess Buttercup, listening to "cat meditation music." Could anything be better!?!?! Feeling stressed? Pet a cat AND listen to cat meditation music!
Speaking of cats, this is one of my favorite photos of all time. This is first patient I had as a physical therapy student, and I was lucky enough to attend his graduation. Adam volunteers at Cat's Cradle.
First day of school, fall 2020. We started the year "hybrid." Meaning we go 2-3 days/ week.
Luke, grade 7.
Marie Grade 5. Last year of elementary!
Travis, the sophomore.
And then Eva came upstairs and was ready to walk out the door and I said "wait, we've got to take a picture quick!?" And then I bawled like a baby. Didn't expect it at all.
From Hanson-lake memories to Evens-lake memories; We Hansons are so lucky that Chuck and Sue purchased a family lake home on the shores of Leech Lake.
We were here many times this summer. Chuck and Sue had Luke and Marie there for nearly a week to hang with Andrew and Norah. From camp-Hanson to camp-Evens!
Pool was closed on Labor Day weekend, that meant that even Eva and Travis graced us with their presence!
An awesome kayaking adventure of the adults.
Eva was in her first car accident.
Luckily she was hit by a super-nice woman...that was insured well. Chris had to come make the car drivable to get it home.
"You are supermom." Nope. We arrived at girl scout camp LOL that was supposed to be in cabins (thanks coronavirus) just in time to set up the tent and get rained on all night. I hid in the van and played facebook while the girls were super loud and ate twinkies.
But the next day at Turtle River State park was picturesque.
Well THANK GOD she's shooting a gun. Because otherwise I'm sure she'll probably grow-up to disrespect America and kneel during the anthem and won't respect veterans and probably won't even vote. Phew.
And then these troopers-of-girls didn't even bat an eye when I said I was just going to make a mish-mash of whatever was left in the cooler for supper instead of going out to eat (after the camp's meal was cancelled; Thanks coronavirus again.)
And last but not least.... probably the last time we had a group of people in our house for quite awhile.... Marie turned 11. I didn't get a picture (darn!) of the group of girls that watched "Mean Girls."
