Wisconsin Family Fun and Local Adventures

 We spent the first part of August back in the Midwest.  We started with Casey's family reunion in Wisconsin and then ended the time with his Mom in Iowa.  Casey's family does a reunion every summer and this was #40.  Unlike my family(with 3 cousins), his is very large(24 cousins) and we haven't been to a reunion in 15 years.  It was good to see so much family and Zane really enjoyed playing with all of his cousins.  All of Casey's siblings were there and we got to do some family pictures together.  We haven't done that since Zane was born.

Grandma with all eight grandsons

Grandma with all of her kids and spouses and the grandkids

Stopped to get some cheese in the town Casey grew up in

Fishing at Lake Arbutus

Learning about hand pumps

Playing in the sand

Playing with Cousin Wes

We found the Green Giant in Blue Earth MN

After we got home we have spent time getting ready for school to start.  Zane officially started Kindergarten on August 18.  We moved a bunch of stuff around in our house so we could have a school room.  It's a great place for Zane to focus and enjoy learning.  So far after two weeks he still loves school.  

The school room

First day of Kindergarten

School is Fun!!

For other fun we have been spending time playing in the creek, mountain biking and finding cool beetles.

Playing in the creek

Mountain biking

Mountain biking

California Prionus Beetle(make sure the sound is up)

This last weekend we headed up to Kings Canyon National Park and drove all the way down to Cedar Grove that sits at the bottom of Kings Canyon.  It is a beautiful drive and shows the true ruggedness of the Sierras.  We had a great picnic there and spent some time playing in the Kings River.

Grizzly Falls(we came here our first spring and it was a massive wall of water)

Zane playing in the river

Getting buried in the sand

Exploring the river with Pops, it was so clear

Playing in the river

It is strange to think that summer is almost over.  We have started to have groups at Hartland again and it warms my soul to hear kids at camp again.  Until next time, stay safe and healthy.