July 2018 - How I Spent My Summer Vacation

When we last saw our stalwart heroe, they had landed in Moorhead, MN and welcomed a new family member.  Then they seem to fall off the face of the Earth.  Yeah.

, While we were gone for the winter, our house suffered significant weather related damage.  Once we got home, we both started our local jobs and started to work towards opening the house and trying to get a handle on the future.

A lot has happened, and there is little photo record of most of it.  I was torn between a number of posts without pictures and then just being busy all the time.  I finally broke my blog inaction by deciding to just talk about all that has happened and what all we've been doing.

Just after we got home, Eliza and her family came to stay for a few weeks. They were moving into a new house, but the timing left them without a residence for a bit.  It was really nice to have them here and we put both sets of bunk beds into Eliza's old room.  The kids had a small pool in the yard to play in, Brett had the four-wheeler running and there are lots and lots of LEGOs.  Alexander even came up from Texas for a bit.  "Uncle Alex!!, Uncle Alex!!"  Part of all that was us helping them move out of their old place and then into their new one.

Devils Lake High School had it's graduation and we attended the graduation party for Micah Cox whose parents helped us raise our kids as well.

There were a few events that we participated in this summer.  We participated in a Flag Day ceremony at Roosevelt Park in Devils Lake put on by the local VFW.  We both became honorary lifetime members.  You don't have to be and old guy to be in the VFW....

Memorial Day found us home instead of in Arlington, VA for a change, and we attended a program at the Memorial building in Devils Lake and helped laying wreaths at the cemetery in honor of the fallen.

A third event we participated in, was the Independence Day Parade as we often do.  We had work looming over us so we were unable to stay for the night at the Lake that we normally get to do. 

Family in June, including Laurie's birthday.  Patriotic and personal events in July, including my birthday and Eliza and Brett's anniversary.

Now it's August.  we've been working on the house and watching and following the Boston Red Sox who are having one of their best years ever.  More work on the house hangs over us and there is still the possibility Laurie will take a short travel assignment between now and when we leave for our October assignment back in Imperial County, CA.

For me, I always define The end of a blog season as when we hook up the fifth-wheel and hit the road.  Hopefully, between now and then, i'll be a little more attentive here.

July 4th. Devils Lake, ND Celebrating Independance.

On the third of July, we had Eliza, Brett and the kids out.  We had fireworks, we bought fireworks, and so did they.  As is usual, any event of fun is always better when you have little ones around.

So then came the Fourth of July.  As usual, we were able to honor our son by riding for Gold Star parents in the Devils Lake parade.  Jamie and Jen Eback graciously provided their truck for the event.  Jen's kids painted posters for the truck honoring Jeremiah which was very touching.  Big thanks to them.  We sat in the bed on chairs along with her kids which is always fun, but we added our grandson Jeremiah and Brett Messerschmidt's daughter, Evie.  That was a blast. 

After the parade, we had been invited to go out to Devils Lake out to where our friends Eric and Chris Jorgenson have property next to our other friends, Reg and Eileen Herman.  We also had Russ and Helen Petty and parts of their family, a well as Brian and Shaun Prince.  The food spread was amazing and the weather looked great.   At first.

As the afternoon went on, the weather turned and we were greeted by rain, followed by cold, extreme winds and a tornado warning.  Did I mention hail?  Everybody huddled into the Camper Eric had except Eliza and Brett and the kiddies got into her car.  It got nasty and eventually blew over.  But not before a few trees behind us came down and one bounced off Eliza's and also our cars.

After the storm, which didn't last long, Eric, Russ myself, and a couple of others went out with a chainsaw graciously donated by Reg and George Herman, and cut up and removed the trees that were blocking any of us from leaving later. 

The weather cleared and became beautiful.  Many of us went out on the lake and Eric pulled a few around on the tube they had.  It was a lot of fun watching people bouncing on the tube and trying to not get thrown off. 

When it was finally getting dark, it was time for fireworks.  We started by sending up memory balloons.  Then Russ and whoever brought fireworks set them off.  It was fun watching the little ones with sparklers. 

It always gets dark very late in the summer in North Dakota, so it was around 11:00 when we wrapped it up.  A long, eventful, emotional and enjoyable experience. 

July 3rd.

They all look so excited, don't they?

That's better...

Before the start of the parade

Posing for Jen Eback

This poor fellow has a sticker that says" No Ragrets"  How about now?

Trees came down but got partially caught by another. The damage could be worse. Lost our antenna and messed up the rear wiper.

Tubing

Memory balloon released

There it goes