Summer Extended

This September has been a warm one, perhaps even warmer some days than it was in the summer. We spent much time outside on bike rides, swimming in the lake and going for walks. Dan finished his first triathalon at Square Lake this year. He hopes to participate in future competitions. Analise is starting up her gymnastics competition practices and Emma is still taking her flying trapeze lessons. Erin and Emma have been learning calligraphy and planning events for AHG while Analise works on her speech for Speech Meet. She is doing a speech given by Princess Diana on landmines. Here is a photo of Emma's group completing calligraphy.

Emma and Erin volunteered to pack diapers for newborns at Second Stork. Bags will be delivered to mothers in the hospital after their babies are born. Packs get them through the first two weeks of their baby's life. During the school day, Analise's fifth grade group built the Old Testament tabernacle and presented information to guests about the structure. Analise and Tessa were in charge of the golden lampstand. Erin and Grandma Kathy attended the event and got the tour.

We took a family road trip the last weekend in September to see Jay Cooke State Park and the shores of Duluth. We went on an extremely hot day and the temps reached the 80s. We started at Jay Cooke State Park and spent time climbing on the rocks.

After lunch we headed to the Congdon stream and walking trail on the east side of Duluth. Then we stopped for a walk through the rose garden and some ice cream at the malt shop. We were lucky becasue it was one of the last days the malt shop was open for the season. We also went to church at Aunt Marchie and Julie's location that they enjoyed, St. Lawerence and then back down to Canal Park for dinner and time on the boardwalk.

We start confirmation classes in October. All the fall decorations have gone out in Emma and Analise's bedrooms. Skelo-guy made an appearance with a shocking result. Analise is up to some scientific experiments of her own. She completed leaf chromotography (pulling the color out of leaves) with coffee filters, rubbing alcohol and some plastic cups.