Well, Summer is already starting to wrap up and it feels as though we just got started!

The weekend of the 25th we went camping at Backbone State Park with Rikki and Raelinn. We arrived on Friday and headed home on Monday. It was a great time. The road was closed to the area of the park where we usually go to the stream, and find good trails to hike, so we parked outside the gate and headed in on foot.

We explored the stream on Saturday and Gage and I caught some really good sized craw dads! I also (unfortunate for me) caught a leech on my ankle!! I may have panicked for a minute as I have never had a leech attach to me before. To my surprise it didn't hurt and didn't even leave a mark. But it's still slimy and anything that is a sucker of the blood is ick to me! Everyone got a kick out of my hysterics. I have never had a problem with leeches there before, but I was standing motionless in very muddy still water under a bridge trying to spot craw dads. I guess if they were to be anywhere, that is a prime location.

Sunday Mom and John came for a visit and we went for a hike on the Backbone trail. We had a great relaxed exploration with the kids until it started to thunder and we decided to rush a bit. It was barely raining as we made our walk on the closed road back to the truck, but when we got to the truck boy did it start coming down!! We rushed back to our tents and quickly zipped the windows and waited out the rain. Thankfully it only lasted about 30 minutes and we stayed dry for the most part!!

Monday we stopped in Strawberry point for some pizza and ice cream on the way home.

It was a good weekend of grilled food, s'mores, outdoor games, cards, relaxing and fun. We had raccoons come to visit, saw a deer canter close by us, and the kids caught millions of frogs, crickets, grass hoppers and lightening bugs!

Tuesday I went to Waterloo and payed a much needed visit to my Grandpa and Grandma Roe. We stayed for quite a while and visited. Grandpa brought out some pictures of him and his family growing up in Waterloo starting in the 1930's and 1940's and 50's.
It is so great that he has such wonderful pictures to share! He shared quite a few stories about his Mother and Father, his uncles, brothers and sisters and himself! I loved to hear each story and wish to hear more! I tried to encourage him to write these things down, but I don't think he will. Maybe I just need a tape recorder!

We also went to visit Aunt Carol and she fed us a yummy supper!

Saturday Raelinn and Mom came over so Rae could swim in our new pool with Gage and Ella. We (I) put the darn thing up on somewhat non level ground so it's disfigured and sloping and isn't as deep as it's capacity, but the kids didn't mind and had a blast anyways! Next year I will know better!

Wade is headed to Chicago tomorrow to watch his Red Sox play for the first time. He is very excited, then next week we have another week off work! YIPEE!!!

We had a pretty tame week this week. Gage's baseball game was cancelled last Thursday because of the rain so we just pretty much hung out at home all week. It was nice.

Saturday Gage went to a Kernels baseball clinic at Vets Memorial stadium. He raved about it - and can't wait to go again next year. The players spend a couple hours teaching or helping to improve baseball techniques. During the clinic Wade got an "inside view" tour of the stadium. I think they both enjoyed it.

Saturday evening we had some friends from work over along with their families for a cook out. The weather cooperated with us and the day was beautiful. Just enough shade to keep everyone out of the sun if they wanted to be. All the kids played well together and we all had a nice relaxing time.

Sunday we went to dinner at Great Aunt Carol's (or Careyole's if you are Ella). My Grandma Sharon was in town visiting from IL and Aunt Carol provided a place for all of us to gather and visit. And eat! Much of my Mom's side of the family was there: Aunt Katie, Uncle Troy, Ashley and her family, David and Mallory; Aunt Sherr, Danny and Andrew; Mom, John, Me and my family and Aunt Becky.

Monday was Ella's Birthday. 4 on the 21st! She is growing up so fast! We usually let the kids pick somewhere to go out to eat on their birthday's for a special treat. Ella chose Chuck-E-Cheese so off we went! Thankfully it wasn't crowded - probably because it was such a nice day.

So my Grandma Sharon is getting older and we (I) don't see her enough. I don't see any of my grandparents enough. My life is busy, but that is really no excuse. I need to spend more time with them - who knows what tomorrow will bring. I love them dearly and I have heard many a memory told about their lives but never really from them. I guess I really never thought to ask what it was like for them as a teenager or if their parents were kind. Or what is was like growing up in the depression. Did they grow up happy? What is one of their best memories? What about the worst (if they didn't mind sharing). These are the things I regret not asking my Grandma Abrams and still for some reason feel awkward asking my other Grandparents.
My Great Grandfather on my Dad's side wrote a book about his (our) ancestors and his life growing up along with memories of his adult life as well. I read it in full for the first time a month or so ago, usually just skimming the pages before. Something I realized while reading his autobiography is that the best gift you can give someone is to share a piece of yourself. I never had a chance to meet him but I appreciate and love the gift he has given to me. By writing his story down - he has given my family a history to read about for generations to come.
To know where you come from is gratifying, but to know who you come from is a beautiful thing.