Summer 2020, NC, Golf, MN, Showers, Kilts and a New Daughter

We decided to not let COVID ruin time visiting with family.  We skipped spring break visit with Kayla and Sterling, and didn't want to miss anymore time with them.

So after I was finished with my school assignment for the 19-20 school year, we headed down to North Cakalatey, as they loving refer to it.

We were Kayla's dishes and lawn care service for the week.  Giving her a break on some of her chores so we could get more visiting in when she got home from work.

Kyle bought Kayla a set of golf clubs for her birthday and brought them down early.  Today, is her actual birthday.

 Kyle asked Kayla to bake something for him, while he was there and she made him apple cinnamon and zucchini bread.  Both were delicious for breakfast.

 While down there we went to a metal makers shop and Kayla bought this cute little hot air balloon.  We got a weather vane, but are not sure where we are going to put it right now.

 It was a nice little visit at Kayla and Sterling's house.  We thouroughly enjoyed visiting with the children.  Once home, I was in and out of work.  There are a lot of unknowns going into the 20-21 school year.  Decisions that are difficult to make ... the principal asked if I would change offices with our school counselor.  Now I am in the main office instead of the first grade wing, which makes sense with the new title of Assistant Principal.  I never thought I would want to be a principal, but now, I think it will be okay.

 While setting up this new office before going to visit Dakota and his fiance Erica and Kyle's parents and brothers and a sister; we get a phone call from Dakota.  We have some news for you guys, he says, we glance at each other and were bracing ourselves for something bad.  Erica and I decided that we are going to get married while you guys are up here visiting.  'WHOA.'  We didn't see that one coming.  Erica had brain surgery and they didn't think they could get married until after all of that was settled, but they found out it would not affect her current insurance at all.  So, why not they thought.

We spent a lot of our two weeks in MN visiting the family and wedding prepping.

Uncle Kyle with one of the two newest editions to the family.  Kory and Jessica has a set of twins three weeks before we came up.  Kyle is holding little Laurel.  What a sweet set of sister they are.

 It's not a perfect trip without a couple visits to a lake.  We ventured out to Ten Mile Lake this time with the soon to be married couple.  We enjoyed some rays and Kota casted his pole a few times.

 We all earned some sunburn from that trip.  Even though Erica and I used lots of sun screen.  You could tell the spots we missed.

 With COVID restrictions and the size of Kyle's family, we held a small bridal shower for Erica at Robin's house.  It was fun having my sister-in-laws and mother-in-law talk and laugh about marriage with Erica.

When up we always help with Kota's cabin some.  This year Kyle helped with a chicken coop and splitting firewood.

 This log was about 2 feet in diameter and had a hollow spot that made it like a chimney.  It was a super hot fire.

 Robin and Toby always have the prettiest gardens.  I am not this talented or patient to grow a garden or want to harvest like they do.

We made time for another lake trip on Birch Lake in Hackensack this year.  We went on two lakes that I  had never been out on. 

 Robin, Toby, Kyle and I took time to go on a drive up to Leech Lake and our favorite beach there in Whipholt.

 There is nothing like walking around on the beach that makes your feet so smooth.  It was so beautiful up there mostly in the 70s with little to no humidity.  We totally missed the Ohio heat wave being up there.

 Even though the wedding was impromptu, Kayla and Sterling were able to pull it off to fly up and be a part of it.  They got in later in the evening on Thursday night.  We spent the morning together in Walker and stopped at our favorite pizza place up there Benson's.  There is nothing like having all your adult children in one place, that makes my heart happy.  I love them all.

Saturday, July 25, 2020, the day we prepped and talked about the whole trip was sweltering hot.  But we got through it.

 With all the restrictions, Robin and Toby opted out, but took some pictures with us before going up to the wedding.

Kyle is my stripling warrior...he is such a mama's boy.  But, that is okay by me.

 Kayla and Sterling got to stay at Grandma's house and truly had a great time.  They stayed a couple days after we left and enjoyed Minnesota, Sterling's first visit.

 Dakota feel in love with his Crawford ancestry.  He bought the Crawford kilt pattern while living in Ohio and said he would get married in it one day.  He kept his word.  His best man Kalep also the father of the ring bearer.

 Because of the restrictions, the kids got married in Erica's grandparents yard.

 You may now kiss the bride...welcome to the family Erica Crawford.

The nice thing about the wedding, is that Erica was able to get baptized yesterday.  Hopefully a year from now, they can be sealed.  Our hearts are full.  I now have four beautiful children and I couldn't be happier.