Summer Traditions

Living in Wisconsin you really end up needing at least two good summer months to make up for what are normally very cold winters.  These past winter having been unbelievably cold, I feel as though even six months of summer wouldn't make up for it.

From January 6, 2014:

Thus far, it hasn't even really been that warm so it's felt like a slow start to summer.  But, then the first church festival came around and I knew it truly was summer.  Attending church festivals is something I've done every summer since I was a teenager.  It's the perfect blend of bbq and roasted corn, along side beer tents, along side carney booths with games you know you're never going to win but still fork over $10 so your kid can take home a $1 Oriental Trading plastic sword or random, small, ugly stuffed animal, or, goldfish that will likely die within 48 hours.

Maren stayed with her grandparents while Shannon, Quinn, Sully, our friend Bob and myself joined in the fun.  Shannon and Sully drove a truck over bumpy landscape.

Quinn and Sully rode the train.

"Uncle" Bob helped out when the kids got tired.

And the kids came home with armfuls of junk.

As predicted, one fish died the next day and two days later, this little guy also went to sleep with the fishes.

Other great summer traditions, fishing!  The husband is an avid fisherman so he'll get out on the water every chance he gets.  Shannon caught a big one all by himself the other day.

The older kids are signed up for swimming lessons this summer but they also love heading to the county pools whenever they can.

Which hasn't been too often so far considering all the rain we've been having lately.

A few nights when it's been sunny out we've taken family walks.  Along the way we've enjoyed stopping at free little libraries.

Luckily, Father's Day was sunny and we got outside for pictures before heading off for brunch.  Unfortunately, Maren was not all that interested in sitting down for pictures.  Sometimes it just takes a little time for her to warm up, even when it is hot and summer.