Summer Lovin'

So the summer is officially over.  It's been a hoot.  And here is my mega update of all things SUMMA!  

June started with my first ever camping trip.  Not to the north woods or to Wisconsin Dells, but to Alaska.  You see, I am not a camper.  I tried to tell everyone.  By everyone... my husband, my SIL, and my MIL.  My family and friends here in IL know that I am much to diva to sleep on the ground and just chuckled and laughed and chuckled some more when they heard of my attendance on this trip.  My MIL, SIL, and hubby had faith in me, they insisted, "you'll love it, it's beautiful."  I never had any doubt that Alaska would be anything but beautiful.  Trust me there.  And it was true, it was beautiful.  But you know what wasn't beautiful? ... the bugs, the not taking a shower for 6.5 days, the peeing and pooping in a little hut with a plastic toilet that had diarrhea streaks and blood stains down the sides, (which by the way they purposely chose campsites with these conveniences so I didn't have to go outside), that dog Rufus biting my arms, and generally the whole camping experience.  It's a lot of work.  And I like to save work, for work.  You know?

This is me camping.  

While everyone else set up camp, I took pictures of myself.

I was pretty much uselss.

There's Adam.

Glacier action.  Me in the corner!

I sort of love this picture, though.  It makes camping look scenic and fun.  

And then there was that time I went fishing for the first time in my life... caught a fish, and the captain man promptly let it slip out of his hands back into the river.  Yah, that was fun.

Here are my fellow campers.

In all fairness, I would go again, if I got to cruise, or stay in a lodge... but camping... that's for the birds.  It was very beautiful, and I loved all the activities.  The three things I wanted to do was see/walk on glaciers, see a whale, and fish.  And I accomplished it all.  Also, go to Alaska if you want to see climate change/global warming in action.  It's real people.  And it's heartbreaking.

This is what we look like after 6.5 day of not showering.
Pretty, right?

And then after the shower.
Needless to say... Adam stayed a bit longer and enjoyed quality time with Morgen, while I got my little bootie on the plane and back to my bed, and my shower, and my flushable toilet.

One of our summer goals was to go to a "last minute" concert... and that was accomplished.  We saw Jimmy Buffett's Workin' and Playin' Tour.  It was great.  Seriously, it was a bucket list check off for me.  And I can't believe that guy just gets to sing poorly about cheeseburgers, pop tops, and pencil thin mustaches, dress in shorts and t shirt, with no shoes... and the crowd just goes nuts.  Including me.  Oh, and P. Kane showed up with the Stanley Cup, so major highlight!  Jim Buffett is my hero in life.  Really!  That guy is awesome.

Happy Fourth of July!

Our quarterly money meeting was called by Adam this summer.  And he prepared a Power Point presentation.  Can you tell we are childless? It was hysterical, and the best money meeting I ever attended.  Goals being, more vacations, and retiring at 50.

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And then, there you have it ...the last official Burger Fest.  Andrea and Dave put their house up for sale, sold it by the next day, and bought another house like a day after that.  They waste zero time.  What does this mean for the rest of us?... RIP Burger Fest.  It's been 5 beautiful years.

You see this guy, that's my great-nephew Elliot... He turned 1!!!  He partied hard!!!

My friend Tami is having a baby girl whom she already named Josie.  Her baby shower was just as adorable as Tami is.  Our activity was making head bands for little Josie, which entailed actual sewing.  I told Tami to just throw mine away.

And then this girl got married.  I worked with Gena in Florida.  She is a nurse too, and she heard all MY wedding planning in detail in 2008, going on and on about how she is never going to find someone, boys are stupid and if she ever gets married she is going to serve finger sandwiches at the reception.  LOL.  Well, she met Chad, the man of her dreams... and she had a picture perfect wedding in Wisconsin.  I was so happy to be able to attend.  Also, got to spend some extra special quality time with my favorite Brits, Sharron and Colin.

Chad proposed to Gena at a Vikings Packers game.  She is about the hugest Packer's fans I know and he is quite the Vikings fan, so naturally he proposed at halftime.  They made national television when she looked up from where she was sitting, and across the field other fans were holding up letters that said "Will you marry me Gena?"  This is the groom's cake.  Gena may have had a small hand in it's creation.

And as if Gena's wedding wasn't fantastic enough... they had a full 15 minute fireworks display after.  It was totally awesome.

My dahlias grew over my head this year.  Dr. Sales passes them out in May as cutsie little baby dahlias and with my watering and tending... they turn massive.  It was my best year yet!  

ECC celebrated 50 Years of the Nursing Program.  And I was invited back as alumni to take part in the events.  It was so fun and I was glad I got to go.  We were able to tour the new building and it is just so amazing the advanced technology being used.  I met my old friend here, who I poked and proded and poked some more.  But he talks now.  It was nice to see old teachers and old (actually alive) friends too.

Our summer finished in North Carolina when we went to see Adam's dad and stepmom Barbara over Labor Day.  Brenden and Kai were overlapping our trip.  So, that was a huge high light.  Kai wants nothing to do with me and everything to do with Dad and Uncle Adam.  I think it's a boy thing.  So I won't take offense.  But I did get a selfie stick photo of him and I while he was sleeping.  Totally counts right!?

Here is our selfie stick family photo.  This was after speaking with Adam's 98 year old grandmother on speaker phone.  That lady is the cutest.  And I so wish that one day I will meet her in person.

Adam golfed everyday.  I drove the golf cart for one round.  And ate snacks.

And then here we are at the Atlantic.  My favorite ocean.  

We hope that your summer was just as fun as ours!!!!!!!!!!!!!