Since my last post, we have kept pretty busy with work and home life. Rowan finished the school year on Thursday, and today was her first day home for her two week summer break. On June 20th, she starts summer school, or extended school year (ESY) as they call it in education-ese; it's only a four week session, followed by another 2 week break, and then back to school the first week in August. Viola. Summer is over just like that. It sure wasn't that short when I was a kid.

During the break between summer school and the start of the next school year, we are going to try to squeeze in a vacation in Traverse City, MI. We stayed there last summer, and had a mahhhhhhhhrvulouuuuus time doing nothing. We are once again, being graciously hosted by our friends Tom & Kumi Bosch at their parents cottage on Lake Leelanau. We are really looking forward to it again this year.

Yesterday (Thursday), Rowan and I went on a field trip to our local zoo, Niabi Zoo. Its really a nice zoo and has many improvements in just one year. The pictures on our website are of this trip. The highlight, as usual, is feeding the ducks & koi. When we petted the goats, we didn't feed them (they are part of the petting zoo exhibit) because they are so fat; I just couldn't feed them anymore.

On Memorial Day, we drove up to the Mississippi Pallasaides State Park near Savannah, IL. We packed a picnic lunch and found many handicapped-accessible trails. It was a really lovely day here, and it was nice to get away. If we would have stayed home, I would have just worked in the garden some more.

My garden is finally shaping up, but it is so dry here, that I am watering nearly everyday. Let's home for rain next week.

Bryan is doing well. Nothing much to report from him. Work keeps him out of trouble. I try to come up with more about him in my next post.

Until then, all our love,
Colleen