Post Fourth of July

When now that the Fourth of July has come and gone, it means summer is officially over.  To drive this point home even more so, yesterday while doing some yard work, Kenzie and I spotted our first grass hopper.

That means harvest time, and that means summer is giving way to autumn, my favorite time of year.

I can't wait.

Now we just have the Pennington County Fair, Riverfest, NFL preseason, and that brings us to Labor Day . . . and school!

But for the time being, let's savor the Fourth.  It was a great, great time.

Here are the highlights.

On the fifth, we visited Kristie's best friend, Tricia, and her husband, Shannon, at their camper at Maple Lake.  Here is "uncle" Shannon taking Kenzie fishing in the paddle boat just before dinner.  She had a blast!

Both Cash and Kenz were zonked out by the time we hit Highway Two for the trip home.  It was a great day at the lake!

Sunday was Tricia and Shannon's daughter's birthday.  Faith is already a sophomore!  And about to get her driver's license.  Towards the end of the party, Tricia and Kristie asked me to take their picture . . . and though neither had been drinking, they started laughing so hard that it literally took me ten minutes to get a decent picture.  That's great friends for you!

Here is our family - minus Kenzie (who was having far too much fun on the trampoline to hop in the picture) with the birthday girl.

The highlight from the Fourth had to be the hayride and Uncle Barb and Arnie's.  Here is Kenzie talking it up with Uncle Barb.  She loves her Uncle Barb and Kenzie time.

Here are all the kids just before the hayride. It's great to see how well they all get along and play.  The next generation!

The hayride put Cash asleep in about ten minutes.

Kenzie hamming it up.

The kickball games are legendary and Barb and Arnie's.  I've been suffering form a pulled hamstring for about three weeks now, thanks to my running.  It doesn't hurt once I get it warmed up after about a mile.  Distance doesn't really bother it.  But kicking and sprinting (as in kickball), well that's totally different.  I wanted to cry the first time I tried to kick the ball as hard as I could!  It's tough getting old!

Even Molly got in on the kickball festivities.

Uncle Shannon is letting Cash drive the boat.  Kenzie even got to ride on the tube behind the boat with Faith.

Kenzie with her new shoes all ready for some kickball!

The Reynolds clan: Kevin (my older bother), me, Barb (my older sister), and my niece (Kevin's daughter) Damara.

Next to the hay ride, Kenzie's highlight for the Fourth was a trip to RLF to see her good buddy Rylee.  Sara, Rylee's mom, paid a visit to the Dollar Store during the day to stock up on trinkets.  The glow rings and necklaces were a major hit!

 Here is Arnie's sister, Bernie, my niece, Ashley, and her boyfriend, Tate.  Tate is an excellent addition and fits right in.  Plus, he's hilarious, so that's always a bonus.

The 730.  After Dad passed away, Arnie purchased Dad's tractor and restored it to mint condition.  It was fitting that he used it for the hay ride.

Cash slept through most of the hayride, even the sprinkles.

Kenzie and her buddies in RLF.

The Reynolds' clan just before the hayride.  Cash is on his fake "phone."

Kenzie is ready for some Uncle Barb and Kenzie time!