VBS

Nana enrolled the girls in Vacation Bible School at Grace, my childhood church, and booked them for a week of 2:1 grandma time back in Fairmont.  The girls had a blast, learned a ton, and are now preaching the good word around the neighborhood (S singing "It's Ama-zing" while raising the roof, and E constantly reminding me that I'm not her father, God is).  :-)

Meanwhile, back in the Grove, L & I enjoyed four consecutive date nights (Yumi, Mama G's, Pig Ate My Pizza, and Davanni's), quiet, Kidz-Bop-free commutes, hassle-free mornings, and, most wonderfully... uninterrupted sleep.   

Thank you, Nana!

The Backer Bunch

For the first time since 2008, all eight Backer kids and most of their kids, and most of their kids' kids  were together under one roof (at Hannah's graduation).  The family has grown by 19 since then.  49 of the four generations of blood relatives are pictured above (14 missing).

TOP PHOTO: (Great) Grandpa Cal, center, then Mary, Jay, Cathy, Scott, Nancy, Tom, Doug & Dan (L-R).

MIDDLE PHOTO: Teaner, Amy, Mark, Carrie, Laura, Me, Carly, Cathy, Hannah, Cole, Greg, Chance, Elliot (Back, L-R)
Megan, Liesl, Michelle, Maria, Callen, Sam, Tanner, Maddie (Front, L-R)

BOTTOM PHOTO: Bennett, Sydney, Chance, Some-Neighbor-Kid, Maddie, Cole, Sam, Callen, Ella, Caden, Brooklyn, Nathan, Audrey, William, Rachel (Back, L-R)
Caleb, Tanner, Sawyer, Evie, Isaac, Emmy, Maxwell, Rex, Carson, Kennedy (Front, L-R)

If you were paying attention, you'll find a handful of errors, as we struggle to keep the generations straight.  It's tough when the second generation spans ages 65 - 40, the third spans ages 42 - 5 (and is still growing, maybe), and the fourth spans ages 19 - 0 (and probably isn't far from starting a 5th gen!).

Banana's Graduation

Hannah Banana, my cousin, graduated from NUHS this spring, and we spent a night in New Ulm celebrating with her.  Somehow the guest of honor didn't make it into our photo roll, but trampoline time, cousin football and one of many "timeouts" for E did.

The graduate

Time flies, they say... and, we're feeling it!  Our little Evie Jane graduated from New Horizon's preschool program last week and is now officially kindergarten-ready (even if Mom & Dad aren't).

NH put on a pretty adorable Oh, the Places You'll Go-themed ceremony for the Class of 2027.  Caps, gowns, diploma presentation and a performance of favorite songs, e.g. Goin' on a Bear Hunt, The Middle, and Cabeza, Hombros, Rodillas y Pies (Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes in Spanish).  

Evie's moment on stage melted Linds (and a few other moms in the crowd).  Check the video.

Kid, you'll move mountains.

(Photo: The graduate with her favorite teacher, Miss Hannah, and favorite underclassmen, Sawyer Rose)

All aboard!

Got the canoe out on our pond for the first time this weekend and tooled the kids around looking for ducklings and turtles while teaching Paddling 101... and trying to avoid being tipped by a certain "river rat" who desperately wanted aboard!