Wednesday, 7/8/26, We slept in, I made pancakes and bacon for breakfast, Kimmy came up around 11, The boys rode their bikes lots and swam, Peyton hung out with us, Kimmy sewed toggles on our clam and Vikki and I assisted, The boys came and helped slip the toggles on, Peyton and Vikki went for a swim, and Kimmy cooled off by putting her feet in, I watched Arnie and relaxed while they were at the pool,

Our new clothes dryer...Isaac took it out of the box and set it up for me this morning to surprise me.  I was so thankful!

 

Isaac, Eli, and Peyton, helping us slip grommets on the clam so Kimmy could sew them

Isaac, Eli, Vikki and Me

It’s so much easier to have the grommets to slip through the loop than trying to tie them

Isaac and Eli in their new swim trunks

Peyton

We slept in til 9.  I got up and got ready, then Vikki got up.  I started making pancakes and bacon and Peyton got up.  Isaac and Eli came in and went to take their showers.  We all ate breakfast, then the boys were off to go swimming.  They rode bikes around after that and practiced a lot down by the pavilion on their new bikes.  Kimmy and I cut the toggles off the old clam straps that I saved.  Then Kimmy used the speedy stitcher to sew them all on.  Vikki and I assisted by putting some on (Vikki put tape on them to make it easer for the boys, Peyton and I.  Kimmy followed behind sewing them on.  When she did the underneath side, Vikki and I assisted by holding the material of the clam up so she could do it easily.  

Some had left over pancakes for lunch and some had PB&J’s and I had a grilled cheese sandwich.  All but Kimmy and I had Swiss Rolls for dessert.  Kimmy and I went back out and finished the toggles on the clam.  It is so nice to have it easier to put the sides up and down.  We came in the camper to cool off and Vikki, Peyton and Kimmy went to the pool to swim.  I was relaxing and almost fell asleep, so I stayed and watched Arnie while they went.  Kimmy just put her feet in.  They came back after a short time.  Kimmy had to leave, so called Eli back from the pool to get her hug.  He came right away.  She left, then I set our old clothes dryer racks out by the road and Peyton and Vikki each made a Free sign.  They were so cute.  Right after I hung the signs on, our neighbors next to us, were across the street visiting with friends and came across and took both of them to their campsite.  I was happy to see them go and not have to haul them home.  I called Kimmy on her way home and told her.  Vikki, Peyton and I played a game of 3-13.  Vikki was the winner.  The boys rode their bikes lots more.  Vikki, Peyton and I went for a walk around the campground.  We came in ate dinner.  We read the Bible and prayed, like we have been doing each night.  I worked on my blogs after that to catch up.  We put everything in the clam and closed the sides because rain was in the forecast.  It started raining around 10:15 pm.  The boys came in at 10:05, heated pancakes up, ate and then went to their tent.  It had been pouring, but quit long enough for them to make it dry to their tent.  Then it started pouring again.  I offered to have them sleep inside the camper if they wanted, but they chose the tent.  It’s really pouring out now.  They are back in for water.  Now they are running for the tent outside.

Tuesday, 7/7/26, Took Rehvyn swimming in the morning, Adam came to visit, We all went to a thrift shop in Pinconning, Rehvyn got a little bus that goes by itself,

Rehvyn playing with the bus I got him at the thrift store.  It was only 79 cents.

Eli with Arnie at our campsite

Melissa sent me these pictures of the boys with Elijah, their friend who moved to Florida.  They are having fun at the campground they are in in Tawas

Jack, Elijah, and Evan above and below

 We got up and got ready.  We took Rehvyn swimming to the outdoor pool in the morning.  It was a little cool, but felt good after a few minutes.  Rehvyn wore swimmies for the first time and did really good with them in the pool.  Vikki showed him how to close his mouth and put his face in the water.  He had lots of fun kicking and trying to move his hands to swim.  It was nice for me to get some exercise too.  We were the only ones in the pool until we were starting to leave.  Then one lady and her granddaughter got in.  

Kimmy and the boys came up and brought their new bikes.  The boys went for a swim.  We stopped at the pool and asked if they wanted to go to the thrift store with us.  Kimmy, Vikki, Eli, Isaac, Peyton, Rehvyn and I all went in Kimmy’s van to the thrift store in Pinconning.  Rehvyn was so cute, the ladies working in there talked to him and really enjoyed watching how cute he was.  I looked at lots of trucks and a bus with him.  He said he didn’t want any of them after trying them out.  We stayed in the store looking for a long time.  He finally told me he did want the little bus when I asked him again.  We left and came back to the campground.  Adam came to the camper shortly after.  He went on some walks and then said he had a headache, so didn’t want to swim.  He left a little while later.  

Kimmy stayed longer.  We ate goulash for dinner.  Eli made a sandwich because he doesn’t like goulash.  We girls played 3-13.  The boys worked on taking their new small bikes apart and putting them back together.  That took most of the day.  It was a warm day, but was really nice in the shade.  It’s supposed to be warmer tomorrow.  

Monday, 7/6/26, Slept in, went to Sam’s Club, Went to Walmart, went to Vikki’s, went to Kenzie’s, brought Rehvyn to the campground, went to the beach, went for ice cream, played 3-13, I won, played dice, Vikki won

 

These pictures are in reverse order, but I left them that way.  The first picture is actually when Rehvy was going to bed. 

Melissa with her cousins, Fred, in Tawas

Hailey didn’t have food at home because Bruce and Melissa went camping and packed it all.   I told Bill he should text Hailey and see when she could go out to eat with him.  He set it up with Hailey, plus called Rody because he was home alone and also had Peyton come when he found out she was home.  They went to Coco Loco’s.  He also filled up Hailey’s gas tank.  Hailey was so happy.  So sweet of Bill.

Rody at Coco Loco

Rehvyn having Blue Moon and Cookie Dough Ice Cream at Rita's

Vikki and I enjoying our ice cream too

Rehvyn riding to the ice cream shop

Nana and her boy

Rehvyn ate pizza for lunch

Rehvyn loved swimming at the beach with his swimmies

He loved playing with all of his cars on the beach and in the water too

                                                       He loved this puppy at the beach                                                               

In his work gear while working on the kdf

We slept in.  After we got up and got ready, Vikki, Peyton, and I went to Sam’s Club and I put gas in my car for $3.61 a gallon.  We went to Walmart after that and got Zyrtec for Vikki and some shower rings for the curtain by Vikki’s bed in the camper.  We stopped at Vikki’s and got her car seat and dropped Peyton off to stay and spend the night at home.  After that we went to Kenzie’s.  She and Travis were working on putting stone down in their driveway.  Travis was working super hard.  Rehvyn was helping with his little shovel.  He even had a hard hat to wear and some cool sunglasses.  Kenzie had Pita Rice and Chicken for us for lunch.  We sat out on the porch and ate.  We got to see Rehvyn’s new kitty, Gemi.  She is so cute and friendly.  When we got back to Vikki’s, she got what she needed and we went to Panera and got two Dr. Pepper fountain drinks.  We brought Rehvyn back to the campground with us.  We ate pizza, then went to the beach.  Rehvyn loved playing with all of his cars, driving them through the sand, getting them dirty, then rinsing them out again and again.  Eli and Isaac stayed at Kimmy’s again. They cleaned Kimmy and Jared’s barn really good.  It took them until 4 in the morning.  Kimmy stayed up too showing them what to do.    Rehvyn went to bed really good and while he fell asleep, Vikki and I played 3-13 and dice.

Sunday, July 5, 2026, Vikki, Peyton, Isaac, Eli, Jacob, Abi, Bill and I all went to church up here, Abi, Jacob, Bill and I stayed for their potluck. Adam came up to spend the day, Vikki and Peyton left to go home and do our laundry and take showers. Vikki ordered some shoes and wanted to pick them up too.Kimmy and Jared fixed a dent in my car, Jacob, Abi, Bill, Kimmy, Jared, Eli and Isaac left.

 

We all got up and got ready to go to a church we like to go to up here.  The pastor gave a great message right from the Word of God.  They were having a potluck after church and the pastor and lots of others asked us to stay for it.  Jacob, Abi, Bill and I stayed.  Vikki took the kids and came back to the camper to eat left over hotdogs.  They have a little table area at the church where they sell stuff.  Abi saw a pair of earrings with crosses and a keychain with crosses and other cute stuff dangling from it.  Bill told her we would get it for her.  I got a shirt that says WayMaker on it.  That is what Jesus does!  He makes a way when there seems to be no way as His Word says.  We met two nice guys came and sat with us.  One was the drummer for worship today, although usually he plays guitar.  The other was from AuGres and has a Painting shop where they sell paintings.  

We came back to the camper.  None of the kids wanted to swim today.  We all just hung out together and talked.  Bill and I played a game of 3-13 with Eli and Isaac.  Bill won, but in the last hand Eli got a pat hand winning hand and went out right away and he sure stuck Isaac with lots of points.  I only got stuck with 8 points so not too bad.

Kimmy made all of us peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches.  Abi was going to try a bite of Jacob’s PB&J sandwich is how it all started.  Then we all decided it sounded pretty good.  After that, Vikki and Peyton left, Abi and Jacob had to leave, then Eli and Isaac loaded their bikes onto Kimmy and Jared’s bike rack.  Kimmy and Jared poured very hot water over a dent in my car and got most of it out.  It wasn’t big, but looks much better now and it is hardly noticeable.   Thanks Kimmy and Jared!!!

Adam is still hear at 6:30 so he and I are hanging out.  Lucy is hanging out with us.  It is a beautiful evening.  We sat outside for a long time. 

Saturday, July 4th, Happy 250 years America, One Nation Under God!!!, Hailey left around noon, Kimmy and Jared came up, Jacob and Abi came up, cooked out, the kids went on bike rides, swam, went on walks, we all played games, went to the fireworks, Abi spent the night in the camper, Jacob spent the night in the tent

Isaac and Eli

Abi and Jacob

Abi and Jared

Nana, Papa, Isaac and Eli playing 3-13

Hailey spent the morning with us.  Vikki put two braids in her hair the way Hailey wanted them.  She left at around noon.  She was going to a party with friends to a friend's lake house.   Abi and Jacob came up.  They walked around the campground, went swimming and played games with us.  Kimmy and Jared came up too.  Rody came up right after we ate and stayed for the fireworks.  Then he had to head home as he has lots to do at church tomorrow.  Adam went to see Grace in Grand Rapids and was watching the fireworks with her and her family there.  Melissa and her family have friends who were their neighbors and are here from Florida, so they are packing to go camping with them.  We missed the ones who weren’t here, but loved having Abi as an added blessing.  The guys grilled hotdogs on the grill and we had grilled potatoes, baked beans and chips to go with them.  We had watermelon too and then had drumsticks for dessert.  Bill and I played 3-13 with Isaac and Eli during the day and then Abi and Jacob played the winners who happened to be Bill and I.  I won even in the last 2’s are wild with 15 cards hand.  Then the kids hung out more riding bikes, swimming and going for walks.  This is the first time they have only had fireworks one nigh held t and the first time on the 4th.  Next year, we are going to camp earlier and go to fireworks in our area for a change.  The kids don’t even remember going to really big fireworks.  We sat by the pond and a kid had a remote truck that he drove all the way across the pond.  It stayed on top until the last time he did it and it sunk.  A kid went in the pond after it.  Then two kids jumped off the fishing dock into the water.  They had their suits on, but that is against the rules.  They appeared to be drinking, but seemed way too young for that.  When the fireworks started, the ducks in the pond got scared and started making noise and heading for shore.  Lucy wanted to get them, but we held her and she calmed down.  The fireworks were nice and it’s always nice to just walk back to the camper.   Kimmy and Jared headed home.  Bill, Abi, Jacob, Isaac and Eli spent the night.  Vikki and me too of course.  

Jacob, Abi, Vikki and I played a game of 3-13.  I was negative the whole game, then Abi got a pat hand winning hand and went out right away and stuck me with a lot of points.  She ended up winning and was very happy.  We taught Abi how to play dice after that and she shook really good high numbers, so she won that too.  It was her night.  We went to bed around midnight.  It was a fun day with family.