July 2021 Update

We’re going on vacation next week:  three family reunions in a row!  First is the Wilson-Dickinson Reunion (Krista’s dad’s siblings and families), then is the David-Onalee reunion (Krista’s siblings and families), and finally is the Krista-Greg reunion (our family).  I’ll tell you about these wonderfully anticipated times next month.

 

I received lots of Fathers’ Day love this year.  Here's just a sampling.  I am very blessed.

Cai gave me this Tolkien-themed map of my home state of Washington

Amelia gave me a Pop! of my favorite Marvel Avenger

 

That day was also the first time we’ve been back to church now that COVID numbers are down.  It was great to be able to fellowship with brothers and sisters in Christ again!

 

This past Christmas, our kids gave Krista and me an Airbnb weekend at a cottage on Lake Ontario near Youngstown, NY.  We finally “collected” on this gift in late June, with many exciting adventures!  We went on a Niagara River Jetboat, visited Old Fort Niagara, rode our bikes around Fort Niagara State Park and on other bike trails, had excellent meals, and beautiful lake views.  I highly recommend the Niagara River Jetboat to anyone who likes that sort of excitement.  If you like roller coasters, you’ll love it!  The Jetboat rides the rapids of the Niagara River, even going into Devil’s Hole (and thankfully, back out again)!

 

Relaxing in the yard

On the stairs down to our private beach

The cottage (view from the lake)

The corner of our yard with the stairs

Jetting!

These three shots aren't our actual trip, but give you an idea of the fun

In this video, we're doing what they called a Cowboy Spin!

After our ride, proving we survived

Lake view from our cottage bedroom

At Old Fort Niagara

Riding in Fort Niagara State Park

When we rode out on this bike trail, it was clear. When we returned a few minutes later, a tree had fallen across it!

I’m sure you all remember because, of course, these email updates are the most important thing in your life, that last year over the July 4th weekend our local families went camping in Hannah and Kevin’s back yard since COVID (pardon my language—maybe I should start calling it the “C-word”) had closed all the campgrounds.  Well, we had so much fun doing so that we decided to do it again this year, even though campgrounds are back open.  Everyone pitched in to provide excellent meals and fun with hikes, water balloons, fireworks (both from our local town and private fireworks shows from Kevin and Cody), campfires, s’mores, and lots of cute grandkids.  Special thanks to Hannah and Kevin for hosting!

 

This past Tuesday, my quartet had our first gig in a long time, and it was so fun to be singing for people—real, live people!—again.  A local town does concerts in a park, and we did an opening set for a country-rock artist.  Big contrast between our barbershop and his country-rock, but I think people enjoyed it.  We got some good comments anyway.

 

So that’s what’s been up here, and we’ll talk again in August!