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4th of 2024

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This year we came up the night before the 4th. By the next morning it was already parade time. 

I was excited for the parade, but feel like we missed out by arriving at the last second. (I'm always making this face when it's sunny. I blame my glasses).


No Chelsea this year as she prepares to have a baby. Also I guess everyone is over the matching tie dyed shirts. 

Or me since I was taking the picture.

Hey it's our neighbor Mike.

Every year his WWII Jeep gets a new addition.


I still love the lawn chair ladies.

Not much to say about the parades except small town parades are the best. 

Well, this was the longest parade we'd ever seen up in Three Lakes.

And the bountiful breasts of KK's Chicken Ranch made the parade.




Next to the Chair Lady Brigade the Swamp Witch as the best part. 



Daniel, Theo and I decided to skip the book sale and went straight to the park.

Mmmm...

Blake and I settled for the library book sale. They had a better process this year by only allowing a certain amount of people in at a time, but it was still busy.

We went over to the gift shop to get tickets for the fish boil when I noticed the stickers they had for sale. 

You know I needed one of these.

When we were in the Black Hills I picked up a rhubarb wine for G.G.

Blake and Daniel did some sailing while the rest of us spectated from the shoreline. I would like to try again when the lake is less busy.

Daniel struggled at first, but managed to get going. I could never.

Oh yeah, Jeff's parents and sister came to visit from New Mexico. 

Meadow got more birthday presents. A shrinky dink necklace made by Marina. 

A Warriors t-shirt.

And her favorite, a mushroom hat. 

Of course they had to grill brats and burgers for the New Mexcian guests.

When deciding what to make for dinner I said we had to make a typical Midwestern meal. 


Before we knew it, it was fireworks time. 

This was all moving too fast.

The next morning we were greeted by sunbathing snakes. 

We were all excited. Just don't tell Gail.

Not so sure about all the snakes around here the last few years. I guess it is their house, not ours. 

They're little cuties. As long as they don't surprise us.

We saw a commercial on TV for the Hodag store. We decided to do some hiking in Rhinelander and check out the store. 

This place is amazing. Of course I had to get a sticker.

They had everything you could think of with a Hodag on it. 

I've been wanting to check out the Holmboe Conifer Forest State Natural Area ever since I read Our Living Ancestors. This old growth forest is hidden behind some old folks homes and industrial buildings. If you look hard enough you might find it.


Unfortunately the mosquitos got worse and worse the deeper into the forest we got. 

Can you spot the toad?

Was pretty, will have to try again when it's less buggy.

Yeah, really didn't get to enjoy the hike. This time of year it's probably best to stick to the lakes. The forests are mosquito central.

You know we had to visit Little Dipper.


I love this store's Three Lakes shirts and vintage wares, but the gardens are worth a visit.

Back at the cottage for pizza night. 

It stresses me out, but the crowd loves it. I might have dropped a pizza on the ground this time. Whoops.

These screen obsessed kids were having the time of their lives playing in the lake. 

Love this place.


They were back at it the next day. 

Daniel made paloma's for the boat ride. 

Served out of a Gatorade bottle. Classy.

Marina's water bottle actually.

I just don't understand the joy of sitting in sand bar all day drinking. 

We're just not that cool.

Mama teaching Theo tricks on a very long boat ride.

Think it was Theo teaching me tricks. 



It's always fun to watch the boat hoist take the boats over the dam.


Theo was not impressed by the dam or the hoist.

We happened to drive by right as the Long Lake boat parade was starting. 

We should've stuck around.



Back to chasing snakes. 

For some reason everyone loves to boat out to a deep part of Dog Lake and swim.

It's more fun jumping in. 


Daniel taught me the magic of the swim diaper (AKA an upside down life jacket worn like a diaper). Who knew?

I wasn't so sure about this sorcery, but it kept me afloat.





This year the Three Lakes fish boil was back for 4th of July weekend. 


Just load up with lots of butter.


We stopped for ice cream at the new Endless Summer ice cream shop in town. Afterwards we were going to go to the playground when Theo took a spill. Poor kid is always falling on his face. 

Brittany's working on a mural in her bedroom. Will be cool to see this come together. 

Before driving home we played mini golf at Pirate Falls near Rhinelander. Each tee had a different move to start. For this one you had to do it on your knees. 

After having a bad start, Theo decided to join in the game. 

He doesn't like to compete, but once he gets started he's great.


We had lunch at Pizza Ranch then drove back to Minneapolis. 

I thought we should treat Mike and Gail for another great cottage visit. 
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