First Day of School 2008

Anna
Glenn Stephens Elementary School
2nd Grade
Mrs. Stevens

Mary Jane
Middleton Preschool
Teacher Heidi and Teacher Joan

Thanks, Grandpa

While Scott was toiling at the Republican National Convention, Grandpa came to stay with us for a week. He helped feed the pets, took out the garbage, took Anna to the bus stop in the morning, entertained MJ (at the zoo and the history museum) when I worked, fixed one ceiling fan and installed another, trapped and released two chipmunks that were eating my birdseed and generally filled in as man-o-the-house. Dad is always there when we need him!

Cranes

Coming from life in Nebraska, I have a deep appreciation for cranes. We watched 1,000s of Sandhill Cranes pass through the plains and stop on the Platte River as they migrated north. Wisconsin hosts some rare Whooping Cranes that you can see up close at the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo. It's the only place in the world that has all 15 species of cranes.

Grandpa teaching Anna how to use his fancy camera ...
future wildlife photographer?

Whopping cranes -- only about 400 left in the wild.

Last weekend at the pool

Thanks for a splashy, happy summer, High Point Swim Club. Have a good rest, and we'll see you on Memorial Day!

Neighborhood pool rats.

Natalie and Anna, synchronized cannonballing.

Grandpa and MJ.

Natalie, Anna, Sam.

Heather ... Mom

This picture reminds me so much of pictures I've seen with our mom gazing lovingly at Heather and me when we were babes. Heather is a mother in the strong tradition of Grandma Sue.

Some family history

Turns out Put-in-Bay and the Erie islands are linked to the Beecheler family. My dad's dad, Carl Beecheler, came from a family of 9, growing up in Sandusky. His father left the family for another woman in Indiana. So in about 1909, at age 13, my Grandpa Carl had to quit school and go to work. One of the places he worked was on North Bass Island, which was owned by his aunt (my Great Aunt Mae Fox) and her husband. Carl did odd jobs and maintenance for them. When he turned 18, he was eligible to work on a steamship so he left North Bass to work on the Arrow, which ferried wealthy passengers from Sandusky, Ohio, to South Bass Island and the posh Victory Hotel (which later burned to the ground). Shortly after that, Carl enlisted in the Navy and went off to fight in WWI on Naval ships, such as the Kentucky.

Carl's whole life was centered around Lake Erie. He always had boats -- 16' and 18' Lymans. He was a die hard fisherman who kept his preacher out on the Lake to fish for hours even after the preacher got dreadfully sea-sick. My dad carried on the lake tradition with all his boats and island adventures. Below, you can see a brick that lays in front of the square downtown Put-in-Bay commemorating his dad's tie to the Lake Erie islands.

Dad sharing family history during a dinghy ride in the bay.

Put-in-Bay

Ya know, I've been to various points of the globe, as has my sis, but we both agreed that our vacation together with dad and Linda to Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie was way up on the list of favorites. Why? First because we were all together and enjoyed each other's company from sun-up to sun-down. We stayed at a super sweet B&B with lovely hosts and mouth-watering breakfasts taken under a gazebo in the yard. The weather was picture perfect. Watching the cousins -- Anna, MJ and Charlotte -- made everyone smile. Swimming and boating in Lake Erie; finding smooth, shiny beach glass; riding bikes around the island; eating fried perch and fattening desserts every night; watching the sun set over the bay; learning about island history at the museum, Perry's monument and the underground caves; getting silly drinking at the winery and then biking home ... And we relished thoughts of Grandma Sue and all the good times we spent with her boating and island hopping years ago.

If you're hungry for more, see Heather's sweet blog about our vaca at http://www.themalcomsons.blogspot.com/.

Thanks, Dad and Linda for a memorable end to the summer.

In front of Anchor Inn, our B&B.

Me lookin' like a granny drinking coffee in the gazebo at Anchor Inn.

Cousin love.

In front of Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial.

On TOP of Perry's -- MJ was a brave girl to climb up with Daddy.

View of the Bay from the top of Perry's.

Boat ride home from Cedar Point holding the monkey I won for her. The winning of this monkey was the worst part of the trip. I played a game where one of those teeny boppers guessed my age. They had to come within 2 years to win, and the kid guessed that I was 39!!!! 39!!!! It was pretty devastating but I got over it ... sort of ...

On Middle Bass Island collecting sea glass.

Rowdy group at Heineman's Winery on South Bass Island.

Char's first swing ride!

Beech Buoy anchored off Middle Bass.