Mexican Meal

 Fun to have much of the family over for Mexican food.  Delicious tacos and burritos - and fun to have everyone in our home, followed by some games, including Settlers of Catan. 

Michael was able to stop by straight from work - looking so professional!

 

On TV!

 It is wild to turn on the TV and have Michael as the anchor, and Laura doing many stories.  It was also fun to go through a bunch of the previous news events to catch all of the success and excellence from Toledo's broadcasting dream teams.  

There was also a segment on Freeze Daddy's, which was fun to see Jason and Kaiden on TV!

 

DC Life

 Gabi is enjoying time in DC, getting to be with some of Marta's family and all of the urban vibrancy of the Bethesda and Silver Spring Metro area. 

 

Pizza Festivities!

 The Quockerts had us over for pizzas.  With their remodeled kitchen, it sure is a great place to put together some really yummy pizzas.  As long as we keep the knives and cutting instruments in the right place between gluten and gluten-free, then all is wonderful. 

 Yum!

 

Installing the Dishwasher

 With help from YouTube and saving the significant installation costs, Reeve and I worked to get the dishwasher installed.  Seems pretty good - though the brackets in the top were not quite as perfectly aligned, so we'll hope it will not slide or slip.  

 

Departures

 After several magical days at Round Lake, it was time to head back.  Gabi went with the Silver Spring contingent, as she will be working on her fellowship during the break. 

 So great that Daniel was able to come, spend time together, and for a great time with loved ones. 

 

Listening to the Loons on Round Lake - June 2024

Pretty magical hearing the sound of the loons at night.  The spectacular sunset doesn't hurt either. 

Another Magical Sunset

 With the sun setting, a fire by the lake, and the looms calling, it was another really wonderful evening. 

 

Group Photo Attempts

 Trying to use the timer and get everyone in the frame - without the phone falling over - should be easier than it was in practice.  A few trials later, hopefully we have a winner. 

Think this first one is the likely winner - even if we couldn't get everyone smiling at the same time. 

 (And one without the timer - or Doug in the picture.)

Boat Ride

 

Another great day on the lake makes for another great day on the boat.  Thanks to Lynn, the super boat driver, she took us around the lake, again showing us the sights and enjoying the quiet in the middle of the lake. 

Happy 25 years!

Ditto on the 25 years for this couple! (one of whom is more allergic to the sun than the other!)

Morning Kayak

 Doug and Mark went across the lake in the kayak.  Thankfully, I ended up in the better kayak, which made paddling a whole lot easier and more relaxing while Mark had to work a fair bit to try to keep up.  Beautiful morning and great cool weather and bright sun. 

 

Signature Cocktail and Grill

 The idea of getting together coincided with the 25th anniversary of the 1999 summer when Don & Lynn, Tracy & Doug and Mark & Marta were all married. 

As part of the summer celebration, we were so grateful that Don & Lynn hosted us for these magical days together. 

As part of the celebration, Marta and Tracy were commissioned with creating a signature cocktail - which you can see here. While reviews on taste were mixed, it was the spirit that counts (ha)!

 

Testing the cocktail (and sparkling grape juice)

Kayaking

 Rania and Gabi went out kayaking on the lake - one of the kayaks is a bit more aerodynamic than the other - which makes for easier paddling.  

Round Lake Sunset

 Not sure it quite matches last night's sunset, though still ridiculously magical to be sitting on the dock, enjoying ridiculous colors and a great temperature. 

 
 Amazingly spectacular!

Reeve jumping into Round Lake

Round Lake - Playing in the Water

A chance to hang out, enjoy the water - and the girls enjoying throwing the ball in Round Lake. Don't miss the exciting ending as Reeve prepares to enter the water!

On the Lake

 Lynn and Don took us for a boat ride on their pontoon boat - it was pretty wonderful - how peaceful and invigorating to be out on the lake, enjoying the beauty of the lake - and the tour of the various homes, locations, and stories passed down from Lynn's family over the years. 

 After we were back, we braved the cool (cold?) water for a swim. The nice sandy bottom and very, very gradual drop off make for an easy way to enjoy the lake far from the shore. 

Arrival!

 How magical to arrive at Round Lake - just before sunset - and quite the magical sunset.  It is also an incredibly beautiful location and the house renovation is truly stunning! 

The carved loons from a stump make for quite a backdrop. 

Somehow, I don't think we got any good pictures of the cabin from the outside - this may be the best that we have from our time there - so adding it here. 

Utterly stunning.  The colors are absolutely stunning - and the trees frame the sunset from the porch each evening. 

 

Dinner En Route

 Just north of Minneapolis, we stopped at a delicious Mexican restaurant as we started getting closer to Round Lake and our destination.