Summer done right

Detroit was built for lovers.

This is a big week.  The Olympics officially start on Thursday!  I love the Olympics.  The competition, the hype, all the interesting back stories.  Gymnastics, swimming, rowing, track and field, beach volleyball!  What could be better?  But let's not get ahead of ourselves.  It's only Monday.

It's also a big week because we're in the middle of our ten day tour of the great state of Michigan.  We don't get back here often, so when we do we have to do it big.  We arrived in Morrice late Friday night - and we've been on the go ever since.  On Saturday, we attended the wedding of Brandon's high school friend, Jeremy - who stood up in our wedding nearly six years(!) ago.  At the wedding, we saw many of Brandon's high school classmates he has not seen in 10 years.  The number one reaction - Brandon, you've slimmed down; Brandon you look trim; Brandon have you lost weight!  Now, I didn't know Brandon in high school - but he does look great, doesn't he?  Maybe there is something to this Paleo thing after all...

When we planned this trip home, Sue said she wanted to have a 'little gathering' so friends and family could meet Jonah (our last trip home was quick in and out...and we missed a lot of folks).  Well...the Allemans don't do anything half-way.  On Sunday afternoon, we had quite a gathering in the Allemans' backyard (I think total count was in the 80's...).

Rob was manning the grill.  I think he cooked 10lbs of chicken, 4lbs of fish and platters piled high with burgers, brats and dogs.  There was tossed salad and fruit salad, rice, macaroni, potato chips and sun tea.  The dessert table was in fine form: banana cake, carrot cake, scotcharoos (reunion bars), rhubarb crisp, brownies and multiple kinds of cookies.  If anyone left hungry, they had no one to blame but themselves.  The weather cooperated beautifully - it was a little warm, but sunny.  The rain held off until after midnight.  (Side note, I heard it was over 100 for the first day of RAGBRAI - yikes!  Stay hydrated, Dad!!).  We couldn't have asked for a better day.  Thanks, Allemans for throwing such a great party so Jonah could meet the family!!



Rob was particularly excited about his own 'summer olympics'.  (There was even a spreadsheet scoreboard to make everything official).  Events included: bean bag toss, horseshoes, frisbee toss, and golf ball chipping...

And a dunk tank!  Five points for sinking a member of the other team.  The little kids (who didn't participate in the olympics) had fun with the tank, too.  Pictured above is Travis about to sink Gracie with a throw that was right on the money.  These little ones are Jonah's second cousins and second cousins, once removed.

Rob gathering the troops with some final instructions before the games began

Jonah's second cousin, once removed, Fletcher, is two.  He is the baby of his family and the last of eleven grandchildren - so he's not around a lot of babies.  He LOVED Jonah.  And Jonah was a fan of him as well.  Fletcher let us know what Jonah was up to - "Baby say 'ah'!"  He would announce.  "Baby drop the necklace right there!"  "Baby smile at me!"

Fletcher and his mama, who is Sue's cousin

Grandma Kathy, an avid Tigers fan, doesn't like to miss a game, so Brandon found the audio commentary on the computer.  She sat and listened to the game until the boys pulled out a win (Tigers are now one and half games ahead in the division!!).  Then should could kick back and enjoy the party.

After the stress of the competition was behind us (I hear Brandon's team pulled out the win...way to go, B!), everyone spent some time relaxing and just enjoying the food and good company.

Thanks, everyone, for a WONDERFUL afternoon!  Our Michigan vacation is off to a great start :)