Jesse, Julie, and Renae came last week for a few days' visit. The time passed painfully fast. We went to Palisades for a nice outing.


Jesse and Kevin checking out the swollen river




Julie and Renae ready to hike on a trail




Above the river



Inside the stone gazebo (see her daddy's dimple?)




Grandma and Renae at the gazebo high up on the trail




Jesse...I like this photo of him



Heading back






This is random....but isn't this absolutely precious?!

Below are 3 video clips. The first is from the farewell open house for Jesse, Julie, and Renae at Dale's and Lori's house.



Cousins






Renae reading a book out loud




Renae jabbering in Gpa's lap

This biker leg is being temporarily retired.
Kevin was hopitalized overnight for large bloodclot in his leg.






The clot caused swelling in his left leg.



In hospital




Waiting for wheelchair after being discharged




This is great medicine for the patient




Gpa with granddaughter, Renae




Under doctor's orders to remain home from work this entire week, Kevin writes out lesson plans for his substitute at school




Passing time. We are enjoying our time together, but being bedridden is hard on this active man. Some consolation though...he won this Scrabble game...barely ;o)

The road in the state park to the Cedar River was closed due to fallen trees. If you crossed the barrier with your motorized vehicle, a $116 fine would be imposed. We were wondering why $116...an odd amount, we thought. But we dared to walk on through and down the road and found.....






....massive flooding. There was no beach to comb for rocks. There was no beach!





Overlooking the flood as it covers the concrete and steel barriers and the rocky area we where we like to look for rocks of interest. Not happening this day. However, as we were hiking back up to our car, we noticed a sheriff's car parked behind ours, blocking us in. We had parked next to a red pickup. Found out that a couple of guys had kayaked (yah, in the flooded Cedar with wildy swift currents)and were being questioned for burglarizing a house up on the cliff. We had seen 2 men carrying kayaks in the timber while we were walking on a trail and thought they were nuts to be out in the flooded Cedar in kayaks. Never heard how it all turned out, though.

Last Sunday was a day of conflicting weather conditions...
It's been cold for so long, with soooo much snow. But we were blessed with warm temperatures in the mid 50s to 60.
Bethann, Kevin, and I went for a walk in the snow....



....in deep snow (deep for walking on trails) and T-shirts and fleeces






Kevin enjoying the short-sleeve weather while it lasted



Mom and Maynard stopped in yesterday since they came up to visit a friend in the hospital. So..we went out for lunch.





Then we headed back to our house so they could check out the family blogs. (Notice Mom's new haircut. She looks really cute in it.)