Family Vacation - Day 1

We arrived at the Lodge on Monday (Aug 4th - yes I'm still playing catchup). After getting all our gear unloaded, we spent time in the pool. Adam grilled steak and corn on the cob for our dinner. After another pool trip, the kids got into pajamas as Grandpa got into his costume. I'm not sure about anyone else but Grandpa was destined to be a train engineer - he looks right at home in his outfit.

Grandpa brought a string pinata for the kids and filled it with various treats. Each kid got to take a turn pulling a ribbon to release the pinata. It wasn't until the very last ribbon that they pulled the right one.
In March (ish), Matt (Norene's husband) called us all excited. He was at Costco and Greg Olsen was there. Greg Olsen is Norene's favorite artist. We also love his work but he's in competition with Simon Dewey and Thomas Kincade for favorite. Greg Olsen was selling and signing his paintings and they wanted to know if we wanted to get one. He also had the idea of going in on one for Adam and Norene's parents for their Christmas present. Adam and Norene brought the paintings out with them from California. Adam was so excited about the paintings, he couldn't wait for them to receive it. So instead of wrapping it up and hiding it at Alma's, Adam and Norene presented it to them that first night.
Here are some pictures of our painting. I had three goals when choosing our painting, with Adam's agreement. I wanted one that you could see Christ's face bigger than in the Greg Olsen painting we already had (above the fireplace); I wanted the painting to be bigger; and I wanted one of the paintings that we believe looks like Kaylyn with Christ (there are several of them). Kaylyn sees this picture and will tell you that it's her with Jesus!

Not only did Greg Olsen sign the painting, he personalized it. There's also a message on the back.

After all the hoopla, Kaylyn sat on the couch next to Grandma and asked to hold her newest cousin. So here's the oldest granddaughter holding the youngest granddaughter, Ariel. Ariel was born June 23rd so she's about 6 weeks old in this picture.