My daughter and I went for a walk this morning. I wanted to get some fresh air and body movement (exercise doesn’t seem like quite the right word). She wanted to go down and see the creek. It wasn’t quite dried up. Our cat Midnight followed us down there. She stayed down there with us until it was time to go back.

The families are all arriving today. One from Iowa, one from Minnesota, one from Wisconsin, one from Michigan, two from northern Illinois and then my parents from about an hour south. This year my parents are bringing a young man who goes to their church. My cousin, his wife, and two daughters are also here from Florida.

This year we are trying something new in that we are spreading out the kitchen work amongst the adults. Each family was responsible for offering a meal idea and grocery list for that meal. My sister compiled all the results and then we are taking turns in the kitchen with each meal. The kids also have a helping schedule.