Farewell to the little green Saturn

Our first brand new car was bought in 1996. We had to say goodbye to it this past week. The little green Saturn had seen lots of changes in our family and commutes and homes. Mary drove it for a few years too and then it came back to us. It died quite a while ago and we decided to not sink more money in it so had been getting by with just the van for months. 

While that was not convenient it was doable. Now Brent's office will be moving out to Brooklyn Park soon so our commutes will take us in different directions. It was time for a second reliable working car. So with the entrance of the new car we need the garage spot and decided to donate the Saturn to charity and take the donation tax credit. Minnesota Public Radio picked it up and will auction it with the proceeds going to support the public radio station. If they can figure the electrical issue out it could still run for miles and miles for someone. Saturn's seem to run forever.   Farewell, after 17 years you will be missed!

Didn't quite make it to be Noah's first car...now he has dreams of inheriting the new Dodge someday. ;)

Back to school...first day of Middle School

Hard to Believe but today Noah started Middle School in 6th Grade. Time flies!! Elementary school is officially behind us. 

He was a bit nervous but we had his stuff all ready and organized last night after we did orientation last week to get everything figured out and schedules And locker etc. he knows all the kids coming from his elementary school and there are 2 other schools joining in, so lots of new faces too. Our friend Kim works in the office as the school secretary so that is helpful for him to have a familiar face. Plus a few others from local congregations going there too: Elena, Nina and Grace. 

We had 6 boys at the bus stop this morning. Hoping that all goes well this year. Bus comes at 7:16 now, so a full hour earlier than last year. Adjustments to be made. One adjustment is now we don't need someone to watch him before school on my workdays. He leaves about the same time we do now. If we have an early meeting he can be dropped at school early now too. 

Hoping for good adventures and learning this year. I am sure he will be more tired for a while with early start and classes all over the building during the day. Next phase of life begins!! :)

Tradition pic in front of tree. Had to switch though because other big tree was cut down this summer...new tradition tree now. 

Labor Day...last day of summer break...time for a pool party!

Noah's friend Elena from our congregation invited him to a kids pool party. It was a cool cloudy day but swimming was in an indoor community building at their townhouses so it worked out just fine. There were 6 kids: Elena, Michael, Carter, Alyssa, Noah and Jaklynn. Grades kindergarten to 7th grade starting. Burn off all that energy before having to settle into desks again!  I stayed to help her mom keep an eye on all the swimmers. We had a little supper and beverages back at their place and the kids played some more. Thanks Elena and Claudia (mom) for hosting!!

Wandering weekend Aug 31- Sept 1

We decided to take one more driving trip to finish off summer. Noah had some plans for Monday so we just planed for a little overnight adventure to see places we had never seen and see how the car does on highway drives. 

Brent planned the routes to head southwest and spend the night near Sioux Falls SD and loop back the next day. Adventure. The car has GPS mapping so that proved helpful on rural roads and finding parks etc. 

We hit State Parks along the way for Noah to get stamps in his State Park passport too. 

 

We stopped in Walnut Grove MN to see where Laura Ingalls Wilder grew up for a few years and wrote about in her books. There is a cute museum and shop and welcome center. We spent some  time there checking the memorabilia etc then after a late lunch went to the site of the dugout home on the banks of Plum Creek. It is someone's farm now, but they have a gravel road back to the creek and have marker signs for points of interest in the book and a little picnic area . Cute! The home had caved In years ago but you can see where it was and where the kids would have played etc. I read the books as a kid and loved the show, do fun to see the area. Noah got the Farmer Boy book to start. 

Model of the show house

We continued on to Sioux Falls to see Falls Park. Beautiful park at the edge of Downtown. Totally a local treasure. 

 

Because we didn't plan ahead we had to stay out of town a bit to get a hotel (some big event in town had all the rooms filled up. It was fine. Clean and safe. In the way we saw this cool lightning storm in the clouds. No thunder or rain, just tons of lightning in the clouds. 

The next morning we drove back to Sioux Falls to have breakfast at Cracker Barrel...yum!

Noah earned his next patch as we hit another State Park on the way to see Pipestone National Monument. 

Then to Pipestone. Lovely park and beautiful sunny day to hike the trail. 

Lots of farmland and windfarms on the way back. It really is a pretty State we live in. Stopped at Albertville Outlets on way back too. Got a fun new purse and wallet since mine needs to be retired. Nice treat from my honey. 

Then back home sweet home. A big week ahead..

Additional pics will be uploaded to our Shutterfly photo site eventually.