Tim & Vanessa Lorentzen Family!

July 5th - well another 4th of July is over!  We went to the big old parade - longer than usual due to it being an election year and all the politicians who were in it.  Then spent the afternoon just enjoying the entertainment and went to the Capitol grounds to enjoy the Symphony and fireworks.  Got home around 12:30 and all were tired.  On Tuesday Ross, the boys, and I moved 2 additions out to the farm.  A 12 by 12 and a 12 by 16.  We are going to put them on the north side of our house for some more room.  Will keep you posted on this.  Due to the project at John and Darcy's we won't even start for a while.

July 11th - Had a good weekend.  My good friend George came out from Fargo for the weekend.  We went to Turtle Days in Turtle Lake.  A nice little parade compared to the 4th in Mandan!  Then on Sunday Jasper and I drove to Belle Fourche South Dakota (300 miles) and towed a car back.  We left at 11:30 and were back home by 10:30 that night.  One stop each way so we made good time.  It continues to be wet here.  

July 17th - my good friend from high school Guy Darland and his wife came up this weekend.  They are going to drive a set (big van towing trailer with small van) of vans up to Anchorage.  Leaving this morning.  On Monday night we went to Nelson Lake and did some tubing.  Zion loved riding in the boat and playing in the warm water.  He is such an outdoors kid.  He is getting about 6 molars so has been a bit crabby.  Ross has been doing some haying.  We are taking care of some friends milk cow so John & I have been sharing the milking duties.  This will be for 2 weeks.  Planning on doing some camping this week if the weather is good.

July 24th - OK so sometimes plans change.  Guy & Brandi were not able to go to Alaska because they would not let them into Canada.  Guy had some driving violations that they did not like on his record (picky picky) and so the arbitrarily refused them entrance!  So they are sticking around for a while and helping out with the projects we have going on here.  We have gone to the lake twice and had a lot of fun (although some sun burn happened).  Nick & Holly had a baby boy on Tuesday evening at 5:30 - 8 pounds 7 ounces - Named Justus Samuel and Vanessa assisted at the home birth.  Janice had a birthday on Sunday the 16th and survived it!

July 31st - Well we have a new toy and have had it out twice already.  It is a 1968 16' Larson boat with a 1968 Mercury 65 Horse engine.  It is in really nice shape and works well!  

The heat has been on here - yesterday it was 96 in the shade so water fun is very desirable.  Zion is absolutely crazy about the water and loves to ride in the boat or on the tube or just play in the water.  Ross has been haying and getting a lot of hay.  Will not have to buy any this year.  Guy & Brandi left for home on Saturday and Ed & Bev left for Israel again on Saturday.  They got there safely with luggage coming one day later.