Old traditions and new adventures

Old traditions and new adventures Cass Lake, MN

Cass Lake, MN

Our Sunday tradition at Birch Villa... -wake up and look at the sun shining on the lake...usually as still as glass -pour a cup of coffee -make "Sunday" (Pillsbury) rolls for breakfast and eat them together on the screen porch -get ready for church and head to the Evangelical Free Church of Bemidji (today our kids all played musical chairs for about the first 10 minutes of the service so they could all sit by their similar-aged cousins...good thing no one knows us at this church!) -after church, drink a cup of Highlander Grogg coffee with Deb (today we raced to see who would get to the pot first!) and rave about our favorite coffee flavor -once back at the resort we start firing up the grills for pork chops and finish prepping our other food for the big family Sunday potluck!

Family members at the resort (and at the picnic) this year: Tom & Linda with Leah & Chloe; Beth & Bill with Nicole, William, Elise & Zachary; Grandpa & Grandma K.; Aunt Sone; Paul & his friend Melissa & son Tommy; Deb & Roy with Luke, Kara, Leah & Erin; Uncle Jim & Aunt Eileen (just visiting today from their cottage on Rush Lake)...24 in all. We shared some memories of Uncle Roy and cousin Glen who had enjoyed many years with us at the lake and sadly, are no longer with us.

Of course, we all enjoyed a great meal and then the traditional visiting on the lawn while the kids hit the water. After awhile, Bill pulled the kids tubing and they all had a great time. Tom set out for a bike ride. He had wanted to do the Pike Bay loop, but was disappointed when he found out that much of the trail was impassable due to fallen trees.

As he returned the rest of us (Linda & the girls and Beth & Bill and their 4 kids) were all ready to set out on our first "Team-stra" ride. Tom joined us, and the TEN of us rode about 6 miles. It was a fun, family time together, and absolutely perfect weather for it! So goes our first day at the lake, 2012.