Fun in the Sun

Garrick and I were out for a walk with Pete and Scout the other night and we were walking towards Steamboat Days- This is Winona's big summer festival. We were saying how funny it was that there is no steamboat in Winona anymore- the Wilke USED to be downtown,

but then this happened...

Wow- Major sidetrack. So we were walking by the river and having this conversation and then Garrick said- there's a steamboat down there- lOOk- and I said that looks like Ike's boat! (I lived on the river with him and another Mississippi River legend for a summer in college {ashley and missy- you visited me!} He is 85, loves to dance, lives on the boat alone with his dog and races paddlewheelers... Google: Ike Hastings for a complete story) AND sure enough- Ike was down at the Winona levee- we saw him a few times before he headed out of town-

AND Pete got to help drive the boat!

We took the boat out on the river for the first time this summer and had a great time- our friend Chris came with us- he and his wife are expecting their baby any day now!- and skied... he is great and we had so much fun- Pete took it all in and was VERY safe thanks to Joni and Paul. We saw very few boats, one full barge and tow boat that was putting in the navigational buoys and all skied twice. Pete can't wait to learn on the little yellow skis that Matt and I learned on (and he wants to bring his cousins & friends out with him- he told me this!)

We also have been beating the heat by swimming at one of my co-worker's pools... It is SO nice that she lets us come over- Pete has been splashing and smiling a lot there!

But, in the end, he's just a little baby that needs a nap in a nice cool room! (He naps in our room since it doesn't get any afternoon sun and it is cooler than the other rooms)