Gridlock

The inability to agree on a budget has the State of MN looking at a potential government shutdown. This has many implications for me at work (the outcome of the budget does as well). More importantly Also, this affects Soldier Camp. We received an email the other day that in the event of a shutdown lasting until July 16th, Soldier Camp would be cancelled. The Minnesota History Society even called yesterday to make sure we got the email and offered us a refund. We have opted to hope that something can be worked out before that weekend, as we would get a refund either way. This also impacts our ability to go camping in any State Parks any time soon. Luckily there are some great National Forest and federally run opportunities for us in the north woods.

The boys are also working on compromise. Like any brothers they fight over a lot of things. One of these things is the TV remote control (despite the fact that we have THREE TVs in our house and there are plenty of opportunities to watch what they want). Nate is really bad about letting anyone else control the TV. He became so upset the other day that he lost the right to control any of the TVs in the house for 3 days. He has calmly accepted this, which is our point. Three days has done wonders to his flexibility. At least on some things...

As I read back over this, one could suggest that I am implying our lawmakers are acting like 8 and 10 year olds. Not really, but I do believe that government has gotten wrongly increasingly based on political party rather than what any one lawmaker feels is best for their constituents. Now, off of my soap box to get ready for a day of enjoying a lake on my kayak! But first some pictures from our camping trip to Savanna Portage State Park last weekend:

Nate enjoying a warm bowl of camp oatmeal

Ben playing with his cars up in his bed

Kyle enjoying a nice cup of peculator coffee and cooking us breakfast 

The boys went swimming, as I watched from shore in jeans and a sweatshirt