GiGi and Boyd! The Burla Matriarch and true reason for Boyd's wonderful visit to the UP. Beyond blessed that GiGi shares so much love throughout generations. She is known to say that things are a dandy but she truly is dandy herself. Thank you for bringing so much love and so many Burla's together. We love you GiGi.

4th of July

The 4th in Michigan is quite the spectacle. Boyd started the day with kids races. He and another boy partnered to win the wheelbarrow race. He came in 2nd in the 50 yard dash and 8th in the potato sack race. What fun.

BBQ the night before. This is the only picture I have received with Ike in it. When I asked Boyd why he said because whenever Ike gets near him he screams because he thinks Boyd is a monster since Boyd created a monster boo run around game. Pippa on the other hand loves him because he taught her how to count to 20 on her hands and he always makes her laugh.

While Boyd partied the day away two Colorado runners ran, iced in the river, ate delicious picnic lunch and then this. The glamorous side of running.

In the evening there was the 4th of July PARADE!!!! These two peas in a pod seemed to enjoy themselves judging by the pictures.

The loot. Boyd was overjoyed by all the candy he collected and he said Vince was too but that Vince tried to eat it all at once and ended up spitting it out.

Apparently Vince worked very hard to copy Boyd's every move. This picture was taken before the previous one. Adam said it took Vince a while to figure out the right hand placement but he eventually got it. So cute.

July 5th at Jim Pecks digging for dinosaur bones.

Boyd found a leg.

Kids in a candy store.

Boyd the cousin babysitter. He told me he just loves her.

Fish

While I was typing up the previous blog this photo arrived. Boyd and Vince had a successful trip fishing. I briefly spoke with Boyd due to spotty signal but did receive this bit of information: He caught 6 fish and Vince caught 1. One was 13+ inches long and weight 1.5 pounds. Vince kept losing his bait. Boyd got blood on himself in the face because Vince's fish swallowed the hook and Boyd had to cut it out. Ike was screaming in the car because he didn't want to leave the toys at the gift shop.
I cannot wait to hear more about their outing and Boyd proved once again that he is more of an outdoorsman in the fishing/hunting sort of way than I ever could have imagined.

Onto the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Lake Superior. Boyd said it was so cold and windy. The lake would spray cold water on you if you stood too close.

Boyd is certainly the traveling man this summer. Last year he said he had a tough summer because we didn't go anywhere and no one visited us. This summer is the opposite. He is now in the UP having a blast with his Burla family. I'm keeping up via pictures and phone calls. Sure looks like fun.

Building Legos was reportedly a big hit at Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Pete's. Vehicles galore.

Domino rally at the High School. It took around 7 minutes to knock down because some of the corners were not set up correctly.

My big kid. The oldest of the Burla Great Grandkids.

The hometown run is a talked about event in our family surrounding all the week and a half long festivities around the 4th. Boyd participated two years ago and was eager to go back. It is a two mile race but I guess his Colorado "training stint" served him well too. Here he is warming up.

Literally the first person on the starting line. This picture made me chuckle. 

Yup he was that kid...front and center on the starting line. This year he wasn't intimidated by the 250 person field. In his defense he did place 21st overall so he wasn't really out of place on the front row.

And he's off. Boyd ran great placing first in his age group and running 14:55. He reported that he liked the route and roads because it was like off roading in parts because the roads were rough and that he nipped someone at the line. I am blessed to be able to share my running love with my boy.

Later that day cousins arrived. Boyd was finally able to meet his cousin Pippa. I think Adam looks good holding a baby girl. Boyd was smitten with her of course as he also shares my love of babies. His only complaint was that he was hoping she would spit up on dad-lol.

I received this photo from Adam with the message, "I rode these when I was Boyd's age."  I personally love when some things never change.

Playing at Bluff View park with Vince and Grandpa.

Paul Bunyan restaurant after sharing the win at mini golf with his dad.

Paul, Boyd, and Babe

He still loves his mini golf.

The festivities continued with a concert in the park.

Thank you FaceTime. Miss this guy like crazy. He shocked me with his Boyd coke. Uncle Paul found it and brought it to him. I never thought I would see a day where his name was on something.