Where's the Yellow Brick Road??

Apparently, we are trying to cram a summer of lake time into just a few weeks, because as soon as we got home from Little Detroit (literally, we just walked our suitcases across the yard), we packed up the minivan

and drove to Grand Rapids, MN!  Home of Judy Garland and Mr. and Mrs. Statsick!  Boo and I often compare our time at the lakes, and I was super excited to get to experience her version of "the lake".  Gotta say, while TTH is 'tiny and tranquil' the Statsick cottage is anything but...

There is room for everyone, and everyone is anywhere from 10-50 people at a given time.  There is food always being prepared or served or cleaned up, and children running all around, and toys, and booze, and laughter...  It was the epitome of crazy family fun.  Several times during our weekend stay, I just sat back and took in the enormity of the Statsick crew - and the feeling of belonging.  No one questioned where we came from, why we were there, or when we were leaving, and everyone treated us just like family.  (Who knows, maybe they thought we were family, because there are just so many of them!!)

It made me miss the summer that was slipping away, and also contemplate having more children so we could fill our lake house up one day...  I'm hoping we behaved well enough to earn an invite for next season.