top of page

life lately! just JULY-ing with the GRANDS!

  • Our Grand Lives
  • 2 days ago
  • 5 min read

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

ree

Just like that…. July has come and is almost gone!


For us, it’s been a month of celebrating

and enjoying all our Minnesota summer has to offer!


We’re back a day earlier than normal

as we take a break from our typical content

and share an updated LIFE LATELY post.

ree

Each month this post serves as our version of an online scrapbook

where we capture the moments we want to always remember!


After all, as you may already know, our motto is

ree

Here’s a few of our just JULY-ing! snapshots from the past month!



ree

We had a couple of important birthdays to celebrate this month

and then a bittersweet gathering filled with

lots of family time and many memorable moments!


July began with us celebrating Little D’s fourth birthday

 with a Frozen party with cousins, aunts, uncles, and Grands in attendance!

ree

  Our own little Elsa was thrilled!

We can't quite believe that our oldest Little is so grown up!


Mid month we celebrated my husband’s birthday

(or BaBa as he’s known in some special circles)!

ree

Then we wrapped up the month of July when we celebrated MY special day!

ree

There is a very dear story behind the cake 

that my husband bakes for me each year on my birthday!


When I was little, my mom always made me a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting and she decorated it with M&Ms.  

ree

When I reached my teens, my mom asked me if I wanted a “store-bought” cake.  Of course, I thought that would be cool so I said “yes”.  My mom passed away when I was in my mid-twenties, and on the first birthday without her, my husband asked what I wanted for my birthday.  The only thing I wanted was a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting and decorated with M&Ms.  He has made this birthday cake for me every year since - for the past 35 years! (And, he decorates with many more M&Ms than my mom ever put on!) 

ree

  Every bite is a loving memory!


We took in another Maria and the Coins concert

(my daughter-in-law’s band)!

We love taking in these outdoor summer shows whenever we can!

ree

My last living (and favorite) aunt passed away last fall, 

and her son and daughter had a memorial service for her this month

in her home town in western Wisconsin.

ree

Extended family came from Arizona, Washington, New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, as well as our own family here in the Twin Cities. Everyone came to spend a long weekend mid month.  It was a glorious four days of celebrating my lovely aunt, laughing, reminiscing, eating, playing games and catching up with cousins and their families.  

ree

Here’s hoping you are as blessed with family as I am!


ree



ree

LOTS of time was spent at the lake in July

with a fun date night back home in the Twin Cities

followed by time in Wisconsin with our Littles 

as the month now comes to an end!


We were so excited to install this addition to our new dock…

and it flew for the first time on July 3rd!

ree

Perfect timing!


Then, early on the morning of the 4th,

we had a surprise visitor

who decided to join our holiday festivities!

ree

A little too close for comfort 

(the dock was only steps away)! YIKES!


ree

It was a hot 4th of July

but that didn’t stop us from

enjoying the bed races and parade down Main Street!

❤️ 💙 ❤️


Lots of lake time followed!!

Our grandpup claimed her spot early on!

ree

Nothing beats summer days on the lake!

ree

We were even treated to our very own Frozen talent show that weekend!

ree

It reminded the GRAND generation of the times 

when the mothers of these two put on similar shows for us all

twenty five years ago!

A full circle moment for sure!


Later in the month, Hubby and I spent a fun evening in St. Paul

taking a trip down memory lane! 

ree

We started with dinner at a mainstay supper club that's been around forever!

It still deserves its stellar reputation!


Hubby had spent the first part of his career as an architect

doing restoration work in the historic neighborhoods of St. Paul.

We had time to drive by a few of these sites.

ree

Then it was off to the theater.

We were so excited to see this band one last time in concert!

ree

The music brought back lots of memories…

especially for Hubby!

Does anyone out there remember their music?

Mr. Bojangles, Fishin’ in the Dark and Will the Circle Be Unbroken?

We were living our best life that night… 

along with plenty of other Baby Boomers, too!

ree

We headed back to the lake for a peaceful week together.

ree

And while we love the peace and quiet,

we kept our fingers crossed that our bear friend would not reappear!

(Thank goodness... she didn't!)


Who can resist these sunsets?

ree

Not us!


The tail end of July is being spent near Madison, Wisconsin.

Daughter A and I traveled here last weekend for a special event!

Our Girl Group 

(made of up two Grands, a mama, two aunties and our Little L)

enjoyed an outing at Fireside Dinner Theater!

ree

We saw The Little Mermaid and it was fabulous!


ree

We sure love our own Little Mermaid!


Daughter A returned to Minneapolis earlier this week

BUT I get to spend the last days of July and the beginning of August

with these two sweet faces

before Hubby comes to pick me next weekend!

ree

No doubt about it, I’m savoring the GRAND life!


ree

THANK YOU

for taking the time to visit our world!

It’s always great when you stop by!


We hope you’ll join us tomorrow, when we wrap-up this year's summer series

ree

We’ll be back tomorrow with Week Eight of our final installment

Don’t miss it!


We want to THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts

for reading, commenting, subscribing and/or emailing.

If you’d like to follow us on Instagram or Facebook, 

you can find us here and here.


ree

We always welcome your comments!.

Your suggestions, insights and ideas are equally appreciated!

Please feel free to comment at the end of this post or email us directly at

ree

As July winds down and we reflect on the past several weeks

we are grateful for the memories created during these long summer days!


ree

ree



💗 We are delighted to join the following link up parties and blog hops! 💗

MONTHLY

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

ree

grandma grandchildren

© 2023 by Our Grand Lives. Proudly Created with Wix.com

bottom of page