The First Fourth

With cousin Annie on Aunt Becky's lap, having a drink in Harbor Springs. Dress by Mrs. Sue Long.
Same spot later in the day, enjoying a great birthday cake for Aunt Pam! Thanks, Aunt Becky!!! Daddy there to pick up any crumbs and finish off the extra.
Enjoying a cook out on Daddy's lap with cousins Nicole and Kait, Shelby, Uncle Scott, Luke and Sydney at Uncle Tom's.
"See that potty over there??? I just pooped and peed in it!!!"

Mare had a wonderful and exhausting Fourth. On the day, we traveled up to Harbor Springs (which is just south of the Northern tip of the Lower Peninsula) where my Uncle Larry and Aunt Pam are currently living. We missed the parade but arrived in time to play with cousins. Marie's "cousins" that are closest in age to her were there. Annie is 11 months younger and Abby is 2 months younger. Technically they are the daughters of MY cousins but we figure we won't sweat the details. The girls played near one another and occasionally interacted while we planned future playdates! It was fun to swap stories and hear about someone else's tantrums!

Thursday, her Chicago cousins arrived...and there went sleep. The big girls of almost-6 and almost-9 had a great time on the boat and swimming. Little Luke and Marie tried to keep up but got a little overstimulated...no one slept much. They all truly loved being together and played amazingly well together. We love having our cousins over!!! Highlights were swimming off the pontoon at Uncle Tom's, Sydney's first kayak experience, playing at the beach with cousins Henry and George (actually, Marie mostly sat under the umbrella and snacked) and reading lots of stories together. We miss them already!

Yesterday, yes, a miracle of timing occurred...all planets were perfectly aligned and furniture feng shuayed as Marie looked at me with "that face of concentration" and I knew to get her on the potty. She performed a double! Sydney and Shelby cheered her on with great gusto! Now if it happened daily, I could get excited but it's a start to the end of diapers!

Today, after the cousins left we attempted a nap in the crib. Not well received. So I rocked her to sleep while singing a thousand verses of "Jingle Bells." Tonight...again, the crib was not a fond place to be. Tomorrow we need to get back in our good sleep habits!