I Need a Nap

The view from the top of the Dune Climb at Sleeping Bear National Lakeshore

Does that water look a little too yellow-y to you?

Jim getting an arm workout by entertaining an 11 yr old, 3 yr old and Marie.

Watching a hot air balloon

Marie combines her favorite activities of singing and eating.

Get it when you can.

We were treated to a nice visit from some of Marie's cousins. The boys live downstate, about a 4 hour drive away so this was their first visit up this summer. We did almost everything you are supposed to when you go "Up North" in Michigan - swam in the lake, boated, saw a bald eagle, got ice cream at Moomers (voted The Best Ice Cream Shop in the USA by Good Morning America), went to see the animals at the 4-H fair, caught toads, played at the park, went to a drive-in movie, climbed the sand dunes and ended with a trip to some big waves at Lake Michigan. The only thing we forgot to do was S'mores. (I do not think the sugar was missed though.)

The kids had an amazing time playing together. The boys taught Marie how to rough-house and she taught them some things too. After loading the screaming 3-yr old in the car because he didn't want to leave, they are off. We have a short va-cay at Uncle Jeff's this week and then one more bout of cousins before Labor Day.

Dog Days of Summer

Me looking exceptionally tired with my little peanut who is in Play-Doh Heaven. For those wondering, we are not at home but at my Aunt's house. Our house doesn't have nearly that much light.

At the fair with Grampa. For some reason, she looks spooked. She LOVES the carosel. I don't know why she has this look cause I know she is in Heaven.

Petting goats with Aunty.

It's the weird part of the summer - the accelerated part. In Michigan, once August hits, everyone realizes that it's just a beautiful place to live and that school starts right after Labor Day. So people go on serious-summer-mode, there are hundreds of 4-H fairs and Festivals...it's SUPER vacation time. For example, in the past week we have had...
1) My dad and other family over for dinner
2) Two sets of friends over for dinner and boating
3) Two beach dates
4) Family that have come up from downstate to spend a few days
5) Phone calls from more family preparing to come up
6) Marie has gone to the fair
and, sadly 7) Momma has had to go to work for 2 days (gasp!)

There is canning to do, still more trips to go on, lesson plans to start to write! It's B-U-S-Y but G-O-O-D

Girlfriends

I was looking at the other post and the pictures of Marie and Jacqui just didn't do them justice. So I wanted to add a few more cause that's what girlfriends do.

Reunion Part 2

Awesome view from Aunt Jacqui' and Uncle John's deck, our gracious hosts

Aunt Jacqui reading Marie the book she gave us at the baby shower

Daddy and Marie blocking Momma from the Ann Taylor store on Michigan Avenue

Some pals at the American Girl store. Bought nothing but Jim dug the babydoll hair salon

Marie's favorite dish at the Chinese restaurant

We had a reunion with 7/9ths of our Jiangxi Travel Group AKA The Lin Sisters (all the girls originally were named Lin something). It was in Chicago and, as we are expecting to write a check soon to South Korea, we opted out of the hotel and stayed with friends. This would've saved us money if I hadn't clipped the tail light of a Ford Explorer on the way back from the zoo...it was a good plan, at least.

We met up with the group on Friday morning at the aforementioned zoo and I was in shock for a good hour, I think. Marie too. It was hard to absorb that we were all together again. We didn't do anything major other than just hang out and play all weekend. It really was overwhelming emotionally and we made a committment to continue with our reunions. We are thrilled with that.

It was amazing to see how well the girls were matched to their families, the Hand of God. The tiny petite girl with quite the expressive personality was in a family of petite, expressive women. The always-on-the-go-girl-who-never-takes-naps was with a stay-at-home Mom who has enough energy and patience to parent her. And on and on...of course, we already knew that Marie was meant to be our daughter!

I don't know how to describe the weekend. It was especially nice to come "home" each night to Jacqui and John's...Jacqui being my best friend from 3rd grade on. To tell them about the day made it even better. Thank you again for allowing us to stay!

Reunion Part 1

The Fam together at Lincoln Park Zoo

Big big fan of ice cream

L to R Mia M., Sophia, Brinkley, Kaylee, Lucy, Mia G. and Marie

The Girls

Twirling in the Lobby

Cousin-palooza

Lovin' big cuz Luke. Luke and his family spent the weekend of the 4th at our house.
While the big girls and their dad's checked out the Blue Angels air show, Marie and Luke went out to the Big Lake and spent the afternoon at Lake Michigan. Marie and Luke had fun playing together - this consisted mostly of eating together, sharing popsicles and jumping. Ah...the fun of ages 2 and 3!

Beautiful Baby Butt!

"NO Mama! NO pictures!"

"Momma didn't bring me a suit. Foolish momma. I will go in anyways. "

Marie's two older girl cousins spent the week after the 4th with us. One day, we met Aunt Dottie at the beach to collect rocks for painting. I was told, quote, "It's like a fall day here," so I didn't bring Marie's suit. Thankfully, I did bring the big girls' theirs as they both went in swimming. The water was gorgeous and wavy - the girls had a blast. Then they had pizza and painted their rocks. It was quite the creative splurge by all. A small portion of the rocks are now decorating our front walk in memory of a great day!

Yet Another Reason...

...why I love my husband. He is a caring and thoughtful man, handsome and strong and oh-so-ironically ticklish. Little kids love him and love to discover his ticklish secret (perhaps with some big hints from others.) These little girls were entranced with "Jim-antics" for a good half-hour last night. Marie today insisted on watching the videos over and over. Oddly enough, she had a diffiult time sleeping last night after all this hammock hoopla. I wonder why???

Summertime

In the middle of the picture, you can see the tiniest, mini-baby-toad. It was one of many, many teeny-tiny toads that are all over right now. I was walking back from the pond when I first saw them. I had grabbed a chair and was going to go sit out by the pond for a few quiet moments - little did I know that every single mosquito in the entire Midwest was in that area where I was trying to have a quiet moment. So, I quickly returned to the world of toddlerhood and on the way back I first saw the toads. They were everywhere - tens of tens of little tiny toads all jumping around around my feet. We went for a walk and saw them all over. Impossible to catch on a picture though as they are so small.

Jim and Marie next to the oh-so-popular "choo choo tracks." There is actual mini-steam engine in the middle of town. Marie has absolutely no desire to go for a ride on it but can spend a good hour watching it go around the little park. We walked over to it Saturday morning after going to the Farmer's Market. I love living in a smallish town. You can't go anyplace without seeing folks you know. The second we got to the Farmer's Market we saw a woman I used to share a classroom with. Then, further on we saw the city manager and his wife. More teachers further in...you get the point. It's fun for us but the tourists get annoyed with us locals clogging up the aisle talking and catching up. We compromised by putting Marie in a backpack rather than trying to push a stroller through the maze. Got some strawberries and herbs. There isn't much out there yet and what is there is pricey. The herb plants were a good deal though at 12 for $12.

While Jim and Marie were choo-choo watching, I dragged our stuff down to the beach and started a new book, "The Glass Castle." I got them to join me after the choo-choo "went to bed." It was fun to watch kids run into the water and then get a glazed, surprised look on their face when they realize how unbelievable cold the water is. We had to do some 2-yr old negotiations when Marie wanted to "be naked" at the beach. I know, I know but everyone else had a swimsuit on. We compromised with her wearing her swim shirt and swimmer diaper. In any case, we had a great time at the beach till the storm clouds rolled in. A nice way to spend time on a Sunday afternoon.

Snack Time Concert

Silly but cute. After our walk today, Marie had a little PB snack, which the remnants of are visible on and around her. Then she decided to sing. Anyone know the first tune? Anyone???

Father's Day 2008

Father's Day started off with some greatly appreciated chocolate milk.

Marie made this shirt with me yesterday. She kept telling Jim about it all day but he didn't catch on, thankfully. "Marie painted Daddy's shirt!" sounded to him like something else, I guess. Or he was being gracious. However, while her vocab has grown tremendously, usually I am the only one that can fully understand her so perhaps he really didn't know.

Right after church, the two of them put on suits, sun-sauce and hit the lake. Marie put her own shoes on, can't you tell? The weather is predicted to turn stormy so they wanted to swim while it was still sunny out. They were in the water by 11am. Marie has a new rashguard to help deal with the sun. However, as I look out the window, it is alrelady starting to cloud over. Hopefully, they go to at last dip their toes in!

The Best Laid Eggs (I mean Plans)

Have child

Want Lawn to play in

Move to New House with Lawn

Winter Passes

Lawn Dies

Daddy plants new lawn

Lawn Grows

Momma Turtle Arrives to do her business...

Momma finds turtle and screams

Momma and Marie watch turtle for an hour while Marie drinks chocolate milk

Thus Day 2 of summer va-ca passes.

The Best Impulse Buy Ever

Went to Menard's to get a storm door for the front door. I am going slightly nuts not having a screen door AND the "door knob" on the front door is actually a handle. A handle that is easy for little, two-year old hands to open; a handle that can be opened from the inside even when it is locked. This has led to Marie being on the front porch, in her underwear before I can get across the kitchen to stop her. So, we are getting a storm door with a lock and a fancy screen. It is a glass pane that can be pushed down and a screen unrolls from the top, turning it into a screen

door. But I hugely, grossly, digress. Menards is brilliant in that they have an enormous play area in their garden area; it is truly advertising of their products but it kept Marie occupied long enough that I could buy plants. One of the items they had was the yard roller coaster. I had to have it. We don't have a swing, no slide, no pool as all of those items are literally right down the road at the park. (less than 1/4 mile away). But this was unique. She can do it all herself and would be hard pressed to get hurt. And the neighborhood 7 year old girls tried it out too. They were not as impressed as Marie but agreed it was a good toy.

Had to through in a popsicle shot too. Marie literally asks for a popsicle 3 or 4 times a day. She is averaging one for every 3 days right now.

Right now she is napping and then we will try the beach this afternoon!

Summer...sort-of

If you ignore the turtleneck Marie has on and the 50 degree weather, it was a gorgeous summer night this evening. I thought she was going to hyperventilate on the bubble-blowing.

Marie has decided that Daddy is the bomb. She has to give him his vitamins in the morning, asks for him first thing when she wakes up, wants to know when he is coming home from work and, this is the one that gets me, has HIM hold her and read bedtime stories. Momma has been usurped. That's okay, Daddy. In just a few weeks she is Momma's all day long...

Marie Funny!

After bathtime, we have our little nightly pre-bedtime routine. Jim was holding Marie and getting ready to say prayers. He did the Sign of the Cross and we have been encouraging her to do so as well. Instead, she decided that her little bear, "Yellow Pooh" needed to do it. So she got his tiny little stubby arm that doesn't even reach to the top of his fuzzy head and before she would let Jim begin, she had Yellow Pooh do the Sign of the Cross. Then he put his little paws together in prayer.

A clip from tonight's bath...

Mother's Day

Chillin Out and Watching "The Wiggles"

Mother's Day Feast

The Three of Us

Marie trying out my new chopsticks set.

I woke up this morning alone. Not a good sign. That happened Wednesday too when I found Jim on the couch, so he could be close to the bathroom. We both ended up with stomach flu for 2 days that time. So I went downstairs to find him. Not on the couch. Peek out the window. No car in the drive. Oh no...Jim got paged and had to go in to work. If someone had to go into work at 5am on a Sunday morning, better him than a mommy though!

My mother and I were surprised with flowers from Jim, even with his rough start. After church and a nice dinner, Jim and Marie gave me some kitchen gifts I wanted. A sweet day. Now, I am sitting with an upset stomach because the chips I had bought for myself (for when I was theoretically going to sit and read today) are definately not settling well.

Marie is struggling with independence. Knowing something is hers yet having to share it. Wanting to do something by herself yet not having the coordination yet. Wanting a popsicle and snacks instead of a meal. Test, test, test...momma, do you really mean this boundary or no???

Anyways, we think of all the Mom's today...especially those who are struggling and those Moms who aren't with us anymore.

Happy Birthday!

Belated Birthday wishes to Aunt Dottie. She is saying "Cheeeeese" as I started filming.

Visitors

Look who was right off our back deck last night. Can you see both of them?

Captain Marie (in the purple hat) on deck making sure all her passengers had their life jackets on.