Visting Friends and Ice Cream

We were honored by visits from Joy's friends, Nicki and Mary.  Nicki drove up on our rainiest day of our stay, but we had a great time playing games, climbing the sand dune, and telling stories.  Later in the week, Mary and 3 of her kids, along with Brennan's friend (Zach), came up for the day and we went to House of Flavors (for the second time that week) and played a long game of whiffleball which ended in a high scoring tie in the eleventh inning.  Then we threw kids into Lake Michigan and made sure everyone enjoyed getting wet on our brightest and sunniest day of the week.

 

Nicki liked the idea of a silly picture with our family of 5.

Not sure this booth was built for 13 people, but we fit!

Joy and Mary with two of her girls and one on the way.  The front row included the whiffleball players.

We polished off an 9 scoop Pig trough at House of Flavors with just the five in our family...no problem.

Turtle Racing

We had the opportunity to partake in the weekly turtle racing contest in the lakefront community that we stayed at in Michigan.  Grandma and Mommy, of all people, found the first and largest turtle for the race and we called him Lightening.  His competitor was found the next day and was named Thunder, because you know Thunder always comes after Lightening.  When race day came, the same was true and our cheering section was rewarded with 4 wins out of 5 races.  We then released the turtles back into the wild, unharmed.

 

And the winner is:  Lightening!

As we presented in our story the next day:  we caught good memories of hunting for more critters for the race.

On our nature hike, we found a robin's egg.

Wisconsin

The first stop on our Midwest vacation was in Wisconsin.  We were joined by Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Aaron, Aunt Kaarli, Cousin Kaleb, and Aunt Alecia.  We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in the Wisconsin Dells.  This was great because it had a three room indoor waterpark that is accessible from the halls that our rooms empty into, so we could come and go from the park to our room.  Bryce's favorite ride was nicknamed the Snowspeeder because it carried two guys and did a lot of swerving and crazy flying.  Garrett was challenged by the Tornado ride which was about a three story high drop in a large inner tube with other passengers.  His once and only time on it was with Aunt Alecia and Mommy--his main comment:  they screamed too much.  Uncle Aaron and Daddy offered to go with him again and not scream but that offer was declined repeatedly.  Maybe next time.  It also served as an excellent meeting place:  Great Uncle Roger and Great Aunt Cheryl, Great Grandma, and Great Aunt Barb were able to join us for meals and time to catch up.  Mommy went wedding dress shopping with Aunt Alecia and Grandma:  they had a great time and saw some great dresses tried on.

 

We got the whole crew together for a picture before parting ways after lunch.

Our room within the room with Mom and Dad.

Waiting for the wave-making machine to resume.

Celebrating 87 years with a birthday cake at Great Grandma's house in Portage, WI.

Little did we know that the adults were free on the bounce pillow with a paid child, so we partook of this great opportunity and saw Mommy get bounced off the pillow by Daddy and Uncle Aaron, not that they were trying to...

Don't be afraid, this dragon doesn't breathe fire...it's a bounce house.

The women do a little shopping.

Bryce 5y 11mo

If you have been around Bryce at any point in time during the past month, you have heard about his countdown to his birthday.  It is almost here and he is excited to almost officially be 6.  He has started to focus more during piano sessions and can play the first two lines of Ode to Joy.  Bryce's favorite past-time lately has been lego building as he attempts to construct the largest starfighter/frigate with some serious carrying capacity.  The perfect ship is still a work in progress and has gone through many building and rebuilding stages.

 

I picked this pose for my solo picture.

I decided that Uncle Aaron needed a buddy and so I took my food over and ate with him...Mommy later said that lunch was a very quiet affair at her table...

Where are the pedals?

Griffin 4y 2mo

Griffin has started his last summer before he officially starts Classical Conversations.  So even though he still isn't in Kindergarten yet and won't be until 2014, he senses that the expectations will be raised this next school year.  He has started to really ask regularly to roll for baseball and football cards.  What he does with them is another story...but at least he has an album that Brett can try to keep his "good" ones for him.  He certainly knows how to pose for a picture, especially when given a "solo" opportunity.

 

Pick up your "Y" and follow me.

Snuggling up with Sharkie for a nap on the airplane.

 

Can you tell the difference between the sand and the freckles?

I am proud of my face full of sand.

 

Garrett 8y 1mo

Garrett has enjoyed the start of summer, he has been able to focus on things other than academics.  While we were on vacation, he was very observant of things around him and asked lots of good questions, but he has also enjoyed reading stories, both fiction and non-fiction.  He has focused on piano and guitar and applying lessons from both of them to each other.  More than anything else he has been creating his own battle scenes with Star Wars ships and Legos.  He has been a willing helper with yard work, when it isn't over 100 degrees outside.  Garrett also got to go on a date with Mom and Dad to the symphony while the other two stayed home with a babysitter.  We picked the John Williams and Disney symphony called Going to the Movies.  The finale featured Darth Vader and three Stormtroopers entering and insisting on Star Wars End Title as the finale.

 

It can be dangerous to take on Dad by yourself...I got flipped upside down on my head...don't drop me!

I have a sweet tooth for things like Superman Ice cream which was a special treat.

 

Mom and Dad took me on a date to the symphony where they played John Williams music!

San Luis Wildlife Refuge

Our final field trip of the "school" year involved a wildlife refuge where we saw lots of really cool birds like some raptors and herons and ducks.  There was also a separate area with a ton of elk.  But the lasting memory by Garrett and Joy was the numerous mosquito bites they sustained on one stretch over the marsh where Joy suddenly noticed that she was covered by them.  Bryce and Griffin were remarkably spared--maybe they have different blood type?  We were joined by Emily and her four kids, along with two other kids from CC who tagged along.

 

Bryce may not have been bit by mosquitos, but he lost a few fingers...or so the story goes.

Bombs away...who can get the most distance?

June 2013

June included our longest vacation time since our honeymoon.  We were gone for 10 days in Wisconsin and Michigan where we stayed at a waterpark hotel and then a beachfront house on Lake Michigan.  We saw family and had lots of fun playing games, building sand castles, and eating great food.  We celebrated Father's Day with both sides of the family and celebrated some birthdays along the way.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

IT'S SUMMER VACATION!!!!

Bryce 5y10mo

Bryce finished kindergarten this month and has really started to enjoy reading a little more.  What used to be a struggle has begun to turn into something he can just do.  He is still our most demonstrative child in almost all things that he does.  He likes to do things that his older brother does, but he still wants to compare himself to his younger brother.  I guess when you consider it, that is pretty natural.

If I were to run into Indiana Jones, he probably would just shoot me.

I helped Mommy design this breakfast/lunch plate.

I may still have my reservations about dogs, but Haru was fine by the end of the day.

I dove into the bush, and I was SAFE?

Griffin 4y 1mo

Griffin received the last of his birthday presents, when his custom, AJ Griffin, jersey shirt came in the mail.  It is a little big on him, but he doesn't care, it is his shirt with his favorite player on it.  He wears it proudly.  Griffin's teeball team wrapped up their season, but he wasn't ready to be done, so he kept putting on his jersey for his brothers' games and sure enough he got to play.  He even batted leadoff in the last game of the year, but this led to some controversy.  The opposing coach challenged his age, saying he was clearly underage, but our coach stood up for Griffin.  The first pitch, Griffin lined right at the other team's dugout which woke everyone up and showed them he was here to play.

Grammy and Poppy came to my game, and we went out to eat afterward.

Can you guess the number behind my back?

Coach Derrick and Darren talk to us about how to play as a team.

I'm ready to go bat, I follow Anthony, since he is number 24 and I'm number 25.

Coach Derrick gave me a game ball and a handshake.

Luke and I celebrate our season and our snacks.

Gangham style...

I'm doing my STRIKE dance.

Before the Superman movie comes out...I am Superman, just so you know.