Cottage fun

I didn't feel like it. That's the only reason why it took me so long to put pictures up of our time at the cottage with my parents. I finally motivated myself, so I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Also, things we can do when we stay at the cottage that we can't (or won't!) do at home:
1. Play in the water ALL DAY. For Ethan, this is not an exaggeration.
2. Have our whole family sleep in one room (made if very difficult for me to sleep since I hear everything the kids do!).
3. Have a candy bar for dessert...after breakfast...AND lunch...AND dinner. Unless we have an ice cream bar, then we don't have a candy bar...at least most of the time.
4. Push grandpa into the water with his clothes on.
5. Ride on the pontoon boat and watch the sun set.
6. Go for a kayak ride in the quiet and peaceful morning.
7. Make mud pizzas.
8. Eat, eat, eat...trail mix, puppy chow, junk, junk, and more junk.

Kathleen Marjorie

Sorry for the delay in my posting of pictures! We've been busy relaxing at the lake (otherwise known as "my next post").

Here is my adorable new niece!

New niece

I'm happy to announce the birth of my niece! She was born at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10. Kathleen Marjorie is 8 lbs. 6 oz. and 19 inches long. The proud parents are my sister, Karen, and her husband, Rod. I'm planning to go see her this afternoon, so I won't have any pictures until then. We've been staying at a cottage with my parents, so I may not have opportunity to post her picture until this weekend. I'll try to post something as soon as I can!

Cherry Picking

The other day we were at the farmer's market and I noticed a sign for picking sweet cherries at one of the local orchards. I was so excited because many of the cherries in the area were frozen in one of the later freezes of the year, so I wasn't expecting to find any cherries to pick this year. So that afternoon the boys and I loaded up and headed to the orchard. It is only a little over five minutes away! When we were in the orchard I could not believe how many cherries were on the tree--or how big they were! I intended to pick a small amount for eating. However, I have this problem (and my mother will say that I get this from her), and I could not stop picking. The cherries were so big and so good! Well, now we have 10 pounds of cherries to eat. Cherries, anyone?

4th of July fun

What a busy day we had! We had tons of fun, but we were tired by the end of the day!

Jason and I started the day by walking in a parade to promote his store. Some of our family members were able to walk with us. We had a great time handing out flyers and other items from the vendors (everyone loves you when you're holding a t-shirt!). The boys hung out with my dad so Micah could get his nap and Ethan could get some play time with grandpa.

After walking in the parade, we headed home and made it in time to watch the last half of the parade by our house. (The local parade is so well loved that people had their spots staked out a week before--if you want a front row seat you have to put your blanket or chair down way ahead of time!). We sat by some of our neighbors and the boys had fun watching the parade go by. Micah's favorite was the float from a church that had their band playing (he loves to "groove"). Ethan loved the float that carried the race car...and of course the monster trucks. We also had plenty of opportunity to get some much-loved parade candy! I managed to not chew out some of the parents around us (I do NOT think it's OK to encourage your child to walk up to the parade participants and grab the candy/beads/whatever right out of their hand).


Ethan watching for the next float.


Micah loves watching everything go by!


Ethan's favorite.


Another favorite.








In the afternoon Micah was napping, so Ethan and I walked down to a local park and watched the skydiving exhibition. Then we played at the park for a while before heading home to play some more in the backyard with Jason and Micah. We also managed to take a bike ride.

It was my turn to go to fireworks this year (I stayed home the past 4 with the kids), so Ethan and I grabbed a snack and walked to the park again. Have I mentioned that I love my city because I can walk to all of the fun stuff? I wish I remembered my camera because Ethan was funny to watch as he tried to catch the fireflies. We talked and played until the fireworks started, and then enjoyed the show together. Ethan stuck it out for all of the fireworks (last year he and Jason left the park when it started because it was too loud for him). He wasn't a fan of the finale, but seemed to enjoy the fireworks otherwise. We headed home afterward, and by that point of the day, everyone was ready for bed! I hope you had an enjoyable holiday like we did!

When daddy's away, we play...mostly!

On Saturday while Jason was gone, the boys and I went to my aunt and uncle's house on the lake. Micah wasn't too sure at first, but once his body was used to the temperature of the water, he liked it much better. Ethan is a little fish. He's quite confident with his life jacket on and I had to keep calling him back to be closer to the shore. He went from jumping off the dock right to me to jumping off the dock without anyone there. He was sad when we had to leave!

Our fun ended Sunday afternoon when Ethan got sick. I'll spare the details, but I'll just say that I won't be eating Macaroni and Cheese for a while. :) I know, that was too much detail. I think it's pretty standard that while one parent is home without help from the other than a child will get sick. We couldn't even go to greet Jason at church when he came home because I was afraid Ethan would get sick in the car. Needless to say, I was happy to see Jason when he got home! Thankfully it seems that it was only at 24 bug and Ethan is back to himself. So far, no signs of illness in Micah!