Christmas in July!

I know I can't really complain too much about Michigan weather, since for the most part it suits me just right, but it has been pretty miserable hot for a looooonnnngggggg stretch, I'm talking mid 90's and what feels like 100% humidity, SO, I am perfectly happy thinking about Christmas and yes, SNOW, in July!

If you want to think about your Christmas plans, please come back this weekend to find out how you can be the winner of a 6 day, 5 night stay at Mountain Run at Boyne, right on Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls, Michigan!  And you can take your entire family and then some, up to TEN people!

And, I'll try to catch up our activities, lets see after spring break, Big J did Little Learners Soccer (those pics are on my phone) and then she did t-ball - yep, fighting the boy for the ball, she got it - and yep, in her skirt, HA!

Easter, right?  They had to find about 6 eggs, each which contained a clue to find the next egg which led to the baskets - fun!

Then Mother's day

Then graduation open houses:

Including their cousins graduating from high school:

and their cousin graduating from college - sorry she didn't make the picture here but is in the family reunion pics at the end!

For Big J, kindergarten visit day which resulted in these:

Big J attended her first birthday parties for two of her best friends, this is "E"

The first fourth of July for them both - not a bit sleepy!

We surprised Grandma and Aunt June at coffee on their birthday

And when it has been hot.......

A few days at the lake with Tim's sister and kids

And just last weekend, my family reunion (dad's side).  One of my 3 brothers was there, small attendance this year but fun nonetheless!

(we'll call this one above for Father's day too!)

and then just two silly, sweet, funny girls:

We are so blessed!

200 +

So that is how many pictures I just downloaded off my camera since April, see, we have been busy!  I won't bore you with all of them, but here are a couple from our day at Lake Michigan.  It was a camping weekend (we just went for a day trip) and there were over 80 families from right here in Michigan who have a child(ren) from Ethiopia!  Very fun! 


Remember, AFTER a day of sun and sand  :-)  

Aren't they the cutest?  Just saying.....

I heart you

Wow, so it's been a while!  Spring break came and went and now here it is the middle of July!  Don't even know if I can catch this blog up for the past 3.5 months that I've missed - and I won't try tonight, but this is worthy of staying up too late!

Yesterday, Little J and I came home from a fun day at the lake with her big sis and cousins.  It was just the two of us when we got home and she had a snack and then I got her in her jammies.  I stood her up on her changing table/dresser and she leaned over, put her head on my shoulder, her arms around me and said, "I love you"!!  At 21 months, her first unprompted and very real I LOVE YOU!  Melt my heart and bring tears to my eyes!  She even told me a couple more times before bed!  So, that is the most current news.  Enjoy some pics of her and Big J at their cousins graduation open house, so appropriately dressed for this post!

I'll be back soon with more pics and some BIG news - think Christmas in July.....

Talent

What do you think?  Does she has a future in music?  Thankfully she has her dad and grandma's singing genes, maybe she can make a go of it combined with her harmonica skills!

And while she starts off a little slow, one smart 18th month old!  She will probably be a future zoologist, she loves naming all the animals in her animal book!

Daddy gymnastics

Rather funny that dad would be doing "gymnastics" with the girls since I am the one with the gymnastics background!  I'm sure they enjoy his version better, none of the "point your toes", "straighten your legs", "pinch a penny" and such, just fun flippin!

In case you didn't know....

this is what a double ear infection AND pneumonia looks like in a toddler:

And of course this happens when you are on vacation, in another state!  Poor little thing, did great on the drive, did a lot of coughing and sneezing, got to South Carolina Monday about dinner, she seemed okay, and Tuesday morning was a trip to urgent care!  Well, it was only slight pneumonia.  They still hit her hard with meds and look at her the next day:

We had way too short of trip, but our dear friends who we traveled to Ethiopia with were able to join us!  It was such fun!  There was a morning at Broadway at the Beach:

Big J and C

Little J and her Ethiopian travel buddy, G (they don't look all that thrilled do they?  Getting near nap time)

 The whole family!

 Big J went to the blow up jumpy thing area

Little J found this chair just her size.  No matter that is wasn't ours!  But ironically another family from Michigan!

A day at the beach

More fun riding bikes

Then our last night

Kids ready for bed, although little J didn't fall asleep for quite a while, wouldn't have guessed that by the picture, eh?!

One last "squeeze"

hmmm, I can see this picture now up on their graduation board........these two had so much fun together!

And just like that, the week was done, two days driving home and back to business!