Sprinkler fun...kind of...

It was HOT today, so we got out some different sprinklers for the kids to cool off. Simon was not impressed with either of them - he likes to splash in the water, but prefers not to be sprayed. Anna mostly had fun tormenting her brother :-)

And so, it begins...
We did get a few smiles out of him
Here we go again...

Me and my girl

Anna and I did this at one those little photo booths at the mall today. Awwwww......

The 4th of July

We went to our town's annual 4th of July parade again this year. The kids both had a really good time. I think the pictures tell more about it than my writing about it.

Enjoying a yummy elephant ear

She spent much of the parade this way

One of Joel's favorite parts of the parade :-)

Strawberries

We realized recently that we are almost out of the jam we made last year, so off we went today to pick some strawberries to make some more. Anna was very helpful...until she realized that she could eat them too; then, many more ended up in her mouth than in her bucket. Simon mostly just sat in the stroller and watched. Anna did share some of her strawberries with him though - afterall, there was an endless supply :-)

Inaugural Camping Trip

We decided that we wanted to try out our new camper before we go for our week long camping trip later this summer - you know, to work out the kinks so to speak :-)

The problem is that it is VERY difficult to get campground reservations without serious advance planning - like 6 months in advance. Times have changed from when Joel and I went camping as kids, when you just left as early as possible and hoped there were sites left when you got there (there usually were). Now, you MUST decide where and when you want to go and make reservations 6 months in advance - the earliest the state parks allow. This involves rapid speed dialing to the reservation center until you get through and having a list of camp sites you are willing to reserve. Anyway.....the state park at Cadillac was one of the few that had any spots for this weekend, so that is where we went.

Set up went relatively smoothly, in spite of 2 kids "helping". We finished right around dinner time and decided it was time to eat, but when we tried to light the propane grill that came with the camper, we discovered that it wouldn't light....well, long story short, a few phone calls later and Joel ended up driving to Meijer to buy a propane stove so we could eat.

So, let's see...we had the propane issue....the mosquitos were HORRENDOUS...and it rained ALOT on our last day and completely flooded our site.....But, other than that we had a good time trying out our new digs and a great time playing at the beach. We figured out some of the do's and don'ts and feel more prepared for our mega-camping trip in August.

Si looking all cute ready for bed
Playing at the beach



Our campsite

My very silly children

Vacation?????

Well, vacations are not REALLY vacations anymore - the chaos seems to follow us, but it's still fun to cause chaos in a new place :-)

We just got back from a mini "vacation" in Traverse City with Jen's parents and her sister's family. We stayed right on the bay at the same place we have been going to for several years, complete with mini golf, bocce ball, shuffle board and lets not forget the hot tubs overlooking the lake :-)

I took Si down to check out the sand shortly after we got there. Well, he saw something he wanted in the water and the rest is history. Yes, mothering at it's finest - this is him fully clothed right after he did a face plant in the water

The above mentioned hot tub - very nice, but not quite as relaxing with all the kiddos splashing

Joel and Anna playing mini golf and Simon checking VERY

carefully to make sure they are doing it right :-)

The fam

Celebrating Karen's 30th birthday (the kiddos are being temporarily entertained by the grandparents - YAY!)

Enjoying a bday cupcake

Anna got her own glass of "special" juice - it wasn't near as "special"
as the juice the grown-ups enjoyed :-)

Well, since we are both over 30 now, we figured we should learn how to play shuffleboard - we still don't have a clue how to play for REAL, but it was fun anyway

It's a little harder to play when SOMEONE takes and tosses the disks

And, even harder when you have to shoot around little moving obstacles

Anna in her "rock star" sunglasses, showing off her newly lost teeth

Cousins

Daddy's day pic

The dads and the kids

Anna picked out these "fancy" rings for all the girls to wear - GIRL POWER!

The entire fam

Now we are home trying to recover from our "vacation" :-)

A New Way to Eat...

He thinks he is pretty funny!