Summer Visitors

My brother's kids from DC came for two weeks this summer and it was eventful! One week was spent in GR and the next up north with Uncle Marv and Aunt Linds.

We kicked things off with a FIRST lost tooth! Tooth Fairy is good, she didnt miss a beat.

Saturday Uncle Peter took us to a Civil War reenactment and told us all the details. Sam LOVED watching everything happen.

Ellen enjoyed spending time with her cousin cat Madge, the feeling was mostly mutual ;)

Father's Day was celebrated in fine style with friends on the shores of Lake Michigan.

Rita and Grace headed off to camp with their buddies first thing Monday morning. Oh. What. JOY! and maybe a little apprehension....

Rachel and Rita made fast friends :)

That left Sam and Ellen to come over and play with their Uncle Peter. We've got a suction cup Nerf gun and treats...who wouldnt come?!

Thursday night Sam and Ellen came for their very own cookout and s'mores.

And a walk with their favorite uncle; he's hard to beat.

Friday night they were back in order to stay the night and head for vacation bright and early. Ellie was delighted to play with her friend Madge again :)

Sam got to pick out a few fireworks with Uncle Peter - joy! joy! joy!

And then Saturday it was a roadtrip to the Great White North! Stowaway included...

Week 2 adventures await!

Father's Day and the day after

Father's Day was a nice celebration around here, a bonus being that dad got to celebrate with his four oldest grandkids AND the celebration stretched out for two days. mhmm, an extra day! 

Lucky guy!

Day one - Lake Michigan. Shoes and shirt, very accountant-y

 Day two - Kelsey St. Bike gear and trail maps.

What a guy! and he really is too. :)

4 years in the making

Every visit to the Meijer Gardens for the last four years I have exclaimed with great anticipation that I cannot WAIT for the Japanese garden to open. 

It only got worse this spring as the time drew near.

Finally my big moment came and it was beautiful, and huge - much bigger than I anticipated.

We packed a picnic, enjoyed Jamie and Becca's company, took in a cool drum concert, and then toured.

I'm looking forward to seeing it in various seasons and watching it mature.

So zen :)

The first check of summer!

Handsome Pete and I have a summer checklist of things to do. Mostly so we dont get to the end of the summer and find that all we've done is make permanent wallows on our couch cushions. 

Since technically it's not even summer yet, and we've already eaten at La Huasteca, our local authentic Mexican Restaurant, we're feeling good about our progress! 

LH was recommended to us by Marv and Linds and let me tell you, it did not disappoint! which is good because the two times we attempted to go and found it to be closed, those were kinda disappointing. (Sunday and Monday...no go). Oh and the time we tried to go on Cinco de Mayo but the wait was 2 hours, that was disappointing too. 

This time the food was delicious, the service fast, and the company delightful.

I think it's safe to say, if you called and inquired about going there with us, you'd surely get a positive response.

Baseball Buddy

Peter and I picked up a stray baseball fan on our way to the Whitecaps last weekend and we were so happy to have him. I think the feeling was mutual.

Living the only child dream if only just for a night. :)

Stinkers

Our furry babies have BOTH been a bit on the naughty side lately.

See the dirt on the floor? matches the dirt on her paw.

Regina is definitely sneaking food from the pantry while the little one is just outside of the photo frame urging her on...

AND she's taken to reading my recipe magazine while I'm away!

It's like we're living with animals!

A day in the life of Moses

Besides getting a new baby sister, Mos got to:

Play with your cousin cat Madge

Play on the breakfast food at the mall and bags in the house

 Have bedtime stories read to you by Uncle Peter

What a great day!