4th of July Weekend

My "birth bud," Carrie, and her family FINALLY came to visit over the 4th of July weekend. We were very happy to have them here and had a great time. We began our weekend with a day at Greenfield Village, an old fashion village that's part of the Henry Ford Museum. We watched the big steam engine and just about scared James out of his pants when it's whistle blew, and later took a ride on it (after Jeff and Julia went home, she wanted a nap so badly). I enjoyed a very messy custard cone - very worth it.

That evening we went to the fireworks. For some reason it is next to impossible to find fireworks on the actual 4th, but we enjoyed them on the 3rd instead. All the kids (and adults) enjoyed them. Julia was hesitant, but mesmerized. Almost a month later she's still asking to "Go see fireworks" and saying "Fireworks pretty loud - boom, boom."

James, Ella, Claranna, and Julia posing in their 4th of July outfits.

We also enjoyed an afternoon at a local waterpark. Julia even went down a water slide all by herself!

Mark, James and Ella - Jeff and Julia are in the background.Finally we visited a children's museum. You can see in the picture Julia looks as though she's reaching for Jeff, but in reality she's pushing him away and telling him one of her newer phrases "go play daddy" .... The first time I was told to "go play" I felt a bit dejected, but soon realized she's copying what she hears - from me. I realized I suggest that she "go play" with her toys, etc. while I'm making dinner some nights. My baby is growing up and beginning to express her independence.

Inaugural Camping Trip Father's Day Weekend

June 21, 2009

Over Father's Day weekend we took our inaugural "real" (non race track) camping trip. We went for just one night an hour away but had a great time. It was a quiet, nice campground with a small lake. As always it was quite amusing driving in in our fabulous 1979 motor home. We were a bit nervous that they may not let us in (some campground have rules on how old your camper is), but we rolled in without a problem. But it did include a few head turns and 'whoa, that's an oldie' and 'Dad look at that motor home' comments. .... better than a tent though - it has air, a bed, fridge, etc. and Julia loves 'the bus,' as she calls it. Here's a few pictures of us enjoying the weekend.

Jeff found a frog, Julia enjoyed petting it and thought I should hold it.... I just let dad hold it.

And here it is... the fabulous motor home, Jeff's uncle picked it up for us from the east coast and drove it back for us.

Como Zoo

The day after Megan's wedding, Mom, Michelle, Julia and I went to Como Zoo and the boys went on the river. Julia still talks about the giraffe and sleeping lion. Below is a picture of Julia watchin a train you could ride with Grandma and Michelle. Michelle and Julia were going to ride it, but Julia began to have second thoughts, so I went on it with her. We sat down, but she was immediately on my lap and wouldn't sit down, so off we went before it even started. Maybe next time.

Megan's Wedding

The weekend after Memorial Day, one of my best friends Megan got married. We are so happy for her and had a great time at her wedding. We were home for 10 days so had a good visit with the grandparents, Michelle, and were able to come up for the wedding. What a beautiful setting!

Meg, Polly, and I posing it up. It was great to see the 'clan' - Megan, Polly and Carrie and Laura (not in picture).

Us on our carriage ride after the wedding ceremony!

Trying to get a good picture of Ella, James and Julia.

A couple more of James and Julia flirting!

Me and Polly enjoying Julia's goodie bag! Each of the kids got a bag of goodies, candy crayons, and glow bracelets. Very good idea Meg!

A day with Grandma and Grandpa L.

In May we were at Grandma and Grandpa L's farm. Julia had a great time feeding the cows and playing around on her new trike they gave her. We then went to a merry-go-round and spent some time at cousin Carter's house.

Julia was very unsure about the merry-go-round, but after many nervous 'all done's" she started enjoying it, mostly after the ride was finished though. She said she wanted to go again, but since then we've been at a carousel, and she did not want to ride it.

Julia and Carter had a great time at the park!

Silly Girl

Julia's growing so fast, she loves painting, coloring, reading, dancing and singing. Here are a few silly pictures and a video from the past couple of months....

Julia and dad love to make fish faces at each other.

Julia loves Chicka Chicka Boom Boom at daycare, we don't have the book. They sent it home with us once to have Julia "read it to us." She wanted nothing to do with it with me trying to read it. We recently got it from the library, she was so excited and looked at it the whole way home, even fell asleep holding it. I bet I've read through the whole book once, she again, won't let me read it to her. Silly girl!


Doesn't she look all grown up (and a little like pippy long stocking or punky bruister with the braids and leggings)!

Landscaping Project

At the end of March Jeff got laid off so has had more time to move forward with our landscaping project. We tore out all of our overgrown bushes and regraded some of the yard. We cut down soil on the east end of our house and built a retaining wall. He's still building the second retaining wall we'll need. We will eventually put three big windows in the basement so we can finish it off. Julia love to watch and help Dad dig in the dirt. She loves to watch him dump dirt out of the bucket of the Cat and you can see in a couple picture below she was helping me and Jeff measure the grade. She went over and grabbed a level and stood next to me so serious, it was really cute.

Thankfully Jeff recently got hired back, so will go back to work July 20th... He better start working faster because we still have a lot of work to do around the house!