Tuesday vacation

On Tuesday we took off up the Old Mission Peninsula toward the Old Mission Lighthouse, built in 1870. You are on the 45th parallel, which means you are halfway between the North Pole and the Equator.

Maria kept talking about the "whitehouse" all week long, asking when she could see it again.

It was very shallow off shore near the lighthouse, emphasizing the need for its placement.

(I think it looks like we are in front of a backdrop here...the flash made strange lighting.)

The drive up and back was very scenic.  There was a stop at one point for a "Scenic Overlook"  Here is the view looking out toward the bay over one of the many, many vineyards we passed.  We also saw more orchards than I can remember ever seeing so close together...peaches, apples, plums, cherries.  Many of the farms appeared to be commercial operations, but many have roadside stands where you can purchase all you desire.

4 Months

Yep, I am a  bit behind as Anna turned 4 months last week on the 22nd.  Vacation trumps blogging!

Let's see, she has recently been laughing, but only when she feels in the mood.  Her sleeping and eating habits haven't changed much in the last month.  She still sleeps through the night, and often she is wanting to go to bed earlier than 8pm.  I still feed her when I go to bed, and then she usually wakes up sometime around 8 in the morning.  She still takes several naps during the day too, rarely fussing at all when I lay her down.

She took her first real vacation to Traverse City, and was a superb traveler.  She only cried a bit in the car and it was when we were almost home, go figure!

I will know her weight/length on Friday when we have her 4 mo. checkup.  But she is growing out of a few 6 month outfits already, geesh!

She is a happy, healthy girl who love, love, loves her sister.  Usually Maria can get a smile out of Anna just by talking to her.  Maria likes her sister quite a bit too.  Asking to "touch her" several times a day and loves to give her hugs and kisses and is surprisingly gentle with her almost all the time.

Monday vacation

We took off Monday on foot toward downtown Traverse City, which was about a 15 minute walk from where we stayed.  A random fun thing that happened.  We had to cross a pretty busy street and it didn't seem too pedestrian friendly, which did seem unusual as this is a pretty touristy town in the summer months.  We made it successfully regardless, but while we were walking downtown a lady, who had been driving and saw us make our mad dash across the street, stopped to give us a pointer.  She told us about the pedestrian bridge under the road, but the entrance isn't exactly marked to easily find it, but she told us how to find it on our way back.  She then asked us where we were visiting from and we told her Culver, to which she responded, "oh, my Dad went to school at the Academy...way back when."  What a small world!  Her parting words as we left were "Enjoy Maxinkuckee!" (that's the name of the lake here in town)

We spent until around lunchtime checking out the shops around the downtown area, headed back home for lunch, and naps for the girls.  That evening after dinner we had some delicious ice cream from Bardon's just down the block.

I should also explain how we came to stay where we did.  Some friends here in Culver had lived up near Traverse City in Glen Arbor and their church used to allow people in full time ministry to stay in the parsonage for the church because the pastor didn't live in it.  We called to inquire and found out they no longer do this, but told us of the church in Traverse City.  So we contacted them and indeed they do, but the times it was available were a bit limited because of the busy tourist summer season they have.  So we rearranged our vacation time to work better with the dates they had available.  We think it really was the perfect time, minimal tourist traffic, yet the weather was still tolerable to get out and enjoy the area.  So for a minimal donation we were able to use this house from Sunday night till Friday morning.  We feel so blessed.

Sunday vacation

We headed up to Traverse City last Sunday after church.  The girls made the drive well, about 5 hours with a few stops.  The house we stayed in was only a block from Bryant Park, a nice park/beach on Traverse Bay.  Can you tell what Maria enjoyed most at the beach?

This was the one night with a really gorgeous sunset.

Maria casting some sand out into the water, and getting her skirt "just a little bit" wet as she told us.

"Look at my sandy hands."

Gorgeous!

We have plenty to praise God for; a beautiful sunset to start our vacation.

all smiles

Anna had scooted down some and pulled on her burp cloth enough to get it almost over her face.  So I used the opportunity to play peek-a-boo with her.  She is quite the smiling girl lately.

dress up doll

Maria was having fun dressing up her "real" doll.  She had put on a newborn hat, doll mittens(which Anna is eating!), a bib, a doll apron, Cabbage Patch diaper and plastic shoe, and a newborn bootie.  Anna was a good sport about it, thankfully!  It was cute, she wanted me to put some doll dresses on her too, but I had to inform her that it was a bit too small for her sister.

We have plenty to praise God for; sisterly love.

ahoy!

new duds

Aunt Michele got this cute outfit for Anna.  SInce she is growing SO fast, we had to make sure she got in another wearing, it's so adorable with it's matching hat.  Thanks Aunt Michele!
We have plenty to praise God for; generous family and friends who have made our daughters the best dressed in town!

Potato hiking

We took Larry to Potato Creek Sate Park on Saturday for hiking and a picnic to celebrate his birthday.  It is only about 40 minutes away.  It's a nice park and it wasn't too busy.  We enjoyed a short hike, the mosquitos were pretty friendly, and then found a spot to enjoy some PB&J, what a nice birthday picnic.  On the way out Maria talked us into stopping for some ice cream, honestly, it was all her idea ;)  We went to the Yum Yum Shoppe in North Liberty.  It was great, and so cheap too.  Peppermint, Key Lime Pie, and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

We even found an arrowhead, due in part to Maria stopping about something.  That was pretty cool.
We have plenty to praise God for; celebrating birthdays in simple, memorable ways.

Happy Birthday Honey

our honeymoon in PEI '05

It seems like we've been together for so long, but honestly this is only the 6th birthday of yours we have celebrated together. We were engaged 6 years ago...and it was just the first birthday of yours we had celebrated together. It's it amazing where God has led us in such a short time. I love you tremendously and couldn't imagine another as my soulmate. You were truly meant to be my beloved. I am blessed to be married to you, the love of my life, for the rest of my life.

Te amo, mi querido!

The Garden

Well at final tally, this is what we gleaned our of the garden this summer.

1. Planning/Planting 3 hours

2. Weeding 10

3. Picking 6

4. Preserving 7.5

5 Money invested on seeds, plants approx. $40

Acorn Squash 7

Banana Peppers 93

Beans 9.5#

Beets 3#

Bell Peppers 87

Broccoli 5 bunches

Butternut Squash 8

Cabbage 3 heads

Carrots 5#

Cauliflower 3 bunches

Cherry Tomato 14.75#

Cucumber 70

Eggplant 34

Kohlrabi 11

Onion 11

Peas 7#

Summer Squash 35

Tomato 248

Zucchini 31

Happy Birthday Sis

"Aunt Katie" with the girls

Okay, so you're not my "real" sister, but having babysat you for, what, like 7 years, I think I earned the right to call you my little sister. I have a big sister, but never a little sister till you.

I can hardly believe the little girl I watched so long ago is a SENIOR this year...wow, time flies!

Little sister, I hope you have a wonderful day, and that this next year is such a blessing to you...as you experience this memorable year, and venture into uncharted waters, may God be your rudder that keeps you balanced and afloat! Love you girl!

YUM

picnic

We enjoyed the nice weather to eat lunch outdoors. Maria is at a "don't take my picture" stage, so whenever I can sneak one in, I do. Anna was being her usual happy, smiley self chilling with dad.

We have plenty to praise God for; nice cool temperatures to be able to enjoy being outside in.

celebrating birthdays

We had family over this weekend to celebrate Larry's birthday early.  I had fun taking pictures of the kids while we were at the park and later at home, however, I did fail to include the birthday boy...oh, well.
I put all of the pictures on Facebook.  You should be able to click this link and see them all.  There were alot, so I didn't want to put them all on the blog and make one HUGE post.
We have plenty to praise God for; family to celebrate special days with.

Happy Birthday Friend

Mindy and I after our wedding reception '05

So we've been friends for a long time...known each other since preschool, were in the same Girl Scout troop (#40) since first grade(your mom being one of our fearless leaders!), went to school together all 12 years, church camp, working at Girl Scout camp, volunteering at the Harlan Christian Youth Center together(where we were often mistaken for each other somehow...your blonde hair, blue eyes and me brown hair brown eyes...uh, yeah)...through our loves, first dates, heartbreaks, marriage, kiddos, and everything in between(you even came to visit me in Ecuador), you've been there for me. So many, many memories we share. We share a common faith which bonds us even closer...I'm so glad to call you friend!

Hope you have a super, duper, fantastic birthday girlfriend!

donuts

Notice the M donut made especially for Maria

Seems that each trip to the library produces a favorite book for Maria. This time she really likes The Donut Chef by Bob Staake. It is a cute story with great pictures. I was inspired to make donuts with her as a result. We also made a felt donut, which she looks like she is ready to devour in the picture. She also requested me to make a doll that looked like the girl in the story. I can't say my final result, from this pattern, was exactly like the girl, but it is a doll! The donuts, which we made with this recipe, were baked, and turned out...okay. But they weren't fried, so a bit healthier, right?

1st cone

I picked up some cones at the grocery the other day and Maria was able to eat her very OWN cone...I think she has always had a dish(less mess!) or shared cones with us, and never had her own. So, in the living room sitting on a towel she enjoyed some vanilla in a cone. It reminded me of the many, many times I rode my bike over to my grandparents house. It was very unusual for grandma to not have cones and offer us some. I think sometimes we rode over specifically because we knew she would have some...regardless grandparents are the best!

just plain cute

At least we think so :)

what's that you say?

Anna has started making some strange baby jabbers. She often wakes up from her nap and spends several minutes talking to us in this way via the monitor. She seemed a bit preoccupied with the camera, so she wasn't as vocal as she sometimes is, but...it's her fun way of communicating anyway!

This second video is a bit long, sorry, but Anna is a bit more vocal and it was cute to see Maria interacting with her. She covers her up at one point with a blanket saying she's cold. Maria does love her sister and Anna seems to be amused by Maria at times, or likes to watch her at the very least.

hang loose

Maria was a pacifier baby then thumb sucker, which she still does with her blankie or when tired. Anna has never really taken to the pacifier. She actually makes a horrible face if I try to get her to take one...almost as if I put a lemon in her mouth. But oh, does she like her fingers. She prefers either the middle two or includes the index finger to make three. It soothes her to sleep and keeps her satisfied till chow time. Someone told me it looked like the hang loose sign...whatever makes her happy is what we say!