Lazy Mornings

I love summer for many reasons. One reason that I love it is that it is so nice to get up most days and just get ready at a leisurely pace. Peter often goes into his room to get dressed and doesn't come out for 30-40 minutes. I guess when you're a 3-year-old boy and you have this in your room it's a little distracting...

While he's playing trains, Esther gets ready and I get Miriam and myself ready. Miriam usually plays in the pack and play while I get ready so that she doesn't get into trouble. Sometimes Esther sits in there with her and reads books to her. It's so cute! I just had to take a picture of them in their overalls this morning...

Harvest Time!

We've been getting some results from our garden, although the deer have been stealing some of our crops. Casey has tried several means of keeping them away, but they seem to overcome his efforts. We have had some delicious beans and yesterday Casey checked the carrots. They're still a little small, so we'll give them some more time to grow!

Take Me out to the Ballgame!

With the help of our wonderful parents, Casey and I were able to have a day of adult conversation, baseball, and relaxation yesterday. We also got a great night of sleep and were actually able to sleep in--what a gift! :)

Esther went to Grandpa and Grandma K's for the day, while Peter and Miriam went to Grandpa and Grandma W's. They also slept over at their houses (hence the great night of sleep for us)!

We headed out with our friends Brad and Rachel and then picked up our friends Ben and Melody in Grosse Pointe. We enjoyed a great afternoon of Tiger baseball, although they did lose 2-1. It was great to be at the ballpark and have a chance to talk and catch up with special friends. We went back to Ben and Melody's for a delicious dinner, and then headed home to enjoy our peaceful, quiet night. We were also extremely blessed that even though it rained for large portions of the day, pretty much the entire game time was dry.

Now we're looking forward to a relaxing family weekend since Casey took the day off today too!

Catch of the Day!

This is what happens when you pee in people's garages.

Super Duper Fun Weekend - Chicago Edition

If you've read Casey's previous 3 posts, you realize that I have a lot to live up to in writing this. We also had a super duper fun weekend in Chicago, with gorgeous weather, good food, lots of laughing and fun, and some nice relaxing time too.

We arrived late Saturday morning and had lunch, went to play at a park, played some games at Karen's apartment, and ended the evening with Coldstone. Yum!


On Sunday we went to church and then walked to the Lincoln Park Zoo. I'm always amazed by this zoo because it is free, and it's such a nice zoo! They have added a Children's Zoo since we were there last and it was really cool. The highlights were seeing a bear up close (as in a couple inches away on the other side of the glass) and climbing in the climbing "tree" which was a huge structure for kids to climb and wind through like a maze. We also explored some of the rest of the zoo and Esther and Aunt Karen rode the carousel.

On Monday, my Mom hung out with Esther (who woke up at 5:30 both mornings due to the time difference) and let me sleep in! Thanks, Mom! Then we rode the bus downtown and spent a little time there. We explored Water Tower and rode the cool glass elevator, had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory and visited the Hershey's Store. We went back to Karen's apartment, ate the cheesecake we had ordered to-go, and headed home.

It was a great weekend, and I'm so thankful for wonderful times that I can share with my mom, sister and Esther. I'm also glad that I have such a super duper husband who takes great care of the other kids and has so much fun while we're gone!

Super Duper Fun Weekend - Day 3

The above picture may show the pose that some of us would like to be in at the end of the "super duper" weekend. With that said, however, we had a fantastic day today.

Miriam must listen to me occassionally, because she slept in until 8:00 and Peter slept until 8:45....miracles do still happen.

On our way down to Binder Park Zoo, we stopped by Marge's for some donuts. It's not exactly on the way....but we found the time.

Peter and Miriam had a great time at the zoo. Peter loved feeding the giraffes and Miriam "loved" being afraid of any animal that was within a ten foot radius. Guess she decided that today she would love the animals from afar.

Today was a great day of "Peter-isms" as well. Here are the few that I remember.

After hearing a father call for his daughter who was named "Lulu"

"Dad! We know a dog named LuLu!!!" (Peter does not have a quiet volume)

After seeing a man with a ponytail.

"Dad, that man has a woman's hair!" (Again, no quiet volume)

After not being able to find the cheetahs.

"Dad, I think they went out for lunch"

After being in the car for 45 minutes on the way home.

"Dad......I think I just went poopy" (Whew....false alarm, happens to the best of us)

We also ended the day by stopping by Culver's for some dessert after dinner. We met one of our neighbors and his kids (he was "single-Daddying" in tonight as well).

Mommy and Esther made it home tonight so tomorrow.....back to normal. Or, as close as normal gets around here.

Super Duper Fun Weekend - Day 2

Sorry the pictures aren't that good...I only had my camera phone with me today.

Despite the late bedtime last night, both children decided to wake up by 7:00 today....no sleeping in this morning.

After a lazy morning, we went to Brookside CRC for church this morning; they have a 10:30 service and we have quite a few friends who go there. Peter enjoyed going to "Little Lambs" with his pal Anna and Miriam survived a different nursery.

We then headed out to Grandma and Grandpa K's for dinner. Miriam of course decided to take a brief nap on the way out there....negating any chance of the much needed "longer afternoon" nap.

After a nice afternoon at my folks, we headed out to the Diekemas' and enjoyed some time on Lake Michigan with the Waanders family this afternoon. I think I had most things under control....though there may be a relative that will claim the credit for realizing the kids should probably have sunscreen on :-).

Late bedtime again tonight....we'll see how tomorrow goes!

Super Duper Fun Weekend - Day 1

This morning Mommy and Esther left to spend 3 days in Chicago, so that means Daddy is on duty 24/7 through Monday night. When I got Peter up this morning, I asked him if he was ready for a "super duper fun weekend" and he promptly informed me that "I can handle it, Dad." Whew.

Unfortunately, I started out the morning with fire department training, so Peter and Miriam hung out with cousin Tyler and Aunt Renee and Uncle Jeff. Daddy had plenty of fun though playing with the fire trucks at the airport for the morning, and Peter and Miriam had plenty of fun at the McCaul's as well.

From there, we promptly headed over to McDonalds for the first meal that Daddy was in charge of....how could we not?

The afternoon was fairly low key. The most exciting part was Daddy and Peter picking beans out of the garden while Miriam napped. We then all headed out to the Shoe Carnival to pick up new sandals for Peter....apparently it is possible for a 3 year old boy to wear completely through his sandals.

The big event for today (and there is at least one major event every day that Mommy is gone), was going to the Berlin Raceway tonight and introducing Peter to the fine sport of auto racing. We decided to take Granpa K along as well and let Miriam hang out with Grandma.

Peter was quite enthralled with the race. It started off well when we saw a monster truck that Peter could check out. It got even better when Daddy introduced Peter to "dippin' dots" ice cream. Oh, and Daddy also introduced Peter to a new drink.

Peter: "Daddy, what are we drinking?"
Daddy: "Mountain Dew"
Peter: " I LOVE Mountain Dew"

Peter lasted about and hour and a half before he was ready to go home....which was about what I figured. So, we packed up, picked up Miriam from Grandma and Grandpa's and headed home.

First day done, kiddos in bed at 10:00 (2 hours past their bedtime).....it looks like we will be attending a 10:30 church service tomorrow!

Happy 4th of July!

We've started some wonderful Independence Day traditions, and enjoyed continuing them this year. Of course we started our day by going to watch Daddy drive the fire truck in the Kentwood parade. We were joined by some friends and relatives and had a big group to wave to Daddy as he drove by.

After the parade we had brunch with our friends and hung out for a while, while Esther spent the afternoon at Grandma K's. We finished our day by having supper and playing outside at Grandpa and Grandma W's house with both sides of the family. Then Daddy had to go back to work at the Kentwood fireworks while the kiddos took baths and then went home to bed!