Sunday, June 30, 2013

Our Non-Sedentary Summer

The summer is flying by thanks to our busy schedule.  Here are the fun May and June activities we've been up to:

Play ball!  Carter played "coach-pitch" baseball this spring/early summer.  His team did pretty well and Carter definitely improved his batting and catching throughout the season.




Not exactly the best stance for being alert and catching balls.



Dave helped out the coaches from time to time.  Here he is trying to teach Carter the correct base stance.



 
We also went to the zoo on Memorial Day weekend (cold, as you can tell).
 


This is the new lion exhibit, the male was out on the prowl and near the glass that day.






We also headed to Indiana to visit Dave's relatives and attend a graduation party.  The kids basically spent the weekend in Dave's cousin's pool. 
 




They loved going for rides in this all-terrain vehicle (with Uncle Mark and Aunt Traci).




And...introducing our new trampoline!  This has been a favorite so far this summer.  We got this the first week of June and have already logged about a thousand hours.  (I think I love it as much as the kids!).


Very safe netting, this has already saved them from flying off about a hundred times.


Mia likes to do dances on the tramp...

 
 
Carter prefers to do flips...
 




Last day of school picture.

Once school was out, our new summer nanny, Abbey, started watching the kids.  Abbey has been absolutely fabulous, the kids adore her.  She takes them on adventures to the zoo and park and they play outside all day.  After her first week, Carter let me know she was the best babysitter they've ever had!  (Grandmas and Grandpas excluded, of course).  Abbey is so sweet and good with the kids and we love her so much already!  She will be student teaching in the fall and we are crossing our fingers she might be available next summer too.


A week or two ago Mia started soccer.  I'm not sure she's in love with soccer, but she seems to be having fun.  It's basically a learning class, they don't play any actual games.



Carter always watches patiently and cheers for Mia when she scores a goal.


 
 
We also went to Ruthie's (Slobodnik) 1st birthday party at Ada Park.  


Mia and Ruthie.
 
Enjoying her cupcake.
 
 


The kids and I also got to visit Grandpa J. at his boat last weekend.  It was gorgeous weather and the kids and I enjoyed our time with Grandpa so much!






Carter loved learning about the gears and navigation of the boat. 

 
 
Out on the open lake.



So, that's the start of summer and July and August will only get busier.  Can't wait for more fun with the kids!


Saturday, May 11, 2013

Picture Galleries

I've contemplated giving up on the blog, I can't quite keep up with it and as you can tell, we're WAY behind.  But there are so many great pictures from Christmas until now, I thought I'd post some blocks of photos to catch us up.  I can't guarantee I'll keep this up forever, but for now, I'm still trying.

Enjoy!


First up, Christmas:












Winter sports:










It's always nice to have Daddy on the ice to tie laces.

Spring:

Cousin Sophia is getting so big!




Happy 4th Birthday Mia!




Butterflies!





Easter








 
Florida:























After we returned from Florida, we had to say goodbye to our wonderful daycare person, Julie.  Julie and her husband, Misha, have been part of our lives since Carter was born.  She unfortunately had to retire somewhat suddenly and we miss her dearly.  Currently Mia goes to a daycare center and she's struggling a bit with the change.  This summer however, a Grand Valley student will be taking care of the kids at home and we are very excited to start a new chapter.

Here are the kids on Mia's last day with Julie (Carter came along to say goodbye too). 



 
That gets us fairly caught up.  I hope to keep it a little more up to date as I'm sure we'll have tons of fun summer pictures to post!