Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day at the lake and it was AMAZING. Everything. We got to spend the whole weekend with family and friends...which is pretty much the best case scenario. There were a couple games of chess...

Lots of swimming in the {just a tad cool} lake. Both Jack & Josie will pretty much be fish this summer.

We took plenty of boat rides. Nolan decided he likes the boat.

 ...and taking baths in the sink.

 ...and reading the newspaper with Papa Denny.

 We got to hang out and play with the Dixon/Wright clan. Jack is the oldest at 6...Maddie is two weeks older than Josie (peas in a pod) and Will is two weeks older than Nolan. This is a crazy crew.

 Grandma Shirlee and Grandpa Jerry stopped by Sunday for a boat ride, lunch, and the Indy 500.

 Oh - and there was plenty of desserts. Cake & ice cream. Jack was in heaven. Looking forward to MANY more weekends at the lake!

Florida Part 3

On Easter Sunday we enjoyed breakfast out with Jon and Cassie. Then we headed off to Sebring to spend some time there with my parents and grandparents.

Grandpa Jerry got a new golf cart! Jack, Josie, and Nolan took plenty of rides! We saw a mama owl & her babies, some monkey squirrels, and a GATOR!

That night we went out for dinner to celebrate my grandpa's 88th birthday! Chocolate cake for everyone (which made Josie, my chocolate queen, VERY happy).

Before we left - we took a dip in the Sun'n'Lakes Community pool. That was pool #1 of 3 my kids swam in THAT day. See - I wasn't kidding when I said they were in water 80% of their visit to Florida.

After a full 7 days in the Sunshine State - we were ready (or at least our plane tickets said so) to head back to Michigan. Not a day has gone by - that my kids haven't said "I miss Florida" since we've been back. We are ALL so sick of the Michigan cold. I believe Uncle Jon is still recovering from our visit.

Florida Part 1

We spent our Spring Break in Naple, FL - visiting Uncle Jon, Cassie, Grandma Shirlee, Grandpa Jerry, and my grandparents (Grandma & Grandpa Gigi). We made a decision to fly this time - since Nolan would go crazy in the car for 20+ hours. The flights were a bit stressful - but a 2.5hr non-stop flight was definitely the way to go.

Once we arrived at Uncle Jon's we were SO excited to be in his pool! The kids were in water 80% of their visit. Uncle Jon's back patio has a pool, hot tub, and plenty of room for family dinners.

Nolan dipped his tiny feet into the ocean for the very first time and LOVED it. He was a little hesitant at first...but ended up loving the sand and the waves.

Jack and Josie had SO much fun digging in the sand and Jack had a great time playing in the water. He tried boogie boarding for the first time and did well! My Michigan kids are Beach Bums after all...

And...Nolan put in some time consulting for both Clevenger Insurance and Arthrex (Uncle Jon's company). His opinions were highly valuable. All he does is work, work, work, work, work...

(More to come from our trip)

Winter???

The Michigan Winter...and 90+ inches of snow are a distant memory to us these days. My children are fish. I think I spotted gills on Josie.

Tyson and I are at DePauw for our 10 year reunion!! And I'm 2/2 being pregnant at College Reunions. My timing is impeccable. Cheers to a sober weekend...for me, probably not for Tyson.

Wrap-up of the Week

Cruel & Unusual Punishment: Preschool closing for a week (still not sure why) in the middle of winter when we are JUST getting back on schedule. Needless to say, it's been a LONG week. I know summer will be here soon - but at least I can sit outside while my kids play.

 I snapped this pic of Josie. She was pretending to talk to one of her "Papa's" on the phone. I caught her hiding behind the curtains & blinds in Jack's room. Jabbering away.

Jack had a AWESOME swim lesson! He is starting to swim by himself! Hoping we can get him in the pool a few more times before Florida.

Tuesday I was washing sheets. This is usually a chore I do while he's in school - but since he didn't have school this week... He wasn't happy about me "stealing" his sheets. He protested with Occupy Laundry Room - his first official sit-in. I see BIG things for this kid as a politician.

At one point - I walked away and went to clean up Josie's room. When I came back Jack & his sheets were missing. But never fear - I found them both. Jack was trying desperately to put them back on his bed. It didn't go well. Eventually I convinced him to HELP me wash the sheets...and when he went to bed that night he was loving how clean they were. I guess he doesn't realize when they're clean every other time...?!?!?

Swim School

Tyson and I made the decision around Christmas that Jack desperately needed swim lessons. We spend WAY too much time near water and - well, swimming is just one of those life skills YOU.MUST.LEARN. Fortunately we have a "swim school" nearby and every single person I've talked with - has LOVED their experience there. So we signed him up...and watched him cry. He cried through two sessions - which, we also hear, is very "typical."

Yesterday I talked up his lesson all afternoon: "You're going to be so brave!" "You can show Mr. Peter what a great swimmer you are." "I know you won't cry today."  He was a little teary when we got out of the car...but by the time he walked on the pool deck - he was all smiles. And it probably helped that his Daddy showed up to surprise him!

He wore his goggles (improvement!) and gave lots of enthusiastic thumbs up.

And he went all the way under (a few different times!). It was a very big improvement.

He even got a ribbon - which is hanging on the refrigerator.  He was all smiles...very proud of himself...and we were proud of him, too!