Door County 2013

Our annual camping trip was last weekend.  It was so much fun, and just as I'd predicted last year, this year was our golden year where the kids slept all through the night and Brendan and I just got to sit around the campfire, drink beer, and wait for the stars to come out!  It rained a bit, but was overall really good weather.  It was COLD the first night, we all had on pjs, jeans, coats, sweatshirts, sleeping bags and blankets, and Brendan still said he felt cold.  46 degrees when you're in a tent is really chilly!

We did the usual stuff, throw rocks in the water, walk the trails, go see if the goats were out at Al Johnson's, get breakfast at the White Gull Inn.  We also rented a bike for me, plus a Tagalong bike for Ingrid.  It was so fun!  I was a bit shaky at first but once we got the hang of it, it was super fun.  There are tons of trails to take around the state park, we'll definitely do that next year!

Like I said, the kids passed out right away the first night and slept the whole night.  Brendan and I were actually up before they were Friday morning!  No 3am wake up and driving the park like last year!  No starting the day at 5:30am, the kids slept until 7.  Bliss.  It was really amazing.  Each year is just going to get easier and easier, until they hit puberty when they'll all the sudden start thinking it's lame to go camping.  Or at least that's what happened to me at that age :)

Once again, a great trip with the family.  So glad this is our tradition!

Father's Day

This year we got together with my side of the family for Father's Day.  My sister took the ferry across Lake Michigan and we drove down to the cottage to meet up with my brothers and their families.  It was super fun, because as always, Ingrid loves her cousins!  I love it, because as always, someone else is always watching my kids so I finally get to sit with a margarita and relax!

not very sure of aunt coco yet

oh man, those eyes!

balancing!

naked grape eating with grampa carl

sink bath

You'll notice I have no pictures of my kids with their dad on this father's day weekend.  That is because he spent lots of time with them without me, where I couldn't nose my way in with my stupid camera and say "wait, do that again!  Now look over here!  Ingrid, smile, what are you making that face for?"  No, instead they got to go on a father/daughter kayak ride, go the park, go swimming in the lake, and not have mom bothering them with documenting life.

So let me just say that I am proud of the dad Brendan is.  He loves to play with the kids, even after a long day at work he is happy to come home and wrestle, play ball, or watch the Simpsons with his kids.  Otis' eyes just light up when he sees his Dada walk through the door.  I am lucky to have such a good husband and baby daddy.

Busy Weekend

Saturday was our block party.  I love that we live on a block where most of the neighbors know each other and they would go to so much trouble to set up a block party like this!  The neighborhood firefighters came with a huge ladder truck and handed out sticker badges, plastic fireman hats, and bracelets to all the kids.

They were supposed to have a bike decorating contest but I never did see that happen.  The kids had fun riding bikes in the street anyway.

One of the neighbors plays the guitar, so he set up and Ingrid another little girl danced their hearts out.

There was food, beer, chatting, getting to know the neighbors, and of course everyone commented on what a cute and mellow baby Otis is.  He's a hit wherever he goes.

Yesterday was, in my opinion, the best day EVER.  Brendan took the kids to Irish Fest for the whole day!  I was alone at home for hours and hours!  I cut out 24 bibs and have finished them all except for the Velcro.  It was so awesome to get so much done!  The reason I had 24 bibs cut out was for Art Vs. Craft, which I realized I haven't said anything about yet!  (I started an Applesauce Crafts blog so I posted there.)  It's my first craft show and I'm super excited about it!  It's the weekend after Thanksgiving and there are tons of people hungry for DIY gifts for Christmas!

Anyway, at Irish Fest, Brendan entered Otis in the Red Hair Contest.  Sadly, he did not win, but how funny!  Brendan used to get entered in the Freckle Contest when he was a kid! 

Hanging Out in the SUN!

Ahhh, the sun.  How glad I am it's been around for the past few days!  We have had plenty of good outdoors time, without shoes, without coats, without umbrellas.  Awesome.

Ingrid has been getting really good at her tricycle.  We were thinking of getting her a balance bike.  Anyone have one?  What do you think of them?  Worth the money? 

Otis is growing like nonstop, I swear.  I had gone through to get his six month clothes out of the bin in his closet and now he's into 9 month clothes as well.  Our friends Jess and Ben brought over a bag of the CUTEST clothes for him last weekend.  He sported this plaid number today, which really brought out the blue eyes.  Dang, he's cute.

He's been eating oatmeal with various baby food mixed in.  I wasn't sure I was going to feed him solids yet but that kid was ready.  He stares at our food when we're eating like a begging puppy dog, and if you get anywhere near him, he'll grab your spoon.  Every feeding he eats a whole bowl, he's a pig.  Which is good, he has to catch up!

I got a ton of new bibs ready for the shop.  I took advantage of the nice day outside and had Ingrid model them.  She gave me this lovely fake smile after I kept saying "Come on, smile!  Look at the camera!  Cheese and crackers!  Smile!"  She was not having it, so she gave me this. 

I guess I asked for it.

Today Otis and I went to the park while Ingrid was at school and we saw that the wading pool is open!!  So we are headed there tomorrow with a picnic and lots of sunscreen and we're gonna get our summer on.  Finally.

Going for a Bike Ride

Once upon a time, a friend in Milwaukee gave us one of those bike carriers that go behind the bike.  Her mom had gotten it to carry her two Corgies around, haha!  But the dogs didn't like it and we were having a baby, so we got it.  Yay!  It sat in Brendan's parent's garage for two years, and we finally had them bring it when they came for Ingrid's birthday.  Brendan set it up and Ingrid was so excited to go for a ride!

We had to get her a helmet of course.  How cute is she?  She would wear this thing everywhere if we let her.  Which may not be such a bad idea, notice her cut lip?  She fell off the bed.  Twice.  And got a black eye to match the fat lip.  Sigh...that kid is so clumsy!

I foresee lots of daddy/daughter bike rides this summer, which leaves mama home alone enjoying time to herself.  Yay!

I finished my quilt yesterday!  It turned out so wonky but I'm choosing to see that as being unique and homemade.  If I wanted perfection I would've bought one from someone who knew what they were doing!

I used one of my new tags on it.  I love these!  I got them from this lady on etsy, if you ever think you need a nice sew on tag for any of your crafts, get some from her.  She'll help you design something if you don't see one you like, and they are super affordable.