State Fair AND a Trip to See Gramma!

Just realized I never posted any pictures of our day at State Fair since it was the day before we left on our vacation to my mom's house!  We had our friends from Chicago come up to go with us, it was a great day.  Ingrid walked the whole way and didn't even complain!  I think that had to do with the fact there were plenty of stops to get snacks, or at least to look at what was deep fried or on a stick (or both!) Both kids rode rides this year, and we all went on the Ferris wheel, which was terrifying.

 See how OPEN the sides are?  I imagined the kids falling to their deaths about a billion times.  It sucks to be a mom sometimes.  As a kid I found things exciting, now I just realize how every little thing is potentially deadly...

 

The next day bright and early at 5am we got up to take the ferry across Lake Michigan to see my mom.  I had taken the boat once before but no one else in the family had, so it was very exciting, even at the crack of dawn.

 We got to my mom's and promptly went down by the beach and made sandcastles, visited the horses, took a golf cart ride.

 The best part of the trip is that while we were playing outside, there was a campfire going.  So we got to roast marshmallows and hot dogs, just like camping!  In fact, the whole weekend was like camping but with real beds and showers, and as much coffee as I wanted!

 Brendan and my brother went fishing.  My brother caught this 34" pike.  It was scary and very toothy and Ingrid ran screaming off the dock when she saw it!

 It was relaxing and amazing, and as always a very good time.  I just love going there to visit, we all have so much fun every time!


 

Thank You, Miss Wendy!

Dear Miss Wendy,
Thank you so much for letting my Gramma have us over to your house.  We had tons of fun sledding and playing in the snow.  Gramma helped me build a snow fort, it was pretty cool!

 

Pearl had fun, too!

Mom didn't come out with us, she just carried Otis around all day. 

Thank you also for letting my Great Grandma and Grandpa come over.  It was fun to see them, and they were pretty excited to be able to hold Otis!

I loved to play with the farm, Legos, dollhouse, and of course, the rocks!!  After all that fresh air and excitement, I got tuckered out.  Thanks for letting me crash!

Hope to see you someday soon.  Love,

Ingrid.

Girl's Road Trip

My grandma turned 80 this past weekend so there was a big shindig for her.  Grandpa turned 80 two years ago, so it was a weekend full of remarking how much everyone had grown since then!  Ingrid and I left Saturday morning, drove for three and a half hours, and finally made it to my mom's.  My cousin was having a bridal shower so right away we got to see all the ladies of the family.

Ingrid sang to great-grandma.

And she splashed with grandma in a bucket of water.  (oh to be so easily entertained!)

The next day was the birthday party.  Holy cow, our family is enormous!  Six kids all had 2-4 kids.  These kids have all had 2-3 kids.  It's astonishing how a family grows over the years!  Ingrid got to play with cousins, go swimming in the pool, and eat birthday cake. 

Yesterday we hung out at mom's again.  My cousin has a two year old as well, so Sophia and Ingrid played together splashing in the pool and then rolling in the sandbox.  It was an exhausting trip but so well worth it.  We don't see family often so when we do it's always a good memory making experience!