Camping

This last month has been a little crazy. Ben was studying for tests, I was finishing my semester of school, subbing, and coaching track. We had mentioned camping sometime in May, but never had the time to talk about an actual day. After finishing my final projects, I realized (while I was subbing) that we could go camping the next day. I got home, told Ben and he started to pack the car. It was a real spare of the moment adventure. We ended up forgetting our pillows and other items. Somehow I even convinced two of my brothers and sister-in-law to join us. 

We were originally going to head "up north" near the top of Michigan ( 5 hours driving), but realized it should be done with more planning. So we set out straight across the state to Holland, MI (2.5 hours driving) on Lake Michigan.

 My sister-in-law had access to a 12 man tent. So we were able to bring Evie's pack n' play. Best way to go.

 Hanging out while we set everything up. It ended up being over 90 degrees.

 Hanging out with daddy. This became the ultimate tumbling gym. Evie loved crawling around the tent, bouncing all over the place.

 

1st time with the sand and loving it!! 

 

Hated the water....probably because it was freezing. All of us walked in and dunked ourselves once. It was so cold your joints ached. 

 My (younger) brother Jordan sporting the speedo. Oddly enough this is normal in my family. With all my siblings being on swim team growing up they always wore their speedos to the beach.

 Evie actually took a 3 hour nap at the beach!! Which was amazing. 

I love lake Michigan. It was a little crowded, but so much fun! I can't wait to go up north. It's a little more private and you can camp right on the beach. 

Ann Arbor Peony Garden

Ben has a little break and so we decided to drive down to Ann Arbor and see the Peony Garden. The garden is in a park located right next to the U of M hospital. Even though I had been to the park before I never knew the garden existed. There are over 100 peonies of different varieties donated to the park by a wealthy doctor that had collected them as a hobby. The smells were so amazing I almost got a headache. 

 Evie can't walk yet, but she definitely has been teasing us for a month. She kept crawling along the path and would roll into the dirt on her back. Luckily I was paying attention because she didn't cry, she just laid there like she was paralyzed trying to keep her head of the ground.

 Pictures with mommy and daddy.

Evie smelling the flowers!

8 months

Well.....it's my birthday month!!!! No biggie. I just so happen to be turning 25 this weekend. Old? I don't know yet. Ben would say I'm not. He started surgery this week and is loving it. So far he has done a breast implant. Hmmm.....I wonder why? Tomorrow lipo suction.

On my birthday I'll have to entertain myself while Ben is at the hospital all day. Luckily I have one of the cutest babies in the world to hang out with!!! I think we are going to go swimming for the first time! But in the meantime, this cute little girl is rocking, rolling, babbling, laughing, smiling, and Ben found her sitting up in her crib this morning. Looks like we need to start baby proofing the house.

Thanksgiving

So this year for Thanksgiving we went to Grand Rapids, MI to visit my Grandpa aka Papa. We went out to eat at a restaurant and had a pretty good time. This is the 2nd time Evie has meet her Great Grandpa. He is 90 years old and still going strong. His mom lived till she was 98 and his Grandma till she was 97. (Don't quote me on the exact years, but approximately). Who knew that drinking, smoking, and no exercise is key to living long, proven by Papa. I'm pretty sure his mom and grandma didn't live that lifestyle. I wonder if those genes of steel will carry down to me.
I was excited for Evie to spend time with Papa. Papa is he opposite of emotional, or showing any emotion. He doesn't fit into the sweet old man category where you would climb up on his knee. I was actually kind of scared of him when I was young... and older. These are the words I typically heard Papa say, "Come here, Sit (pointing to the chair), read". And then maybe I would get an occasional chuckle or smile at the end if I commented correctly on what I was reading.

The only time you would know he is enjoying something is if he smiles. Which rarely happens. I first realized this when Mema, my Grandpa, pointed this out while buying a leaf blower machine. " Papa is one happy man, that's the biggest grin I've seen all week." And he was.

Although, if you asked specific questions he would definitely talk about them. Even though he never showed much expression I know he loved me growing up. He always made us something out of wood from his workshop. He spent time with us. And occasionally I get a smile.

I'm glad Evie got one.

5 Months Old

Evie has been growing so fast we can hardly keep up. She is a bright, funny, happy little girl who likes going for walks in the cool Michigan air and loves her Jackie licking her toes.

We went for a little photo shoot around Cranbrook this fall. As usual the leaves were amazing.

Those big eyes are definitely from her Mama. But the blue...probably from Gammy Prince!

My favorite picture of Evie.

We can't wait to see what she will be doing next! Hopefully we will post before the next 5 months!