4th of July...... and why we'll have to settle for non-picture Christmas cards this year!

Here are two family pictures we took while we were up north for the week.  It's pretty obvious that getting a two year old, a two month old, and two parents to look at the camera at the same time while not blinking, glaring at the camera, or looking utterly ridiculous is impossible. I'm already dreading pictures for the Christmas card!

Spencer absolutely loved the parade.  He clapped and smiled through the whole thing. It was hotter than hot (90+). Luckily we had a spot in the shade which helped a tiny bit. We went home right afterwards and Spencer fell asleep while walking back to the car and slept for 2.5 hours! We didn't go out to watch the fireworks as we were tired and needed to get things organized for our party the next night; however, we ended up being able to see the Harbor Spring's fireworks from my mom's house.  What a wonderful and unexpected surprise!

Harbor Springs Vacay 2011

The first week of August (yep, I'm waaaaayyyyyy behind) we went up north for our second week of summer vacation.  B's family from FL and OH was all there, so we spent most of our time with them (though we got to spend a little bit of time with my fam too!).  The weather was amazing, the fam was great, and it was nothing short of awesome to spend 10 days in a row with B and SYT!!

What my buddy looks like on our morning walks.  He is always great in the stroller in the morning (after dinner?  not so much!!)

 

We stayed over in Harbor at a house that B's brother and his wife rented (his parents and his other brother's family stayed about 10 min from this house), and it was super close to a fabulous playground.  Spence loved it and it kept him occupied for a LONG time.  He loved climbing underneath things and peeking his head out to do peek-a-boo.  Too cute!

(Okay, seriously, when did he grow up?  He looks like he's 3 in this pic!!)

B and I went away for 24 hours down to the Leelenau Penninsula to taste wine, have a fabulous anniversary dinner, spend the night in a hotel, and, best of all, sleep in!!  N&K watched Spencer for  us, which was wonderful.  He did so well (we were nervous!).

The weather was great, the wine was fabulous (our favorite two wineries were 45 North (their pinot gris is the perfect summer wine) and L.Mawby (all sparkling wines)).

Drinking wine in Lilly and Seersucker on a gorgeous summer day?  Don't mind if I do!

We spent lots and lots and lots of time on the beach and at the pool.  Spencer loves the water! 

Playing on the tire swing up at Pond Hill Farm.  It's a petting zoo, working farm, pick your own fruit, type of place that is just wonderful.  The kids all love it!  Spencer just loved the swing and sitting on one of the tractors pretending to drive. 

This is N&K's daughter (our niece) and Spencer just loved staying with her.  She's a really sweet baby and tolerated constant kisses from him!  It was nice having another baby around as LGT and SYT often napped at the same time, so K and I were able to hang out together while they were napping.  Thank goodness for sister-in-laws.  Mine are fabulous! 

Thanks for tolerating my picture heavy posts of late!!

 

 

Harbor Springs on Dwellable

Lobster Party 2011

Boy, oh boy, it was H-O-T when we arrived at the party.  We got down to the beach around 6 p.m., and most of us filled up a cocktail glass and headed down to the lake to put our feet in and chat while cooling ourselves off.  After about 20 minutes of feet cooling, we went up to take pictures on the dunes, refill our cocktails, have some appetizers, and chat it up with the fam.

Spencer, 15 months

Harbor Springs, MI

All the cousins together.  The three older ones were so delightful with the two babies.  It was lovely to see!  You can see the darling lobster bows in this picture.  The girls all loved them.

PGT and LGT

(different middle names though)

All smiles from my two amazing boys.  God in Heaven, thank you for these two blessings.  There isn't anything better than their happy smiles!!!!

A and his girlfriend, A came in from the East Coast for the party.

Family pic

About 8 p.m., my mom came up to get SYT and LGT to take them home for the night.  It was definitely night night time for the little ones.  We were then able to eat our lobster dinners and dance with the band.  Around 9:30 the other little ones left to go home as did B's parents and one of my SIL's.  The rest of us stayed to dance some more and then........the rain started!!!  Not the best thing to happen at an outside party :(

Sister-in-laws make life SO much better!!!!!!

It started pouring around 10 p.m.  The band had to stop playing early which was a bummer.  It did cool the weather off for the rest of the week, which was nice!!  We all had a wonderful, wonderful time as always!

4th of July Fun

The 4th was desperately hot up north, but still worth the trip.  A few of my favorite pics are below!

Love the Americana feel to this one!

At the Harbor Springs Art Show

Trying to find a picture for above our mantel.  My favorite cost over $1000, so it's on the wish list for now!

I adore hostas!

The parade begins

The bagpipers.  They must have been DYING of heat!

The kids love all the bands in the parade (almost as much as the candy!)

Old timey cars (there are always tons of them)

Our friends kids and BYT holding SYT and trying to keep him shaded by the burp cloth.

Mommy and SYT in the shade.