A Visit With GG

While in Michigan, the boys and I took a quick trip over to Lansing to visit with GG (Opa’s Mom). You just never know what GG will have up her sleeve for her Great Grandkids, and when we arrived Isaac was very excited to see that GG is Superman fan too!

Yes, this is GG dressed as Superman; underwear on top of her pants and all! (Thank goodness she doesn’t have internet because she’d probably kill me for posting this! **No one needs to tell her I did either!! **

We took a trip out to Aunt Patti’s (one of Opa’s sister’s) house on the outskirts of town. The kids enjoyed touring her mini farm.

Aunt Patti and Isaac with one of her ducks

Lucas warmed up to the duck too.

And then Isaac got to hold the duck. (one of the highlights of our trip!)

Back at GG’s the boys had a great time playing out in the gorgeous weather.

We spent Saturday night with GG and after breakfast on Sunday the boys took GG for a ride on their imaginary bus. I’m not so sure about that driver!!

Opa, GG and the boys

Mommy, GG and the boys

As always, we had a great time visiting and playing at GG’s house.

Frankenmuth

Last week, the boys and I joined Oma and Opa on a trip to Michigan to visit our extended family. The first stop on our agenda was Great Gramma & Grampa Weiss’ (Oma’s Dad and Stepmom’s) house. They live in an awesome little German town called Frankenmuth. It’s a must see town if you’re ever in Michigan! There are plenty of things to see and do here…even for the little ones!

Isaac with the replica of the covered bridge

Isaac and Mommy at River Place

The landscaping and huge variety of flowers in Frankenmuth is unbelievable!

Grampa’s Garden

Michigan is closer to the central time zone so it stays light way longer there than at home. The boys had SO much trouble falling asleep while it was still light out.

Lucas out in his pajama’s WAY past his bedtime!

Brotherly Love

On the covered bridge with Opa

Checking out the brand new fountain that they built on Main Street since we were there in February. These people don’t mess around…if they want a fountain they start and finish it in minimal time. This thing would have taken years to build in NC!!

Lucas taking Oma for a run!

We took a riverboat ride up the Cass River. The boys enjoyed watching the baby ducks chase down the boat to get their popcorn. Isaac enjoyed watching the operators tilt back the stacks so we would fit under the covered bridge.

Opa and Lucas on the riverboat

The boys watching the paddles work.

The boys with Great Gramma Etta

The boys and Mommy with Great Grampa Weiss

We had a wonderful time visiting with Gramma & Grampa Weiss in Frankenmuth!

Sweet Boys

Just a couple of my two little guys. They are growing up way too fast for me!

Best Buds

Madeline and Isaac are finally at the age where they play well together without arguing or whining. It’s so much fun to watch them explore the world together and this past weekend the woods together.

As you can see from this picture, there is no more of Isaac’s favorite quote: “Don't toucha my shirt Madeline!” He gives her hugs willingly now!

Discussing world issues in front of their pretend campfire.

Isaac showing her the techniques of fishing. He’s had that fishing pole since last Thursday so he thinks he’s an expert now! For the record, he does catch that same red plastic fish every time he casts!

Water fun is always a big hit with these two. There’s nothing like a nice cold shower!

These two have become inseparable and I love that. Isaac asks daily when Madeline is coming to visit, and last week he told me unprompted that she was his best friend. I really love that these two are so close and hope their younger siblings follow the same path as they grow up!

Circus Circus

Water time at the lake quickly turned into circus time. Our little princess performer, Madeline, prior to her water ballerina (much like synchronized swimming) routine.

The walking on water portion of her routine. Just look at those pointed toes!

Audrey and Opa playing motorboat.  Doesn’t it look like she’s having the time of her life? Lucas is trying his best to play patiently in line.

Then the acrobatics started. Daddy trains all the kids to have good balance just like a cheerleader! Lucas and Isaac have always loved being up “so high”. Here is Lucas showing off his skills.

Audrey gave it a try too, but she only likes medium high!

All the kids love Brian/Daddy the jungle gym!! You just never know what kind of tricks you might learn to do and just like the movie “Dirty Dancing” there’s no place better to perfect your acrobatics like the lake!

Camping

We have been talking about camping at Holly Point Campground on Falls Lake (20 min from our house) for the past 9 years. This weekend, we finally did it and we had a blast! Oma and Opa, Aunta, Uncle Mark, Madeline and Audrey joined us.

We had a bunch of things to celebrate, and a bunch of left over icing from Isaac’s birthday cake, so on Friday before we left Isaac helped me make a cake. This is what you call a multipurpose cake…

On Friday afternoon we headed over to the campground. The kids actually did a pretty good job helping during set up!

Hotdog dinner followed by relaxing by the fire…

We found a perfect campsite with lots of room for the kids to play in the woods.

Swim time at the lake…

Dizzy time at the playground…

Time for some reading…

Oma’s pinterest idea, smores in a cone. This was a VERY yummy idea!!

On Sunday morning, we sent the kids out on an adventure. Treetop, the squirrel from Friday’s bed time story, raided our campsite during the night and hid their breakfast in the woods. The kids enjoyed “hunting” for their food.

Please note my son’s crazy camping slippers in the next couple of pictures. They are 4 sizes too small, but he insisted on wearing them when he was packing his toy bag on Friday afternoon.

Shower time at the lake…

We had so much fun and there are so many stories from the weekend. We are definitely going to do this again when we find a free weekend!! Check out Aunta’s blog for some of her funnies and stay tuned for more on our blog too.

Once in a Lifetime

Ever since our solar system project, Isaac has taken a huge interest in knowing all about the planets and the solar system. So when I heard about today’s big event, I knew I just had to take him to see it. For those of you who may not know, today Venus crossed in front of the sun. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but when you add in the fact that this is something that won’t happen again until 2117 it becomes a once in a lifetime event that I really wanted myself and my boys to see.
Daddy had a work function tonight (and is totally bummed that he missed out), but Isaac, Lucas and I ventured downtown with Lynn and Kathryn (our neighbors) to look through the special telescopes that the museum had set up on top of a parking deck for viewing the big event. I was surprised at the number of people there and the lack of an organized plan, but I managed to get us right at the front of the line (always a good thing with little ones) for one of the telescopes.
Isaac taking in the view…

Lucas’ turn (although I doubt he saw much more than the eyepiece)…

I’ll be honest, the view through the telescope while pretty cool in the big scheme of things was not life altering or the most majestic thing ever. It was pretty much the sun, turned white by the special filter, with a round black dot (Venus) on it. But again, for me it’s the fact that the boys and I experienced a once in a lifetime event together. One day they can tell their kids and grandkids…“this picture is from the day that Venus crossed in front of the Sun”….and maybe those kids will be as excited about the story as Isaac was about the real event today.

Butterflies

Cabbage caterpillars laid claim to the brussel sprouts growing in our garden. Isaac and I put up a good fight trying to save our crop, but eventually we admitted defeat and went with the motto: “if you can’t beat them, join them”. We took our brussel sprouts out the garden and planted them in a Rubbermaid crate. We then covered the crate with some cheap netting and tied it on really tight. Viola…a netted butterfly garden where we can watch the caterpillars destroy our crops and turn into butterflies!

Believe it or not, our little idea worked too. Yesterday during our daily rounds of the backyard mini farm, Isaac discovered our first butterfly. Isn’t she cute?