Hello Summer!

When you live in Michigan, you tend to look forward to Summertime a little more than most people. The winters here can be long and cold, and once the thaw here begins and the trees and grass turn green, you know summer is near.

We always try to plan a bunch of fun stuff to keep us busy and to get out and enjoy the weather. This summer is no exception and I am so excited for all of the fun stuff we have planned!

There will be weekly play dates with our friends, whether that be going to the beach, to the zoo or just down the road for some good ole' ice cream. But outside of the smaller things, we have a few bigger things planned.

First up we are going with some friends to Michigan's Adventure, an Amusement/Water Park at the end of the month. It is on the west side of the state, so we are doing a long weekend so we can visit some beaches on Lake Michigan as well. There's a lot of fun stuff to do over there, so I am sure we will have plenty to keep busy. Initially, we just planned for it to be just the four of us, but trips are always more fun with friends! So we invited our friends along for the fun....and as an added bonus, they are from the area so they know where all the fun spots are!

When we get home from that trip, we have plans to go up north and camp. My in-laws have a nice camper and a membership to a Campground Resort, so we will be up there for a week or so. I have a feeling my two water boys will be enjoying the pool non-stop!

The week after we get home from camping the boys will celebrate their 5th birthday with a big party with family and friends. They are already looking forward to that. 

Later in the summer we are hoping to head down to Georgia to see our extended family. Last year the boys and I spent two and a half weeks down there and it was so much fun. I am already missing it this summer. My niece is always posting pictures of them at the river and I am finding myself becoming a bit jealous. :) Guess we will be road tripping it!!!

We have already been to the beach a couple of times and had a play date with my nephew Laken today. Welcome to Summer!!!

Alex Chillin' in the Water

Heather, Rachel and I.

Beach Boy

Buddies Evan and Nate

The Crew: Evan, Lauren, Elise, Alex, Dylan and Nathan

Laken and Evan with the Bubble Machine

Two Crazies

Last Day of Pre-K

When I was growing up it felt like an eternity from the time I started school until I graduated. Time seemed so slow. Even summers seemed longer. As I got older, moved out on my own and even got married, time sped up a bit but it wasn't anything that I talked about as much as I do now. Since I have had children, time is just speeding by. Some days I feel like I can't keep up.

In the past couple of weeks I have been flipping through the photo books I have made over the past 5 years and seeing Alex and Evan as babies makes me miss them during that time. For me, sometimes I feel like I didn't get enough bonding time with them when they were infants because there were two of them. I was so busy to truly enjoy each and every moment. Some days I felt like I just needed to do things to get by, to get through the day. I tried my hardest to take time with each of them whenever I could, but I also tried hard to keep them on the same schedule to keep my sanity. Once they got to a certain age (and weight) it was hard to hold and cuddle them both at the same time.

I love looking back and seeing their cute little chubby baby faces. I now, have two very handsome little men who are now both Kindergartners.

Last Thursday was their last day of Pre-K. They gathered to sing a few songs, then we got to enjoy lunch together and some play time on the playground. We even got some pictures with their friends and teachers. They both grew so much this year and I am so proud of both of them. They had some great teachers who helped them along the way. It is hard to leave and move on when we all have grown so attached. Here are some memories of the day.

Alex and Sapphire

Alex and his friends

Evan and Emily

Most of the Class

Alex and Samantha

Maddison and Alex

Evan and Emily

The boys with their teacher, Mrs. Schorr. (I love Alex's hand on her belly)

With Ms. Kennedy and Mrs. Schorr

Evan and his Best Buddy Bradan

On the Spinner

Proud Parents

Zoo Fieldtrip

Alex and Evan had a class field trip to the zoo on Thursday. The weather was nice and my mother in law was able to come along with us which was great. She bought us tickets to the train, which the boys had never rode before - and will probably have to ride every time now! (they both loved it!) Here are some photos from our day.

Alex and Sapphire

Evan and Brayden

Evan and Mommy

Grandma and Alex

Grandma and the boys

Chimps!

Momma carrying Baby

Camel Family - Baby is on the far right

The boys

Baby Giraffe born last year

Detroit Tigers Game

Alex and Evan's First Detroit Tigers Game - May 20, 2015

Wednesday night we were lucky enough to take Alex and Evan to their first sporting event. A Detroit Tigers Game! Eric and I both love baseball and were thinking about taking the boys to a game this summer, but then Eric's company decided to have a family night out so we took advantage!

To no surprise, neither were disappointed, just a bit restless. We decided to carry Alex because we were unsure if we could park his stroller anywhere safe without risking it being stolen. There was no way I was chancing that. It was a bit rough because he is pushing 35lbs, but we managed.

We sat for the first 2 innings and then I took Evan for a walk around the stadium because he was restless. We stopped and got the boys first game certificates at guest services which I thought was a pretty cool thing for them to have. I would have never known about this if one of the workers didn't tell me. Then two "pretty girls" stopped Evan and offered him some Detroit Tiger tattoos and posters - which he took and then proceeded to chat it up with them. When we walked away he told me we needed to find more girls and that there were a lot of them there at the stadium. I asked pretty girls right - and he said "yeah".

We met up with Alex and Eric at the Carousel and they went for a ride. Evan typically sits on the bench, but we convinced him to ride on one of the Tigers! They loved it of course. Next up was the Baseball Ferris Wheel! I wasn't sure if Eric was going to be OK - LOL. I think we have decided against him riding the one at Navy Pier in Chicago now!

Finally we grabbed a bag of popcorn and watch a few more innings. We managed to end up on the jumbo tron belting out Bon Jovi Living on a Prayer and everytime the crowd clapped and yelled, Alex got super excited. I think he thought they were clapping for him! We left at the top of the eighth inning because it was getting late but the Tigers went on to win the game 5-2. As we were walking out, Evan said "I love this place" which made Eric and I happy because we love it too and we are excited to take them to their next game.

First Game! May 20, 2015

My Favorite

So happy he rode a tiger and not the bench

Upset that is it over

Ferris Wheel

Ferris Wheel

Certificates!

Mothers Day 2015

Last Thursday at school they had an afternoon that they called "Muffins with Moms" to celebrate Mother's Day. I invited my Mom along and the boys were so excited to have her there. We made bracelets and pictures and of course had muffins! I was very happy to share this experience with my Mom and she was just as happy to share it with me. This was the first time she has attended anything for the boys so it was a big day! Here are a couple of pictures of us.

Alex has such a serious look

Mother's Day on Sunday turned out nice for me. The kids were up bright and early, but my loving husband gave me the best gift...to go back to bed and sleep in!! It was glorious, especially since my washing machine broke the day before and I had to haul all of my laundry to my Mom's house later that day. In addition to sleeping in, I got 2 beautiful cards, some drawings from the boys and a bouquet of flowers.

I took the boys to visit my Mom that day and we went for ice cream after lunch which was nice. I am so thankful to have my Mom in my life. She helps me watch the boys so I can work part time now and there were a couple of days this past winter when the boys were sick and she came through for me last minute so I didn't have to call into work. She has always been there for me and I love her so much.

Later that evening Eric and the boys took me to Pei Wei for dinner which was absolutely delicious!! It was a pretty nice day that I got to celebrate with my boys.

As for being a mother now myself, I am so happy to celebrate the day with two very special boys who mean the world to me. I love them so much and I am so grateful for them. As they are quickly growing up, I am trying to enjoy every little moment I get with them and try to be the best mother I can be for them. I hope they know how lucky I am.