10 Months and a Vacation

It seems that I'm still getting caught up from our two week adventure to Wisconsin earlier in the month.  During our trip, Jonathan turned 10 months old!  What a big boy he's getting to be!

During the past month, Jonathan has continued to be the smiling baby of our home.  Our family is blessed daily by his sunny disposition.  Jonathan's current favorites include yogurt, Toasted crackers with cream cheese, sipping water and milk from a cup, trashing rolls of toilet paper, cruising along the edge of the couch, and chasing his siblings while Daddy holds him.  His dislikes are watching me leave a room, sleeping at night (although he has improved a bit, and he and I have graduated from sleeping in the basement), and long car rides.

During the past month, I've gotten pretty good at getting Jonathan into the backpack style carrier.  It's a hit!  I wish I would have tried this with Forrest and Charlotte.  

While I'm here, I'll toss up a few of our favorite Wisconsin pictures.  This year was truly a memorable trip.  We had great weather, enjoyed our house and boat on Whitefish Lake (and the new air conditioner), spent time with Grandma, and relaxed as much as a family with three young children can.  

Joshua and Forrest are headed back up in a week for a "man trip."  It looks like my dad may even join for a couple of days this year.  That will mark the end of summer, but not the end of fun for us.  On the horizon, we have a 6-year-old birthday party, a first birthday, and a possible trip to Adventureland.  Can't stop the excitement!

 

Wisconsin Dells

Last weekend we hopped in the van for our 2nd annual trip to the Wisconsin Dells with Poppy, Gigi, Shaun, Bill, and Will.  We once again stayed at the Great Wolf water park and had a great time!  This year Forrest was old enough to be very independent in the water, though he did still want to spend a lot of time with Gigi.  They've been buddies for a long time now.  Charlotte had so much fun in the kiddie areas, splashing and floating.  Jonathan wasn't too sure about the water but was very happy to just be held and watch the action.

 Paul Bunyan's restaurant for breakfast is a childhood memory of Poppy's.  We weren't disappointed.  All-you-can-eat, family-style is the way to go!  I was a little sad that there was no souvenir t-shirt with a blue ox on it.  The squished penny will have to do.

Florida Adventure

Who says I'm not ready for excitement or adventure?  Guess what, taking three children on a vacation is certainly an adventure, and that's just what we did for my birthday.  And what a delightful break from Illinois winter it was!  We played outside, went to parks, enjoyed Grandma's pool, put our toes in the sand at the beach, rode in the boat, ate ice cream and donuts, and just enjoyed.  Thanks to Poppy and Gigi for all their help.  (Turns out it's a lot of work to vacation with three young children.)

A Few More Wisconsin Memories

Joshua and Forrest are just finishing up their man trip to Wisconsin.  They had a great time!

While Joshua, Forrest, and Mark have been vacationing, Charlotte and I have been hard at work.  This week, she transitioned out of the Pack n Play and into her twin mattress.  She's doing well!  I've spent my quiet moments working on a donut pinata for Forrest's upcoming 5th birthday party.  The next time $40 seems like too much to spend on a pinata, I should go ahead and remember what a time-consuming mess making one is.  It's an ongoing labor of love for sure.  

Michigan 2015

Shaun has grown to love time spent on Lake Michigan, so she invited us to join her and Bill at a lake house this summer.  We packed the car and made the drive two weeks ago and were not disappointed.  We had lovely weather all week (important for a beach vacation) and enjoyed the sights that Muskegon area had to offer.

 The sand really is amazing.  Sand castles and digging were so much fun.  The disappointment in our sandbox sand when we get home was too bad.

Forgive the plaid shorts and orange striped shirt.  Sometimes Forrest has a sense of style all his own, and really, if you check out my hair in the first picture, I have no room to talk!

Forrest spent a lot of time on the tire swing.  Poppy is currently working on installing one in Orion. 

A dollar pool game lasts much longer than most other dollar items Forrest wants. 

And now vacation season is over, just like that.  August is here, and Forrest's school year begins in just two weeks.  I'm not ready...  Can we just slow down, at least until we find a house and settle in?