Our Family "Staycation"

The following are the beginning of a set of scrapbook pages I'm working of our family "staycation". Greg's work had a mandatory week off this last week...a shutdown where he had to use his vacation time. We decided that instead of travelling....we'd make the most of having moved to a new spot and explore around here. It has turned out to be a great time for all of us! Look for more pages in the days to come.

Our Great Adventure!

We just got home a couple of hours ago from a camping trip at Proud Lake--a state park about an hour from our home. We even got to canoe up the Huron River. We think we paddled about three hours--traveling between 6 and 8 miles this afternoon! Nathan and Joshua really enjoyed it...but we're all a little worn out! Hope to be scrapbooking and posting more soon!

Joshua's 2nd Birthday

Here are a couple pages from Joshua's birthday--July 3rd!

The 4th of July

I'm a little rusty at digital scrapbooking, but want to get started up again. I'm hoping to use it as both a cute picture page and a journal. So here's my first go at it again.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

While Grandpa was here in Michigan, he took Greg and Nathan to a Detroit Tigers game. Getting to do something "with the guys" like that totally speaks Nathan's language. They had a great time! It was late coming back...but Nathan sure didn't sleep. Half the fun is being awake to tell the story when you get home!
Even though it's been a couple weeks since these pictures...Nathan can still say which two teams played (Tigers vs. Cardinals) and that there were 4 home runs!
Nathan and Grandpa.
Can't you just tell this is a boy that knows he's getting to do a really "cool" thing!

All Dressed Up!

These are just a few pictures from Jon and Chelsea's wedding open house here in Michigan.

A Great Trip to Utah

We got home from Utah this morning a little after 3 a.m. So...we're just getting going in our new life again! It has been so fun to be with Greg's family...and we're lucky enough to get them for a few more days. Greg's sister Chelsea--whose wedding we've just been to--is having an open house here in Michigan where her in-laws live. So, today we're picking up the rest of the clan from the airport.

Although I thought we'd make it up to Logan, between bridal showers, making table decorations, place cards, a video for the wedding dinner, etc. The days filled up and there just wasn't a chance to get away. I wish it would have worked out to see so many of you still in the area! We'll plan better and farther ahead next time!

The most disappointing part of the trip was my malfunctioning camera!!! After the first couple of days it just refused to work. We think we've gotten some good pictures taken of the actual wedding activities...but we need to pull them from other cameras. So...for this post you'll have to settle for a few pre-wedding moments.
Hope to post more soon.

Joshua and Nathan at the airport for our early morning flight there.
A display at Chelsea's bridal shower--that is her wedding dress!
Chelsea and Bethany--two of Greg's sisters.
Spent Saturday on the family's boat--this is Greg's oldest sister Emily.

Nathan and Joshua LOVED going fast in the water!

Top picture: The Goal
Bottom picture: The Reality
Emily, Jon (Chelsea's husband), Ethan (Greg's brother), and I all had a great time riding the "Hot Dog". The problem was...we just couldn't keep our balance! The ratio of pictures of us trying to get on the Hot Dog vs. the pictures of us actually riding on it is out of control! We'd get laughing so hard we either couldn't pull ourselves back up or would tip it again! Even though not entirely "successful" it was the best memory-made of the day!

Getting Ready to Go!

Hello! I hope the next time I post is from Utah! We're getting ready to fly out early tomorrow morning and will be gone for just over a week. Exciting time with plenty to do!

Usually I don't post without a picture. But thought it would be fun to give a little update. Greg and I both were sustained to callings on Sunday. Greg is the Priest Quorum advisor. We're both really excited for a chance to again get to know the young men. I am going to be a pianist in the Relief Society and have also gotten a six-month calling to be in charge of the ward's annual "Back to Bethlehem". Amazingly this event has turned into an open house for the surrounding wards and the community and in recent years has pulled a turnout of 850-1000 people! At a minimum, it will be a great way to get to know a lot of people pretty quickly in these next few months. Will be interesting to see how these callings unfold for both of us...but nice to feel needed again!

Well, hope to have some great pictures with family the next time you check in!

Air Time!

One of our favorite things about Joshua is the enthusiasm with which he does everything! This is a picture of him throwing a rock at the river. Every one he launched meant a huge jump that got both feet of the ground. (Which is a significant feat for an almost-two-year-old.)
When I asked the boys to stand a little closer together for the picture...Joshua was quick to obey...the best way he knew how!
Just can't help but love him!

The Rocks are Always Bigger a Little Farther Out...

At the park near our home is this "fairytale" river...where we go almost daily to "skip" rocks. The longer we stayed yesterday, the more Nathan realized that the rocks are always a little bigger the farther out you reach. Somehow these pictures for me could be a picture about perspective and our own human nature!