More Summer 2013

Summer is wrapping up as I will be heading back to work tomorrow. Here is one last post about what we have been up to. My camera has been acting up, so I don't have a lot of great pictures to show for our adventures, but here are a few from the zoo. The boys loved all of the animals and the fun times with dear friends.

We have also been to the Sea Life aquarium, the movie Smurfs 2 and Monsters University. We have spent countless hours at the pool. We took a fun scout trip to the observatory. We watched our first drive-in movie, Turbo. B enjoyed golf lessons. B and C both started piano this summer as well. They are catching on very quickly, but HATE practicing! B and C continued with karate and will be testing for their blue belt in a few weeks. We have done so many crafts. We have made bird food ornaments, water color creations, homemade fruit snacks, science kit experiments, edible play-dough, and are working on recycled crayons. C and B earned their 'Year of Faith' badge. We have had so much fun on playdates with our friends...we loved the breakfast play date, pool playdates, park play dates, and movie playdates. We are sad to see our summer end, but very thankful for the time to rest, relax and do all of the things we don't normally get to do!

Summer Fun 2013



VBS with best buddy M!



A's 1st swimming lessons!

Lots o' baseball!

Science Experiments! C even made a journal!

Snacks a plenty!

Nature Walk at the Park!

Awesome lunch at 'Aunt' Sarah's restaurant after a fun trip to the farmer's market!

Getting rid of our faithful van!

MILKSHAKES!

Finding a new pet at the pool...this is Kermit the Frog!

Michigan!

We just back from an awesome trip to Lake Michigan to celebrate Gma and Gpa H's 50th wedding anniversary. It was an incredible trip. Here are some of the highlights...

Builing sand castles on the beach right outside our beach house!

Ready to go out to dinner for Gma and Gpa's 50th wedding anniversary!

Tubing with Daddy on the boat!

Mini golfing and bumper boating at pirate's cove!

Eating ice cream, cherry pie and playing legos at the National Cherry Festival.

Enjoying some amazing views of Lake Michigan!

Climbing some awesome sand dunes at Sleeping Bear National Park.

Making a rock collection before boarding a ferry to Mackinaw Island.

Enjoying some aswesome views on Mackinaw Island.

Eating a lollipop on the way home to pass the time!

Cincinnati

We traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio in June for Daddy's cousin's wedding. We had so much fun going to the wedding and touring the city. We loved our hotel and ate a yummy breakfast each day. We tried out Skyline Chili, upon Ms. Emily's suggestion. We hung out with Daddy's family and enjoyed some great dancing and a yummy dinner! Here are some highlights!


The boys had their first Shirley Temples. They thought it was the greatest thing ever!



We checked out the pretty views along the Ohio River with Gma and Gpa George!

We went to the awesome Newport aquarium.

Gma treated us to some awesome snow cones!

We had dinner at the Hofbrau House, which is nearly identical to the one in Munich, Germany!

Finally, we had a blast at a Reds game, even though our seats were REALLY high up. The Great American Ballpark is truly iconic and we are so glad we checked it out!

B turns 8!

B celebrated his {8th} bday at his dojo (karate studio). He had so much fun!

The cupcakes were protein packed with peanut butter. The water bottles were wrapped with various colors of construction paper, representing belt colors. The napkins were striped like belt colors, too.

All of the kids took home 'puppy chop' mix as their gift bag.

They snacked on licorice, representing red belts...the highest ranking.

The birthday boy enjoying his bash.

Friends eating all of the goodies!

On his actual bday, we went to Dairy Queen and he enjoyed whatever he wished! Today it was a blizzard in a waffle cone...just like on the picture!

And our birthday tradition...a picture by the balloon wreath!