simple things...

a couple beach days

We have had such a great time the last couple days on vacation with some friends at the beach. We are trying to get the last few days of summer fun before the kids go back to school. Yesterday we went on a little road trip with some walkie talkies in each of our cars. The boys in one vehicle and the girls in the other. We had so much fun laughing the whole way from destination to destination. A little shopping, a little eating, a little walking, a whole lot of laughing and talking. It is so great to have such good friends. What a blessing they are to us. The girls all had their stuffed animals on their laps and Laine is in front of her face. But this is about as good as it gets with a timer on the camera. What fun we have had.

camping trip

We haven't been camping in a reallllllly long time. Like about 5 years. Paige was 2 and still wearing diapers last time we did it. I really don't care for it so much. My husband would love to go alot more. So Friday afternoon the opportunity was given to use a camp site my sister and her husband had reserved for the weekend. Only they weren't going to be able to use it Friday night. So they offered it to us. It was very spontaneous. We decided to go about 3:30 in the afternoon and were all packed and ready to go by 5:00. (They had already set the tent, air mattresses and campfire wood already) That is pretty good! We took our cooler and hobo pie ingredients. For those that don't know what a hobo pie is. You take 2 pieces of bread and butter the outside and then you fill with anything. We made pizza. Sauce, cheese and pepperoni. It makes a little pocket. We had marshmallows, and chips and pop too. We had a good time. I didn't sleep great but that is OK. Laine was so cute. She loved camping and this morning after we had walked to the bathroom she said "are we going back to our new home now"? I love that home to her is anywhere her family is. Paige drew and colored about a 20 page "my camping trip book". It was so creative. She loves to draw. Last night in the tent she just colored and colored. I read a book. Jeff took a little nap. It was so nice just to relax and have fun with no TV or anything. We played card games. Took a walk. Fun family time. What a great day. We really need to do this again.

our favorite vacation spot

Over at Kelly's Korner she is hosting a show us your favorite vacation spots. This one is mine. Frankfort MI. We have been going here for the last 10 years.

walking the beach...

looking for Petoskey stones...

at the beach...

Sleeping Bear Dunes

Dad and Paige a few summers ago

this summer at another beach...





Mom and the girls

funny things kids say...and a prayer request

Well Laine had a doctor appointment yesterday at U of Michigan Health Systems....which of coarse meant a little shopping in very cool Ann Arbor. Her appointment was with her Hematologist who has been following her eye for the last 4 years (Her Hemangioma was very fast growing tumor, but is healing now!) She got a good report and no need to follow again for a whole year.
Anyway....while we were there they sent in a medical student who talked to her and myself and asked a ton of questions to learn about everything. The student asked "does anyone smoke in the house?" She turned and looked at me and I said "no". In the most cutest face and ohnoimintrouble look, Laine tells her "doctor.... sometimes uhhhh we roast marshmallows". (get it? camp fire?...smoke? smores? smoking? :)) haha. It was so funny. She had everyone in stitches. And then she says "its not funny guys". She just cracks me up. Have a happy Friday!

PS Please pray for our friends who are adopting. They traveled on Saturday to Kazakhstan to adopt 2 teenage girls. The have been praying and trying to get them for the last several years. Finally they get through all the red tape and now both girls (who are sisters) refuse to be adopted. So they will be coming home to an empty house. We are so sad for them.

summer fun

mom's at work and laine is tinkerbell

Ok while I was at work Friday and hubby took the day off to spend with the girls....they made video's. And trashed my house, and had a lot of fun doing it. Disregard the mess in the house and enjoy listening to Laine as the tells about being tinkerbell. It will crack you up! My silly little girls.

we are having a blast

We have a water park in our town and 2 of my friends and our 7 kids went this week. It was so much fun. Until now Paige would not go down any big slides, but she did this time and now she is hooked. I went down too and had fun. Laine went swimming with her floaties and played in the water. What a great summer day!

happy birthday!

somebody is having a birthday tomorrow

Laine is 4 years on Wednesday. She is such a blessing and full of life and spirit. She talks almost all day. Pretty much everything she is thinking is said. She is funny and has a great sense of humor. We are so thankful for her health and she is growing well and strong. She is sensitive too and very caring. She loves to share and the more the merrier when Laine is around. Life is just one big party. Speaking of parties we celebrated with friends and family this weekend. It was a beautiful day to celebrate her 4 year old birthday. She was thankful and squealed at every gift she opened. It was so sweet when she opened a present and found something she had never seen before or asked for she said "oh, I always wanted one of these". Laine you are a breath of fresh air, you toot your own horn, and we love you so much! Have a Happy Birthday

a conversation with a 3 year old.....

Saturday, Laine was pretending she was a cow. She has a very good imagination and likes to be kitties, dogs, or other animals. Yesturday it was a cow. So this is how the conversation went...
Laine: (in a cute little cow voice) : I am a cow and need milk.
Me: Laine if you are a cow you don't need milk, you make milk.
Laine: (starts giggling) Mom, cow's don't make the milk!
Me: Really? Well where does it come from then?
Laine: Mommies and the fridge.
Me: Laine did you know that cow's really can make milk?
Laine: (again giggling...and I could see her little head spinning.. Cows standing on their hind legs makin the milk...what a picture).
Me: really they make milk Laine.
Laine: Cows can't make the milk
Me: Why?
Laine: Cuz they don't have the recipe.
Me: Thinking to my self...( I really need to take her to farm)

blackberry jam

We have lots and lots of blackberries so we have had them on yogurt, on angel food cake, and just in a bowel with a sprinkle of sugar. I have froze some of them so we can enjoy them in the winter when we don't have fresh ones. Last night Paige and I went picking berries and Jeff helped me too. I really wasn't planning to make jam but the idea came to me and I found a receipe on line. I went to the store to buy jars and sure-jel. Paige was such a big help picking and cleaning the jars and drying them. She loved smashing the berries too. Laine helped a little too. Have a fun Saturday in August!