Will - 5 Months

In August, Will turned five months old! Slow down, little buddy!

Will is getting so interactive and playful now.  He loves to watch his sisters run around and be crazy, and he's liking sitting up much more.  He can roll in both directions, but still doesn't do it much.  He is getting much more coordinated to be able to grab onto (and play with) toys and other objects.  He's a total thumb sucker and his neck strength is getting pretty good.  Sometimes he likes peek-a-boo, but other times it just scares him.  He's making cute little babbling sounds and even some crazy pterodactyl screams.

He is sleeping better during the day, usually 3-4 naps each day, and at least one is longer.  Nighttime is a different story.  Let's not talk about how he still wakes up 2-4 times a night.  Someday we'll all get some sleep...sigh.

Will has the absolute cutest little giggle, and daddy is the best at getting him to laugh.  He smiles at his sisters and I throughout the day, but when daddy gets home, he gets the biggest smiles of all.  

He's wearing six month clothes, and size 3 diapers (when he's not in cloth).

August Happenings

August was a busy month, we enjoyed being outside a lot and soaked up as much of summer as we could.  Here's what kept us busy...

finger painting

my little pizza helpers:)

swimming at grandma and grandpa's pool with cousins

Kate & Liana

Will is getting bigger and stronger every day!

Kasey is marrying my cousin, Dan, next month.
Kate was her special helper at the bridal shower:)

sprinkler fun with friends!

GR Ford airport observation area with Eli, Ronan and Adah

Will started playing in the exersaucer

munchkins in Kate's bed

Kate loves to make Will smile:)

Boyne Vacation 2016

Less than 24 hours after arriving home from New York, we had all the laundry done, and the car re-packed for five days/nights up north.  

We headed out after naps and stopped for a picnic dinner at the rest stop in Cadillac.  These kids are becoming travel pros!

On Wednesday morning, we did the Kilwin's chocolate tour in Petoskey.  It was super fun to see them making marshmallows and chocolate candy.  And I got some really good Will snuggles while he slept in the Ergo:)

We played at the beach (at Deer Lake) a few times and it was so fun because it's super shallow.  The girls could run around and play in the water and not get super wet.  They also had a lot of fun building sand castles with daddy.  Kate started putting her head underwater (willingly), too, so she is getting more and more brave around the water, which I love.

We went to the park

On Thursday night, Kate and I had special 'mommy time' and rode the chair lift up the ski mountain, just the two of us.  We also got ice cream together.  It was so much fun to get to hold her hand and talk to her and hear her perspective on lots of things.  She is such a sweet girl.

going up!

at the top!

On Saturday, the guys went shooting, and the rest of us went into Boyne City for the farmers market and play time.  Look how pretty Lake Charlevoix is!

We headed home Saturday after naps, but it was a great week!

Wedding weekend - day 3

On Sunday, we let the girls sleep in as long as they wanted, which was about 9:00 and then just hung out at our cabin for the day.  We made a quick trip into town for food, and then Andy, Sam, Adam and Barry came over for lunch.

After naps - and once everyone else left for home - we drove around Remsen for a while and checked out Kayuta Lake.

We went to bed early and got packed up for our long trip home on Monday.  Thanks for a fun weekend, Bryan and Lisa!

Wedding weekend - day 2

Saturday, July 30, was wedding day.  We didn't have any obligations until the ceremony, so we took it easy at our cabin most of the morning, went out for ice cream at a cute little drive-in, ate lunch, took naps, and then I did the girls' hair and got us all ready.  Matt had pictures with the guys before the ceremony, and we all met up in the woods after that.

doing hair

grandma and Will

me and my girls...they're so beautiful!

ceremony site in the forest

After a few last-minute preparations, the wedding finally started around 5:20.  Lisa was beautiful.  Kate loved walking down the aisle with all the other flower girls.  Liv refused.  So, Will and I escorted her.  And, of course, she got a stick in her shoe part way down and she had to stop to get it out.  The ceremony was beautiful, and we had a little bit more time to hang out in the Forest before the reception officially began.  Thanks, Uncle Joe, for bringing bubbles and light-up necklaces to occupy my children!

playing 'where did the stick go?' with Uncle Adam

so pretty

The reception was held just up the road, right by Lisa's aunt and uncle's house.  They had beautiful decorations and table settings in the tent, awesome food, and - of course - lots of dancing:)

our little family

Mr. and Mrs.

We stayed as long as we could for fireworks (thanks Andy and Adam!) and dancing, and finally left around 11:00.  The girls weren't in bed until midnight.  That's officially the latest they've ever stayed up, but they had fun.  Poor Will just slept in the Ergo with me for most of the reception.  What a fun night!