Everyday Summer

Just some pictures of our "every day" this summer.  Minus the library story time and play groups because I just don't take the camera with me.  But we love those too!

Ok - so this isn't our everyday, but my friend had to have her gall bladder taken out so we watched her kids for her for an afternoon.  She has a 5yr old and 12wk old twins.  My kids were in heaven!  I love little babies and I think the only person in the family who might be more baby hungry than me is Wilson. :)  It was fun to watch him and Zina take care of the twins especially in anticipation of our own soon to be arrival. :)  We can't wait!!

Speaking of Wilson here he is helping me make blueberry pancakes.  We picked fresh blueberries for playgroup and Wilson was craving blueberry pancakes because of a song we listen to by Frances England about how good they are.  

 Funny thing was after all that (it was the 2nd breakfast I made that morning because he wanted them so bad) he told me, "Mom, I don't really like blueberry pancakes."

haha.  The rest went into the freezer for Mark because he is the only one in the family who actually likes them. :)

 We mixed up some super bubble solution using glycerin, water and dish soap.  It wasn't as great as I thought it would be because we couldn't find the right dish soap. weird. But the kids still had fun.

 We snagged this little pool from a yard sale for free.  I wasn't about to spend any money on it because I knew it wouldn't last.  The kids had about 2 days of FUN with it before it got holes in it - courtesy of crazy kids and probably a few raccoons in the night.  But hey it was 2 days of free fun. :)

 This is what our Michigan sky has looked like pretty much all summer.  Despite the many many many forecasts of thunderstorms.

 Sammy's favorite summer activity - sprinkler under the tramp!

 Picture courtesy of Zina!  

There is my 28 or 29wk belly bump and 2 very cute boys. :) 

 Can't wait to make it 3!

 We finally bought some sand for the sand table.  About half of it is now all over the patio, but at least that means they're having fun with it. ;)

 Love these boys.

 So nice to have a brother!

And now that it is a new month and Mark starts 12hr night shifts in the ICU we will be spending even more time outside trying to let him sleep.  With our luck the thunderstorms will hit now. :)

Silver Beach 7.14.12

Despite the title and pictures in this post we really are "trying" to adjust to having a resident dad.   Mark's cardiology schedule isn't too bad, but not great either and after having him around a lot the last couple of months it's been harder than I anticipated having him gone so much.   And I keep telling myself it's because I'm pregnant - because 7:30-6 isn't so bad right?   What can I say - we all kind of like him. :)  The 12hr on call weekend shifts in the ICU can make for a long week.  He has those every other week until Sept. I'm sure there will be months that are worse and months that are better.

So on the weekends that he is home we try to make good use!

Welcome to Silver Beach, St. Joseph MI. 

Seriously - I can't think of anything i would rather do then go to the beach with my family.

It is SO fun.

I love Lake Michigan.

And I love this guy. :)  

Because when Mom's packing up he just can't bring himself to stop playing.

Sammy was such a great help in burying Papa.

If you can't tell he's yelling stop - while trying not to get sand in his mouth.

It's ok.  Zina to the rescue.  I was laughing.

Hysterically.

He was so helpless.

Sammy's turn. :)  They don't come much cuter than that. :)

At this point I am all packed up and ready to go, but they just can't pull themselves away.  :)

(if you notice Zina's sand belly I think she is supposed to be me) :)

And I few of us were just a little tired on the way home.

Yup, he's a Thomas.  Can sleep anywhere - in any position.

4th of July

Happy 4th of July. 

We spent the morning at the Richland parade with our new friends the Condie's (the other 1yr intern family in our ward).

We felt right at home between the town's favorite old lady singing "God Bless America", the (renowned) BBQ chicken dinner served at the town park after the parade, the large tractor "floats", the free lemonade and cookies at the community center and the masses of candy thrown out for kids.

Really it was like a mix of Payson and Raymond.

Well, other then the extreme humidity and absence of family that is.

We loved it none the less. 

 Zina, Addie, Wilson.

 Greg, Fielding (I think- or his twin Graham), Mark

Zina, Addie, Wilson, Sammy.

 Love this toothy grin!!

We had lunch with the Condie's at our house and let the kids run in the sprinkler and then headed off for a BBQ at a ward members house.  It was really great to just relax and get to know people in our ward.  The kids had a fantastic time and made some great friends.  We were so exhausted that we came home and fell into our beds.

It was a great July 4th!

Raspberry picking at Voracheks

One of the best parts about living here is all the pick your own fruit farms.

Unfortunately for us a killer frost made for a poor crop this year. 

We still managed to pick our way through a raspberry patch and bottle up 3 (yes 3 measly) quarts of raspberries. ;) But the kids enjoyed a couple of days of fresh raspberries, cream, and sugar and we made a yummy raspberry pie.  

 Wilson and Zina keep begging to go back and pick more. 

They LOVE raspberries! (and picking them)

 Sammy was a little less enthused than the older kids.  He spent a large part of his time tearing apart the inside of the van.

But all the kids loved the truck ride!

Thank you Voracheks!