Vacation in the Soo!

We made it safely to and from the Soo for our annual trip to visit Mommy's family and everyone had a great time.  We did end up leaving a day late because Mommy messed up the flight times...7 am and not 9 am.  No worries, since we were still on vacation, we went to the Zoo instead and flew out on Sunday.  Ayson did not want to leave and told Mommy and Daddy that he was going to stay with Grandma and Grandpa.

Addie's new words were Baby and No no no.
Daddy taught Ayson some new potty words including: "somebody killed the bathroom" and "chiclet"

Saturday:
Ayson posing with Daddy at the Zoo.


Addie checking out the annenomes.



The Syracuse airport has a cockpit that you can sit in.  Of course both boys enjoyed pushing all of the buttons!


On Monday, we all traveled to Traverse City to meet up with Auntie Holly, Uncle Alek, and the kids at Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor waterpark.  Everyone had a blast!


Ayson sitting in the Wizards throne at the lodge.


The two boys playing in the arcade.


The girls got in on the fun too!


Every five minutes, a huge bucket fills with water and spills over into a "splash pool" area.  It was fun to watch kids (big and small) get soaked.



On Tuesday, we headed to the Cherry Festival and checked out a few kid activities.  Addie enjoyed playing with the Legos while Ayson could not get enough of the bouncy house.


Taking a lunch break during the festivities.



On Wednesday, we played at the park.



On Thursday, Addie got to re-meet some of Mommy's friends who stopped by for a visit and also got reacquainted with Great Aunt Shirley and Great Grandma Roe.





Ayson had fun playing with Aedan and Maddie (Jen and Nico's kids) and all three kids stayed up to watch the fireworks (Addie was sleeping :)
We had a hard time getting all three kids to look in the direction of the camera.  Mommy was waving her hands above Jen's head and then Ayson and Maddie started to raise their hands too :)


Ayson was SO tired afterwards that he fell asleep in Daddy's arms and...


did not wake up when Daddy got Ayson ready for bed.  Look at those poor scuffed up knees!!



Friday:
Addie walked over to Grandpa and wanted up and Grandpa was nice enough to share his snack with her.






In the afternoon, we went to Rotary Park and watched the Lake freighters go by while we dined on Clydes drive in food...yum!



Grandma and Addie taking a stroll.



Daddy and Addie.


Grandpa pointing out the big waves caused by the freighter.



We then drove to Aunt Shirley and Uncle Al's house on the water for a quick visit.  The weather was so warm that we all went for a walk in the water.



Addie loved splishing and splashing!



Smile!


Both kids enjoyed having the adults lift them up and splash them back down into the water.




Ayson even got a spin from Great Aunt Shirley and Grandma!

Summer is here!!!

A busy week!  We had visitors and were trying to get ready for our annual trip to da Soo!

Monday:
Mommy picked up a pair of new rain boots for Ayson and a new hat (like Mommy's).  SO even though it was in the mid 80s, Ayson insisted on wearing the boots outside.


Mommy and her Baby Doll.



Addie's cute, cute, CUTE dress from Tuesday!



STOP the presses!!!   Ayson finished his dinner before the rest of us!!!
Sigh, and our little "hoover" is slowing down and only eating about as half as much as she was just a week ago.  She is going to loose her lovable baby cheeks (both sets).



Addie wearing Ayson's hat on Wednesday...giddy up!



Mommy and Daddy's friends (Mommy's mentor from undergrad) stopped by for a visit Tuesday night and Wednesday.  The kids did not get to visit with Bryce and Janet until Wednesday morning but they sure did enjoy the very awesome books and puzzle that Janet and Bryce gave them as gifts!!!  Thank you SO much!



Bryce and Ayson reading about the rainforests.



Janet and Addie learning about the ocean :)



Thursday:
We realized that Ayson was riding his "horse" so of course we had to get a picture!



Tickles, raspberries, and kisses from Daddy!






Addie walking!!! She is no longer afraid of walking while Ayson is around...unless he is running :)

Where's Ayson and Addie's Walking!!!

Ayson is going through a growth spurt: sleeping longer (most days), bouncing all over the place, and NOT listening very much to Mommy and Daddy. Mommy feels like Ayson has been in timeout (or gone to bed early) more often than she has actually got to spend time with him...Mommy keeps telling herself "he's 3, he's 3, he's 3..." :)

Addie had her 15 Month Well Baby visit on Monday and our Dolly now weighs 23 lbs and is 32 inches long/tall!  She did really well with the nurse and Dr and only cried a bit after shots - one in each lovable thigh.





Tuesday:
Ayson is REALLY pokey when he eats...even when he starts before the rest of us, he is still the last one sitting at the table.  Daddy and Addie went outside to check out the gardens and....


Ayson was still in his chair.  Mommy does not remember how Ayson managed to get more sauce on his face than in his belly!



Wednesday was sunny and in the high 60s, perfect for playing in the sandbox!



Mommy loves this cute dress on Baby Doll.



Thursday night was MUCH warmer and Ayson and Addie had popcicles.  Ayson tried to stick his popcicle stick in the little hole, like Daddy, but he could not get it to fit...so Ayson jammed the stick into a big ant hill at the bottom of the steps...lovely.



Gianna has started her summer vacation...yay!  Ayson and Gianna relaxing on the hammock.



Addie loves to play in the sandbox and she likes to watch the sand pour through the little funnel.
Addie: "Mommy, where did the sand go?!?"



Friday:
Addie also loves to peek in the fridge and she will shove Mommy aside so that she can get a look!



Saturday:
The kids playing together with Ayson's remote control truck.



Mommy and Addie posing.



A^4 went to Stafford Park in the morning and Scott, Lucy, Sam (2 1/2), and Ben (11 months) joined us.  Scott has a really nice camera so Mommy did not bother to take pictures...she forgot that she would not see Scott at work for two weeks and would not be able to get pictures from him...oops!  Ayson and Sam had fun playing on the slide.

Later that afternoon, Scott, Lucy, and the kids came over for a BBQ: smoked brisket, ribs, sausage, and hot dogs (for the kiddos) plus mac and cheese, baked beans, corn bread, broccoli salad, and lots of fruit!



Sunday morning was very warm and still and both Mommy and Daddy thought it was a perfect morning for kayaking!  From the time of that "epiphany" at the breakfast table (7:45 am), it only took us 45 minutes to get the kids ready, kayaks loaded, and A^4 on our way to Tully Lake.  The kids did great and we all had fun on the water.  Next time we will have the kayaks loaded the night before :)





Once we got home, we let the kids cool off the in the kiddie pool before lunch and nice looong naps :)
Both Ayson and Addie had fun splishing and splashing.



After naps, Addie was motoring all around (Daddy and Ayson call her "Flash" because the cruises around so fast...barely holding on to the wall for support) and she took her first 5 plus steps all by herself while she was trying to get from the kitchen to the play kitchen. Then she walked to Mommy and we all were SO excited. Mommy will try to post video and pics later this week.