Summer's last Hoorah

This last month has been a whirlwind.  A really fun whirlwind.

We were lucky enough to have time with the Larsens before and after our trip to Utah, as they came to stay with us.  Here they are + Ira at the Henry Ford Village.

 And here are our boys at the park around the corner from us.

  I had to take this shot since the last time I saw them on a swing-set, it didn't have any swings.  It didn't seem that strange at the time since we were in Africa.  

I love those guys!

As our last Summer hoorah, we went to the beach at Warren Dunes.  If you are ever in Michigan and have the urge to climb some sand dunes, this is a great place to go.

The boys and I finished up our time with the small preschool coop a couple of friends and I put together.  Here's our last day.

And Ira transitioned to Preschool.

As you can see, Eliot was not nearly as thrilled as Ira.

Ira went right in the first day, no problem, even though it sounded a bit like a torture chamber with all the kids screaming for their moms.  He had a little aggressive outbreak later that school-day, but since has been great.  It's fun to volunteer there once a month so I can see what he's like in the class room.

And then I turned 30.  I know. I'm ancient.

Anthony and the boys wowed me with these birthday rainbow pancakes! And then we spent the whole day at Ikea picking out stuff for our family room.  What a birthday!  Anthony made a really sweet "auditory card," or in other words, a recording of him and Ira plotting fun for my special day.  It was very, very sweet. 

Our trip to Chicago went well!  We went down for a 4 day Bradley Workshop so that I can get certified to be a birth instructor.  Anthony came because he's going to teach with me.  Days were long 8:30 am-10:30pm, so we didn't have time to go into the city.  But we learned a lot, and I'm almost done with my academic requirements...sort of.  I hope to be teaching by November.

Giant bowls of Vietnamese soup.  Every meal felt like a date...

even our frugal meals eating pb&j. This was our first time buying Goober since our honey moon.  Appropriate since this is our first time away from the kids together.  Goober mini-moon!

The boys did really well.  I was pretty stressed about leaving them, but it sounds like everything went pretty smoothly, and they still loved us when we returned home.   

Not the best picture.  But this is Marian Thompson, one of the 7 founders of La Leche League.  Very cool.

And these are all the girls.  

Here we're demonstrating the relaxed jaw that all laboring women should strive for. :)

In other news, we made it back to the Village for GE's family fun day...

 

 and made it to a Tiger's game, which we won!

Can you tell it was during naptime?

Oh, also I made this cake for my neighbor friend who's birthday is the day before mine.  She's a book lover, teacher, and family history fan (thus the tree).

Anthony's been working really hard at work.

 Here he is at a morale building, really boring, mandatory meeting.  

Alright, I'm sure that I've more than covered it.  I hope every one is doing fabulously as we welcome in beautiful Autumn!

Utah Party-o-rama! 2013

Our trip to Utah was a blast.  

In the Airport Ira would scream to each kid who entered the play area, "Get on the plane!  We're going to Grandma's!!!"  He was more cooperative on this flight than he's been in years, which is saying a lot since he's only 3.

Our main reason for heading out West was Becca and Dallin's wedding.

It was beautiful.

Ira waiting for photo taking at the temple.

Mom loses another staring contest. 

We're really excited to have Becca in the family!

Other Utah adventures included...

fulfilling Ira's life dream to fish.

Grandma caught one!  She also showed the boys how to gut and cook it!

We also went hiking....

slowly,

And ATVing...

speedily.

We then ate large portions of ice cream almost daily.

We also road the Park City Gondola.  It was really impressive!  Don't listen to Ira's face at all.

In our down time I let Aunt Millie entertain the boys...

so I could get my trash kicked by Anthony during Giant Chess.

Anthony and the boys were chilling in Park City, while I got to visit some of the best people in the world including...

The Wallaces (my cousins)

the Francis's and Aunt Fae (more cousins)

Julia and Lena (mission budies)

and the Proulx (pseudo family)

I LOVE all these people!

When we got back to Michigan a couple of weeks ago, we hit the ground running.  But more on that later.  Happy September All!

Midsummer

Hi everyone!

July and August thus far, have included so much of what makes summer a blast.

 Anthony was a super star and watched the kids while I went out to Minnesota to meet up with my siblings (except Lynne who was in Africa) and my parents for Carolyn's 40th Birthday.  I'm allowed to say that, right?  As long as I add that she looks like she's 25, which is completely true.

 Joan met me in Michigan and we drove 11ish hours to complete the trip.  It was good to have a sister's road trip, and I'm fairly certain Ira wishes he could trade me in for her. 

While in MN, we went kayaking, saw an amazing Mayan exhibit, ate some scrumptious food.  Mostly though we visited.  Chilling with Ellsworths is one of my most enjoyable pastimes.  I highly suggest it. 

Oh, and we played with the Loop. James and I were proofing the diverse uses for this thing.

My nephew John and I.  Need I say more?

Kevin, Kristen, Carolyn, Joan and I

 Plus my Mom and Dad

 I was also fortunate to have a visit from one of my favorite people in Minnesota, Tatiana.  

Back in Michigan

Who said playing with ribbons is girlie?  These are killer octopus tentacles.

Ira and his best friend Liam.

 Eliot helping us get serious about food storage.  We're finally getting somewhere!

 Chocolate Popsicle!

 And hanging out at the beach!  Eliot is not too fond of the actual water part of the beach.

 But Ira and Anthony are some of the distant specs having a mini swimming lesson.

Anthony's an awesome teacher.

Yesterday we did a ton of yard work. Together, Ant and I put in about 10-11 hours of pulling weeds.  We are both sore, but now are yard doesn't look like a crazy jungle!  We also did a lot of work on the upstairs bathroom.  I'll post pictures once we get a shower door. 

In other news, the boys had their first dentist visits!  I was extremely nervous since Ira is terrified of doctors, and doctor-like people.  Last time a nurse tried to look in his ear, he bled from flailing so much.  So we practiced a lot, and Ira said something like, "Mom, the dragon (I) will be very brave.  He will open his mouth 50 degrees, like this!"  

 Anyway, the hygienist was amazing, and Ira couldn't have been more cooperative.  Hooray!

 Then again, who wouldn't be cooperative when you get cool glasses like these?  Eliot did pretty well too, although I sort of had to pry his mouth open.

In other news Ira is becoming more and more socialable and affectionate.  We've gotten back in the habit of reading scripture stories with him and there has been a direct correlation with an increased level of kindness.  I love it!

Eliot is saying things that sound more like words, and hasn't been biting me lately.  He loves giving kisses and squeals with excitement when he hears a knock at the door.  If it's anyone but Liam's big sisters, he's disappointed.  Such a ladies man.  He got pretty sick right before my trip to Minnesota and we got him a nebulizer.  Worked great.  We had to get x-rays of his chest done to see if he had pneumonia.  It wasn't, so he may have issues with asthma.  Hopefully not.

Anyway, that about covers it.  I hope everyone enjoys their last month of Summer!  Peace out.