More summer pictures

First few are from last night at the beach. Last few are from the end of June - Pete's girlfriend is a photographer out of GR and took those for us.

Preparing for Preschool

Yesterday Jacob's preschool had an ice cream social for the kids to visit the school with their families and see who will be in their class this coming year. Jacob and Brody were so excited all day, they kept asking me if it was time to go yet over and over.

We arrived to the school and the kids played on the playground while parents picked up paperwork and filled out name tags. I then walked over to observe the kids on the playground and just couldn't help but laugh while noticing just how different these two kids are. Jacob walked around the perimeter of the playground checking everything out before selecting an area to play in. Meanwhile Brody ran straight to the first thing he saw, knocking bigger kids out of the way if necessary. After a few minutes it was time for all the students to sit in a circle around Mrs. Render for story time while siblings and parents listened in a different circle to a few announcements. Brody thought there must be some mistake because there wasn't a spare chair for him, but clearly he belonged in the preschool circle. I thought I made a good compromise with him by having him sit at a nearby picnic table so he could enjoy the story too and left Aaron to look after him while I joined the parents. Brody wasn't happy with the arrangement I left for him, so he went and sat directly in front of the teacher for about twenty seconds until he got bored and spotted a squirrel enticing him and THE CHASE WAS ON! Brody jumped up and ran after the squirrel, squealing and doing his evil little laugh loud enough for the lady making the announcements to stop and point out Brody and say how funny she thought it was. All the parents then watched Brody for an uncomfortable amount of time and finally we proceeded with our meeting. After the squirrel climbed a tree and quit antagonizing my child, Brody walked back over to Mrs. Renders circle and stood in front of the teacher and smiled at each child making sure they noticed HIM before getting bored and moving on to the playground toys again. Jacob was a perfect little student the whole time, sitting quietly right next to Mrs. Render. Afterwards we enjoyed some ice cream and then proceeded home with both boys talking about how fun it was and how excited they are to come back to school and play inside next time. Brody is completely unaware that he is NOT enrolled in preschool this year. I'm anticipating a major meltdown on September 21st, the first day of school, when the harsh reality hits Brody. I better start thinking of fun things to do with him now to make up for it...

W9D3

Today I have officially completed Week 9, Day 3 of the Couch to 5k running plan! I ran 5k/3.1miles in 34:05! Certainly not setting any land speed records, but I did it! I started the program on June 26th and didn't mention it to many people because I had no intention of actually completing it. 3 miles? No thank you. But I figured it would be a good program to get started into just running 1 mile without stopping. But once I started going, I just kept going and now I can actually run 3.1 miles without stopping... A-MA-ZING! I've done all my runs on a treadmill and have no intention of actually running a race. Initally I thought once I completed all 9 weeks I would transition to running outside but now I don't have any interest. For one, I don't intend to run a race. 2, I hate bugs and can't imagine inhaling one while trying to run. And 3, I only want to do this for fitness and you are more prone to injuries running outside (uneven ground, less cushion than the treadmill). It has NOT been easy, even now after 9 weeks I still struggle with every single step and it doesn't help that I have plantar fasciitis. But, I did it. And to top it all off... I'm down 12lbs :)

Congratulations....

After a very rough night that ended in a Caesarean section under general anesthesia, Liam Walter was born at 3:29am weighing 8lbs 3oz. Debby says he is a good baby already and so cute. We are so glad that everyone is healthy and wish Debby a speedy recovery. CONGRATULATIONS to the Brady family!

Can't sleep...

I'm too excited for my friend Debby who is having her baby tonight!!! Hoping and praying things are going smoothly for her (and Bob!).

Evenings at the Beach

We've spent the last two evenings at the beach at the Sleeping Bear Dunes. The first few are from Platte River/Bay on Lake Michigan and the others are from Peterson Rd. Beach. These are 9.5 miles from our house (although it takes 20mins to get there). Every time we come here we always say the same thing... why don't we do this more often?!

Watching Sherry take off:
Waiting for a table at Apache Trout Grill: (...and waiting... and waiting..)
Sherry & Martin:
Tuna drives more than motorcoaches! Aaron is in the distant background.
Brody flopped around like a crash test dummy on the ride back:

Why is it that minnows are the hardest to catch?
Austin and Aaron:
Austin did not want to leave on a jet plane. Noah on the other hand was asking the captain how to close the door and take flight before his dad tries to pull him out of there.
Noah bounced off the golf cart and ran right up the stairs. Private plane? You don't need to ask him twice if he wants to get on!
Both boys thought the airplane behind them was a little too loud. Additionally, Jacob wouldn't get on the plane when we greeted Sherry & Mart at the airport - he decided the plane was too small. We told Martin he needed a boeing 747 before Jacob would be impressed. Cessna-Schmessna.
He warmed up to the plane though when we said goodbye to Sherry. Pilot couldn't even get him off the plane!
I think it would be in the best interest of all commercial airline passengers if our family of five traveled this way, don't you think? Somehow we need to make this work.

Brody picked his seat out:
The boys love watching planes at the airport:
Even if it is loud!



We're headed to Gun Lake this weekend! Can't wait to visit with Kim & Peggy :)