My Favorite Part, day 1

My favorite part of the day was being able to say yes to "Can we go to the splash park, mom?"

I'm trying to remember this more:

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. . . . I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less” Anna Quindlen

The day started out a little chilly. I brought sweatshirts to the park. Sweatshirts not swimsuits. We were out of snacks and very close to nap time for G.But it warmed up, the sun came out

and this boy was so ready.

Splash park? Sure Noah, let's go.

end of August

It was a perfect weekend for a road trip. Sunny skies, cool breeze. Unexpectedly I have fallen in love with this mitten state. So many neat places tucked away just waiting for us. Saturday's destination was Ann Arbor. Dave was meeting a friend for the Michigan Utah game at the BIG HOUSE. So we joined him for a yummy lunch at Zingerman's, some window shopping, and let the kids explore the children's museum. I loved the artsy feel of the downtown, the unique shops, and the kids just couldn't get enough of HANDS ON. Perfect combination. Please don't ask Dave how the game went. Or about how Steve's car broke down, or how they never made it. Please don't ask, he might just cry. Monday's destination was Silver Beach. It was sunny, the water was warm, and the beach was CROWDED. My goodness it was Olive Garden on Valentine's Day. Can you find us? We did manage to find a little piece of beach and it got better as the day went on. I'm getting anxious. The summer is ending? I'm not ready. Our last year in Michigan? I'm not ready. And I never thought I'd say that.

Six Years

Time to celebrate. Oh and there will be a celebration. Just you wait. Tomorrow is Dave's dissertation prospectus defense. After that it all comes out. The carpets will get cleaned, the paper piles will be sorted and our anniversary will be celebrated. This is the deadline he's been working all summer for. A very big hoop to jump through.

You can do it Dave...

Happy Anniversary to us...

And I'm not ready to talk about next week's deadline yet.

Day at the Lake

We had Dave all to ourselves this weekend. I love when he says yes to questions like "Grand Haven?" at the start of a day.

This was right before sweet Noah let go of the string and I entered myself into the 100 meter sprint to catch that kite. Luckily (?) the handle got stuck on a sunbather which slowed it down.

Dear David,

It's been four days since I kissed you goodbye at the Detroit Metro. Four days since Noah and Gage watched your plane head off for California. Did you remember to bring your sunglasses this time?

We've stayed busy with a few playdates and our usual trips to the library and the park. We haven't hit the pool or the lake yet, its been rainy. Maybe tomorrow.

We went blueberry picking today at Nan's. Two bucket fulls. We'll save you some.

Gage was in the backpack and as long as I stayed close to the bush with my knees bent a bit he was happy gobbling berries. I should have handed him a bucket.

Noah picked and picked. Then he found a happy dirt hill and I didn't see him for awhile.


Good luck with your presentation tomorrow. Everyone will be impressed with your brilliant empirical research and your charm. Remember to smile nicely at the people from Oregon, they might be on the hiring committee. And when you see the people from that one state with the really long winters, please remember to slouch a little bit and maybe slur your speech too.

I'm tired and off to bed to cuddle with my pillow.

I love you,
Jessie

WA

Its so nice to be around people who love your kids. Traveling is hard on these little ones. They get cranky. Tired cranky, airplane cranky, hungry cranky. So my heart swells when these sisters of mine love em up anyway.


We spent a whole week in Washington at my parent's house letting these babes get loved up. Grandma and Grandpa eating macaroni and cheese for lunch and checking adventures off their list. We covered it all: Howard Amon Park, the wading pool, Art festival, canoeing on the river, the Playground of Dreams, snow cones, the children's museum, the library, splash pads, not to mention the endless fun to be found in that crannie and this nook at the house.


At the end of the week I wasn't ready. I could have stayed all summer. At least let me take some of it with me. Stumpy the elephant? He could find a great hiding place in our basement. Kate and her play dough snack shop? Noah would sit at the table for the rest of his life. How about just Dana's lap? Gage would sit there with a big fat smile for the rest of his.


To spend so much time with my mom was wonderful. To see Noah and Gage lovin their Grandpa was wonderful. Talking to my Grandma and Grandpa Brown getting a glimpse of my aunts and uncles was wonderful. And someday I will tell you the story of my frappucinno lovin sister and our crazy night out in Finley. Maybe on her birthday...

Cousins, cousins, and more cousins

1. Gage
2. Jake
3. Emma
4. James
5. Grace
6. Taylor
7. Katie
8. Spencer
9. Lincoln
10. Jamison
11. Laura
12. Parker
13. Whitney
14. Natalie
15. Ashlyn
16. Claire
17. Courtlyn
18. Tessa
19. Sarah
20. Noah
21. Sam
22. Benjamin
23. Rachel

Big Family Trip up Spanish Fork canyon in Utah 2 weeks ago. Grandparents and 6 families all under the same roof. Can you believe it? What a blast. And what great memories....

the canoe on the pond
the paddle boat
the horses
the fishing pond
the sand pit
the testimony meeting
friendship bracelets
face paint
Taylor's movies
great conversations
a trip to the urgent care
airsoft
kickball
watersponge fight
the trampoline
SCRABBLE
the toy room
great food
astronaut rides
tickle fights
TOO many desserts

What would you add to the list?

We sure missed Ali and wished she could have been there! Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for putting this together! We miss all of you already!