The March That Wasn't

Most of you heard that I was going to a march in Washington DC last week. Well, the march didn't happen. It was cancelled because of impending hurricane Irene. I think the decision to cancel the march was a bit hasty. It was beautiful in DC the day the march was to take place and it didn't start raining there until the following evening. I found out the march was cancelled right after I arrived out there. I was quite upset and disappointed. The march is being rescheduled for November, but I highly doubt I can attend. The march is called Step Forward for Orphans. The purpose of the march is to raise public awareness about problems in international adoption. There are some policies that are delaying the adoption of children and making it more difficult for families to adopt internationally. Basically, children are being negatively affected- left to languish in orphanages. I hope the march will bring about some needed changes.

Even though I didn't get to march, I did get to spend time with my good friend, Deb. Deb and I went to high school together and have been friends since. We had a fun day in DC. We walked thru the Smithsonian American History museum. We then headed to Georgetown and did some shopping. After that we went to a free concert at the Kennedy Center. The concert featured a gospel group, an acapella-style group (Naturally 7), and Frederic Yonnet (jazz harmonica player). I don't get to concerts much and this one was alot of fun. Naturally 7 impressed me the most. The group members imitate instruments to make music. I've included a link to give you an idea of their music. http://www.students.ch/magazin/tv/318/Naturally-7-live-Jericho
Very fun.

After the concert we went to an Indian restaurant. Again, not something I do very often. Even though Deb and I seem to live very different lives, we enjoy spending time together and learning from each other. I thank God for the blessing of Christian friends!

Traverse City

Isaac had a hard time blowing his candle out
The kids helping me make lemonade
Mmm, cake
Enjoying the view
Don't fall over boys!
This dune was massive. Just in front of me is a huge drop-off. It takes people 1 hour to climb back up.
Birthday boy!
Getting ready to tackle the dune climb
Julia got a piggy-back ride. The boys were on their hands and knees.
The boys running down the dune- no major tumbles
A huge bear on the front of a store
Family picture at Sleeping Bear Dunes


Last week we went camping at Traverse City State Park. We had never been to Traverse City before- it is beautiful! The Grand Traverse Bay is so blue and calm. TC has alot of bike trails as well. We went to Sleeping Bear Dunes one day and had fun doing the dune climb. The kids had Junior Ranger activities to work on and at the end of our visit they received a Junior Ranger badge. Caleb asked me if getting a Junior Ranger badge meant he had to be a Ranger when he grew up, too cute. We spent time at the beach and just hanging around the campsite. The state park campground was ok. The sites were really close together and you had to walk across a bridge to get to the beach. The worst part of the campground was the noise! There were planes flying overhead often, a railroad track nearby, and lots of road noise. I don't think we'll use the campground again. I've heard Interlochen campground is nice and more peaceful.

Not much sleep happened while camping. In my head I expect this, but it doesn't make it any easier! Julia just struggles with sleeping in different places and she was a little sick. This trip was my first extended camping experience. Usually two nights is my max. We did four nights and it wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be. :) Having a pop-up camper definitely makes a difference.

I would love to visit Traverse City again, either when the kids are older or just with Nate. Downtown TC is really cute and there are restaurants I want to try. I didn't get to browse many stores this trip. For some reason the kids just don't like doing that.

It is hard to believe summer is winding down. Only 2 more weeks til school!

Happy 4th Birthday!

Happy 4th Birthday Isaac! We're leaving soon to camp at Traverse City State Park so this will be short. Isaac wanted a poison dart frog cake. Technically this is a red-eyed tree frog, but we'll call it whatever he wants! We'll do cake and presents at the campsite. We are so proud of our 4 year old. He always wants to grow up faster, I think he's growing too fast! It's hard to believe he will be starting preschool in a couple weeks. Isaac is still a cuddler(sometimes), loves to be silly, has lots of questions about God and heaven, is really good at building things and enjoys helping Mom and Dad. We thank God for our little boy!

Ten Years Baby!

I still look 22, right?
Didn't have a tux for Nate to try on. And Caleb took this picture.
She'll be a beautiful bride someday- and she better wear Mommy's dress!
Ten years later and still rocking the dress!

Today is our 10 year anniversary! Such an odd feeling. Nate and I had a lunch date while a friend watched the kids. It was fun to talk about our memories of the wedding. I then went home and tried on my dress. I haven't had it on since our wedding and it still fits! The kids were very interested in the odd dress Mom had on. I don't believe they have seen a wedding dress before. I told Julia she could wear the pretty dress when she was bigger. Why else am I preserving this thing?!

After lunch I hauled out the wedding album and video. Nate refuses to watch the video, but my boys watched it with me! Caleb had SO many questions about weddings. Like, "Why does everyone stand for the bride?" and "Why did you get married where you lived, why not where Dad lived?" and "Why does everyone clap for you?" I should have just told him, weddings are all about the GIRL. Caleb also wanted to know why the honeymoon wasn't videotaped and what do people do on the honeymoon? Ummm. The boys had fun spotting our relatives in the video and commenting on who looks different 10 years later. I think watching our wedding video is giving them a better idea of what Tim and Jenny's wedding will be like. (Oh, and speaking of that wedding. I had to take the boys in to get fitted for a tux. We were in an air-conditioned store and Caleb started complaining within 2 minutes of how hot he was in the tux and when can he take it off?? Oh my son, you have no idea what is coming.) I was slightly embarrassed to watch the video with my sons because of all the kissing! Holy cow, young Nate and Stacy get a room already! I'm so old and prudish now. :)

I love Nate so much and it is amazing to look back on our experiences of the last 10 years. We can't wait to see what God has in store for the next 10 years!

Atlanta

Komodo Dragon- Caleb loves reading a book about komodos so this was very cool to see
Blurry picture of the panda- another highlight for the kids
Waking up from a nap- she did not sleep very well in Atlanta
Just monkeying around
That manta ray has a big mouth
Whale shark- highlight of the aquarium

Enjoying the view with my kids
Doesn't everyone jump on hotel beds in their underwear?
Chilling by the pool with Mrs. Custer
We had a fun visit with Mr. and Mrs. Custer (he was my grade school principal)
Spending the night at Nate's Uncle Peter and Aunt Cheryl's house in Kentucky
Julie Melendez and I swimming with our kids- they kept trying to drown themselves
Group shot with Grandma at the aquarium

We spent the first week of August in Atlanta. Nate had some training for work and since the company pays for the hotel and rental car we thought, "Let's take the whole family!" So we did. We did the 12 hour drive down and it actually went great. Of course, much credit goes to the DVD player. How did we do road trips growing up without one?! My Mom flew down to join us which was a huge help and good fun. Our kids get psychotically excited in hotel rooms, do other kids do that too?

On Monday I took the kids to Zoo Atlanta by myself. There were only a few times I yelled at them to stay by me or gave them the evil eye. The boys really wanted to see the panda, which was at the very back of the zoo. No matter how much I assured them we would get to the panda eventually, they kept begging me to get to the panda faster!! The panda and baby panda were cute, but there were masses of people and I didn't get any good pictures. Oh well. On Monday night Nate was back and we all went to my cousin, Renee's house. It was fun to catch up with Renee and Seth and see their beautifully decorated home. Nate and I kept saying, "this is an adult's house!" They don't have kids yet. :) The kids turned their couches into a romper room and kept asking where the toys were. Caleb then asked me, "Why don't they have kids? Who's married around here?" It was quite cute. After supper we went to Morelli's to get ice cream and got stuck in a downpour. No one really cared though because the ice cream was awesome.

On Tuesday my Mom was in town and spent the day with us. We went to the house of my college friend, Julie. She has two little girls and it was great to meet each other's kids. We took the kids to a sprayground and had a picnic lunch. That evening we went to Russ and Kay Custer's house. Russ was my grade school principal and is a good family friend. We had some yummy Fellini's pizza and swam in the pool. I am very impressed with Julia's abilities in the water when she has a life jacket on. My kids are turning into fish.

On Wednesday morning, Mom and I took the kids to the Georgia Aquarium. It is a pricey venue, but worth it. However, I don't appreciate that you can't bring food into the building and then they charge you exorbitant prices for lunch, grr. The whale shark and the dolphin show were the highlights for the kids. The kids melted down pretty fast so we booked it over to Renee's house again for some naptime. After Nate got home from work, we drove to Gloriana and T-Y's house. Gloriana is another college friend of ours. Julie's family was there as well. Gloriana made wings for dinner and my kids thought they were awesome. Definitely need to get that recipe soon!

On Thursday morning, Julie and her girls came over to the hotel to swim. Julia and Julie's daughter, Avry, both tried to drown themselves multiple times. Crazy kids. That afternoon my Mom stayed at the hotel with Julia and I took the boys to Piedmont Park pool. It is a very neat pool and the boys were having a great time- until the thunderstorm came. We had a really long walk back to the parking garage and Caleb was scared out of his mind. It wasn't raining yet, but it was thundering/lightning occasionally. I have told Caleb in the past that we shouldn't play outside during a storm. Well, he reminded me of that the whole way to the car. For dinner that night, my Mom stayed at the hotel with the kids so Nate and I could go out. What a nice Mom! We went to 5 Seasons Brewing Company with our college friends. We got a tour of the brewery which Nate found fascinating. I'm totally going to have a brewery in my basement someday, sigh. The food was tasty and we had so much fun chatting with our friends. A great way to end the week!

On Friday morning we packed up and headed for the Louisville, KY area. Nate's aunt and uncle live there and graciously hosted us for the night. The kids enjoyed watching the cow eat its supper and bringing an egg in that the hens had laid. It was nice to catch up with family that we don't see often. On Saturday morning we packed up and drove the last leg of our journey.

It is so nice to be back home! I am appreciating not sharing my bedroom with my children. We are grateful that my Mom spent the week with us too! The week would have been more stressful without her there, so thanks Mom!

Last cottage visit for the summer

We're in Wisconsin, we have to go to Culvers!
Isaac loves ice cream cones
Cuteness!
Riding the ferry in the rain
Last ride in the "big boat"
Blankets work as hats too
Cleaning up after s'mores
Swimming with the kiddos
Aunt Steph and Isaac tubing
Roasting marshmallows with Grandpa

During the last week of July the kids and I went to the cottage. My parents rode with us which made for a much easier road trip. My sister was in the midwest for some weddings and she met us at the cottage as well. Nate had to work during this trip, someone has to make money for all of the gas we use driving to WI. :) My grandparents are selling the cottage so this visit was kind of like the end of an era. The cottage has been in the family for 40+ years, lots of memories. The awesome news is that my aunt and uncle are buying the cottage- woo-hoo! I am so grateful that the cottage will stay in the family and that we can still go there. I love it that my kids can enjoy the same place I have enjoyed my whole life.