thirty-four

week thirty-four of fifty-two

Just trying to catch up (in order)

this is as much a scrapbook for me

as it is an update for you!

This week brought to you by the letter G

as in "Grandma & Grandpa"

also in "Good," "Glorious," "Glee"

and "Glorious." 

After joining me at the most fantastic

Gardens to Gourmet dinner

My mom & dad hosted the girls for about a week.

I don't have many photos, 

but they are still telling stories!

I think Ingrid's enthusiasm in this one about sums it up:

thirty-three

week thirty-three of fifty-two:

we celebrated so many things this week!
our busiest week yet this summer, by far!

the birthday of our great little friend Will 

 at a park (genius!)

we painted trains (double genius!!)

and even took a ride..

 our seventh wedding anniversary came & went

{no photos. perhaps we will post a photo when we actually get a moment to celebrate!}

we also celebrated the birthday of one of our best buddies, Wren

Delicious (& healthy-ish) Cupcakes!

 "Cheers!" to dessert!

Ingrid takes a swing at Henry the piñata

 All of the tee-ball practice at Grandma & Grandpa's paid off: candy!!

 Love this girl!

and celebrated the first birthday of one of Amelia's favorite teeny babies, Miss Ava! 

teeny tiny baby birthday crown!

and check out this awesome (and delicious) cake!

twenty-nine, thirty, thirty-one & thirty-two.

Here we are again.
Summers are busy,
who knew?

week twenty-nine of fifty-two: 

Ingrid got her first (legitimate) haircut

Which was very well-received because it ended with a very large lollipop from Miss Lorraine:

Week thirty of fifty-two:

We got dressed up and went to ladies lunch with Grandma Judy, Great-Grandma Eleanor, 

and some other wonderful family members 

Week thirty-one of fifty-two:

Sisters with Smoothies

Week thirty-two of fifty-two (only 20 weeks left this year?!?!)

Amelia finished her last week of outdoor summer swimming lessons!

She passed! 

But it was cold that day, so Grandma Mary treated her to a hot cocoa! 

twenty-eight

week twenty-eight of fifty-two

Bliss.

Up North for the Fourth {in photos}

We were lucky enough to be invited to spend the holiday weekend

with some very dear friends 

at their family's idillic Northwoods cabin

While Issac and I had visited the cabin many times before

Amelia had only visited once:

two summers ago

while I was still pregnant with Ingrid

Miss Ingrid was a cabin first-timer

but, like usual,

 she quickly acclimated to things

and jumped in head first

We took in a tiny town festival 

 where the kiddos played 

some very authentic carnival games

like Ring Toss

Pick-A-Duck

and Ingrid participated in a very competitive live minnow race

the big kids helped her minnow learn the way

(however the little carnie decided that extra help was grounds for disqualification..)

then we headed back to the beautiful cabin

in the woods

for some dinner

(note the photo bombing hungry toddler...)

and some time to chill out by the water

and blow bubbles with our friend Mister Evan.

In the morning, the moms headed out for a bit

while the little ones watched the dads

We're not sure what they did, 

but everyone was all smiles when we returned!

and the moms didn't return empty handed:

99-cent pirate eye patches x 3 = money well spent

FYI: I'm pretty confident this is the only photo I am in all weekend.. 

We snuck in a trip to the park 

to tire out the kids, 

when in reality it really just tired out the grown ups..

Still, we put on our bravest faces 

to take three overtired toddlers

into a restaurant/bar for dinner

Which really actually went quite well.

I ate the first burger I have had in maybe 2 years

(which reminds me, I should take an extra dose of lovastatin..)

 and Amelia drank a Kiddie-Cocktail and used up all of dad's quarters playing Pac-Man

the children didn't fall off of the dock,

though Ingrid almost dove in seconds after this photo was taken

because she said she saw a "fishie"

(disclaimer: these outfits were not coordinated on purpose)

Just before starting the road trip back home, 

we ended the trip with a bang

by stopping off at a pirate ship!

these pirate-loving girls were in heaven!

Ahoy, mateys.

and no trip to the Northwoods is complete without moccasins!

some for me, too!

Gosh we were lucky to spend the weekend 

in such great company (mosquitos excluded)!