Happy 2nd Birthday Lucia!

You're growing up so fast!  We sure do love your sass- can't wait to see what this next year brings for you.  We love you Lucia!

Hoffmaster State Park- camper beach

On Saturday, we went to Hoffmaster to visit with Jim's parents who were camping.  They had the best site- right next to the beach trail head!  I grew up camping at Hoffmaster- so the camper beach holds a lot of  great childhood memories!
If you have never been to Hoffmaster- there is a little creek that runs out into Lake Michigan.  It is perfect for little kids to play in.  Lucia had a ton of fun "swimming" in the little creek- and drinking the water every time I turned my back- I was sure she would be throwing up later in the day- but she never did. 

Ethan working on building a canal to the big lake. 

"Smile Ethan!"  This is what I get!

Lucia looking too cool for her own good in those shades!

Going for a walk with daddy down the beach!  

Lucia would lay down in the little creek and yell "I swimming mamma! I swimming!"

"If I stand on the end of that log, will you take my picture?"  Sure, Jim!

4th of July

Chiara, James, Norah, Luca, and Susannah joined us for the 4th of July this year.  Ethan and Norah both love swimming in their goggles!  
Chiara and Co. sure picked a great week to visit- the temperatures were so hot all last week- everyone pretty much just hung out at Nonna and JiJi's to swim!

Lucia can be a little whiny at times in the pool.  We were having her repeat "put me out of my misery!" which was pretty cute!

Luca loved being thrown in the pool- he would ask his dad to throw him over and over!

Here are the kids enjoying their 4th of July picnic!

Lucia and Luca stuffing watermelon in their mouths.  Lucia had about 5 pieces of watermelon- she would go around and pick up discarded pieces and suck on the rind- yummy!

Chiara, James, Norah, Bree, Ethan, Jim, and I met Jim's family downtown to watch the fireworks.  It was so freakin' hot- even at 10:30pm when the show started!  The kids were troopers though- you can tell from their faces how tired they are!

I love Ethan's look! 

It was fun watching the fireworks again- I hadn't been in a few years.  It was Ethan's first time seeing them- he thought they were "awesome"!

 

Good and Tired!

I love how tired my kids are when we get home from Nonna's house after swimming all afternoon!  Here they are zonked out watching Yo Gabba Gabba (Lucia's new favorite) while we made dinner tonight.  Lucia is sitting in her "boat" (aka laundry basket w/ blankets that her dad made her.)  We put them to bed at 7pm tonight and barely heard a peep out of them- I love it!

More Pool Fun!

Aunt Kerri, Aunt Bonnie, Uncle Dan, and the girls came over today to have some fun in the pool.  We set up the little pool on the deck for the younger crowd- Ava seemed to enjoy it!

Ethan is learning to love getting thrown into the air/pool by his dad. 

Bree already loves being thrown in the air and asks Jim to throw her all the time!

There he goes!  I'm so proud of Ethan for swimming in the deep end this weekend.  It was pretty cute- last night he tells me "mommy, I'm not going to swim in the deep end tomorrow at Nonna's pool, I'm just going to stay in the shallow end and practice."  Me: "I think you should go in the deep end."  Ethan: "No, I need to practice for a long, long time first."  Me: "oh yeah, how long?"  Ethan: "60 years, I need to practice for 60 years and then I will go in the deep end."  Me: "okay, so when you are 64 years old, I can expect you to swim in the deep end."
Today the first thing he did was jump in the deep end!

Lucia was in a great mood today!  Not really- I think she is getting some molars- she had a little fever and her nose was running quite a bit- so we'll see if anything develops there. 

She had a great time swimming w/ Aunt Kerri

I love Kerri's expression in this one- Bree had just jumped in to join the fun!

Clever . . .

Instead of asking for something to drink, Lucia decided it was easier to dunk her head in the kiddie pool, stand up, and lap the water as it ran down her face.  I didn't get any good pictures of her lapping, but it was pretty ridiculous! 

Pool Fun

We have been enjoying some great summer days over at Nonna and JiJi's pool!  On my days off of work, Jim and I will often bring the kids over for a swim.  Here's Lucia and daddy enjoying the water!

Mr. Serious

Ethan jumping into the shallow end before the braved jumping into the deep end!

Lucia enjoying a ride on mamma's back- naked!

Enjoying a quiet moment.