The Perfect S'More

One of my favorite things on Drummond Island was the nightly S'More ritual. After dinner, Grandpa would get the fire started and the kids would follow behind, like puppies. We would go through at least 2 chocolate bars, half a box of graham crackers and half a bag of marshmallows each night. 

 Jackie loved roasting marshmallows for any willing eater. The smoke bothered her a bit, but she came up with a great solution!

Water Works: Drummond Island Style

After many hours of traveling, we finally made it to Drummond Island in northern Michigan. The kids couldn't wait to get in the water, despite the chilly temperatures for us Southern folks.

 Week by week, Lucy is getting more comfortable in the water. By the time she's 12, she may actually go under!

 The jet ski was a huge hit for Jackie and Cameron. Jackie is all about speed- just like her daddy!

The littles were content torturing Louie with the squirt guns. It was hours of fun for them all.

Lucy and Cameron were hiding from Louie. They blended right in!

Henning/Tewes Wye River Family Reunion

August marked the beginning of our family tour. We started in MD at the Wye River to visit the Tewes and Henning families (Deane's side of the family).

  They were all so happy to reunite with Mike and Ang's kids, Owen & Alena.

 Hot weather made the pool & swing and swing a welcome respite for the kids.

 Little Miss Lucy Lu is becoming quite comfortable in the water!

 Uncle Patrick was ever so happy to entertain the kids fishing.

A World of Their Own

Lucy’s princess phase has been elevated to a whole new world…I mean level... with Polly Pockets Princesses. This is Rapunzel when her hair is, shall we say, let down. I nicknamed her Ratty, for obvious reasons. Lucy gave Ratty a much-needed hair cut this week, and trimmed her own while she had the scissors out, thereby completing every little girl’s rite of passage with scissors. Thankfully, it wasn’t too bad. And she has yet to discover tape. 

Cameron's summer reading program has introduced him to a new favorite reading spot. It doesn't look particularly comfortable but I don't care b/c HE'S READING!

Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Trail

On our first morning, we headed to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a 4 hour hike along the Daniel Ridge Loop. 

 It was a beautiful day for a hike together.

 We passed a few other hikers on their way to swimming holes. The mountain water was chilly, but felt wonderful after a long hike. Our total elevation this hike was 4000 feet. It's no Utah, but it's a lot for us flat-landers.

 We decided to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway up to Roanoke. While it was awesomely scenic, we quickly realized it doubled the length of our trip. So we jumped on the highway and headed out for another great dinner.

We found a wonderful hike along the Appalachian Trail and I WISH I had my camera for the top of that mountain. Our get-away was filled was quality outdoor time together, amazing food and an appreciation for the support we had back home to get out! Definitely need to do this more often!

Alone, together!

This weekend Dave and I finally got away together without the kiddos….4 years later!

Deane has been encouraging us for as long as I can remember (4 yrs apparently) to get away and she’ll take care of our babes while we escape. Go figure that by the time we coordinated a workable date, Deane was on vacation herself (long overdue, btw). So Grandad and Grandma Holly stepped up and offered to take the reigns. While we’re confident things are going well back at home, we’re hoping Ken and Holly will still talk to us when we return later next month. Yesterday, we hiked along the Blue Ridge Mtns for a few hours and today we’re off for another long hike in Asheville. Then we travel to Roanoke. Thank you Grandad and Grandma Holly!

Not to worry, Deane, we’ll take you up on your offer this fall!  He he  Thank you for lighting the fire under us!

Gardening: A Mixed Blessing

We’ve had mixed success this year with the garden. While the lettuce and spices grew like weeds, we had loads of trouble with the cucumbers and tomatoes. The cucumbers got “downy mildew” and we had to pull them all. I must have thrown away nearly 30 squishy cucumbers. Unfortunately, that planter is unplantable for a few more months, until we are sure the mildew is gone. 

 The aphids are unstoppable! We’ve tried marigolds, spray soap, organic wax, neem oil, and SEVIN. The only thing we haven’t tried is butterflies, but that’s a whole to-do with keeping the butterflies in my garden. The aphids are systematically killing my tomato plants. So those too, are getting pulled out and re-planted.

 Thankfully, I have plenty of peppers, watermelon, jalapenos, and eggplant! Now I just need recipes for eggplant.

Happy Birthday, Cameron!

Cameron dressed up to frost his own birthday cupcakes. These are the gluten-free (not to mention dairy-, egg-, nut-, taste-free) cupcakes. We also had regular cupcakes for the masses.

 Cameron's party was at the trampoline place, Defy Gravity. Despite our many friends' trips to the beach (Messick's, Donahue's, Young's AND Rosenburg's!) we still had plenty of peeps to fill up a party.

Miss Karen and Lucy needed a little rest.

 Jackie was Caleb's junior babysitter, much to his delight.

 Grandad and Grandma Holly preferred the sidelines to the sweat-infested craziness of the trampolines. (Not pictured are the brave dads in the dodge ball arena and the foam pit b/c they were dripping with sweat. And now they are nursing their sore backs).

 Happy Birthday, Cameron! Six already!

1st Score Card

On this, Cameron's last day as a 5 year old, we played golf with Grandma Holly.  Cam-o kept score.  As you can see he had a great start with a couple pars & a birdie.  After resting a few holes he returned but struggled on #9.

Gramma Holly & I were devastated on #2 but stroked each others ego for the next 7 holes & were able to leave the course with our chins up.  Thanks for the lesson Cam-o.

Love,

Daddy

Guess what we did today?

We got Jackie's ears pierced!!!!!

 Since it was the second Tuesday after the summer solstice and…just kidding…Jackie was just plain ready! Dave and I felt that she was responsible enough to handle the maintenance of earrings. And since we got a few (dozen) hand me down earrings from our neighbor, Elise, she was really interested.

After doing my due diligence, which consisted of watching YouTube videos of various girls getting their ears pierced and asking my Facebook friends where to go, (everyone agreed Claire’s at the mall was the only acceptable ear-piercing pagoda) we were out the door at 9:55am.  

Jackie’s excitement quickly turned to anxiety once we reached our destination. Luckily, there was another girl getting her ears pierced, so Jackie could see it live and ask her a few bazillion questions. And she was thrilled to pick out her studs!

Thankfully, Lucy Lu was as patient as she has ever been- but then again, she was surrounded by God-awful tiara’s that blinded us with sparkle and dangly, jingly earrings. (Who is their clientele, anyway?!)

After 15 minutes of preparation, ear marking, hygiene tutorial, the lady asked Jackie if she was ready. And Jackie replied....No!... So we left Claire's and took a walk around the mall. Jackie got up the courage to go through with it and there were no tears! WOOHOO!

Check out my pretty babies! The big one has her birthstones in her ears! REAL EARRINGS!

Household help

Since we no longer have a cleaning service, the kids' responsibilities around the house have increased substantially. We're pretty open to any creative way of getting the job done, as long as it gets done.

 Today, Jackie and Cameron tested out floor cleaning techniques. Unfortunately, CamO got injured due to an unlicensed driver (JBird). Tears were shed, workman's comp was filed, bla bla bla... Now they are back to the drawing board. Let's see what they come up with next week!

 Carry on, cleaning crew!

Art Class

Art class with Miss Serpil has begun! In my attempt to minimize driving (entirely selfish, I know), we have classes at home- hence piano, swimming lessons, and now art class . It's only 4 weeks, but these 3 are in their element. Serpil just finished her masters degree in art history & education, so she's thrilled to put her education to use! The kids second favorite part of art class- lessons in their jammies!

The Birthday Season

Karen’s birthday marks the beginning of the 8-week-long birthday celebration. Between our peeps, there are 6 birthdays in 8 weeks, not to mention the 4^th of July celebration. The party is non-stop.  We’re happy to oblige with cake, wine and good friends. 

 Here Karen is instructing the future pyro in the fine art of candle lighting sans finger burning....didn't quite work out that way.

 Much love & Happy Birthday, Miss Karen!