Summer time, Summer time, Sum Sum Summer time!

We had the week to show Mandy and Lexi some of the fun things to do here in Michigan. We went to a children's museum, but I forgot my camera :(

We went to Greenfield Village, where it is set back in the 1800's and early 1900's. We got to ride a carousel, a train, and horse-drawn buggy.


We went on a tour of one of the Ford factories and got to see the assembly line of Ford 150s being built.


We went and saw Toy Story 3.

We went to the Metro Beach, which is off of St. Clair Lake.


The Before

The After



Overall, we stayed busy and enjoyed each other's company. The girls played and played. They laughed at each others non-sense jokes. They stayed up way too late, but what are summers for? The got to help clean up their messes.


Now it is time to pack the house and move. I have been dreading this. I don't want to move, but circumstances have made us find another rental while we are here in Michigan. It's been so inconvenient, but this too shall pass!

The kids.....

Here are pictures of their favorite things to do right now!

Makenzie: Catching bugs and picking flowers


Jordan: Playing the computer (no surprise there!) Don't you love the scab below his nose. He face-planted it on the side walk the other day.


Gavin: Climbing up the stairs. He gravitates to them all the time!

"Are we there yet?"

I heard this phrase way too many times this last weekend. We ventured over to South Dakota for a quick surprise birthday party and family reunion for Tyler's Grandpa. It consisted of A LOT of driving for one weekend. But it was well worth it to see family and also to snatch two of them to bring back home with us for the next week.



We stopped at a park for lunch one day in a small town. It's great having the maps app on Tyler's phone when it comes to searching for things like this.



The trip consisted of paying over $10 in tolls one way through the Chicago area. We detoured away from that on the way home.

With Jordan newly potty-trained, he got to experience peeing on the side of the freeway in the grass. He loved it and requested to pee in the grass the rest of the trip.

We've had a giggle-fest once Makenzie's cousin, Lexi, joined us. While on the trip, the two watched "An American Tail." There is a song in the movie that sings, "There are no cats in America." The whole way home they would replace the word "cats" with some odd word and laugh about what was sung!

Here is Makenzie with her cousins, Cameron and Lexi.



We had to get creative with this boy who really needed a nap in a hotel room full of people. We removed him from all distractions and put him in between the curtains.






Here are some pictures that Tyler's brother, Scott, took of the trip.

Class of 2023!

Makenzie "graduated" from preschool this week. Her teacher mentioned during the ceremony that we were looking at the high school graduating class of 2023. Now that was weird to think! Preschool was such a good experience for Makenzie! She had great teachers and has come home with so many memories. They even gave her a box full of her work, lamented in specific topic books. They have been fun to look at.


Makenzie with her teachers, Jennifer Kile and Heather Stoltz

Basking in the Sun

While I hear of the snow that continues to surprise my dear friends and family in Utah, we can't help but bask in the sun and heat. I let the kids swim one afternoon and every time Jordan got wet, he would freak out and change into a different pair of swim trunks. I eventually let him swim in his underwear and he was fine with that.



Makenzie had a full-out concert last night in her room singing in the fan.


The neighbors across the street cut down this tree in their backyard. It was really big! We got to watch the whole process in Makenzie's room while we played "Go Fish."


We just love this little guy! Full of smiles, laughter, red hair, and 6 teeth.

Trail of Destruction!

"I'm on the move, Mom!! Where to next?"

What I prefer

-Having a husband that is not out-of-town. (3 weeks down, 1 more to go!)

-Sleeping with my husband and not 2 little weasels that find their way in my bed every night.

-Making a balanced and nutritious dinner that is worth making every night. I'm getting tired of sandwiches, chicken nuggets, pizza and pancakes. I usually make myself something different, but it's still pretty basic.

-Not having milk expire and consequently having to put it down the drain.

-Being able to run all the small errands without dragging the kids with me. (Thanks to a great friend that watches my kids and still allows me to accomplish this feat without a husband.)

-Looking forward to the weekends.

-Having Tyler complete the "Honey-Do" List instead of me!

I know there are so many wives out there who have it worse than I do. And evidently, I will have it worse as time wears on. Tyler will be gone for 3 months this summer, but luckily we will be at home with extended family for 2 months of it. Then, of course, there is the dreaded "D" word (deployment) that the Army may choose to give to Tyler after he is done with his residency in 5 years. I'm not even going to think about that right now. With technology these days, it's amazing how much we really are able to stay in contact with each other. On Sunday we had had a 2 hour web cam visit. That was better than any movie I could have watched.

I don't prefer having a husband gone and I'm sure Tyler will attest that he doesn't prefer being away from home either. Going to medical school and being a doctor is a sacrifice. Being in the military is a sacrifice. I'm so grateful for a husband who works so hard to provide for his family. We love and miss you!

And for Tyler's viewing pleasure... (and everyone else's)

Makenzie made herself a dog house using anything she could find outside and in the garage. Notice the baby sun shade... aka the doggy door.





Gavin loves hanging out on Makenzie's bed and looking out the window.