Our new backyard

We recently relandscaped our backyard and moved the girls' playhouse. Moving the playhouse was quite a feat, but it was successfully done.

Mia loves to walk through the landscaping, sit on rocks, or smell the flowers.

Stopping to smell the flowers

Mia is quite a ham lately. She's really developing a personality all of her own. She once again got strep (5th time this year). Olivia also had it, so we're hoping both on antibiotics at the same time will end this cycle.

Vada enjoys the new area too, although she's supposed to stay out of the flowers. We all know that never happens.

Well, we are looking forward to heading up to Alpena for 2 weeks. So don't be looking for any new entries for a couple of weeks. We know it will be a nice and relaxing time and are thrilled that we will have some visitors our last week up there. Andy's parents, brother Aaron and his wife Christy, along with his sister Jennifer will be coming up. We plan on heading up to the UP for a couple of days. Fun is on the way!

Fathers' Day!

The girls popping out of one of their Fathers' Day gifts for Andy. I know, a trash can, how exciting, but that's what he wanted.

Daddy, loved his new trash can, especially what he found inside.
The girls also got him a card that recorded their voice inside telling him they loved him and happy Fathers' Day. It is sooooo precious!

On Fathers' Day, an under the weather Mia and I went to church with my dad and Patty, while Andy and Olivia played in a golf tournament with his father. We had a nice time at church and a wonderful meal after with my sister's family there too. Later we met up with Olivia and Andy and went to Nana and Papa's for a Fathers' Day meal again.

And the winners are.....

That's right! Papa, Andy, and Olivia won the father and child golf tournament! We are so proud of them all!

Strawberries

Tuesday, June 14th we headed out to pick strawberries along with my sisters crew and her sister-in-law Jennifer and her children. We had a fun time and our family alone came home with over 11 pounds of juicy sweet strawberries.

Child labor

"No mommy, I haven't been eating any strawberries!"

All smiles

The whole crew working together

Janie wanted in on Mia's strawberries too!

Olivia and Piper smashing some berries.

The next day, we had our friends over to help us make strawberry freezer jam. It was our first ever attempt. It turned out pretty good, but a little runny. I think it will be great on top of some ice cream as well!

Mia wanted in on the pictures too!

Joan's

After the zoo, we made it safely to Scott and Joan's open house party. The house was gorgeous! We were thrilled to see Uncle Mike and Aunt Ruth arrive on their move up from Georgia. They both have officially retired and are now going to call their cottage in Tawas their permanent home. Uncle Mark and Aunt JoAnne also drove down from Midland. My dad and Patty even showed up. It was great to see Erica again too. We grew up like sisters being the same age and our mothers twins. Since she moved to Portland, Oregon, our times we see each other are slim.

A picture of Scott and Joan's gorgeous new home

Andy, Mia, Uncle Mark, Aunt JoAnne, and Olivia enjoying the AC in the living room

Erica with Mia

Amanda, Mia, Erica, Olivia, and Aunt JoAnne

Mia kissing on Aunt Joan

It was a great party. Great food, a beautiful home, and wonderful company! What more could one ask for?

Fort Wayne Zoo

Saturday, June 4th, we loaded up and headed south into Indiana for some family fun time. My Aunt Joan just remarried Scott Huffine and they have a newly constructed home where they were throwing an open house party. Lots of family I don't see fairly often were attending, so we naturally wanted to go. Once on the road we realized we hadn't had breakfast, so when everyone was complaining of rumbling tummies we decided to stop in Auburn at the Cracker Barrel. Both girls ate well, especially Mia, eating almost all of her humongous pancakes and devouring at least one slice of my french toast. After our breakfast we continued on to Fort Wayne. We saw the mall on our left and the turn for the zoo coming up on our right. Mia coughed and gagged a bit, then I heard Andy say, "Oh gross!" I turned around to see Mia covered in her previously eaten pancakes and french toast. Now my car is usually a pig sty, but with some prompting and help from my husband we completely cleaned it out the night before. The only things left in it were car seats, a stroller, sippy cups and a small diaper bag with a few diapers, wipes, and snacks. I then told Andy to go to the mall instead of the zoo to buy Mia a new outfit. I stripped her down in the parking lot, wiped her up as good as I could and became one of those parents who takes their child shopping in a just a diaper. We ran into the first store we found, grabbed the first dress of the rack and bought it and dressed her right there in the store. We were pretty sure her getting sick was due to eating too much and her body needing to cough up some junk. She wasn't running a fever and seemed fine. So we attempted to try the zoo.

Andy and Olivia enjoying the scenery

The zoo did have some gorgeous landscaping!

Look out animals, Mia's at the wheel!

Always time for a carousel ride

Mama Canada Geese with their little ducklings

Let me first suggest to never go to a zoo on an extremely hot day, especially when the zoo is crowded. We started off in the African safari section, which is a super long loop with very little shade. Most of the animals were trying to hide from the sun and sleep. We were all dripping sweat within no time. Olivia did a bit of whining, but we still managed to drudge on and enjoy the zoo the best we could. By the time we were out of Africa, we didn't have much time left, nor did we want to stay much longer. So we headed to the primate area, mainly because the orangutans are my favorite. We're on a first name basis with one another. So we were able to get to more shaded and even some air conditioned sections of the zoo before heading out to go visit my Aunt Joan and Scott's new home.

Eating in front of the giraffes

Relaxing by the orangutan statue after getting cooled off in the water misters

Potawotomi Zoo

Acting like monkeys in front of some monkeys

Andy headed up north for a few day the end of May to get our camper and property ready for the season, so The girls and I loaded up and headed to South Bend to go to the Potawatomi Zoo on a Saturday morning. It was a great day for it, nice weather, not too hot, and not too crowded at all.

These flamingos were fearless and would get right in your face

He was one determined goat going for the leaves on the tree

Both girls loved the goats, but only Olivia was really into petting them

Say, "Cheese," farmer Olivia and Mia!

The camels were quite affectionate with one another

checking out the wild boars

Standing in front of the emus, wallabies, and kangaroos

We left the zoo for lunch at Steak and Shake, followed by a quick trip to the mall. We came home to visit with our cousins a bit and then were excited when daddy came home that evening. It was a fun filled weekend!

Dancing with Cousins!

Olivia had her first dance recital Saturday, May 21st. She did an amazing job! We were all so proud of her! First she did her sweet and delicate fairy dust ballet. Then she showed her attitude side during her jazz and hip hop number where the song was "Please Don't Stop the Music." The recital was quite an event to put on with over 40 acts in it. Olivia received numerous bouquets of flowers from family and loved ones. She's already decided next year she wants to try tap lessons. Sadly they would not allow photography during the recital, but I didn't know this until the night of dress rehearsal, to which I did not take my camera. So sadly I know no photos of Olivia in her costumes. Our friend Lauren took some amazing photos professionally for me, so we do have some keepsakes coming.

Olivia is holding her vase of flowers from Jackie. Jackie was unable to come to her recital, but arranged for flowers to be delivered to Olivia at her recital since she couldn't make it. Olivia was so excited to get some special flowers from her Jackie!

We are also thrilled that my sister and Jared have moved back to Sturgis! We had three of the kids over to play a couple of weeks ago. They all enjoyed dancing and being silly up in the girls' room.

The kids all rocking out. Mia, Jadon holding Jane, James, and Olivia

Sweet little Janie will be one year old on June 11th! My how time flies.