Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day Weekend 09

**Click on the above picture to see more from the trip.**

This past weekend we headed north to spend some time with family on the lake. It was our first major travel with our new minivan and we did manage to fill it to the max! It was a nice way to travel though, especially with the DVD player on the way up. As you can tell from the picture we didn't need it on the way home, though. What a fun, yet exhausting weekend! :)

We left Friday morning, but after having to stop for lunch we didn't arrive at the cabin until about 2:30 pm. When we arrived we had to go next door to get the key and low and behold some of the Williams crew were already there and sunbathing! :) So needless to say we stayed a bit and chatted. I too had to go grab my suit, because the weather was just too good to pass up the chance of getting some rays. Then Saturday and Sunday were filled with lots of games and sunbathing. There was a big family dinner Sunday night, too. Monday we managed to fit in a pontoon boat ride (although it was very chilly out on the lake!) before heading for home. It was so much fun to be up north. I hope to spend some more extended time up there this summer (sorry Ben...he'll have to stay home and work...ahhh the life of a teacher!). We headed home around 2 pm with some runny noses and bug bites, but it was all well worth it! :)

Melissa Turns 30!

Melissa's 30th

**Click on above picture to see a few more from the night**

Last night we headed down to Royal Oak to hang out with friends for Melissa's 30th birthday. We first went over to Kyle and Melissa's house where we chatted and played Wii. Then we went out to dinner at a nice seafood restaurant. It was so much fun visiting with everyone. Sadly we had to get home after dinner, but I'm sure the rest of the group had a great rest of the evening! ;)

Delayed Post -- 13 Months

Lauren's gorgeous blue eyes

Raina has enough hair for a bow

Lauren and her favorite goggles!

Things around here have been pretty busy. I had a birthday, then there was Mother's Day, school is winding down, and m y girls are walking all over the place! I don't know where all the time has gone...things just go so fast.

Girls Stats @ 13 months:

Raina
::Sleeps twice a day (10-11 and 3-5)
::Goes to bed around 8-8:30 pm and wakes around 7 am
::Sucks her two right middle fingers
::Walking pretty good now
::Getting more and more hair
::Blue eyes and light brown hair...I think
::Says "what dat?" all the time
::Has two pretty dimples
::Loves to wrestle
::Loves to cuddle and be rocked
::Loves to sit in your lap
::LOVES to climb things, especially the couch and coffee table
::Eats three solid meals a day
::Picky about temperature of food
::Choosy about who she gives a smile to
::A bit more hold-me, hold-me these days (molars are coming in)

Lauren
::Loves her baby and blankie
::LOVES her goggles
::Sleeps twice a day (10-11 and 3-5)
::Goes to bed around 8-8:30 pm and wakes around 7 am
::Is walking so well that at times she is practically running
::Gives great smiles
::Is a bit on the clumsy side
::Is sneaky and loves to explore
::Still has pretty much no hair, but what is there is pretty light
::Vibrant blue eyes
::Is happiest outside
::Doesn't cuddle much, prefers to do her own thing
::Loves bath time
::Pretty easy going most days

Both girls are getting more and more vocal all the time. They still speak their own language, but they certainly love a good conversation. It's so much fun right now!

Barrett has been doing great, too. He hit a growth spurt recently and seems to be so much taller (all his pants are so short on him now). He is talking all the time, too. He says "Oh, man" when he can't go outside due to weather or "Bear-Bear do that" when he wants to give something a try. The past few nights he has come over to me to tell me that he wants to use the potty, also! I think we're on to something there. It'll be so nice when he is potty trained, that's for sure. :) We got a new van (yes, a mini-van...can't quite believe it myself, but honestly...I'm loving it right now) and Barrett is able to help open doors and close doors, etc. It makes life a bit easier. He is so big now, but there are still moments that I get to cuddle with him and I love that. He is so great!!! All my kids are simply the best.