Fun in a River x2

Since I'm four days overdue and going in tomorrow for an induction, we thought that one last outing as a family of four would be nice. We headed to this new woodsy park that we discovered two days ago when we went for a random wander.... Its our new favorite spot with the perfect sized river for the kids to play.

Swimming Boot Camp

"I survived Miss Rita's swim lessons" read the t-shirt of the guy inside the fence as we entered the backyard pool area at exactly 11:15 for the first day of the most brutal swim lessons I have found.
The previous session left one kid vomiting and another trying to scale the fence.
With no introductions at all, we were firmly directed to leave the kids and go inside and out of sight.
My breath fogged up the window as I watched my 2 & 4 year old unsuspectingly sit at the pools edge. Then one by one the wrenching blood curdling screams began! Lilly bounced her shoulders, the way she does when she is happy & excited, and they grabbed her. She smiled wide in glee at the smooth succulent sensation of the azure waters. Then down she went and with it all sense of fun and security. What was happening? What is this? Where's my mommy!!!
I was inside wiping away my own tears, second guessing the brutality of it all.
The torture ended 45 minutes later with cries and laments that lasted all the way home.Day two, I surprisingly managed to get them into their suits somehow. Drove the 25 minutes back to her house. Upon sight of the front yard I heard synchronized protests and pleas followed by literal kicking and screaming into the pool gates (of hell). Parents were forcefully ordered once again to quickly move along into the house and leave their innocent children behind (insert evil laugh here).Within the next 45 minutes I witnessed the most amazing phenomenon of the human experience. The most striking moment of parental awe. I actually saw the moment my eldest son transformed a paralysing fear into an awareness that he actually accomplished what he thought he couldn't. Then into pride and excitment. Then into joy and elation! My own delight and relief could not be measured.Lilly on the other hand still needed time.
We left with one in a softened state of tears and the other in skippy merriment.

Day three and four, Dakota was anxiously anticipating the chance to "show me how brave he can be". Lilly still protested. She is apparently a GREAT floater. She tearfully submits to having her head down in the water, legs stretched out, and the constant coaxing. But she refuses to kick. Really, she just hasn't made to proper connection from brain to legs yet. Today ended with promises of a new Tinker Bell in exchange for a few kicks which she eagerly agreed to but couldn't quite achieve. Tomorrow is the last day of the first week. Saturday is the work pool party where Dakota is so excited to show off to daddy his new diving board jumping & solo swimming skillz. Hopfully Lilly will just have some unpressured fun in between her sessions. But so far, so good.

The Great Train Robbery

Last weekend we had the best family outing in a long time. With hats, boots, and green guns in hand

we all headed out to board the Coopersville & Marne Railway express. It was a warm sunny day and a cool breezy ride
Until! we were suddenly attacked by a ferocious band of cowboy robbers who stole all our (fake) money and jewels!!! Fortunately the sheriff and his deputies were on board and saved us all with a wild wild western style shoot-out.

Dakota Jack may have been taking it all a little too seriously even though we explained many times it was all just pretend because he had a bit of difficulty with the gun shots and loosing his loot :-(
"Lilly-Mae" on the other hand seemed like a regular Calamity Jane with her "Yee Haws!" and pistol aiming.
Im so glad we finally got to do this fun ride our last summer in Michigan.
It was some great cowboy practice for next year's move to Texas and
Dakota has even asked for a Cowboy themed birthday party.
Yes, already.....

Farewell mt first friend...

Three years ago, when Dakota was only one and a half, some new neighbors moved in right next door. They had two girls and one was almost exactly Dakota's age. I remember their first meeting. He was always a very strong willed, bold and happy baby but when this blond little firecracker ran up to him waving her hand high, smiling ear to ear and steam-rolling her nose into to his, I could see he met his match. Since then he has always had a dear (and feisty) relationship with the girl next door.
This last week was a monumental moment of sadness and growing up when he had to say his first big goodbye as she & her family were moving away. We tried to get some photos of them together a few days prior but he was upset from having just fallen and I only really got the shot above. (which is a little out of focus and shadowy), but still cute...
When she came knocking on the door the morning of her move (a day earlier than we expected) he came running into my room screaming with tears that she was going away. I insisted no not yet but when i reached the door I could see he was right. He wouldn't pose a for a goodbye picture. In fact, he wouldn't change out of his pjs or even say goodbye at all! He just kept crying and demanding to get a new friend. We spent the rest of that day at another good friend's house but back at home (especially playing in the backyard), it just isn't the same anymore...
We'll miss you girls....

Cherry Pickin' with my two cutie Pies~

Today was a beautiful day for picking Michigan Cherries. We dressed in our pickin' gingham, grabbed our pickin' baskets and made our way to a nearby cherry farm where we collected a big ol' bushel of sweet black cherries. Mmmm yum! Kids had a blast (even though it was just with mommy) and Dakota's favorite part was when he climbed the tree all by himself.

When we were done we headed over to the "Apple Haus" for an extra special treat. Cherry glazed cherry doghnuts! and played outside with a mouthful of sweetness.

Don't you just LOVE Summer!!!

Pursuing happiness in life with our liberties!

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
—Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776

And what a Happy 4th of July we had. Dakota and Daddy got up bright and early for a "boys only" fireworks shopping trip. (where Kota luckily got way more explosives then mommy would have bought). Then, since daddy was on call and had a bit of at-home work to do, Mommy took the kids to Lake Michigan where we met a bunch of great friends for a few sunny hours at the beach. We all had ice cream cones on the drive home and each took a glorious (manditory) afternoon nap.
After a few pleasant dreams we freshened up and had a house full of guests for a casual bbq & backyard playtime. eventually that switched gears into what Dakota excitedly calls the "Danger Party"! A driveway firepit for smores and kiddy fireworks!
That lasted till nightfall when the tireless of our group headed out to the hospital rooftop for city firework viewing. All in all the kids did great and we had a spectacular day.

Summer strawberry pickin'

With my favorite little pickers!

another day at the beach....

The Worlds Best Daddy Lives here!

Lucky us got to have daddy for the weekend. We spent Saturday getting burned and having a blast doing it at the beach. Sunday was all about spoiling him with breakfast in bed, gifts (including a book written by Dakota and dedicated to daddy), finished off with a big bbq dinner.Daddy, you are our hero and we love you more than sliced bread!
Thanks for taking such good care of us
and being so cool too!

My Firstborn Graduates Preschool

It's been a very happy year of school for my sweet & silly Dakota Jack.
I surprised myself by actually getting a little choked up on the last day.
So, I figured I'd make him a little yearbook to have printed for his memory shelf.
Here it is...

BIg Ball, Big Fun

Windmill Island

We recently had a little excursion to a nearby place in Holland, MI called Windmill Island. It's a beautiful little dutch village that explodes with tulips this time of year. With a few friends and our hoard of kids, we headed out there a few days before the actual start of the annual Tulip Festival so they could run around without the crowds. It was a chilly overcast day (unlike the perfect picture you see here) but still loads of fun for everyone. We brought sack lunches, toured the real working grain grinding windmill, poked through darling dutch shops, took a carousel ride, and of course saw zillions of tulips.
A great day that wore out the kiddos fabulously!

Easter shmeaster

Anyone who knows me, knows that Easter is by far my most favorite holiday of the year.
For one, it's meaning is far more important than even Christmas. It's the fulfillment of it all right? But then there are the lovely spring colors, everyone wears their prettiest clothes, gifts are given but kept to a minimum (not overdone and over stressed like christmas), egg hunts, chocolate bunnies, baby animals, spring flowers! ooh I just love it all. This year was a total bust however. Dakota tore apart his basket and collected all the eggs by 3am and kept me up all night long. The weather is just too dang cold here in michigan to enjoy wearing a spring frock outside, ended up being too sick to go to the school party dressed in my new bunny costume and daddy had to work all day so I slightly gave up this year. I have only two pictures from our egg painting before everyone broke down and im including one from a few days prior where the kids decided to dress and a princess & knight. Next year will be much better I promise. And I have big ideas for the future. Just you wait!

Spring Break Day 5

Our last spring break day activity was a bust.

It was meant to be our big day on the dairy farm.

There was a full two hour tour, cow milking, corn maze, animal petting - the works. We even met his favorite friends there. Unfortunately, after the long drive out there first thing in the morning, we soon realized it was much too cold and we were far under-coated to enjoy any of the outside activities. in fact, Dakota decided from the moment he stepped out the car that he would not attempt to enjoy this day even with borrowed jackets. We went into the barn and pet a baby cow. Dakota cried while his buddies ran around and 15 minutes later I piled them back into the car for the long ride back. We did agree to try again in the summer so hopefully it will all be happier then....The next day we hosted a family ice cream social with every topping you could devour.
I didnt manage to get any pictures of that so maybe this will help you imagine..
Since then, the last three weeks or so have been spent with wild bouts of sickness.
(thus the great delay in catching up on these posts).
If that was the price for one week of kiddy spring break then it was surely not worth it.
However, I prefer to think that at least we got a few things done just in the 'nick of time.

Spring Break Day 3-4

So for Wednesday and Thursday I signed up Dakota for "mini camp" and the local MVP sportsplex. He was able to spend several hours each day swimming, playing tennis, doing crafts and eating with little buddies. He said he liked it enough but would rather do something else next time. Oh well, we gave it a go. I on the other hand enjoyed the few hours of girl time with Lilly which we used to go shopping of course.

Spring Break Day 2

I had originally planned to sign up Dakota for a "Bug Clinic" and Frederick Meijer Gardens while Lilly and I played in the butterfly room but unfortunately I was too late and it was full :(
So as a last minute substitute activity I heard from a friend I could take a free intro class at Gymboree. Dakota did a little sport class with his two buddies, Rand & Norah while Lilly & I took a family class with our friends Carrie and little Hazel. Now if I could only get my house clean...