August and September 2015

I am so far behind on the monthly blog posts that I decided to combine a few.

In August we tried to soak up every bit of the last month of summer that we could.  I went back to work and started a new role at work (a large part of my lack of blogging time) and Kathryn started her last year of pre-k with Ms. Michelle.  Ben and I celebrated our anniversary by taking a weekend away at Osage Beach.  We also enjoyed a Springfield Cardinals game with my parents and their small group.

Back to School event

Hiking on our anniversary

Fishing and catching TONS of small fish

Jack is happy!

Climbing on the shed

First day of school with Ms. Michelle

First day of school-dropping off Jack

Springfield Cardinals Game

September included labor day weekend fun (a trip to the zoo, one last trip to the lake), some Fair Grove football games, and the Fall Festival.

They love horses

Trip to the zoo

First ride on the zoo train

Excited about the tractors coming in the festival parade

Cousins

Susannah and Papa

Aunt Kayce and Hattie

An after-school hike around Valley Water Mill

July 2015

My oh my, I am SO far behind on blogging our adventures.  July is always such an amazing month because I am off with my babies and Ben takes off for close to two weeks while we go on our annual vacation to the U.P.  The month started off with a family Independence Day celebration at Marcia's on July 3rd and Ben actually getting to have his birthday off work (because it fell on a Saturday) on July 4th.

This year for our vacation, we packed up the car with tons of stuff, two adults, two kids, a dog, and a roof top carrier.  As always, our kids did great traveling.  

Annual Clyde's picture in St. Ignace

We were able to go to Diamond Lake and spend some time with Ben's high school/college friends.  After this we headed up to Cable Lake for a week in the UP.  We had the best weather we have ever had and the kids had so much fun playing ALL.DAY.LONG.  Highlights included ATV rides, kayaking, swimming, playing with rocks in the creek, and celebrating Ben's birthday with Judd and Cindy.  Ben and I got to enjoy each evening out on the water fishing and just enjoying nature.  It was such a wonderful week, both Jack and Kathryn even caught their first fish.

                                     

Photo credit: Kathryn

Yay, her first fish!

Jack's first fish was shortly after!

It is always so hard to leave the U.P.  I think this is Ben's favorite place on earth and it is pretty high on my list as well.  The trip home was pretty uneventful.  We did let the kids stop at a park in southern Wisconsin.

We are already excited for next year!

June 2015

After May being so crazy, June has actually been really laid back and it was needed.  We enjoyed lots of time at home on the weekends with some fun thrown in.  We went out to my parents to target shoot one afternoon, hit the Willard Pool, had dinner with friends and then watched Willard's fireworks display, went to the lake, had company over, and celebrated Father's Day.

This year at the lake was much different than last.  Kathryn tubed and Jack did too!  In fact, he insisted on going on his own tube :).

I am excited for what July will bring with Ben's birthday, me being off work, and our annual vacation to the UP.