Our summer has been jammed packed with outdoor fun!  We are thankful to have spent three weeks on Lake Michigan, both at our trailer and at a beautiful cottage right on Lake Michigan!  The weather has been HOT and being on the lake has helped keep us cool!  Here are some memories from the cottage!

 Our home for the week, right on Lake Michigan! (the blue one)

Learning how to Kayak  with daddy!

 Cooling off!

 Beach Bums!

Nicholas' favorite thing to play with!

 Running down the beach!

 The only sunset he has witnessed in his life so far!  It was far past his bedtime, but after listening to him fuss for so long (and he usually goes to bed so well) we thought we might as well get him up to enjoy the beautiful sight.  And in the morning...guess what...he had his first two year muller!!!  No wonder he was miserable!

 Mismatched pj's won't stop this little man from power-washing the deck!

 Watching the dune buggies at the Silver Lake Sand Dunes!  He is still talking about this experience!

 We always peel the corn off for Nicholas.  During this dinner, he watched Bumpa so intensely and we couldn't figure out why he kept starting at him throughout the meal.  When we were just about finished, he asked for an ear of corn and he at the entire thing just like this!  He was learning from Bumpa that whole time!

 Life is good...trucks on the beach!

 Oh no!  Where did our piggies go???

 Nicholas figured out quickly how to open the screen doors leading to the big deck.  I was attempting to get him ready for a day at the beach and he escaped and this is what I found him doing!  He had gotten into the beach bag, brought his trucks to the deck and was playing with them, just like this!  

 He did not want to ever get out of the water!  A little fish!

 So proud to be swimming by himself!

 One of many "walks" down the beach!

Spring Break 2012 Gulf Shores, AL 

Snuggling in mama and daddy's bed...life is good!

Dancing with my new friend at dinner! (We were the hit and decided since the girls wouldn't dance with us, we would just dance with each other to the live band)!

I spent a majority of my time awake in the pool!

Put me in a big hole and I'll let you read for an hour or two!

Jumping off all by myself!!!

Jumping on the bed with a car in my hand!

NO FEAR!!!!

Ready for the 18 hour drive!  I didn't fuss or cry once!

Mommy found me in the office with her glasses on at the computer!!!

Learning to ride my bike!

Weekend Get-A-Way

Conference week is always a busy one, but it usually means a Friday off from school!  To make up for not spending a lot of time together, the three of us headed up to Traverse City Thursday after school!  We had an AMAZING time and truly enjoyed just being together, the three of us!  Here are a few pictures that capture some of the best moments!  But I must say...Nicholas is quite the little traveler!  As we packed up before heading out Thursday, he ran around like a wild man!  He knew something exciting was happening and couldn't get in the truck fast enough!  And the first words out of his mouth when we arrived home today..."Back to Hotel"!  He had a blast, no doubt!

Special Treats from Ama and Bumpa were in our room when we arrived!  (Can you guess which treat is for mommy and daddy only, and which treats resulted in begging from Nicholas???)

Enjoying a chocolate donut (only on a vacation and because it's from Ama and Bumpa did mommy let me eat this)!

Don't worry mama and dada, I'll get us there!!!

Out for a nice dinner and all I eat is a lemon!

Mommy and her photo shoots!!!

Mommy enjoyed catching up on a couple of books while daddy and I swam.  Mommy doesn't like the cold water (even though it was heated) but I did get her to come in a few times!!!  She can't resist my smile and signing PLEASE!

What do you mean the pool door is locked until 8 a.m.  Do you people actually believe in sleeping in???

Getting VERY brave!  I jumped in by myself and went totally under water many times!

Freezing cold temperature, blowing wind, over an hour drive on snow covered roads and a closed sign when we arrived!  Getting the family pictures...TOTALLY worth it!

The Northern most point in Traverse City!

I begged to ride on the "NEIGH" but when daddy let me pick which place to sit, I chose the bench...go figure!

Mommy and Me

A much needed nap at 9:45 a.m. on the way to the Great Lakes  Children's Museum.  I was up at 6:00 a.m. and saw mommy and daddy in a bed nearby and forced them to get me by being silly and loud and yelling OUT PLEASE! 

Making sure I yell Bye-Bye to everyone below (and I mean everyone-he wouldn't stop waving until each person waved back to him and he smiled and hammed it up the whole time)!

Going down the big slide...check out my new do!