July 2014

We love summer!  After such a cold winter, we are all so excited to get outside.  The kids are at such a fun age.  We love to take little day trips.  We've been to the zoo several times and each time the kids are fascinated with something new.  Liam started the summer really interested in different types of bats.  We saw the bats at the zoo before they closed their exhibit and checked out books about bats from the library.  Grandpa Herman made Liam his very own bat-house.  Lately, he has been interested in peacocks (male peacocks to be exact).  Lilly loves penguins right now and takes her stuffed penguin with her everywhere.  Who knows what they'll be into next month?  In addition to penguins, Lilly is also really into accessorizing and acting out Tangled and Frozen.  She can be found singing and dancing around the house with her plastic frying pan.  This year we went to see fireworks in Leo-Cedarville for Independence Day.  The kids really enjoyed watching them and loved being able to stay up late.  We've been to different parks and to the library for story time.  I taught dance again at CLHS drama camp.  The kids came for a little bit one day and loved being on stage.  Liam asked if he could be in the show.  We took a mini vacation to Grandma & Grandpa Kusch's (look up the blog post Michigan Staycation for more information on that).  We are cherishing this summer!

on our way to see fireworks

snacking and waiting for fireworks to start

Grandpa Herman taking the kids for a ride in the wagon

Grandma Herman went with us to the zoo

We have a little watermelon in our garden

The kids love fishing with Grandpa Herman

We got a chance to visit baby Jacob Ervin

what a big helper

wait for it… (Leo-Cedarville splash pad)

… yikes that's cold!

Liam was so proud he climbed the rock wall at Parkview Park by himself

Tea Party Fun

Lilly loved dressing up and picking different outfits for mom.  Liam joined us and served us cake and tea.

The VanSpankerens went with us to the Harlan Parade

Michigan Staycation

This year we took our family vacation in April to Hawaii, so we didn't plan any big family vacations for this summer.  We did, however, spend a week in Michigan with Grandma & Grandpa Kusch. Dave had to work, but he did come for the weekends to drop us off and pick us up.  The kids spent every morning at VBS at Saint Paul's.  We spent the afternoons either swimming in the pool or taking little day trips.  Here's our week through pictures…

Detroit Zoo

Grandma & Grandpa Kusch's House

VBS

Theme: Gangway to Galilee

Blueberry & Raspberry Picking at Spicers Orchard

The kids did a great job picking berries. Lilly ate almost every one she picked.

Liam took this picture and the one below

Livonia Parks

The kids had fun at the parks in Livonia.  We got ice cream after playing on one of the hot days.

Lilly sat still long enough for me to paint her fingernails and toenails (a first).

Hands On Museum in Ann Arbor

The kids wore Grandpa out.

Cousins!

Our Drive Home

Every time the sunset changed slightly Liam would ask to take a picture with my phone.  Here are some of them.  What a great end to a great week.

We had such a great week in Michigan, but were very happy to see Dave again.  We all missed him terribly.  The kids had a lot to tell Dad about their week.