A Brief Respite

September 7 was our 5th wedding anniversary. Ah, how things have changed in those five years. So we had Grandma Pam come for a long weekend (thank you thank you) and we went to Traverse City. It was a weekend of firsts - or at least "firsts in a long time". First time we'd left the kids more than one night (and only the second night ever). First time to sleep in. First time to eat consecutive meals without kids. First opportunity to talk about and think about the kids incessantly until we could see them again.

(Nope, no kids pics on this blog entry - but there is a new kids post put up just moments before this one - go to the archive on the right and open the 2007 - Septmeber archive - see "Growing and Grinning".)

We stayed at the Grand Beach Resort, right on the bay.

View from right by our room of the East Traverse Bay.

Morning walk on the beach. No kids and no one to take picture of both of us together.

Mountain biking in the forest preserve east of town.

Some hills we conquered. Some conquered us.

Kylene kicks up the final hill.

Resting and rehydrating.

Sunday brunch overlooking the marina.

Golf. High spirits and high scores.

We succeeded in outpacing the rain that came after the round. The successes ended there.

A key element of the hotel suite. Mmmm. Flat screen.

Our most frequent activity: Nothing.

Growing and Grinning

I'm getting bigger! I am now 6 months old. I eat like a champ and am sleeping through the night. I'm thinking about crawling and always ready with a smile. I have also found my voice to express my pleasure, displeasure or the fact that I'm generally awake. I am a happy little lady. Roman and Eden are 22 months, are running everywhere and are starting to talk (with words) a lot. Lots of repeating and long sentences of gibberish. We're all enjoying the wrap up of summer and the onset of fall.

The final rays of summer.

My mane has been tamed with this bow.

R: Any key you can bang, I can bang harder.

Addison hopes to follow in Mama's footsteps and be Captain of the Safety Patrol in school.

A: Where's my orange belt?

Mama and her girls.

E: I like reading with Mama. Now if I could just see the pages.

R: Ringer tees anyone? Old Navy, feel free to send the royalty checks directly to me.

A: I didn't do it.

R: Let's play dominoes.

Fun at the park with the Clarks and the Pearsons.

L to R: Roman, Eden, Mason, Colin, Alexa.

The same crew, this time including Addison and Addison. Your voice in court.

A: Grandpa and Grandma went on a 3 week vacation and were excited to see us. 3 weeks, that's like 1/9 of my life.

E: Grandpa, I don't remember this book going so fast before.

A: We are living in cereal world, and I am now a cereal girl.


E: I officially declare my candidacy for the papacy. Cue the white smoke.


A few of the many sides of Roman: the elated silly boy.


The scheming ponderer.


The helper.
R: I've got her Daddy.
Addison prepares for our weekly limbo contest. How low can you go?

Roman and his favorite show: Wheel of Fortune

R: "T!"

Feel free to relax buddy.

A: Thanks for stopping by!