Camping Trailer

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Just before Thanksgiving, Jared and I became the proud owners of a vintage (late 70s) Tag-Along camping trailer. It's in great shape and it even has a cute stripey awning! We're hoping to take it on a maiden voyage before the New Year (hopefully somewhere a little warmer than Ohio.) I've already started planning some epic family road trips for the future in my head: Yellowstone, the Pacific Highway and New England are high on top of my list.

Update: The trailer pictured is not Jared and I's camper. (Ours isn't nearly as cute...yet!) However, the one pictured is available for rent in the UK. :)

The Wedding/Blessing/Birthday Weekend Part II

Sunday, we blessed Caroline at our church and celebrated Mitchell's 5th birthday! Here are some photos of the fun:

The best picture I could get of the entire family.

After 3 hours of church it's an almost impossible feat.

The birthday boy, who requested spaghetti for dinner.

(He is a picky eater and likes his spaghetti straight - no sauce.)

The spectacular rally car cake, made by Jared.

Cake number two, provided by Mitchell's grandpa (my dad)

You know it's going to be a good year when it starts out with two cakes.

Happy Birthday Mitchell! And happy blessing day Caroline!

The Wedding/Blessing/Birthday Weekend Part I

On Friday we attended a wedding celebration for our nephew Luke and his wife Nyla who were married in the Columbus Ohio Temple the week prior. First, the happy couple:

The weather was perfect for their backyard reception. The boys had fun dancing with their cousins...

and I had fun hanging out by the trifle buffet (yum!) and admiring all the twinkling lights they decorated with. These hanging votives made from baby food jars were my favorite!

Congratulations Luke + Nyla!

Sweet Caroline

Our little lady has arrived!
Caroline Elise made her world debut Wednesday morning, June 30th at 7:34 am.
She weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
She is really soft and she smells really good and we just love her to pieces.

Tickled Pink

Jared and I weren't going to find out the sex of our baby until he or she arrived, however, we had an ultrasound this week and we just couldn't resist the opportunity. As it turns out, we are having a little girl! (We didn't find out with either of the boys until they were born and we've always enjoyed the surprise in the delivery room but I must admit, a little surprise mid- pregnancy is also pretty fun too.) I would have been just as pleased with a boy but I am excited to even things out around here. I was beginning to feel a little out numbered. :)

Also, this bird stack print is now reminiscent of our family with one little pink birdie on top! (More cute prints in this Etsy shop, Printspace.)

A New Year, A New Baby...

Yep. We're expecting! Baby number 3 is set to arrive this June. Mitchell is really hoping for a girl, Spencer is pretty much oblivious and Jared and I will be delighted either way. Right now I'm just happy to be out of the cruddy morning sickness stage. What will you be up to this year?

(Photo of Mitchell's feet by Summer Potter.)

Merry Christmas To All!

Our family enjoyed a quiet Christmas at home with simple festivities that included reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas before putting two cute boys to bed in their new Christmas pajamas, Jared and I staying up late to wrap presents and then watching It's a Wonderful Life together (love. that. movie!), waking up for lots of paper ripping and present opening, followed by homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast. My sister and her family also came to visit us later in the day so the boys had fun showing off their new toys and playing with their cousins. All in all it was a very fun holiday. I hope you all had a Merry Christmas too!

Tuscora Park

Over Memorial Day weekend we had a chance to take the boys to Tuscora Park. It's a small scale amusement park with various rides including a ferris wheel, a small train and an antique carousel with hand carved, solid-wood horses. It is really close to where I grew up so I made many happy memories there as a child and it was fun to go back as an adult with my own children. The boys absolutely loved it and I crossed number 23 off the list!

Merry & Bright

We had a very merry christmas and I hope you all did too! I think the highlight for me was the part of the day we spent roller skating with family. I LOVE roller skating but haven't been since college! Luckily my cool sister-in-laws rented the rink for everyone to enjoy. Here are some pictures of the fun...

Happy Thanksgiving

Jared and I had a happy Thanksgiving and so much to be thankful for. In past years, we have spent the day at the homes of other family members but this year we hosted Thanksgiving at our own home for the very first time. We enjoyed a nice, quiet day with the boys and Jared's parents. Aside from stuffing myself silly and then taking a nap afterward, my next favorite part of the day was setting a pretty table, complete with place cards and my grandmother's silver. I think Jared's favorite part was cooking and carving the turkey. All in all, I'd say a good time was had by everyone. Happy Thanksgiving!

MIchigan Trip: Part II

Sorry I'm dragging this out but I wanted to post the second part of our trip. We left the Porkies and headed to Pictured Rocks National Shore (along the northern coast of the U.P.). We had a late lunch at a local joint, quickly set up camp and jumped on the last "rock" cruise of the day around 4 P.M. Since we went near dusk, the late day sun made for beautiful light on the rocks. Although it was a little pricey, we decided the cruise was really the only great way to get an up close view of the shoreline. Totally worth it!

(Setting up camp. I loved camping right on the lake. I know I've already said this but Lake Superior is so blue and so beautiful.)
(Hot Chocolate and S'mores over the fire - Yum!)

Our next stop was Taquemenon Falls, the largest waterfall east of the Mississippi. We just stopped for a short hike to the falls and a picnic lunch before getting back into the car and heading to Mackinac.
Once in Mackinac, Jared and I quickly perused the state park campground before we mutually agreed that we weren't up for setting up/taking down our camping gear one more time. (It was cold and close to dark already.) Coincidentally, we stumbled across a charming little bed and breakfast that fit the bill perfectly! :) While I really did enjoy camping, the bed and breakfast was definitely a highlight of the trip! We enjoyed hot fudge brownie sundaes at bedtime, cable television, a king size bed, a fireplace and a balcony! After a yummy omelet breakfast, we boarded a ferry and spent our last day of vacation cruising around Mackinac Island on our bikes.

(Mackinac Bridge)

(Mackinac City Lighthouse)

(Our charming B&B)

Some quintessential Mackinac:

(There are no motor vehicles allowed on the island. Only bikes and horses. We brought our own bikes over on the ferry. It was much less expensive than renting them on the island.)
(The Grand Hotel: the world's largest summer hotel. Can you believe they charge $10 just to walk on the property? This is as close as we got...)
(This is the shuttle to the Grand Hotel. Neat-O!)
Soooo many fudge shops. Seriously, Mackinac has to be the fudge capital of the world. I'm not a huge fudge person but that didn't stop us from buying some! Also, we realized if you stand there and watch them make it long enough, they give you free samples!) All and all, a great vacation I would highly recommend to anyone! Now...where shall we go to next?!