Michigan City 2012

We just got back from our vacation to Michigan City, IN.  We went there 2 years ago and it was a blast, so we did it again.  Soooo much fun!  We rented 2 houses in the beautiful Beachwalk resort.  This area has the most adorable colorful houses on a lake/pond, with a pool, playground, putting green, and a short walk to Lake Michigan and the beach.  Lots of family made the trip.  With so many schedules to work with, some were only there for a part of the week, but there were 27 of us total (including babies)!  Our time basically consisted of trips to the pool, the beach and lake, the outlet mall, eating, relaxing and golfing (by some).

*Warning*  There are A LOT of photos coming up!

Just a few of the many homes in the resort

Some pictures from our time at the beach

Jared and Ethan

Abby and Alex

Ethan and Haley playing in the sand

Ethan and Scout collecting rocks

Jared with Finley and Haley while Ethan chases them 

This is one of my favorite pictures!

Josiah, Tyler, Finley and Ethan playing in the lake

The adults supervising/relaxing :)

Snack Time

Tyler and Stephen

Nora and Katie had a visit to the beach...albiet brief!

Now for some pool and playtime pictures...

Nora loves to swing

Ethan and Paige on the giant, green slide

Just talking with Grandpa Bob.  I wish I would have gotten a picture of Ethan and Gpa Bob...Ethan would just talk and talk and talk to him.  It was pretty cute!

Just hanging out, waiting to eat again

Happy Nora...who is very close to crawling. 

Josiah and Ethan.  They have so much fun together. 

This was a common scene.  The road that separated our 2 houses  wasn't too busy, so the kids had fun playing in the street.  With supervision, of course.

Nora loved the pool.  

All ready to swim.  He was pretty excited about these new goggles.  

Nora and Katie had their own private, porch pool. 

Pop and Ethan

We had a great time and I look forward to doing it again next summer!

Happy Independence Day from (5 of 8) Blair Grandkids! 

The Blair House (minus Grandpa Bob, he wasn't there yet)

8 Months

Nora is 8 months old today!  She is so much fun and such a good baby.  She is very laid back and will usually be content sitting on the floor playing with her toys (or her brother's toys).

She has 4 teeth...both lower centrals, upper right lateral and upper right central.
She isn't crawling yet, but would like to.  She can lean pretty far to get to what she wants, she can roll anywhere and can make a full 360 circle while on her belly, but just no forward movement...and I'm okay with it ;).
She pulled up to standing yesterday.  I was laying on the floor and she just grabbed my side and used me for support and stood up.  I didn't help her at all, so I consider that pulling up!

She naps well.  If we stay home she usually gets a 2 hour morning nap and about a 2 hour afternoon nap.
She is nursing 4 times a day still, eating oatmeal and bananas for breakfast, yo-baby yogurt for lunch and a veggie (and sometimes fruit) for dinner.
She is usually in bed between 8:30 and 8:45 and has been getting up around 6:30.
I weighed her this morning and, according to our scale, she weighs 18.5 lbs.
She is such a sweet girl.  Ethan loves to hug and kiss on her (sometimes too much) and he can still make her laugh very easily!
Happy 8 Months sweet girl!  Time has flown by!

She wants to crawl so bad...

...at least she's happy trying :).

Children's Museum

Ethan has been wanting to take his daddy to the children's museum for a while now, so we decided to go this morning. We spent quite a while there and had a good time.

This is one of Ethan's favorite things to do there...not so much Jared's.


Changing a tire...


Now on to checking under the car.


Nora couldn't sit on her own for the last trip, but she's a pro now.


Checking out the garden.


Our 2 farmers :).

Happy Father's Day!

I'm so lucky to have Jared as the father of my children!  We love you!

A great Dad and his great kids :)

Happy Daddy's Day!  You're the best!

Day at the Lake

We spent most of the day today at the beach at Lake Shelbyville.  Our good friends (and old neighbors), the Maxey's are camping at the lake this weekend and we joined them for a hot day on the beach.  I was a little nervous how Nora would do outside and on the beach on such a hot day, but she did great.  Eric set her up with a sun shade and she just sat and played.  Ethan had a great time playing in the sand and the water and being with Braden.  It was hot and some of us might be slightly pink...but we had a great day!

They weren't too interested in looking up for a photo.  Having a great time on the beach.

Look at that beach-bod!

Daddy, Nora and Ethan enjoying the lake.  

Playtime on the beach

Can I say again, how great she did?!?  She was so happy! 

Lunch Break

Happy with Daddy and her tongue. 

After the beach we went back to their campsite to hang out and relax

They keep trying to talk us into joining them for the whole camping weekend.  And I have a feeling we will one of these days.  Until then, we'll just crash their site :).

BathTime

Just a few pictures from bath time yesterday...

The both, generally, enjoy baths

I don't really have an explanation here...I just thought it was hilarious that they both have the same look on their face.  Do you think they are related?!?

Crazy Shampoo Hair

Sweet baby girl...trying to stand up in the tub!

Wonderful Visit

Yesterday morning, one of my oldest and best friends came up for a visit.  I have known Sara since preschool and we have been close for a long time!  We had a great time catching up and playing with the kids.  What else is there to do but hit up the zoo!  So, Thursday afternoon we had a quick picnic lunch and headed into the zoo.

Sara and Ethan enjoying the train ride

Nora and I enjoyed it as well!

Petting zoo fun...

It was so great having her here and watching her spoil and play with our kids!  Thank-you Sara!

Ethan loved being read to by Sara.

Sara and the kids before she had to leave

Nora was more interested in the flowers than the camera.

Our attempt at a shot of the 3 of us...Nora is in the background.  Ethan didn't want to take our picture, he was too busy playing.

Nora's New 'Face'

Nora has been making the funniest face lately and I've been trying to capture it on camera, and finally did.  She does it and then breathes in and out of her nose really fast.  It's hilarious!  I'm not sure why she does it, she's not mad or upset, and when we do it back to her, she just laughs.  Oh, sweet Nora, how we love you!

The Carrot Pout

The Ordinary Pout 

The Leaning-To-Reach-Toys Pout

The ADORABLE Pout

Small Group

We have been involved in a small group at our church since about April, and have really enjoyed it.  We have met some great people from our church and made some great friends.  Every couple in our group has little ones (or 2 or 3), so there are a lot of kids running around and Ethan loves it.  This week, we wrapped up our group until next fall with a cookout.  I didn't take very many pictures, but I have a few.  We're hoping to get everyone together for another cookout in July too!

Play time!

Lots of kids!

Ethan was hungry...

We are looking forward to the fall when our next session will start up!