Door County

This was the second summer that we visited the house that Gramps and Jude rented in Door County. Nic, Jessie and Sam all came too. The property has more than a few acres right on Lake Michigan with a swing set, basketball, woods to explore, big lakeside deck, neat old bikes and much more. It was also a beautiful place for me to run.

Counting mushrooms with Aunt Jessie.

This is not a great quality picture, but I just could not catch the train that went around this bar delivering food and drinks. My friend and coworker Darcy told me about a fun restaurant for kids that features this train. Sometimes it came around blowing bubbles. And at other times, the servers stopped to get the crowd singing songs like the YMCA!

One area of the restaurant had a tire swing, slides, a big wooden train and a wood play house.

The restaurant also had these fun four wheelers. Stephan and Devin took a few spins peddling around a track while Norah found another swing set and mechanical train ride.

Stephan and his friend Devin spent a lot of time in the water, on the rafts and in the kayaks.

Norah found this little teddy bear tea set in a box of toys and set it up on the screen porch. Other than the swings, she spent most of her time quietly playing with the tea set and making us strawberry and blueberry tea.

Lily was a great traveler. It was the first time we have taken her out of town. She loved having all the attention and the big property to explore.

There was no shortage of s'mores!

And no shortage of croquet....even after dark!

Happy Father's Day!

We have a lot to be thankful for on Father's Day! Casey does so much to love and support us. We could not have a better father & husband!!

Eating strawberries from the yard...

On Stephan's last day of school, he wore Casey's old Blackhawks jersey after the teams big win. Have I mentioned that we recently bought him shirts from the men's department? Sigh. He is dangerously close to being taller than his mother! Yet we still call him "The Little Man," although, less and less. He is, after all, almost 12 and not little. Double sigh. Stephan finished off the school year strong with a great report card full of A's & B's, excellent scores on all of the standardized tests they did this year, and really positive comment from his teachers. We are so proud of all he accomplished during his first year of middle school!

End of the season

GO PALERMO!

Today was Stephan's final game of the year! We have been so proud of his great sportsmanship. Norah has taken to Pooh Bear. He used to belong to Stephan. I believe Casey bought it for him when Stephan was two to bring to school for nap time. Lately Norah latches on to one stuffed toy for 2-3 days and takes it everywhere until she decides it is another toy's turn.

Stephan's coach hosted a fun bbq at his house after the game to celebrate their winning spring season. Norah kept calling it "the garden party." They had swings so she was all set!

Coach Miller said nice words about each of the players and gave them a medal. He commented on Stephan's height & strength and that he can depend on him to play offense or defense. He looks forward to having Stephan on his U-14 team next year after two years of coaching him on U-12. We were glad that Stephan has been with such a nice coach and a great group of kids!

Is your mama a llama?

While Stephan was at his cousin Josh's house, Norah and I went to Possibility Playground in Port Washington. It's right on the lake and was designed for children of all abilities. We took one lap around, but Norah only wanted to swing.

We went to a llama farm with Gramps, Jude, Uncle Dick, Aunt Sandi, Amy and her daughters Nina Mae and Pearl. The farmers sell milk to Cedar Valley cheese and welcome visitors to see their cows, goats, and llamas.

Norah loved walking over this little bridge in the llama area.

The llamas were being sheared while we we there. One llama kept running away & that made quite an impression on her. All day she shook her little finger and said "That llama did NOT want a haircut!"

"Just a swinging..."

Norah's FAVORITE thing at the farm was this swing. She LOVES to swing. During outside time at school or at the playground, all she wants to do is swing.

Norah and her cousin Pearl warming up to each other. Nina Mae was busy loving the many cats on the farm. Later in the day Norah got to play with another cousin, Lily, who just turned 1. (Sadly I didn't get any pictures....)

Casey & the kids traveled to Madison with me at the crack of dawn so I could run in my first half marathon. It was wonderful to have them waiting for me at the end.

(My poor fingers...I swell when I run.)

Stephan and Norah have taken turns wearing my finisher's medal this afternoon.

cousins at the zoo!

We had a fun weekend with great summer weather! Stephan's team won another soccer game, we had a cousin's party at the zoo, Casey & I had dinner with Mark and Liza at Maxie's sans kids (thnx Grammy!), went to church, and Grandma & Grandpa came back from AZ!

Katie and Evie do "1-2-3!" with Norah.


Norah, Stephan, Cassie, Evie & Kate measure their size next to a baby gorilla.

Cassie & Norah in the bird house.

Stephan ready to cause trouble on the train :)

Norah's face as the train started....pure excitement!

We spent the last 45 minutes or so on the playground in the family farm.

They practically had to kick us out...we stayed until closing time!

Fun Saturday

This afternoon Norah and I went to see Gramps and Jude at their cottage near Sheboygan.

Norah loved throwing the zebra shells into the water and making sounds on the wet sand with her shoes.

There was no horizon line between the sky and lake. All we could see was blue.

Norah liked feeding the birds with Jude. She did not want to go home & cried about it until we passed the llama farm on the way home.

This weekend is also the Cedarburg Soccer Club tournament. Stephan's team won both of their games!

After game two....victory! Then he was off to a birthday party.

(Two more games to come tomorrow...)

This was Norah playing house with her doll Gabby. She asked me to take their picture & then said "Gabby is a little shy of you, Mom." Gabby often goes without clothes...Norah thinks the cloth on her body are pj's.