Mega Saturday

First things first: it was Natalie's first ballet recital today. She was beautiful and did a terrific job. Great form. Going where you are supposed to. She had all the key points locked down. Grandma Bonnie was there and had several flashbacks to Aunt Bean performances several decades ago. Jules was even able to sneak away from her huge festival to see the big show.

We ran straight over to Elliot's last soccer game of the season. They won yet again and the B had a great goal on a long pass from Zac.

We then ran back to Julie's fest just in time for a big thunderstorm. On the plus side, there was time for some cuddling with Mom under a tent while we waited for the weather to pass.

Days like today are the reason gin and tonics were invented. All is well.

Two goals and a trophy. Pure joy.

Waiting for the show

Do Division set up

Julie and the kids on TV

http://www.wciu.com/youandme.php?section=home&assets=videos&assetID=10005803

Child TV Stars

Julie, Elliot and Nata are on WCIU this morning promoting the Do Division Street Festival. Natalie floated through the scene several times with her balloon on a stick. Jules did a great job with her interview.

E.B. got a punk rock hairdo and bounced in the bounce house a lot. Larson and Pauline were also there.

I'm not ready!

Memorial Day in Michigan

Julie and the kids got me two nights of camping over Memorial Day at Warren Dunes State Park as a Christmas gift. It was an inspired present. However, the weather turned out horrid for much of Saturday and Sunday. Thank goodness the Gomezes were heading to their cabin just down the highway from the park this weekend too. We met up at Redamak's on Saturday night and they invited us to spend the weekend with them.

Sunday night we cooked smores on the beach over a backpacking stove to avoid having to try and start a fire with soaking wet wood.

We had a great time and the weather totally cleared on Monday giving us a sweet first serious beach day of 2011.

Sand castles by head lamp

Sunset post rain!

Girls rule. Boys drool.

Buried boy.

Searching for water with Ava 20 ft from Lake Michigan

Getting pond water for the frog spawning kit

Ducks

Elliot reading Harry Potter to Natalie

Sad boy. His soccer field was demolished thanks to paranoid parents. Boo.

Big win

Muddy day - poison ivy

Happy Hour

Warm weather is here. Jules put out the APB for people interested in Friday evening food and drink two weeks ago and again today. Both evenings were big successes. In summary, the kids destroyed the basement and the grown ups drank as much beer as possible as fast as possible. Meats were also grilled.

This week, we were joined by Chase Allen, age 10 days or so.

Home sick. Watching the princess draw birds.

Walking to school

Mother's Day Weekend

Lots of action this weekend: happy hour Friday evening at our house was a zoo of kids and parents and pizza; we went to a Poison Ivy game and baked a sheet cake with Grandma Bonnie on Saturday (icing sorta failed but tasted like yummy liquid marshmallows - hoof free!); Sunday we went to Bill and Jean's for a Mother's Day feast and broke out the bikes when we got home. Good fun.

Texas Spring break #7 - In the car

The kids were warriors. We drove all the way from Fort Worth past St. Louis on day one of the trip home. The storm we drove through spawned multiple tornadoes. The kids were a little crabby on the last leg Saturday, but who can blame them.

Texas Spring Break #6 - Ft. Worth Zoo

The Fort Worth Zoo is way cool. Elliot found $4 on the floor of the parrot exhibit and bought he and Nata feeding sticks for the parrots. Good kid. Cheap parents.

Texas Spring Break #5 - Japanese Gardens

We headed north to Fort Worth to hang with Aunt Bean and our old buddies. The Japanese Gardens are real purty.