Jumpoline

Somewhere, Mike's teenage self is alternating between seat drops and belly flops. You see, teenage Mike was ever so jealous of all his friends who had trampolines. And, as of Sunday, not teenage Mike has made the dreams of his three not yet teens come true. We are the proud owners of a trampoline ... or, as Declan calls it, a jumpoline.

At the end of last week, our neighbor Tony called over the fence to ask if we were interested in his trampoline as he was getting ready to sell it. We wandered over there with the kids to test it out and watched them bounce around like crazy people. We probably should have known right then that we would buy it ... but we decided to ruminate on it for a few days before we reached the rather inevitable conclusion.

The trampoline now lives in the backyard and the kids are obsessed. We have to lean a ladder against it for them to get up (short people problems) - and thank goodness that it has the netting, or we would be down one Q (brave middle child reality)! They've been jumping pretty much constantly since we got it. Fiona has mastered the seat drop (drop to butt and back up to feet) and Quinn can jump crazy high. Declan is practicing his bunny hops and feeling braver. They love it when Mike or I (or both) come in and bounce them around. We were all jumping on Monday night and poor Yogi was so jealous; he wanted in too!

Hopefully they still enjoy it when the newness wears off. For now, I'll listen to Mike's thirty-something self groan a little bit. Because when you alternate seat drops and belly flops in real life, you feel it!

Camping Trip Extracurriculars

While we were camping with the grandparents, we were lucky enough to get to share some of their favorite activities with them! It's the best to watch our kids and parents bond over shared interests - and for our gang to learn more about their grandparents.

Gpa V brought two wheelers and the girls were so very excited to ride. Dec took quite a while to warm up to riding one. He really liked wearing his helmet, but he thought they were too loud. Eventually Mike got him to sit on it - and then he wanted to go on a ride (or two). Quinn was our master rider; she was constantly asking Mike or Grandpa to take her. The long ride on the groomed trails was her favorite - although she wished she had seen a deer!

Quinn ready to ride

Finally feeling brave

Ready for the big trails

Fiona really enjoyed playing with Gma and Gpa's dog Coco (poor Coco is probably still sleeping after F played with her non-stop for two days). And she loved riding Gma's horse Brook and meeting the other horse, Angel (who is not quite ready for young riders). She was very engaged in watching the care of the horses and couldn't wait to help Grandpa! Quinn was also very interested in watching the horses; but they were a little too wild for her to want to ride. She did head down to the fence to help give Brook a treat and stood there watching the horses play, soaking it all in, as Quinn does.

Happy rider

Helping with the hay

Q checking out the horses

Second Annual Wisconsin Camping Trip

Group picture

We did our second camping adventure of the summer last weekend and returned home with about 10 extra pounds of dirt and 20 pounds of laundry. So it was incredibly successful! We recreated our first ever camping trip from last summer - except we went to a different campground and didn't spend our nights listening to the train. We liked that better! So much better. This year, we camped in Gordon, Wisconsin, at a really nice little campground - that included an ice cream shop!

Riding the tractor

We drove up Friday morning. The kids were uncharacteristically accommodating and good in the car. It was so lovely! We were the first ones from our group at the campground ... and within 30 seconds of getting there, Fiona had charmed the owner into giving her a ride on his tractor. Gpa V was not far behind us and we got to work setting up camp. The kids and I wandered down to the playground and found the sand trucks that Mike had packed. After dinner, we decided to walk right across the dirt road from our site ... to the ice cream shop. It was a delicious way to end our first day.

The girls and the puppies

On Saturday, we tested out the four-wheelers that Gpa brought and did a lot of playing in the morning. After lunch, we drove into Solon Springs to Gma and Gpa N's to let Fiona ride Grandma's horse. The other two were not interested in riding, but Fiona was really excited to be on Brook. She even helped Grandpa haul some hay over to the horse area. And both Fiona and Quinn fed Brook an apple. After the horses, we decided to go to the beach for a little while (after we ran back to the campsite to get the sand toys and life jackets we had forgotten). It was a fun, relaxing way to spend the afternoon.

When you are just done camping ...

Mike's buddy Luke and his family (three girls) joined us for dinner and then we joined them at Luke's family cabin that was only 10 minutes away. We went swimming and sat around the fire with s'mores. Mike and Luke have been friends forever ... and due to a story involving two eight-year-olds, a couple horses, and a broken arm, Mike has been waiting 28 years to get to the cabin! 

Sunday morning, we got out on the wheelers a couple more times while we broke camp. We left a little later than anticipated and it was right at lunch time. The gang was so tired that we let D get his car nap first and then pulled off into a big parking lot to eat lunch in the camper about halfway home. The kids thought it was pretty funny that we were eating in the camper during the drive.  

We got home in time to unload, make dinner, bathe everyone, and start tackling the laundry. We had such a good time with Grandpa, Grandpa, and Grandma and are already looking forward to our camping trip with them next summer!

Why Am I Talking about Boys to My 5-Year-Old?

Last day of PreK

You guys, I can't believe I'm writing this story! But I figured those of you who have already launched humans will laugh ... and laugh ... and laugh. And those of you who still have littles, please ... suffer with me!

Bugs has a sweet little friend, Makai. You may remember him from skating lessons or as the friend who visited her after her surgery. They went to preschool together and he also used to go to new Ms. A's for day care. His sister is old enough to watch him this summer, but he has been coming on occasion to Ms. A's. Bugs could not be happier on those days.

Until yesterday ...

Let me rewind a touch. Since the end of preschool, apparently Makai has been referring to Fiona at home as "my girlfriend." The whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing at this age is so innocent, so Mike and I have chosen to treat the terms with intentional neutrality. My neutrality was tested on Monday night, when Bugs, for the first time, told me that Makai was her "boyfriend."

Which brings us to pick up yesterday. Where I walked to in to find a tear-stained Fiona who was also drawing a picture of someone crying. When I asked her what was wrong, she burst into tears and told me that she had drawn a picture for Makai and, when she gave it to him, he ripped it, laughed, and winked at her. Ms. A and I tried to explain to her that sometimes boys do that when they think someone is cool. She looked at us with disbelief and rubbed my leg with a look that said, "mom, if you don't start making sense, I may need to put you in the home."

As we drove home, she told me that Makai was also lying during the day. Like when she drew a chalk picture, he would say that he drew it, while laughing. I tried to explain that he was teasing, not lying - like Daddy does to me. She finally said, "So he ripped my picture, teased, and hurt my feelings because he LIKES me?" When I answered, "yep," she sighed and said, "Mom, I don't get it!"

Tonight at gymnastics, he brought her a picture that he had drawn. And all was right in her world. For now. Also, the parenting books did not say that I had to navigate conversations about boys at age 5. I'm NOT ready!!!

The Trip North: Part 3

I've managed to sneak out of the piles of laundry to finish our adventures from the 4th of July. We just got back from a weekend of camping ... and if thickness of dirt plus height of laundry piles equates to fun, then we totally crushed this weekend. I'll tell you about it ...someday ... after I catch up on our other stories!

Mila was in D's space ...
so he thought

We finished our days up north with one more trip to the lake. On Tuesday morning, we went out to my dad's cousin's lakehouse. Their granddaughter and great-granddaughter were in town visiting from California and the sweet little great-grand was just about Dec's age. They have a beautiful sandy beach and it was a much warmer, sunnier day than the 4th. We had a great time splashing around the water with the littles. Quinn was a dock-jumping machine and Fiona had a great time playing with little Mila. Dec was more nervous of the water than he was the day before. He still had fun, but was definitely more hesitant.

Jack and Audrey had rented a couple paddleboards, so Mike, Em, and I took turns taking them out on the bay. The last time I was on one was shortly after D was born ... and I only had a few minutes before we needed to leave, so I only got up on my knees. I was able to test it out standing this time, which was pretty fun.

We left around lunch time to get naps in for the very very tired littles and to send Mike, my dad, and sister off to go fishing for the afternoon. The kids and I headed to the park after rest to get our climbing out, we had our favorite pizza for dinner, and we got to see sweet new baby Micah. It was a power-packed final day!

Wednesday morning, we packed up and made it about halfway home before we needed to stop for lunch. The kids were pretty good on the way home and were so happy to get out of the car in our driveway!

We were all definitely a little cranky on Thursday morning when we had an alarm clock and had to wear real pants instead of swimsuits!

**A couple other bonus ones from the weekend that are too good not to share**

The Trip North: Part 2

Auntie and Fiona

Days 1 and 2 up north were lake time teasers. Days 3, 4, and 5 saw us getting serious about this vacation to the lake business! And then serious about cleaning sand out of suits and trying to get them dry for the next watery outing ...

After church and a quick nap for Declan on Sunday, we met Mike's sister and her family at Tioga beach. My dad graciously offered to let us use his boat ... and the new tube that my sister and I gave him as a birthday gift (purely for his enjoyment ...). My sister joined as well and we found Tracey and the gang with a spot already staked out by the water. The kids got serious about sand castles and our nephews happily joined in.

Dock jumping

Mike drove the boat over from the landing and we hooked up the tube. Emmy and Fiona took the first ride and had a great time. They were buzzing all over and Fiona was super brave ... she even waved as they drove by our beach spot! Declan and I went next; it was his first ride on a tube, as he was too small last summer. We had a great time, but I was struggling to position the two of us in a way where we didn't feel like we would flip over backwards.

Ben tested the tube next and the kids, Auntie, and I had a fun time cheering him on from the boat! Unlike Em and I, he wasn't sore from the beating of the tube on the wake (slightly jealous)! I took Quinn out for a short trip, but we really need to work on our positioning game. And then D took one more ride before Mike and Ben returned the boat to the landing. We had the best time! And somehow, social butterfly Fiona charmed a group of girls next to us so much that they left their very cool squirt gun in her possession because "she's just having so much fun."

Professional sandcastle
builder

Then on 4th of July proper, we headed out to Johnson Lake. We got there early enough to get some sand time before the annual flotilla (boat parade around the lake). My cousin Anna brought treat bags for Otto and our gang. Treats, boat ride, and waving from a parade equaled much fun for the short Vs (and tall ones)!

We returned to the cabin to find the rest of the gang had shown up, including sweet baby Huxon and Tracey, Nate, and Ben. We headed up the hill (oh, that hill ...) for lunch and then popped on the swimming suits for the afternoon at the beach. It was a little chilly for the 4th - but that didn't stop us from splashing around the water, jumping off the dock (Q and D jumped repeatedly. Q was super brave. Dec jumped when I wasn't expecting it and floated under the dock ... for a second before I snagged him), and kayaking around the bay.

Kayak race collision

With the customary moaning and groaning (and encouragement from spectators ... including the next door cabin), the annual kayak races happened. After a six year hiatus (pregnant and nursing totally get you out of things), I was drafted back to the race. No thanks to me (other than not being completely incompetent), my crack team of me, Brenda, and Mike J squeezed out the win. As always, the races provided a great amount of entertainment.

We ate a quick dinner at the cabin, snagged a cousin picture, and then packed up to head back to Gma and Gpa's. We got the gang bathed and settled in on a "picnic" blanket in the living room with some popcorn and a show to end the night. We needed to rest up ... more beach time ahead!

** And more photos ahead. I couldn't choose!**

The fam

Jumping

Winning kayak team

Four blondies and a dark-haired newbie cousin

The Trip North: Part 1

Testing the golf cart

We packed up the car and the gang last Friday to head north for the 4th of July holiday. It had been two long years since we'd been at the cabin for the 4th ... and it was time to change that! We gave ourselves a virtual pat on the back that we didn't need the roof bag or the trailer (although I admittedly had to borrow a stroller from my cousin Anna ... stroller was the difference between trailer and no trailer ...).

The first part of the ride was not our finest. Quinn does not like car rides. She whined, she fussed, she insisted on an unnecessary potty break and then needed a necessary potty break not fifteen minutes later ... We were an hour in and I texted my sister "Traffic sucks. Q's a pain. Mike's already yelled and threatened to go home. Family fun ..." Thankfully, that was the low point of our holiday weekend and we got it out of the way immediately!

Enjoying the fire

Our next door neighbors in S-town have a seasonal campsite about 2 hours north of here. We happen to drive right by it on our way to GR (or as Declan called it all weekend "Gramp Rapids"). So we connected with them and stopped by for lunch. We got to see their home away from home, their campground neighbors have three teenage girls who happily grabbed our gang and took them to the playground, they fed us lunch, and we tested out their new golf cart. It was a lovely way to get out of the car, get our wiggles out, see some of our favorite people, and shake off the first part of the drive!

We were so happy to get to Gma and Gpa's house. After dinner, we took the kids down to the park/beach for a while. When we got back, Gpa and Auntie had a fire going and coals that were ready for s'mores. We enjoyed sitting around the fire, eating our treats. D got a little wild around the fire so had to go bed, but we let the girls stay out longer than usual. They like the vacation life!

Bubble machine!

On Saturday, we threw a baby shower for my cousin Olivia and got to meet our new cousin - sweet little nugget Huxon Michael. He's so little and we are totally in love. It's so funny to see such a dark little boy with all these blond cousins! Dec went fishing with Grandpa and Daddy during the shower and was as pleased as could be with his Big Boy Outing.

That evening, the gang and I headed out to my high school friend Bryan's [parents'] place to catch up with him. B and I were laughing that it was easier to get together in GR - even though we both live down in the cities. B's parents' house is on the lake, so the kids had a great time playing in the sand and wading in the water. It was a cool evening, so we didn't put them in swimsuits. Since they are unaware of where their butts are when they squat in the water, we brought semi-naked people and a pile of wet bottoms home!

The Bookends Keep Getting Big

The "bookends" (Fiona and Declan) have logged big milestones in the past week. My efforts to keep the gang from getting big are up against some stiff competition!

Last Thursday, Mike took Dec in for his two year well check. He is doing great and is the third V baby to astound Dr. H with 2yo verbal skills. He is right on par with all the developmental milestones. Having two older sisters is probably helpful in that department! He weighed 24 lbs 1 oz (7 percentile) and was 33.75" tall (36.5 percentile). He's such a string bean! I'm afraid for when pants weather returns. Summer is my favorite because I can size down to fit skinny waists (and long legs don't matter). At least half of Dec's shorts are 12 month size. And I had to try on five 18 month swimming suits before we headed north to find two that didn't fall off of him. I should probably stop complaining when he wants six dinners every night ... seems we need to fatten him up before fall!

Then last night was a very big night for Fiona. She lost her first tooth! It's been loose for almost a month and when we were up north for the 4th of July, she and Mike spotted the new tooth popping through the gum behind it. The presence of the adult tooth renewed her wiggling motivation and by the time we got home yesterday, she could bend the tooth to a 90 degree angle with her gum. Mike talked her into letting him tie a piece of floss around it and popped it right out. Q was super supportive (and curious) and held Buggy's hand during tooth extraction. Fiona was scandalized that there was blood, but got over it pretty quickly and was pumped to put the tooth under her pillow. We had a near catastrophe when I flipped her blanket to tuck her in, not realizing that she had put the tooth ON her blanket ... but we found it fairly quickly. And this morning, she discovered two quarters under her pillow from the tooth fairy. She's very proud of her gap and we're proud of how brave she was.