Summer Weekending Up North

This afternoon I have an Arnold Palmer in my hand, sand on my feet, and the smell of sunscreen on my skin.  Summer, how I love thee.

Newbie and I just returned from a trip to our favorite local beach and now he's napping while I catch up on the computer.  Monday, you done good. It was the perfect kickoff to the week after a fabulous weekend.  Baby, let the good times roll.

Road Trip

Friday night we dropped Opie off at our vet's to board him for the weekend, and made a run for it. Pedal to the medal, we headed straight north until we hit the most beautiful part of the country where the channels connect lake after lake and the wind blows sweet and the people bob on boats peppering the water, and the reeds dance with the breeze and the locals relax under the umbrellas of their favorite restaurants.  A little too over the rainbow?  Maybe.  But, my friends, it's all true. And that's why its an absolute MUST every summer for the Hubs and me: sun, sand, boats, docks, fish, tiki huts. Because it is just that good.

It was Newbie's second trip Up North, and while he pitched a fit on the ride up, all grumping ceased as soon as we reached the Bay and he ran through the grass to see the boats with his daddy.  Love.

"Camping"
We always say we're going camping when we head Up North, but the truth is, we live a life of luxury up there.  My MIL and FIL treat us to all kinds of good eats, and they spare no expense when it comes to fun and comfort.  An air mattress on every pull-out bed, my favorite cotton blankets, and lots of loving hospitality.  We experienced "luxury camping" even more so this year since my MIL and FIL built a state-of-the-art cottage in place of their previous trailer.  This joint is THE BOMB DIGGITY.  We loved it.  My MIL has a fabulous eye for decor, and she has the place decked out in the most adorable seaside/lake cottage vibe. It was just gorgeous, and we enjoyed every bit of our time indoors.  There was a fully loaded box of toys to keep Newbie happy, and a full fridge and pantry to keep the Hubs and me happy too. =) 

Following our now seven year tradition (11 years for the Hubs and his parents), we spent lots of our time walking the park and visiting the docks, viewing the lake.  It is just so beautiful up there! This trip was spiced up a bit Saturday morning when Grandma took us to watch the Daddy-O and Grandpa play Pickle Ball.  I know, super weird name, and it is not, in fact, at all pickley, but it was a lot of fun to watch!  It's like a combo of tennis and ping pong and wiffle ball...or something like that.  Newbie had a blast playing on the courts and cheering on Daddy-O.

Carting
Something I thought was weird when I first started camping with the Hubs at this park was that everybody and their brother drives around on golf carts up there.  Yes, while camping. Coming from a family tradition of tent camping out in the boonies each summer, golf carts seemed super crazy weird to me several years ago.  Now, they are just a part of the Up North experience for us, and check out what Grandma and Grandpa got for Newbie this summer: his very own golf carty quad for the park!  His grandpa is going to love that I called it a "golf carty quad."  =)  Now Newbie can cruise around in his own little motorized vehicle just like his Grandma.  He was not the biggest fan at first, but he warmed up a bit after he realized his life was not in jeopardy.

Boating
Boating + camping was as foreign a concept to me as golf carts + camping when I first met the Hubs, (the closest we got to boating while camping when I was a little girl was flipping the Barbie picnic table upside down and letting Skipper float on a puddle of water near the tent.  I'm telling you, we roughed it, baby.) but now I am just itching to get out on that boat as soon as we unload the suitcases.  My MIL and FIL have a wonderful pontoon boat that I would seriously live on all summer if I could.  Me + beverage + pontoon boat + good book + sand bar = good to go all summer long. This was Newbie's first boating experience, and he did really well.  He zonked out as soon as we started cruising out of the dock, and then woke up once we anchored at the sandbar after lunch.  He was a big fan of the boat, not a big fan of the lake.  While his Daddy-O and Grandpa enjoyed the water, Newbie hung out with Grandma and me on the boat.  He was really into the steering wheel and the bulldog face-ha!

Recovery
I have a post-boating recovery ritual that involves a steaming hot shower and chocolate chip cookies and a book or a nap.  I always feel like I'm hanging out in the wave pool for about five hours after I get off the boat, so it makes the post-boat napping seriously divine.  Newbie got in on the fun this year and after we cleaned him up in the shower (hello, nasty swim diaper..how did you get to be four hours old without a change?!) he took a nap then snuggled with me while I introduced him to the joy of the post-boating nap chocolate chip cookie.  He is his mama's boy!

Bonfire
You can't go camping without a bonfire.  Nor can you go "camping" without a bonfirejh. =)  Campfires are my favorite part of camping, and though Newbie didn't last long, we really enjoyed hanging out with the fam around the fire before bedtime.

(They lit this with a blow torch. Yes, I am serious.  Like I said...."camping".  No flint and sticks here, baby. Somewhere on a desert island, Survivor contestants are weeping.)

(He is playing a flute app on his iPhone while my sister plays the ukelele with that crazy look in her eye.  My family is nothing if not feverishly talented around a campfire.)

(Campfire baby feet sticking out of pj's = tastier than marshmallows.)

Day Two: Enter Fishtown
It's funny how cyclical our trips Up North are these days- we have a list of must-do's while we are up there, and each year we manage to squeeze them all in.  One of the must-do's is Fishtown.  Love the name.  Love the place.  Love the marina and the shops and the sights.  Don't love the smell, but it's a hit we're willing to take each summer.  I have similar pictures of Newbie in the same places at Fishtown last year when he was only three months old.  It's so fun to visit the same favorite spots from year to year.  Newbie liked the big boats at the marina, and screeched when he saw the big fish the fisherman brought in.  We managed to walk the docks just in time to see the catch of the day!

(After this picture was taken, I got a lecture from my photog brother the likes of which have never been heard before.  A verbal beating is what it was, and the lesson that followed regarding photograph exposure has changed my life.  I cannot wait to play with my camera this week!  Thanks, Uncle J, for the tough love and free photo tips.  You da bomb.)

(While these "camping" trips aren't really camping, my hair always manages to scream "I haven't been washed in three days and I've been living in a tent without a hair dryer!!!" despite the world class amenities at the cottage.  Camping hair for the duration of a "camping" vacation...It's a gift, really.)

(I'm not real clear on why anyone lets us out of the house...)

Fisher's
After some sight-seeing and shopping, we hit up Fishers', a local restaurant, for lunch.  Note to self: the perch was delicious- definitely to that again.  We had a lot of fun yucking it up with the fam, and Newbie was a happy boy through the whole meal, no doubt a result of his grandpa's funny faces!

(Me and the bro sporting a very enthusiastic thumbs up for summer vacation.)

(Newbie loves him some Grandma and Grandpa post-lunch photo shoots.)

Everything northern and summery and wonderful must come to an end, and so after lunch, we took off for home just in time for Newbie's nap. 

We were sorry to wave goodbye, but we were desperate for a smooth road trip home.  Our timing worked out wonderfully, and Newbie began to stir just as we were pulling back into town.  We're hoping to make it back Up North again soon because Mama needs some more sandbar time, and Newbie is ready to give that golf-carty quad another try!

We're soaking in the sun here at home in the meantime, and hoping you all are enjoying your summer as well!  I've got chicken thawing and summer squash and zuccinni ready to grill up for dinner, with some big plans of pulling out the water table this afternoon after naptime.  Hooray for sunshine and summertime!

The Bulldog Face and a Pool Date

Newbie and I have been out on the town this week.   We've hit all our favorite places, and we've been gulping down summer faster than an Oreo Blizzard. 

Monday we hit the mall on the look out for a fun photo session outfit for Newbie.  I decided on a pair of Oshkosh overalls because I'm not sure it gets any cuter than a baby boy in overalls in the summertime.  We had lunch at Panera where Newbie showed me his "bulldog" face.  We clanked cups together and hollered "CHEERS!" over the bustle of mall goers and enjoyed some soup and sandwiches. 

After lunch we hit up Barnes and Noble where Newbie snagged books off the shelves, dropped them on the floor, then took off running.  I don't know who he thinks I am, but book picker upper and wild toddler-on-the-loose chaser ain't it, baby.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to wear a disguise before I visit the bookstore again because chances are, after the number of Elmo books we left lying on the floor in our wake, we aren't going to be invited back anytime soon.  Favorite takeaway of the day: we snagged a camo sun hat for Newbie for a whopping three bucks at Children's Place.  STEAL OF THE CENTURY.

Yesterday we went to The Best Park Ever with G-Mama while the Daddy-O was at work, and while I don't have any pictures to prove it, we had a grand 'ol time.  Newbie LOVES him some G-Mama.  As we were making our way from the beach to the splash pad, we ran into Miss Trudy and her sweet girls, so we got to play with them for a bit in the sprinklers which was a real treat!

Today Newbie and I went to see little Mr. B and his mama.  The boys bobbed in the pool while the mamas chatted and basked in the glory that is the pool float.  No wiggly babies to wrestle, just happy little campers with chubby hands splashing at the water and chunky legs swooshing below while the floats do all the work of reining in squirmy littles.  Nowhere has my baby ever been more happy strapped down than in a mesh float hanging on the surface of the water.  Bliss.

(You'll have to excuse all the chuckling...we think our babies are really funny. =])

After our pool date, Newbie and I made a quick impromptu stop by Aunt Corndog's work to say hello, then hit up Burger King for a 100% calorie free and incredibly nutritious lunch.  Newbie rocked the BK crown on our way home.

I have grand ambitions of hitting up the beach again this afternoon after nap time, but the heat index of 110 is making me a little nervous.  110 degrees sounds like a lot of sunscreen and a lot of sweat and some really miserable treks across hot sand.  BUT I am nothing if not ambitious, and I might just take on the elements in the name of SUMMER FUN.

Wishing you all a happy Wednesday!

July's Nooks and Crannies

I have searched through all the nooks and crannies of the first three weeks of July to bring you this motherlode of a post.  We've crammed a lot of summer fun into our July despite our change in plans, and BOY HOWDY do I ever have a post for you!  Fourth of July, chocolate chip cookies, farmer's market- today I've got it all.

Buckle up and enjoy the ride...

July 4 (aka our biggest parenting fail to date)
We got home from our beach house vacation just before the 4th, and my grandparents were in town to celebrate with us.  We kicked the day off with a picnic on the curb while we watched a local parade.  Newbie was a HUGE fan.  He loved the Tootsie Rolls and the red wagons.  Not sure what it is with my boy and wagons, but when he sees one he screams and points and looks up at us to make sure we aren't missing the majesty of the red radio flyer in all its glory.  It was so fun to watch him enjoy himself! 

After the parade we hit up the 'rents house for some good 'ol fashion fire crackers.  Newbie tried his hand at a few poppers and loved watching them fall from his little fingers and snap against the concrete.  The smoke bombs and fire dancers (the Hubs and Aunt Corndog) were my personal favorite.  After amateur firecrackers in the driveway, Uncle J and Aunt Corndog busted out the heavy artillery at the bonfire in the backyard.  Newbie was shaking and crying and I've never felt like more of an idiot.  The Hubs and I had to bail on the bonfire shindig and drive Newbie around in the car for an hour before he settled down and fell asleep.  NEVER AGAIN.

(Fire dancer: Aunt Corndog)

(That's my man.  What a STUD.)

(Don't worry.  This child was fully supervised by his over-protective mother, his grandmother, and his great-grandmother- all at the same time- for the duration of fire cracker activities.  Also, that is an empty box.)

(Mutte loves baby feet as much as I do.)

I heart my grandparents.
Mutte and GD were in town the entire week of the fourth, and they got some quality one-on-one time with Newbie while my parents helped the Hubs and I get to and from the hospital and downright survive the week.  Newbie now knows his Mutte and Great Grandad by name, and he had a BLAST playing with them.  Since they live down in Texas, Mutte and GD haven't gotten a lot of time with our little man, and I was so happy to see them building such a fantastic relationship with Newbie in such a short amount of time.  And we have grand ambitions of starting some monthly video chats on Skype soon...as long as we can figure out all those fancy buttons. =)

Good Best Friends
The Hubs and I were THRILLED to get to spend some time with some excellent friends of ours over the past couple weeks.  The Hubs' friend came up from North Carolina and spent a day with the Hubs golfing then the two of them made it back in time to have dinner with the fam. 

Newbie loved Uncle C, which was exciting because he hadn't seen him since Christmas, and we weren't sure if he was going to opt for a freak out.  I didn't get any good pictures of the two of them playing together.  Boo!  After dinner we told Newbie to tell Uncle C "goodnight," and -I KID YOU NOT-Newbie looked at him and waved and said, SAID, "nigh nigh."  It. was. precious. 

While my rents put Newbie to bed, the boys and I spent a few hours after the BBQ was long gone swatting at the skeeters and talking.  Those two had me laughing (to the point of tears!) for the first time in a week.  They are two goof balls, and I love it when they let me in on the fun. We were so blessed to have Uncle C come and hang out with us! 

*Pictures coming soon!*

The following weekend we snuck in some time with some friends from middle school/high school who now live in Indiana.  It was so good to spend time catching up.  After spending some time letting Newbie show off a few tricks, G-Mama and Grandad took the little man home, and we went out for dinner and dessert.  Again, laughing until I was in tears and finding myself thanking God for such fun and close friends.  We love them to bits.

To Market to Market to Buy a Fat Pig
We didn't buy a pig.  But G-Mama did get a plunder of fresh fruits and veggies at the farmer's market, and I came home with two bundles of flowers.  Newbie had fun chasing after (more) red wagons, signing "more" any time he saw blueberries, and panting at all the doggies we passed as we strolled the venders' tents.  It was a delightful summer morning!

(Stopping to smell the roses sunflowers.  Check out the sniffer on my boy- he doesn't hold anything back.)

(Wagon chasing.  Our new hobby.)

New Tricks
Newbie grew 5 inches this month.  Not really. But he sprouted up and out of some of his clothes and his summer hats don't fit well anymore.  On top of getting SO big, he has learned a bucket load of new tricks.  He's talking up a storm- repeating his nickname and saying "Gee momee" and "Gan Da" for G-Mama and Grandad, and repeating several things we say.  He caws for birds, pants for dogs, razzle berries for elephants, and snorts for his cousin Mimzy the pug.  He plays golf and hits the ball with the club, and he follows directions.  He laughs when I say "no"- not my favorite game- but he blows kisses which totally makes up for it...sometimes.  My little boy is getting to be a big boy right before my eyes!

Chocolate makes the world a better place
Lately I've really been trying to teach my son about the important things in life.  "Son, when in doubt, just guzzle a bag of chocolate."  He helped me make a fabulous batch of chocolate chip cookies last week.  He's a pretty big fan.

(Don't you wish I would start editing these pictures and stop using the flash?  Yeah, me too.)

Lightening McQueen and all his rowdy propaganda
We are official Lightening berserk over here.  I've caved and bought my son a foam chair covered in bright red polyester and embellished with Lightening McQueen.  He needed a chair, he likes Lightening (even though he's never seen the movie), and it was on sale at Babies 'R Us.  SOLD. Newbie carries the thing all over the house and plops down wherever it suits him.  The living room.  The kitchen.  The dining room.  This tacky red chair follows us everywhere. 

We've also got more than our fair share of Lightening McQueen shirts now, and I'm officially labeling myself nuts because it doesn't bother me.  He LOVES that little red car, and I can't make myself stop encouraging it.  It is such fun to see him recognize something and get excited about it!  He screams and points anytime he sees Lightening.  Lightening t-shirt he sees in his dresser?  Check.  Lightening kick board on display at Bed Bath and Beyond?  Check.  Lightening jammies at Kohls?  Check.  Enormous Cars 2 display at Toys 'R Us?  Check.  You name it, if its got Lightening on it, we are screaming with excitement.  And Lightening is everywhere right now because the new Cars movie just came out.  So we've been screaming a lot. =)

(We have declared this the summer of the denim diaper.)

The Gardens
We are back, baby.  We've been thrown for a loop this month, but we're back home and hitting up all our favorite places again.  After church on Sunday, G-Mama and Grandad came to the gardens with us for the first time, and Newbie had a blast showing them the ropes.  It was such a riot watching my boy run around the fountains in his crocs and denim diapers.  We like to keep it classy. =)

And that exhausts every last picture I have in the archives of July thus far.  We have lots of fun summer stuff coming up, and I'm looking forward to getting back into taking pictures and sharing things as they happen each day.

My little man is setting a football in my lap and expecting a "RED FORTY TWO! PINK FLAMINGO WITH A SIDE OF FRIES TWENTY SIX! JAIMACA ME CRAZY THIRTY EIGHT!  HUT! HUT!" (That is, after all, what quarterbacks say before the ball is hiked, right?) All of that yelling is expected to be accompanied by a world class throw across the living room for a touchdown followed by a finely tuned touchdown dance, all compliments of yours truly. His big blue eyes are getting bigger and bigger as I type, so I better get going.  Football game to attend to. Don't want to keep my little man waiting!

Hope y'all are having a fantastic week!