Mid October?!

Wow!  Time has really gotten away from me, I truly don't know how it is possible that it is October 11th already!  I don't even have my Halloween decorations out yet and I love them almost more than my Christmas decorations!

We went home this last weekend for Erica and Trevor's wedding.  Ella did really great in the car, but it totally threw off her sleep schedule, we had a couple of rough nights, but she seems to be getting back into her nice routine.  I don't know if we will ever leave home again - at least not until we go home in January!

It was a great weekend because Ella finally to meet her cousin Lilly and Auntie Jen and Uncle Ramon!  She also got to see her cousin Caleb, Auntie Kristin and Uncle Jamal.  For my family who doesn't know these babies are all within 7 weeks of each other, so it was a lot of fun.  We had a nice time at the wedding and got to spend time with both our families so all in all it was a success!

Ella, Caleb, and Lilly - holding hands!

Smiles from Lilly!

Ella smiles

Kristin and Caleb

Sleeping soundly at the wedding - thanks to Great Uncle Mike!

Grandma and Lilly

Kristin and Jamal

Ramon and Jen

Dinner for Ella

Father and Son

Dad and Sibs (and a waiter photo bomb)

Ella with her Uncles

Bride and Groom's first dance

Mommy and Ella

Dancing with Daddy

Family Photo

Happy 5 years to us!

Sibs and their babies

Grandma and Grandpa with their cuties

Loving life with Daddy!

The wedding also happened to fall on our 5th wedding anniversary!  So we had a nice time remember our own special day :)

Also, Ella is a rolling over machine these days!  BUT, she doesn't know how to roll from her belly to her back.  So she gets frustrated and we play a constant game of her rolling over and then me rolling her back :)

Vernors

Yesterday Nick was really sick, not sure if it was food poisoning or a 24 hour bug, but he seems to be doing better today.

Anyway, he asked me to pick him up some ginger ale and I actully found Vernors!  But they only had diet, and it was cold (apparently when you are sick warm Vernors is better?).  I brought it home and he said it was better than any medicine.  I'm sure any Michigander who likes pop (aka, not me - I don't get it) can relate. :)

He wasn't too happy about it, but we managed to keep this little munchkin away from Daddy for a day, so hopefully she will stay healthy.  She also rolled over THREE times yesterday!

2 days until Michigan!

Cabin Vacation - Part 3

The final installment of our vacation!

The rest of our days at the cabin were mostly inside days as it got pretty windy again, but I sure enjoyed some comfortable weather and not sweating it out in 90+ degree heat like we have been this summer!  We enjoyed reading over some old letters which tell the history of the cabin and looking (and laughing) at some old family photos.  Nick, Ella and I spent a day in town doing a little shopping and had lunch as well.

Ella (and Grandpa!) love flying together!

Ella was the center of MANY photoshoots

looking like a big girl - one of my favorites!

Sung as a little bug sleeping in the bunk house!

On the trip Ella also found her thumb for the first time and is now a thumb sucking expert.  (I know reviews are mixed on thumb sucking vs. paci - but I'm quite ok with her being content with her thumb.)

Enjoying the cozy fire

a final look at summer

I look so cute in Grandpa's hat!

With that (and a few tears) we bid farewell to the cabin and to another summer.  Hopefully Ella will be enjoying many more summers at the cabin (I mean, who doesn't enjoy summers at the lake?).  About an hour after we left I remembered something I had seen on the Pure Michigan facebook page (see - the ads do work!) which was only about a 15 minute drive off our route.  And that was to stop at Palms Brook State Park to see Kitchitkipi "Big Spring" - Michigan's largest spring.  So glad we decided to stop!

The water is 45' deep and at 45 degrees year round - COLD!  But it is crystal clear and very beautiful!

Ella and Daddy checking out the fish

Lots of trout!

Looking straight to the bottom you can see LOTS of huge trout and several fallen trees.  It is so clear it is very bizarre to think that it is really 45' down!

It was a very beautiful side trip and helped us stretch our legs a bit.  I am so glad I remembered to check it out!


And with that we made it home, with only one other stop for some food and a diaper change.  Ella did really great on both drives, each time we only had to stop once for her - she is a good little traveler.  Such a big girl at only 2 months old!

Cabin Vacation - Part 2

Alright, we will continue our up north adventures!

We finally got some warm weather and Ella and I spent some time at the end of the dock enjoying the sun and water.  I did my best to keep her in the shade but I had a Mom fail moment and apparently let her get too much sun, her cheeks were a little pink that night. :/  I felt awful but she just looked so darn cute with a little sun tan!

Right BEFORE this photo was taken we were looking out over the lake and saw the Bald Eagle fly down to the water in the middle of the lake.  It sure looked like he was going to catch a fish but must have decided at the last minute not too because he didn't come up with anything.  He did however skim the lake all the way back to shore.

Shortly AFTER this photo was taken I happened to look to shore and saw a mink running across the shore!  I wasn't totally sure what it was until we looked it up later that night, but after seeing images I am positive.  A first for me at the cabin!

Nick and I were able to take our kayaks out while Grandma and Grandpa watched Ella for a bit.  This was our first time both being away from her!  I think we were gone for an hour or so, so they really had it pretty easy, no diaper changes or bottles involved!  On our kayak trip we kept our eyes peeled for the eagle, Nick found him up in a tree with the binoculars and we were able to kayak to within 50 yards of him.  It was quite a sight, I could see his head turning and heard him fly away when we got too close.  You'll have to take my word for it though as I didn't risk the camera in the kayak!

We enjoyed many beautiful sunsets and a couple of camp fires, where Ella bundled up in her adorable hoodie (and a cute blanket too!), and I made delicious s'mores!

Ella has started to LOVE her bumbo (and yes, we heard about the recall - thank you!) and she loves her taggie that her Auntie Em made for her!  She has started to find the "tags" and loves to put them in her mouth (of course).

Ella and Grandma enjoyed some beach time while Daddy and Grandpa went for a sail.  Grandma helped Ella find her toes!  She hasn't started grabbing them on her own yet, but she sure stares at them like she is trying to figure out how.

On Thursday Grandma Hund drove up from Lewiston to spend some time with Ella.  Unfortunatley it was a windy rainy day so we were stuck inside but Grandma got lots of cuddle time in!

And that's all for now!  Final segment coming soon along with a great last minute stop on the drive home!

Cabin Vacation - Part 1

Ella's first trip to the Upper Peninsula and to The Cabin!

We were able to spend last week at my family cabin in the U.P. on Brevort Lake and Ella experienced lots of firsts and was able to get lots of love from her Grandma and Grandpa Boehm, Aunt Mel and Uncle Steve and even Grandma Hund!  Mel and Steve were there for the first weekend and then Mom and Dad stayed with us all week in their View.

We started by celebrating Mel and Dad's recent birthday's

Dad almost always celebrates his birthday at the cabin!

It was pretty windy the first couple of days so we mostly just hung out (which I guess is really what we did the whole time!).  We all took a walk to the sand dune and Ella really loved looking all around in her carrier, this was her first time facing out and she loved it!  She loved to look at the trees the whole time we were at the cabin.

Ella and Daddy chatting

Uncle Steve decided that it would be ok to hold Ella.  He really didn't look as nervous as this picture shows but this was the best I got, all the others were blurry!

Dad was able to get the boat in the water on Sunday after the wind died down a little.  This was a first for the Flex - towing!  And a first for me as I drove to the launch with the boat in tow!  (I let Dad do the actual launching though)

I decided to save on some packing and let Ella sleep in the Minnow room bunk beds!  She apparently loved it because she slept all night while we were there - sometimes 9 hour stretches! (another first!)  She also enjoyed playing in her bed - although she was not ready for bunk bed gymnastics yet.

little minnow in a big bed!

We had some tummy time on the beach and lounging around with Daddy

Sunday I got a text from my high school friend Michelle asking if I happened to be at the cabin since she was in St. Ignace with her husband Austin!  I was so excited for this surprise visit!  They were able to come out for the evening and have dinner and catch up - so fun :)

Photo credit to Michelle since I forgot to take one :(

Monday night we decided to go into town for dinner (which had mixed reviews) and then got ice cream and Ella had her first expierece in a fudge shop - which she loves already! (she could tell by the yummy smells :) )

And this will be continued in further posts, I hear a baby calling me!