Reunion!

Ryan returned home from China on Tuesday evening. At first, Ezra wasn't so sure what to make of him. Perhaps it was the facial hair. Or, the fact that Ezra had grown to associate Ryan with magically living within the computer. But by the time we made it home from picking Ryan up, Ezra was attached, and only wanted Ryan to hold him. In fact, Ezra still prefers Ryan to be the one holding him, or at least within arm's reach at all times.

Our neighbor, Roger, made a sign welcoming Ryan home. By the time we actually made it home though, it was dark out...so Roger had moved his solar powered pathway lights next to the sign to light it up. Oh, he makes me laugh.



Ezra helping Ryan edit some video (like I said, he really wants to be around Ryan at all times)...


And, our little man in his Chinese formal wear...

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to my father...

to the father who always makes sure there is a full tank of gas in the car...
to the father who is always ready to play a game...
to the father who is up for dessert no matter the time of day...
to the father who comes to our house on vacation and checks off all the items on our "to do" list...
to the father who always has a "trivia question" waiting to ask everyone...
to the father who Ezra reaches out his arms to be held by...

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Farewell mosquitoes...

...I mean Michigan. :)

Actually, the mosquitoes weren't that bad except for the one day I mentioned earlier when we were at the park. But, that is coming from me, who doesn't get bit by mosquitoes. I know, who knew it was possible to grow up in Michigan and not have a mosquito bite? Well, me. But, I am one of the few I think. Ezra on the other hand gets horrendous welts from mosquito bites that swell up to being about half the size of his entire arm, leg, or wherever the bite may be. Poor dude. At least he doesn't know to itch them yet, so they heal somewhat quickly with no scabbing involved.

Onto nicer topics though....

HUMIDITY!

Ezra has been a little worried that his hair won't be quite as curly when we get back to Arizona, so he found a way to solve that problem...

...grandma's basket of old curlers...


He thought she could use a little curl too...


And what's a visit from Ezra without leaving little treasures to be found later...think of it as an Ezra scavenger hunt Mom and Dad. :)


Thanks for the visit...we love you!

She won!!

Well, perhaps not overall...but she finished, and that's winning in my books!

Way to go Nik and Carla!

The Graduate!

My oldest niece, Alyssa, graduated from middle school today! There have been so many nice things I've been able to do that I didn't expect while here: attend Alyssa and Lydia's band concert, feast at Alyssa's middle school band dinner with live music. (They have a very active music program at her school which is awesome.) Alyssa's 8th grade graduation. And, tomorrow I am going to get to cheer my sister on in a 5k!

Alyssa is definitely one beautiful and very smart girl. She received awards for history and english. She's already been taking high school level math and science classes. And was voted by her class as "most musical". I love learning more and more of who she is...such a sweet teen.

make way for ducklings!

On Thursday we headed back to the zoo for more fun. This time we remembered to bring stale bread to feed the ducks. The hard part was making sure Ezra didn't eat the bread (he can't have wheat). :)

Haleigh was quite skillful with her technique in feeding the geese...


Lizzy and Ezra preferred the chase 'em down method...

Lake Michigan parts deux et tois

Yesterday Ezra and I drove to South Haven to meet up with my friend Kerry at my grandpa's house. It was wonderful. My grandpa and Barb made us a feast for dinner (every meal with them is a feast), then we went down to the State Park to play on the beach. Ezra fell asleep on the drive to there, so I left his bathing suit in the car assuming he'd sleep in my carrier the whole time we were at the beach. Wrong. Oops! So, I let him go naked. I am sure he much preferred being naked anyway.

Playing in the sand with Kerry. Note his farmer's tan on his legs...his arms are just as bad. I have no idea how this has happened since I lather him with sunscreen all the time...oh well, it's cute...and so is he.


Testing out the water that felt oh so nice!


After playing in the sand and water for a while, we strolled the beach as the sun was setting and Ezra fell asleep. We walked on the edge of the water...my pant legs getting wet...our hair and faces and windblown...I just love that feeling.


Kerry and I stayed up late talking after I put Ezra to bed. And then this morning we headed back to Lake Michigan to play in the sand again. Thanks for visiting Kerry, I loved getting to spend time with you!

This is Michigan

We went to Lake Michigan over the weekend. A late afternoon swim and playing on the beach. So lovely. It was fun to watch Ezra work up his courage to stand in the water...and then eventually 'run' towards the lake on his own. He was a big fan!

















We are heading back to the lake this afternoon...

Visiting family

Today we drove up to Shelby to visit my Great Aunt Dorothy, and her daughter Karen. Dorothy is my Grandma Echelbarger's sister-in-law. Although her circulation in her legs isn't so great...she's still quite active. She is the town's 5th grade class' penpal. They all write her, and she writes them back each individually. She knits. She's always is in the middle of a puzzle. She quilts beautiful quilts. By hand! Oh, and she's a red-hatter. :)

Ezra playing in the yard. He was actually quite intrigued by mole hills and determined to catch a mole by hand. Unsuccessful, but had fun trying.




I'm not sure if you can see how dirty his face is, but it was nice and coated with a fine layer of black dirt.


The old, yet so classic footstool that turns into a chair...


Our little shepherd...


Playing on Great Aunt Dort's grandparents' piano...




Karen (my mom's cousin), me, Ezra, and Great Aunt Dorothy...

Festival of the Arts!

When I booked my ticket to come to Michigan, I didn't even think about the fact that it would be Festival of the Arts weekend in Grand Rapids. When I was growing up, Grand Rapids wasn't much of a city (though it seems to be quite happening now)...and Festival of the Arts was the one of two cool things that happened every year. (The other was the fireworks display on the 4th of July.)

Festival this year was no exception. Good food. Good music. Good people watching.

Ezra knew just who to go to for a tasty treat (and he held his stomach as if to say "yummm" everytime he got a bite)...








He stared at the people through the fence long enough that they finally came over and gave him a toy...


He danced for all to see...


And went home nice and sweaty with a balloon...

One year ago...

Around this time last year Ezra and I were in Michigan for his first visit! He was 6 weeks old at the time and as snugglebuggy as can be. It is amazing how much babies grow in their first year of life!! I couldn't help but to look back at my posts from this trip to Michigan last year...
Ezra Goes (mid)West
Lake Michigan, oh how I love thee

A taste of today

Hello friends!

Today was a fun day. Ezra decided not to stick with our agreed upon plan of staying on Arizona time, so we woke up early (8:15am). But, to be honest, it was kind of nice to be up early again.
My 3 year old niece Lizzy was over, so we went to the zoo to celebrate her birthday! The Reid Park Zoo membership also works for the John Ball Park (grand rapids) Zoo...so it was free!! YAY! I haven't been to the John Ball Park Zoo since I was a kid, so I couldn't really remember what all they had there. My favorites: the penguin exhibit, the frog exhibit (they even had blue frogs!), and the petting zoo! Lizzy was petting a pig and kept saying, "I'm petting a cow!" :)

In the aquarium...


Lizzy brushing the "cow"...


Then this afternoon I got together with some friends from high school. Which, I really need to thank the social networking of facebook for. Although we knew each other in high school, we weren't close enough to where I would normally just call them up to see if they wanted to get together when I was in town. However, now that I have Ezra, and I knew that they had kids too, I thought, "we need to get out and play with other kids...and I know just the people to 'facebook'!" It was soo nice to see them, meet their kids, smile at the ways they so lovingly interact with their kids, etc. It was one of those afternoons where I drove home from the park feeling refreshed and full of "there are lots of good people in this world" thoughts.

Nicole and Norton (she also has 2 older girls that were both in school during our time at the park):


And, I forgot to pull out my camera until after Laura left, but here is her facebook profile pic. I figured that since we got together due to facebook, it would be fitting to use this photo.


Oh, and they are both married to their high school sweethearts. Love it! :)

In honor of Ryan being in China we had Chinese take-out tonight and used chopsticks. As you can tell by the rice in Ezra's hair, we have some practicing to do...

40 Weeks

I just finished reading 40 Weeks by Paige Beselt. My cousin is friends with Paige and told me about her book, and based on my cousin's description of her friend alone, I was eager to read it. Paige is mama to seven kids and two other of her children have already gone on before her.

The book is a novel, but heavily influenced from Paige's own personal experience with miscarriage and loss. Written as journal entries, you are able to see into "Anna's" grief, joy, fear, and excitement surrounding her pregnancies as well as her miscarriage.

I found myself able to relate so much to "Anna", both in terms with her grief and feelings surrounding her miscarriage as well as her fear and anxiety that accompanied her next pregnancy. It's a tear-jerker for sure.

If you have experienced a miscarriage, or know someone who has (and chances are you do know someone who has considering that 1 in 3 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage), this book is great for helping you walk through your own grief, or allow yourself to understand the grief of others.

Now go read the book and spread the word! :)

Guess what...

...we did tonight? Went to the park! Shocking, huh? I know, we are quite predictable these days.

Ezra took a FIVE and a half hour nap today...and that was with me waking him up finally at 6pm. So to be sure he'd be sleepy for bedtime, we ran around outside and then went hot tubbing this evening.

Picnicking...


Even grandma and grandpa were game to play on the playground equipment...




...and Haleigh is always game to play...


He fell sound asleep right at bedtime (well, Michigan bedtime that is :).