A black tie affair...

On Saturday night our friends had a dinner party to premier a movie that Jacob had made....starring...all of us! In the last 18 months we've taken several trips together, and being the camera man and artist extraordinaire that he is, we all received DVDs of memories. Thanks Jacob...we love it!!!

On the invitation, it jokingly said, "black tie optional". However, we all (to their surprise!) decided to take it very seriously. And, step it up a notch. Not just black tie attire...but wedding dress attire. :)

Once we arrived all decked out, Samamtha joined in on the fun and put her dress on as well...



We've been talking about wanting to have an occasion to wear our wedding dresses again, however it seems as if someone is always pregnant. Abby Narter (far right) is opting out of wearing her wedding dress at this time because of a baby on the way...yay!!

Cousins....3 of a kind!

Last Friday we got together with Ryan's cousins and their kiddos...3 babies (well, now toddlers) born within 3 weeks of each other makes for lots of cuteness (and craziness)!

We met at Grandma and Grandpa Green's house, ate pizza, played with the same toys that Ryan and his cousins played with when they were growing up...




And then headed out to the pool...




The kids were quite polite and remembered to clean up after themselves...


...and they even obliged in getting their photo taken together...


...however Ezra was insistent that his contract said only 1 group photo, so he was not pleased when we tried to pull a fast one on him and have him pose with grandma and grandpa...

The Cabin

We spent more time at the cabin this trip than we have in past years. I loved spending the night in our little loft (totally reminds me of Little House on the Prairie even though it actually has stairs instead of a ladder), waking up and eating breakfast outside, spending all day until bedtime playing in the yard, woods, and creek, sitting by the campfire in the evening (and watching Ezra walk around it from afar with his hand out saying "hot hot hot").

Blowing bubbles...


Eating a piece of watermelon bigger than his head...


Bathing in the creek...


...and by hose (the creek water was wayyy to cold to wash his sticky hair with)


getting eaten alive by mosquitoes. :(


A late night trip to the outhouse...

At last...

Heidi and I hadn't seen each other in 8 years! I dated her brother when I was in college and we became fast friends then. A few years ago she found me on facebook...we swapped our blog addresses...and have been keeping in touch via the blog world since. Blogs are great...I feel like I knew her daughters even before I met them...I knew stories about them, funny things they've said, etc...basically, everyone should have a blog so that I can keep up on your lives as well. Actually, don't do that. I don't have time to read any more blogs. But, if you do...I'll find the time I suppose. :)

Anyway...

We met half way (she lives on the east side of the state and my parents live on the west side) in Lansing at the Potter Park Zoo*. We received free admission to the zoo because of our Tucson zoo membership (score!) and then had a picnic and (the big hit among kiddos) playground time.






I love Sasha's expression in this photo. :)

It was a great visit...I felt like we picked up right where we left off. We have tons in common and I wish we could see each other more often!!

*Zoo might be a generous term given to this collection of animals...as, there are only about 8 animals there: otters, bald eagles, spider monkeys, goats, penguins, fish, peacocks, and various other birds. But, it is very walkable, and signs say that rhinos are coming! :)

bikes, parks, and big boy pants!

Ryan and Ezra went for some crazy rides on the big wheel on my parents' deck...




And he also just happens to be showing off his new 'big boy underoos'...and I just happen to think they look adorable on him. :)




Jumping on the trampoline...


The park!




The Abby outtakes...

Lake Michigan...

Really, what is a trip to Michigan without a visit to the greatest of lakes??

Brown's Clearing Survivor Games

(Please take no offense that I didn't tell anyone except for one friend that I hadn't seen in 8 years that I was going to Michigan. With having just been there a month ago, I wanted to make this more of a family time trip.) Muchas Gracias por your understanding. :)

We just returned from 10 days in Michigan with the familia! On our flight home there were 2 rows of kids behind us. Both rows had some major screaming children. Which, sadly meant Ezra didn't nap for as long as he probably could have, but on the positive side, it also meant that not many people realized Ezra was a screamer as well. :)

The day we flew in, we drove straight to my parents cabin for the 5th Annual Brown's Clearing Survivor Games. Some of the family arrived on Friday and spent a couple of nights sleeping at the cabin as well. And then everyone else arrived on Saturday for "the games".

This year the games were divided into 3 groups. The Young'uns, School Age, and Tweens/Teens. Some of the activities included: parachute games, scavenger hunt, bb guns, sling shots, water fight, water balloon toss, pie eating contest, gunny sack race, etc. It was fun...and the kiddos loved it (so did the adults...who, speaking for myself, ate wayyy more food-blueberries in particular, than I really had room for, but they were Michigan blueberries, so I had to indulge).

Water Balloon Toss (Ryan stood in so everyone would have a partner)


Water fight--boys vs. girls...










BB Gun...


Sling Shot...


Pie Eating Contest...


The Pie Eating Champion!!


Fun at the creek (or crick depending on where you are from)...








Just chillin'...

my nephew, Roger...


Ryan and our niece, Lizzy...


Haleigh (niece) and my dad...


Roger and Nichole (my sister)


Jammin...
Ryan and Lydia (niece)


Ryan and Ezra


Thanks for organizing a fun weekend Dad!