Reds (and A&E) on the River!

On Thursday, Audrey and I met Kami and Easton for lunch at Red's on the River! What a nice treat to sit riverside on a hot relaxing summer's afternoon. We had fun catching up, Audrey had fun running around, and Easton just enjoyed watching Audrey go. In no time Easton will be chasing Audrey though! At lunch I delivered Kami two size 1 Pampers diapers for a keepsake box. I honestly had never thought to do that, but I was just in awe at how tiny that size 1 diaper looked. I've forgotten how tiny they were (I used newborns for a month on Audrey!) and how little Audrey was when she wore those diapers. It was a fun flashback!

Here are our two troublemakers. Well, one troublemaker at least, although our waitress commented on how well behaved and lovely our children were during lunch. Wasn't that nice?! Perhaps she was just vying for a bigger tip, but it's true... Audrey didn't throw any hotdogs onto their patio! After our delicious lunch at Red's Kami and I decided to stroll around downtown Rockford. We stopped into a few stores, although sadly Wiggles & Giggles was closed. Well, maybe not so sad for our wallets, but they've been having some sales and we just wanted to browse. Then we decided to stroll down to the Wolverine Footwear Depot and cruise some shoes for us and the babes. So many cute baby Merrell's for this fall. I think I'll be heading back there in a few weeks! Such a fun afternoon--thanks for lunching Kami & Easton!

Stop and Hop Hop Hop!

Last night Audrey was out walking the dogs and she was having a blast. Maddie is great at walking with Audrey and she'll follow Audrey anywhere and she's so good on the leash. Audrey really wanted to walk Darbie too, but Darbie is such a moose and you've really gotta use firm leash control with Darbie. If Audrey had a wagon Darbie could pull it for her!
Audrey would walk or run with Maddie and then all of a sudden drop the leash. Maddie would keep going, so I would say, "Stop!" to Maddie and before long Audrey was yelling, "Stop!" It was hilarious!
Then this morning watching Bunnytown as usual Audrey was bopping along in her highchair with the Hop Hop Hop Hippity Hop song when she squealed with delight, "Hop Hop Hop!" Jeff and I both looked at each other and said, "She just said Hop Hop Hop!" Quite the excitement, right?!

I've never been huge on television for Audrey, but we do let her watch Bunnytown which is actually quite cute and full of songs and dancing. Jeff and I know all of the songs now and Audrey loves to hop along. It's very cute. Audrey also gets to watch Signing Time! and she's really started to take an interest in repeating all of the signs she sees. The other day she kept signing "zebra" to me after watching the show. Audrey is just a little sponge these days!

Golfling with Daddy!

On Saturday after stopping by a little friend's birthday party Audrey hit the links with Daddy and Mommy! I didn't really get to play much, b/c Audrey was so wild about being out on the golf course. She wanted to get off of the golf cart at each stop and run around and grab Jeff's ball and throw it. It was so cute! Here's Audrey sitting on the cart, which was actually rare after this first hole.
Helping to hold the flag.

Searching for an extra ball or tee to throw.

AW! Driving the golf cart with Daddy!

Audrey's favorite task was running up to the cup and pulling out the ball.

Audrey in the sand trap.

Audrey loves golfing!!!

Me and my boyfriend, Will!

This is Will. He's a really nice boy, although sometimes we get into trouble together or one of us gets hurt b/c we are showing off. At the park Will sat on the blanket next to me during story time. I was really excited!
After playing with loads of bubbles and sharing story time and a snack we had lots of fun swinging and running around on all of the fun play equipment at the park! We got our picture taken on the bridge. Don't we look cool?!

Poolside Peanut!

Today Audrey and I met Jen, Will and Lena at the pool. Audrey loves the baby pool and has a newfound love of water now that she has met a pool just her size! Although, Audrey really enjoyed some downtime in the lawn chair after she was finished with the pool. Then she had to try suntanning. What a bathing beauty!

Audrey Goes On Vacation!

For July 4th we headed up to Jeff's parents cottage on Lake MI for some rest, relaxation and Fourth of July celebration. It was a great extended holiday weekend filled with plenty of bonfires, smores, fireworks and playing in the sand!

Our the 4th we just spent a nice day having fun on the beach. Look at the sky and water--only in northern MI! I feel like that new Kid Rock song should be playing in the background now!

Anywho, here's some pictures of Audrey playing in the sand!








Audrey was pretty tired by dinnertime on the fourth, so while Audrey was wearing her independence day dress she mostly just rolled around on the couch hugging Darbie until dinner and then bedtime.
The next day we went into Traverse City to see the Blue Angels. It's awesome to watch those jets, but they move so fast I really didn't get a great picture and then my camera died. Go figure!

Another day at the beach for Audrey, although it's pretty safe to say Audrey doesn't love sand. She constantly wipes her hands and freaks out if it gets on her face. Hmmm, wonder where she got that! Anyway, I had fun constructing Audrey a little seaside village and then Audrey had fun smashing it. Carter and his friend were busy building Audrey a stadium for her seaside village where there would be frog fights. Only boys, right?! Then Carter and Freddie found frogs. Audrey was squealing with delight as all of these frogs hopped around.



After some fun at the beach we had to go into Charlevoix for some Kilwin's ice cream!

Our last night there we spent some time on the beach taking family photos and the boys had a big game of whiffle ball going. Afterwards it was bonfire time and the boys couldn't pass up a silly game of chubby bunny! Ah, vacation!

A Grand Time Baby!

For my Dad's 60th birthday we headed to The Grand Hotel to celebrate in style. Audrey enjoyed some snacks on the ferry ride over to Mackinac Island. We rode in the front of the ferry for a bit, but it was SO windy! Audrey enjoyed having her own seat, which kept folding up on her.

Our first night out on the porch for cocktail hour Audrey became obsessed with rocking the rocking chairs.

Audrey also enjoyed running around on the huge porch and waving at all the new people she met.

Some of the beautiful grounds of The Grand Hotel.




The Grand Hotel carriage and horses are the best on the island! The horses were always so friendly and didn't mind Audrey giving them a pat on their soft velvety nose. After a day of horse petting Audrey was horse crazy. She would hear the clip clop, point to the front of the porch and instantly want to go see the approaching horses. It was so cute.



The front porch where we spent a lazy afternoon sipping iced tea.

I swear I didn't plan it, but Audrey's entire wardrobe for the Grand Hotel trip coordinated with the hotel! Here she is matching the porch!!

Waiting for the horses to approach.

We had our family photo taken on the last night there. It was a fun getaway and a wonderful way to spend my Dad's birthday. Each night was a fabulous meal followed by a Grand Pecan Ball, which many will say is better than any birthday cake!!
This is one tuckered out peanut! She fell asleep as soon as we got off the ferry and hit the road. It was a long, but very fun and grand weekend!

Perfectly Posed!

This is Maddie & Darbie in their favorite chair. Can you tell?! I did not pose them for this pic. They were perched like this when I found them. Too cute!!

A Day for Daddy!

Last night we went to the Start of Summer Celebration in downtown Rockford and we had so much fun. Audrey had her first taste of hot dogs and enjoyed all of the sights & sounds. Daddy even won Audrey a HUGE stuffed bear by winning a baseball toss game. Here's Audrey with her newest and now largest stuffed animal!

After a leisurely Father's Day breakfast we headed to John Ball Zoo. I think we were all excited to see the animals and enjoy a day together. It was so much fun. Audrey had a blast seeing all of the animals!
A random chicken from the petting zoo. I love chickens! Look at his cute feathery feet!!

Audrey loved feeding the budgies. She couldn't believe a birdie was that close to her!

Sporting some lion paraphernalia. The lions weren't really out and about in their new exhibit, so we got Audrey a stuffed lion!
Audrey had such a long morning at the zoo that she zonked out before we even hit the highway. This was one tired peanut!