Can't Believe Our Baby Girl is One!

On Friday, our sweet baby girl turned one. My heart both swells and aches at what a blessing she is and how quickly the time is passing. She is just the brightest soul - complete joy. She adores her brothers and they continue their love affair with her. Noah tells me all the time, "I love our baby soooo much." And Ben can make her laugh like nobody else. She's developed such a fun, feisty personality and she is smart as a whip, imitating everything and signing words.

Eliza, you are a light in our lives, dear girl.

We had a family party yesterday - hope to post some of those pics soon.

Chicago & Michigan Trip

We spent the last two weeks of July visiting my family in Michigan. We drove (I swear, we really are sane people), which made it possible for us to stay a few days in Chicago. It's such a great city, especially in the summer. We got into town around noon and drove directly to the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower.

103 floors up on "The Ledge," an overhang made completely of glass (including the floor) where you can look straight down to the street.
After the Sears Tower and lunch, we headed over to the lake (Lake Michigan).
While Noah and Jess played in the water, Ben, Eliza,and I took a walk/bike ride along the Lakeshore. Jess and I used to bike this path a lot when we lived there - it's beautiful, particularly with Michigan Avenue as its backdrop.
A highlight of the trip was being able to visit my dear friend since college, Jennifer, her husband Andy, and their two sweet girls Katelyn and Hannah. They were kind enough to let us stay with them, and the boys loved having some playmates. Here are the "big kids" snuggled up for a movie at bedtime.
The next day we took the commuter train back into the city and explored the Lincoln Park Zoo.

My favorite were the polar bears.

We walked all along Michigan Avenue after the zoo, and eventually Noah conked out in the stroller. He slept through dinner, so he had his Chicago pizza on the train ride back.

We finally made it to Michigan the following day. We had so much fun during our time there - amusement park, pool, sleepover at Auntie's, celebrating Noah's birthday, VBS, bike rides - but when you're on Lake Michigan in the summer, it's really all about the water.

Gladstone Lighthouse.

Escanaba Marina.

On top of the old Escanaba Lighthouse.

Booma and Eliza

Hangin' with cousin Austin.
I LOVED that Ben was able to go to Vacation Bible School at the same church I grew up in.

Rocking with Auntie Pam.

And visiting with cousin Ashley.

Bike Posse

Riding Papa's tractor.

The boys also loved going on 4-wheeler rides with Daddy, exploring the country roads by my parents' house:

On one ride, Jess stopped to take these pics of Noah by the "corm"

and horses.

It's always so great to be home and spend time with family!

Noah's 4th Birthday!

Birthdays have a way of stretching themselves out around here. For Noah's 4th, we started in the first week of July with a playgroup pool celebration for the summer birthday kiddos. Then, because we were going to be in Michigan on his big day, we had a small celebration at home the week before we left. He got to open his presents from us,


including this, which was waiting for him at Booma and Papa's house in Michigan.

In Michigan, we had his official party a couple of days before his actual b-day. It was a joint celebration with cousin Kaylin, whose birthday is the day after Noah's.
He'd requested a Cars pinata way back in March, and had been waiting patiently ever since.
Birthday buddies Noah and Kaylin, who turned 8.

And finally (see what I mean about stretching out?), on his real birthday, we spent the afternoon at a family fun park with ...

go-carts, bumper boats,

and mini-golf!
We topped off the day with strawberry shortcake and another round of "Happy Birthday."

I think he feels sufficiently celebrated.