Week up north: the beach!

As far back as I can remember, I have spent at least one full week at the cottage up north by the lake every summer. Even when my family lived in Pennsylvania, my brother and I would fly, by ourselves, back to Michigan for a week with our grandparents. Since Ryan and I have been married, the tradition has continued. A full week really lets us settle in and relax and enjoy our time - and is the highlight of my summer!

Our first weekend up, my grandparents, parents (who stayed the week), brother, and sister-in-law were there, too. I managed to swipe each family member's media card from their camera at the end of our first weekend, and easily had over 150 photos to choose from - just from our first 3 days!. :o) Lots of fun = lots of pictures!

Here are a few pictures so far from playtime on the beach. Taylor l-o-v-e-s playing in the sand and water. She makes a beeline for the beach as soon as we arrive - usually soaking all of her clothes that she is wearing if we don't get them off her first. :o)

Looking at these pictures - she seems like such a BIG kid now! When did our little girl get so tall??

Lots of people joined in on the beach fun...

Dada

Bapa

Uncle Jeff

Camryn was usually hanging out nearby in someone's lap

And even on one hot day, she joined us in the water - it was SOO warm!!

We hung out in the water for almost an hour - playing in the shallow water and waves
Taylor is never far from her sister - and loves to show her affection with kisses...

And hugs...(Camryn is getting quite used to Taylor's loving "hugs", and is already showing that she can be a tough little sister- tolerating her big, affectionate gestures - with hardly a fuss :o))

Lots of creations were built, including this sand castle by Ryan

And "the Stinky", made by Uncle Jeff (a nickname that Taylor and Jeff came up with for their creation where water would pool because Jeff used some clay that is a little smelly to line the bottom of it :))

And a lot of times no toys were needed at all - and Taylor would just run or walk up and down along the water's edge

We still have a few days left of vacation, so Part II of our week at the lake coming up next!

First Ride

Last night we headed out after dinner to take a walk (we waited a bit, but it was still 93 degrees!), and our goal was to try out our new double jogging stroller!

We bought the stroller back in May, but Camryn's car seat isn't compatible with the stroller we got, so we needed to wait until she was a little older and stronger to be able sit in the regular seat part by herself. And it was a success! Even though it was hot, as long as we kept moving, she was happy and actually fell asleep. :)

The girls were happy when we were moving, and because we stopped to take the pictures to capture their first ride together - they both became unhappy or uncooperative at those moments. :o)

It will be so nice to be able to take both girls walking, without needing to have Camryn in the carrier all the time - and it is amazing how easy it is to push this stroller (even though it is so big!!).

We walked to one of Taylor's favorite spots - a big hill by the hospital. She ran up and down this hill many times.

Heading back to the top of the hill to run down, again!

And here is a (literally) small video of her running downhill (love how she describes herself as "very, very fast" at the end :o))

Both ladies looking tired and hot. :o) They slept well last night after our little adventure out!

Favorite People, Favorite Place :)

When we were up north for the fourth, we were able to get together with some wonderful family friends that we have known for years. The Peters and the Parkers had lots of family adventures together when us "kids" were younger - summer trips to Raystown Lake for camping and boating, winter trips to their cabin for skiing and snowmobiling, and one fantastic spring break where we went bareboating through the British Virgin Islands together.

Here is a picture of Nicole and I at Raystown Lake back in the day - it was quite fun to jump into the water wearing our life jackets upside down ;o)

Now that the "kids" are grown up now, we don't live right down the road from each other anymore, but we managed to get (most) everyone together again for a visit!

It was a perfect day to hang out in the sand by the water and catch up...
Janine, Lindsay, Nicole, and I - with little Ari playing in the sand

Ari and Taylor taking a snack break

And can't forget this little cutie - Caleb - love the sandy toes :)

Dad and Dave

A picture of the next generation - the best we could get with four little bodies, and Ari doing her best to hold Camryn ;o)

Taylor and Caleb being silly together right before they left

The whole group minus my brother - (we missed you, Jeff!) and a few husbands who couldn't make it

Can't wait until the next time we can get together!

3 months old

Friday the 13th, again, and Camryn turns three months old today!

The last Friday the 13th was a pretty incredible day, so I can only hope for the same today. :o) Camryn is already back down for her morning nap, and she was very smiley this morning, so it is starting out well. :o) Taylor and I are sharing a bowl of summer fruit while I type this, and Bambi is on in the background - can't beat a relaxed summer break morning!

Camryn is filling out and getting stronger by the day. She holds her head and chest up when she is on her tummy, and lifts her head and shoulders up when she is laying on her back. She rolls to her side, but has yet to roll all the way to her tummy or vice versa.

(Just after a bath, so her hair is actually flat for a moment :o) - she looks so long in this picture!)

Here she is again at one month old

At today at 3 months old!

This girl LOVES sucking on her hand - she has yet to really warm up to a paci, so we might have a thumb-sucker with this one!
Reaching for it

Got it!

Very content little girl :)

Camryn has also gotten more playful with her toys - the little blue Octopus has a rattle that she will hit with her hand or foot to make noise

And last, Camryn continues to be a wonderful sleeper!! For the past three weeks, she has slept 8-10 hours straight at night. She goes down between 8:30-9:30, and gets up somewhere between 6:00 and 7:00 typically. It. Is. Fantastic!!! Her naps are pretty good, too. The only one that is predictable is her morning nap. She goes down about an hour after she gets up, and will sleep sometimes 3-4 hours. The afternoon naps are a little more random, but there are usually about 2 or so naps throughout the afternoon evening.

Happy Three Months, Camryn!

Fourth of July week/weekend

Fourth of July fell on a Wednesday, which meant that we got to spend 4 full days at the cottage for the holiday! Ry had to "work" Thursday and Friday, and spent a lot of time inside by the computer those two days, but it was still wonderful to be up by the lake together.

These days, this my view in the car on our long drives (where I usually end up sitting in the back between the two girls)
Ry up front

Tay watching her shows (which has kept her from getting car sick, which is such a blessing after more than a year of trying to find a solution!)

Camryn just hanging out

It was a great week to just spend lots of time outside! The weather was perfect - hot and sunny. :)

Dada and Taylor throwing rocks after dinner

 Morning snack - mama and Taylor together

We spent lots of time swimming

Taylor L-O-V-E-D the water (see the above smile :)), and it helped that it was so warm (77 to 79 degrees). We have always felt lucky to have a place on a lake where the water is so beautiful and clear...(nice sandy bottom with no seaweed :))

She thought it was fun when Papa blew bubbles

Swimmin' with Bapa and Mem

 

Watching the sea plane go by in the distance - it landed and took off in our cove many times

 

Kisses with dada :)

Sometimes Taylor didn't want the fun to end - like in this picture when she was refusing to come in after her late evening bath in the lake...little naked buns wouldn't move from the dock :)

Lots of time out playing in the sun and on the beach equaled great naps

Camryn did so well hanging out at the lake as well.
Relaxing in the shade

Swinging on the pretty new swing with Mem and Bapa

(Note the toddler running around in the background ;o))

 Rocking with Gaga

On the couch with sister

 Her hair still makes me smile - it has a mind of its own ;o)

We had one rainy morning - so we spent some time inside playing on the computer and ipad

Group shot on the 4th

Can't wait for our next trip for more fun, relaxed family moments like this!