Memorial Day Weekend

A different Memorial Day weekend than I've ever had. Tough moments, happy moments, grateful moments, good moments...definitely some good memories made, and memories that I wish were made. Life is different than it was last year, and adjusting to the 'new' normal is taking time.

The focus of this post is on one part of the weekend - our couple of days away up north. These are the memories we captured to share. :o)

Drive up - both girls content and happy for 95% of the time - it was a nice drive up

Taylor watched Rudolph :o)

Camryn enjoyed some rare moments with a paci (and, yes, we switched her to front facing, and she seems happy about the change)

First night...sunset, gorgeous moon

Saturday morning, Taylor just had to get out to the beach - a little cold (it was 45 degrees), but she didn't seem to notice or care

Saturday we went on a boat ride to Charlevoix

Cruising into Round Lake

It was beautiful and sunny, but chilly - winter hats were a good idea!

Camryn fell asleep on the ride home

Both girls cashed in the afternoon - for a long time

(Oh and a few randoms...)
Played around with pigtails later that night with Cam - her hair is getting so long!

Taylor was being sweet with her stuffed animal, Tony, as she "put him to 'bed' with the chicken, and Thomas fruit snacks" :)

And Camryn decided she wanted to feed herself with a spoon over the weekend, too - won't let me help anymore!

Ryan made a find at a nearby store, and he was a happy camper :)

Sunday morning bike ride wasn't quite what we had planned - dad and I were all set to go, and then I realized I only had one shoe packed...oops

Sunday afternoon was all about being outside in the gorgeous sun and being on the beach

This is how Camryn felt about the sand - she pulled her feet as high as they would go anytime we tried to set her down

Taylor ventured pretty far out into the 60 degree water!

Sweet little beach girl

Sunday evening, another ride into Boyne for a birthday dinner

Later, opening gifts (looking a bit excited about my new yoga towel, eh? :))

Monday morning, began pretty early at 6:30am, but I got a little quality time with this little girl, on the end of my favorite dock, at my favorite lake, a great way start my 32nd birthday.

As always, the lake is good for the soul, and the plan is to spend lots of time there this summer, which is okay with me...now we just gotta get Camryn comfortable with being in the sand, and teach both girls to sleep in just a bit later. ;o)

Today was a good start to the week with a fun visit from Mem and Taylor to my classroom with cupcakes to share with the class for my birthday. :o) We'll see what year 32 holds...

Rewind a bit...

Sitting here, looking out at the lake as Memorial Day weekend wraps up, and I have things to share from this weekend, BUT I need to go back and play catch-up a bit!

My little friend, Cam, likes to wake up around the same - early - time every morning - regardless if it is a weekday or weekend.
A few snapshots of our Saturday morning last week...she was a busy girl...

 Camryn thought she had to push hard to get the magnetic pacifier for her baby to stay... :)

 Silly girl

{{BTW - random side note - this was Cam's injection site from half of her shots she received at her one year well-child appointment that was THREE weeks prior...she was still rocking a bruised look...poor thing}}

Later that Saturday morning, Taylor went to school with me (one of her FAVORITE things!!), and helped me hang up balloons for a little final countdown fun with my students...

That night we went to my grandparents place and to get together with my dad's side of the family, Camryn looking like a sweetie before we left...

And I just had to quick capture a tantrum mid-way through...just to show her sad little stinker side, too ;)

and while we were at my grandparents, I caught this sweet picture of Ryan and Cam together :)

Sunday was a gorgeous day of sun, and a Mem visit, too!

We brought out the girl's new water table, and filled the pool, too! It was a great, hot day!!

Jammies :o)

Cuties!

 Just having a little fun before bedtime

Cam turned 13 months on Monday.

Snapshot thoughts I want to remember ~ sleeps through the night like a champ, goes down between 6:45-7:15 and gets up between 6:30-7:15, naps once in the morning and once in the afternoon, wears size 3 diapers and 18-24 month clothes, starting to walk more, continues to climb on e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, meals are sometimes easy and sometimes it is like aiming at a moving target - things that she loved the day before are refused and chucked off the tray as soon as we give it to her, lambie and taggie blanket are becoming staples in her life - she's gotta have them, when cleaning out dresser drawers I found a paci and Cam gave it a try and decided she really liked it (she had refused them or not been interested before this point), but we didn't want her to get attached so we made sure to throw it away after she went to bed :), she's learning the art of tantrums already :)

Saturday, Tay will be halfway to her half birthday already. She continues to challenge and amaze us every single day. Her latest obsession? Pete the Cat. But who doesn't love a blue cat with white shoes and groovy buttons. :)

Time just moves so fast.

They could stay this little and cute for a while and I would be happy. :o)

15 days until summer break!