Garage Sale Success!

With a little coaxing from some neighbors I decided to take part in a neighborhood garage sale. I spent the evenings last week pulling together items no longer in use at the Carlson house. On Friday night, I attached inexpensive price tags on these items that at one time were loved, cherished, and valued in the eyes of someone under our roof. I awoke early Saturday morning to set up the garage and hang signs out front. Upon awakening, Russell and Sloane ran outside to see what I was so busily up to. Russell quickly pulled out toys from a bin marked $1 and announced, "Mom, I still use these!!!" He then proceeded over to a clothing box, yanked out a size 2t jacket, pulled it on, and stated, "I need this." So...we have decided to hang on to the faded navy blue jacket along with a well used shape sorter and worn out dump truck. Sloane was much more understanding of the commotion going on. She settled down inside an old car seat (stained with spilled milk and spit up) grabbed my old and trusty book, The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy, and read quietly as shoppers purchased our old treasures. I find comfort in knowing that many of my beloved, but no longer needed items are in the hands of new mothers on the brink of their own cherished memories.

Let's just hope that Sloane does not need to read this book again for AT LEAST 25-30 more years!

Back to School and All Grown Up!

Ringing bells, sharpened pencils, shiny new shoes, filled up backpacks, and giggles heard all over the halls. It’s that time of year again! I have been a busy bee trying to get my classroom all prepped for the 2009 – 2010 school year. As I rush to prepare, Russell and Sloane have been getting acclimated back at daycare 3 days this week. They joined me on Tuesday at my school where they had fun exploring every square foot of my classroom and schoolyard playground. However, the biggest event of the week happened at home today. My baby girl is no longer a baby. We took down her crib and put up a “big girl bed!” Can I say A-DOR-A-BLE!!! While she was out of the house, I quickly put together her bed and rearranged her bedroom. She is thrilled (to say the least)! This time of year is always bitter sweet. I hate to say goodbye to Russell and Sloane each morning, but I am so excited at the thought of another terrific school year. I truly LOVE my job! I cannot believe it will be my 11th year of teaching…time sure flies!!!

Russell had fun on my school playground's rock climbing wall.

Sloane enjoyed swinging on the monkey bars.

Sloane quickly curled up on her new bed while Russell grabbed a book to "read to her."

All smiles on her "big girl bed!"

Water, Woods, and Wild Adventures in Michigan's Upper Peninsula

Whether I am floating in the water on a blow up chair or waking to the sound of the pitter patter of rain on the roof of the cottage, I am in Heaven on round lake! What made the last ten days so special is the fact my own children are now making marvelous memories at the cottage. I grew up spending every summer on round lake in our family cottage. The memories I have are endless… swimming, fishing, riding the wave runner, exploring the woods, building sand castles, walking the path along the lake, eating Grandma’s cookies or Aunt Mary’s popcorn, riding the paddle boat, visiting friends and relatives, I could go on and on! Russell and Sloane now have all of these memories as well. Today while making the 6-hour drive home, Russell declared that his favorite activity was “jumping off the paddle boat” into the lake. I am sure Sloane’s best adventure was riding Uncle Keith’s sea doo. I still cannot believe my 2-year-old was brave enough to let her uncle take her out on that crazy machine! She waved back at us the entire time while squealing with glee! Mac continues to amaze us by his swimming technique. I have yet to see a dog of his size and nature take on the lake as he does. Aron enjoyed fishing outings with my dad as well as a day of golf. I rejoiced during the kids’ naptime by fully indulging in the sun or taking a relaxing boat ride around the lake! Making the annual trip to the cottage isn’t exactly the same now that I have two little ones (and a dog) to chase around. There were definitely moments I questioned my sanity, but good and bad, I always hate to see the vacation come to an end.

Happy Birthday Aunt Mary!

Driving Papa's boat.

Driving Papa's "fast" boat!

Soaking my feet in the sun.

Ahhhh! This is life!

Making cookies with Mom and Grammy...mmmm...chocolate!
Russell riding with Uncle Keith on the sea doo.

Sloane's turn!

Lots of fun on the paddle boat!

Russell began to grow fins and gills by the end of the week!

The kids helped Papa fix the bridge over the creek.

Bath time outside! This was so adorable!!!

Family Fun All Across Michigan!

First off I have to brag... I AM DONE WITH MY THESIS!!! YEAH!!! I turned it in last Tuesday and have been enjoying summer vacation ever since!!!

The kids and I went "camping" in our backyard. Russell helped put up the tent with me and then we had snack and rested with our blankies and stuffed animals. This was a hit. The next step will be a real camping trip. Maybe this fall...

We headed back to Lake Michigan on Friday to enjoy time with Aron's extended family. His cousins from Naples were visiting as well as his cousins from Seattle. So we enjoyed the beach while the kids got to know their cousins.

Cousin Jake and Russell - Russell looks up to Jake like most boys do Superman!

Sloane with cousin Addie - As soon as we arrived, Sloane asked "where's Addie?" She was very anxious to spend time with her older cousin!

Another walk on the shore of Lake Michigan

Cousins Ben and Soren showed Russell how to jump off the pavilion into the sand below. Russell thought this was really cool!!!

On Sunday, we left the west side of Michigan and made the three hour drive north east to Carson City where we enjoyed the annual Wilcox Family Reunion located at my aunt and uncle's house. Thankfully they have a beautiful pool because it was a HOT day!!! The kids had a ball playing with more cousins and splashing in the pool.

Fun in the pool at The Wilcox Family Reunion!

Russell with cousin Nolan - they became fast buddies!

Cousin Katie and Sloane cooling off. Katie is our life saver at family events. She is always willing to lend a hand and keep her eyes on the kids for us!

"Fishing" for prizes - Russell caught a race car and bubbles while Sloane hooked pom poms and sidewalk chalk!

Russell, Aron, and my dad reflecting on their bean bag toss championship! Aron and my dad came in 1st place this year at the annual tournament!

Tomorrow we head north to my parents' cottage in the upper peninsula. I have been looking forward to this ALL SUMMER!!! More fun pictures to come...

No Pictures Week

I have no pictures to share this week and I wasn't planning on blogging, but here I am...

On the downside... We have ALL been sick. What began with Russell last week turned into Sloane on Monday followed by two more visits to the pediatrician and then when I thought we were in the clear, Aron and I got sick. We each ended up at the doctor's office yesterday and thankfully walked out with prescriptions!

On the upside... I FINALLY received the thumbs up from my advisor on my thesis!!! Yeah! I get to officially sign off on it Tuesday!!! I seriously can not wait to see that signature of approval! What a process it has been!

Pictures to come next week. We have lots of fun planned for the next few weeks so hopefully health (and weather) will be on our side!

Tigers Game

This week wasn't the most uplifting, but I am focused on staying positive! Let's just say I really CAN NOT wait to be done with grad school and I really, really, really want Russell to feel healthy again-he's been fighting something since Tuesday!

As for the positive... my best friend, Heidi, had a baby boy this week. He is an absolute doll!

As for the fun... we had tickets to the Tiger's game yesterday and decided to still go despite Russell feeling a bit under-the-weather. Russell had been talking about the baseball game all week so I just did not have the heart to tell him we couldn't go. We had a blast! The kids went on the carousel, cheered for the team, danced to the music, ate hot dogs, and truly enjoyed the moment! Aron and I had fun too especially since we were there with some of our best friends and their kids. It was great to hang out and watch a great game! Go Tigers!!! Would you believe Russell is still sleeping (it is 9:30 a.m.). He rarely sleeps past 8:00! I have gone into his room 3 times...I am a bit paranoid!

Venetian Festival

After a busy week, we decided to head back to St. Joseph for family fun and the annual Venetian Festival! We packed with the idea that we would be beaching it the entire time, but unfortunately the weather was a bit chilly. We decided not to let the unusual July weather keep us down! We got up Saturday morning and headed to Silver Beach (with sweatshirts on) where we took in the sand sculpture competition, playground fun, and carnival rides!!! Afterward we had a family barbecue at Aunt Karen and Uncle Dave's house then headed down to the beach. We were completely prepared to turn around and head back as soon as the kids dipped into the cold water, but much to our surprise, the weather turned out to be great!!! A tad below normal temperatures and the lake was rough, but the sun was warm and the sand was hot! The kids had a ball and we all walked away with rosy cheeks from sunburns (not wind burns) :-) So...another glorious day on Lake Michigan!!! We skipped the fireworks due to exhaustion. Russell and Sloane spent nap time going for a rock hunt along the shore so they were whipped by 7 p.m. and crashed (as did I)! Today we enjoyed a nice lunch with Aron's dad, Bev, and brother Erik and then headed home. Back to work tomorrow...

Russell chose this airplane ride. He loved the gun feature.

Walking back to our car after Venetian Festival. The kids had tired legs so therefore Aron and I got tired shoulders!

Russell was READY to hit the beach. Binoculars, goggles, and a frisbee..."LET'S GO MOM!""Rock Hunting"
Russell was very proud of himself. He never wants me to take his picture, but for this he kept screaming, "Did you get my picture mom? Take it again!"
Sloane repeatedly stuck her head in a bucket of water, stood up, blew water out of her mouth, and wiped her face off. Everyone on the beach was cracking up!

After she was finished with the bucket of water, she laid in the sand and rolled around like a dog covering her entire body with sand. Aron took her to rinse off in the wild waves! She LOVED it!
Did I mention how exhausted we were???