duluth

I love everything about this picture!  The beautiful Lake Superior, the rocky cliffs and shore, and how Tony and Evan are captured in the moment of an adventure... just a simple walk to fill a bucket of water, but this is what we enjoyed about our vacation in Minnesota... relaxing and exploring.

And we finally got to sleep in a tent, something Evan has been excited about for months.

And we did some hiking at a few state parks north of Duluth...

Gooseberry Falls

High Falls on the Baptism River

Splitrock Lighthouse



Such a fun trip!  Duluth is a neat little city too... we enjoyed the shoreline, beach, art fair, old brick buildings, and food! 

    

top 5 news stories for june

1.  Stacey finished another term of school last week.  Yay!  Off til July 5th. 

2.  Stacey is no longer going to be working at Munson after July 2nd.  I didn't think working once every 6 weeks was worth it anymore, and I didn't want to work more than that. 

3.  Stacey is volunteering at the migrant/farmworker clinic in Traverse City this summer, about 2 times a month for a few hours on the days the midwives see patients there.  Hoping to learn a little bit of clinic type stuff and maybe pick up a few Spanish words. 

4.  Tony might be injured.  He has a extra bump by his ankle... going to get it looked at tomorrow.  He can still go out and run 15 miles, but it hurts... 

5.  Evan can count from 1-13 (skipping 6), and then after 13 goes back to 10,11,12,13... 

happy father's day

Dear Dad,  Thank you for baking granola with me, finding good places to hide from mom, reading me stories before bed, hiking with me, and tickling me when I point my finger.  You are always so fun!  Thanks for being such a great dad!  Mom and I love you so much! 

Evan

aka Goofles



beach and balloons

Enjoyed another summer day today!  This morning we went for a Croozer jog, played and ate lunch at the beach, and finished off with popsicles and playing in the yard.   What could be better than popsicles with your buddies after some good playtime? 

 

This evening, we went to see the hot air balloon event at the Open Space.  About 10 hot air balloons floated above Traverse City.  Evan thought they were quite neat.  He couldn't wait to tell Tony about it... "I saw hot air balloons... in the sky.... I saw a purple one... I saw a blue one... I saw a red one... I had ice cream!!"

sittin' by the river

Sometimes I just love the simple things.  Today, it was a morning trip to the quiet farmer's market, and then sitting with Evan along the Boardman River, eating a snack (raisins for Evan, chocolate croissant for mom, I shared a bite with him but he would prefer raisins in a box to most foods), watching the ducks, and throwing stones into the water. 

Its moments like these, that make me wish I could keep him at this age forever.  I can't believe how much fun 2 and 1/4 years is.  Frequently, people will ask how old Evan is now, and then respond "oh thats such a fun age".  I remember the time the guy that was changing the oil in our car asked his age (he was 5 months) and said "oh thats such a fun age".  And at the time I was thinking, yes it is... he can smile, laugh, clap his hands... he was fun!  But, it wasn't quite as fun as listening to him run around the house playing 'chase you' and laughing like it was the best thing in the world, or listening to him sing the alphabet song without quite pronouncing each letter (some of them all slur into one sound), or watching the goofy activities or games he thinks of (he will drop anything to chase a robin or squirrel).  I just had such a good time hanging out with him this morning that I was thankful I had a camera with me to document part of this memory.



what were we like?

After a perfect, relaxing summer day, Tony and I sat in the grass watching Evan do his thing.  We was transferring pieces of chalk from his bike seat to his dump truck 20 feet away... a few pieces at a time.  Concentrating, quiet, purposeful activity.  At moments like this as the active toddler slows down and entertains himself, it gives us a minute to admire him and the little person he is becoming.   As we watched him, we couldn't help but wonder what we were like at the age... what things interested us, what did our parents kick back and enjoy watching us do?