Last Night On the Beach

Anson, frequently nicknamed "Chubber Bear," stayed up late & played cards with the grown-ups. The next day, Denhams returned to Washington and the Langes & Rozebooms returned to Grand Rapids. It felt good NOT to have to get on a plane after vacation!

Playing

Simon loves to wear Grandma Lizzy's Crocs

Digging with a scooper seat toy at the playground in Holland. One day was a little cool for the beach and we were restless, so we set off for the nearest playground. We stayed less than a half hour before the sun came out, it got hot, and we headed back to the beach.

Adam & Anson tried to ride the purple dinosaur together.

Adam (and Simon) call this "two boys up" for obvious reasons.

Kids on the Beach

Mom and a twin with a tongue

Simon in his little spf suit playing paddle ball with Laura & daughter Rowan

Adam trying out brother-in-law Jason's new boogie board

And this is Anson. You might not be able to tell, but it is. He fell asleep on the towel, but it was a little chilly & breezy, especially in the shade of the umbrella where he was. And with other older kids kicking up sand, we wanted to keep him protected. I threw a sarong over him, and then someone suggested clipping it down to keep it from blowing off of him. Worked like a charm! The only problem is that sometimes people didn't know he was there, and were tempted to walk over the "empty" towel, or throw things onto it. We kept close watch. :)

Simon the Sand & Water Bug

Simon made a river over the course of a day with a little help from Daddy, Tia Melissa, and I think maybe another person or two. At one point he decided to "swim" in it like a bathtub. This kid had sand in crevices we didn't know existed on his little body. He was a sand monster, and thrilled about it.

Family Vacation, Chapter 1

We had a week at the beach for a family vacation thanks to Grandma Lizzy & Grandpa Gerry. My sister & brother-in-law, Becky & Jason, flew in with their almost-two-year-old twins, Anna & Rachel. Their foursome, our foursome, two Grandparents and Tia (plus boyfriend Andy for most of the week) all trekked out to Holland, MI and moved into a large lakefront cottage the folks rented for us again. We all got some R & R, in different, age-appropriate ways.

Anson snoozing on the beach with his spf sun hat rather askew

Adam tried to let Simon help fly his kite, but I'm not sure Simon got it. Cute though.

Adam got "The Pursuit of Happyness" as a birthday gift and set it aside specifically for this vacation. He read it before the week was half over, and loved it.

Tia Melissa helped Simon build things in the sand & water. Thanks, Tia!*

*For anyone reading this who might not know, Melissa is a Spanish teacher and lover of Spain (she's there now for a year!) so the kiddos all call her "Tia," which means "Aunt" in Spanish.

Sunset

Gotta love the sunset over Lake Michigan...

Tia Melissa and her dear Andy

Adam and his dear Anson in a sling

Melissa & Andy goofing around after playing Frisbee in the fading light

Happy Birthday, Cousins!

We've been doing a family summer vacation at a cottage for 4 years in a row now. I guess Mom & Dad figured that with us in New Mexico and the Denham clan in Washington, they had to find a way to lure us all at the same time. A summer cottage vacation on Lake Michigan works! The first year, I was pregnant for Simon and there were no kids but us grown-up ones. The second year, Denhams didn't come because Becky was due with her twins within the same time frame. That year we got a phone call mid-cottage-week that the girls had arrived! So last year and this year we've been able to celebrate the girls' birthdays with them. This year, obviously, they turned two!

Mom (and Becky?) made a festive "Happy Birthday" banner. Now every time Simon sees the triangular flags (like at a car dealership, for example) he says they are happy birthday flags.

Simon loved eating cupcakes. Who doesn't?

The party hubbub while the gifts were being opened. Everything came in pairs, so there were twice as many things to assemble. After a bit, Simon got disheartened b/c all the gifts were for Anna & Rachel & not for him. But again - Grandma Lizzy was the prepared hero! She had a few small gifts for him too. Thanks, Grandma Lizzy!

And once the girls were rushed off to bed in the party aftermath (aftercrash?) Simon played with a few of the toys till we plunked him in bed for the night too.

Beach Wind

Going for a walk down the lake shore - we LOVE Lake Michigan. Grandma Lizzy carries one of the twins (probably Anna, b/c Rachel was a real waterbug) and Simon runs with Adam trailing behind.

Simon gave his cousin a big hug. She was up for it.

Grandma Lizzy snuggling a chilly Anson on one of the less-sunny beach days. But with Grandma Lizzy, every day is a beach day! So we bundle up with hats & sarongs. :)

Anson with the whole "A'hoy!" beach outfit. So darn cute. Thanks, Aunt Jeanne! (Granty)

Cottage Kids

Simon and the screen door - fun for at least 5 minutes.

Beach bum Simon with every beach toy we could find.

Chubby head in his spf hat again...not askew. Lots of chins on this one! Way to go, Anson!

Chillin, Patriotic Style

Cute chubby picture of Anson, b/c he hasn't shown up as much yet.

Simon, rearranging Grandma Lizzy's flags.

Owch! I think I poked it in my eye.

And he's over it quickly, of course. Notice the t-shirt? We'll always have two home states!