It's a small world!

We spent a quick weekend in Alpena, arriving Saturday at lunchtime. We headed directly to a favorite restaurant there and were surpried and delighted to see some friends...who also don't live in Alpena! It was Laura Perry and Jack with her mother-in-law, Marge Perry! They were visiting their family cottage in nearby Hubbard Lake and had just sat down to lunch so we joined them and had a ball catching up! Here we all are. Note: Laura and I are both pregnant again at the same time, though as you can see I'm a good bit farther along. What fun!Jack and Cassidy had fun exploring the restaurant together. "Jack, sit right here on the floor next to me," Cassidy is saying.

It's hard to get two toddlers to look at the camera at the same time, but we did it!

Are they here yet?

Standing at the window, waiting for Scott and Kate to arrive

Swimming lesson

First, stand in the water for a few minutes, acclamating yourself.Next, bend your knees and feel the nice warm water with your hands.
When you're ready, try a little splash or two.

And finally, bang the bay with reckless abandon!

Cassidy + Kayla = FUN!

It's the weekend we've been waiting for! Aaron, Sheri and Kayla are here! They brought with them some of Kayla's toys for Cassidy to borrow, including this awesome kiddie car! Cassidy got a special ride in the back from Kayla.Here they're having very "serious" fun with Cassidy's sand table.Saturday we spent the day in Petoskey, shopping and having lunch at the Noggin Room. The girls had their own special little table to eat their lunch at.A double stroller ride! And of course, wearing matching outfits. All of this activity wears out a little pumpkin!

Chasing bubbles

Ah, the joys of summer! (Not many bubbles made the pictures. She's fast, but they're faster carried off by the wind!)

Will she ever know?

Will Cassidy ever know how much her daddy loves her? This is a classic example of the way Kurt loves his little girl. On hot sunny days when they're out walking in the yard, he often follows her with an umbrella to protect her from the sun. (She has sensitive skin that tends to react badly to sunscreen.) She just jaunts around happily, almost oblivious to her ever-present protective daddy. And so this will be throughout her life...daddy and mommy always loving her and trying to keep her safe, while she goes about her business...maybe (probably) even resisting that protection at times. But we'll still do it. And she might not understand that kind of love...until, that is, she has a little pumpkin of her own. My parents told me again and again when I was growing up, "you'll understand when you have kids" and they were right. I get it now. And so will Casssidy. Someday.

Too busy to look up for the camera

Lately, it seems that Cassidy is boycotting the camera! It's harder and harder to get her to smile for a picture. But really, who has time for pictures? There's a sand table to play with...

..."flowers" to pick in the grass...

...and herbs to harvest!

Don't take my boots away!

It's a very hot day, but she'd rather take off her clothes and be in just a diaper if it means she can keep on the winter boots!

Ohio visit

Our summer travels continued early this week with a trip to Ohio to visit the Jensen grandparents. The weather was beautiful but hot and very muggy! We had a nice lunch with cousins and did some shopping too. Here we are enjoying dinner at Abuelo's. Cassidy and Daddy enjoyed walking around the Easton shopping center. Cassidy especially loved her first experience with the escalators!
Cassidy is now into holding hands. For a long time, she'd pull away when we tried to hold her hand but now she realizes she'll be allowed to walk on her own more, instead of being carried, if she holds our hands. Grandma and Grandpa had fun walking with her too.

Thanks for the fun visit, Grandma and Grandpa. See you in the fall sometime!