Pond Hill Farm

I've always read about places like Pond Hill Farm but never visited.  Until today!  Pond Hill Farm is a working farm just outside of Harbor Springs, Michigan.  This morning my mom and I took the boys to check it out.   She and I are here alone with the boys this week until the rest of the family comes on Friday, so we're exploring the area more than usual.  So at the farm today we fed pigs, cows, sheep, chickens, and a pretty white goose.  The goose happened to be molting so Cole got to bring home one of it's feathers!  We visited the trout pond and the farm store, too.  I can't wait to go back when Chris gets here and try out the squash rocket!    

Little Boy Heaven

I think Northern Michigan should be officially named Little Boy Heaven.  Cole is having a blast up here so far!  The other day we made waffles for breakfast and put the leftovers in the crab trap in the lake.   We caught 2 crabs, but then we set them free after we watched them for a little while.   And today we took a short trip down Crooked River.  Cole is a brave boat rider.  He likes to sit in his own seat and watch whoever is water skiing or the scenery as we pass by.  On our trip today he shared his pretzels with Max (Max didn't eat them...) and they sat still long enough for a photo!  

The Thorn

As I type both of our little boys are napping soundly...ahhhh.  I'm so thankful for this time so far on vacation, because I've been able to take a nap in the sun a couple of times; something I have not done in I think years.  Yes, years.  

The thorn in my side, though, so far this vacation, is Max's night time sleeping habits.  He just won't sleep.  Folks, he's almost 7 months.  This is not February when frequent night time waking was expected.  I just don't know what to do!  This has been happening at home, too, for about 2 weeks, so it's not a "we're on vacation" funk and something he needs to get used to.   The last couple of nights Max has been up at least three times, not often hungry but more to be comforted.  Last night I finally brought him to bed with me at 3 a.m. and we slept until 7:30 a.m.  Ug. 

I welcome any ideas and tips from those of you who have some to spare!  I need some more sleep! 

Swinging

One of our favorite Michigan activities is swinging on the front porch.   It overlooks the lake and is a very peaceful spot.  I've noticed, too, that while Cole is super energetic and therefore swings for only a minute at a time, Max is definitely a more relaxed swinger!  We have a porch swing at home, too, and whenever he is fussy the swing calms him down every time!  This morning Max and I read some books on the swing while Cole and Grandbob went to The Crooked Lake Grill for pancakes.  It's a small local joint where you sit up on the swivel stools at the counter.  Cole had a Mickey Mouse pancake.  Lucky!  

The Lick

Michigan!

We are in Northern Michigan for the next couple of weeks.  Yay for vacation!  My family has been coming to this same cottage on Crooked Lake since 1945.  It's a wonderful place to relax and have a lot of fun.  

So, since we've been here, Cole's tee ball skills have improved!  We've taken boat rides and water skiied.  We're baking chocolate chip cookies right now, and Max has been thoroughly licked by my brother's dog, Yogi.  

Stay tuned for more adventures! 

Drip, Drip

We ventured out to Jiffy Treet after dinner tonight.  We all really enjoyed our ice cream, and Cole was definitely the drippiest!  

Campus Adventure

Today we took a running adventure to campus and visited the Arboretum and the Music Building fountains.   Cole climbed trees, stomped in the creek, and waded in the fountain while Max watched happily and chewed on various toys and cars.  I tried to get a shot of the boys together under the famous weeping willow tree but Cole's snack was much too entertaining and Max helped himself to some tasty dirt.  So my opportunity went awry.  Photo or no photo, though, we had a fun morning!  

Flying

Raspberries

Max has surprised us with raspberry sounds in the past day or two. It's hilarious!  I've noticed that he uses this sound to communicate a few different things.  One, he does it when he wants Cole's attention.  Two, when he's enjoying a meal.  Three, when he wakes up from the night or a nap happy.  I think he just loves to hear his voice!  

Scribble Cookies

Cole and I peeled all the papers off of our old crayon pieces today and baked them in the oven! Voila...scribble cookies.  Cole thought that the process was way more fun than the product, so he wasn't so interested in coloring in his Thomas the Tank Engine coloring book when we were finished.  He was way more in to breaking the scribble cookies with his hammer...ug.   Boys.  We'll try again tomorrow.  

Summertime

A few of my favorite things about this summer are Cole and Max playing together and our basil plant.   Strange, I know.   Since Max learned to sit up,  I have caught the boys playing together several times, often with Legos or cars.  I look forward to when they can chase each other...I think!   Also, since Max is so easily entertained while sitting up with a few toys and a cracker, I have more time to cook.  Goodbye, lame meals of the past.  Hello basil!  The basil plant is my newest favorite summer thing.  I bought it at our local farmer's market when it was tiny and now it's ready to use.  Last night I clipped off a few leaves and we ate it with our sun-dried tomato chicken off the grill.  YUM-O!  I loved it so much that tonight we put it on hamburgers, also off the grill, with cheese, avocado, and tomato.  MM MM GOOD.   Long live basil!   Did I mention that this is the first spring we've had our own yard to plant anything?  We love it! We're anxiously awaiting tomatoes, orange and green bell peppers, and yellow summer squash. Only a little while longer!   

Oh, and one more favorite thing about summertime...wagon rides with popsicles!  

Funny Boys

This is what we did tonight while Daddy studied for the GMAT.  Funny!  

Zwieback Toast

Max's bottom 2 middle teeth are halfway up!  He's showing us that EVERYTHING tastes good these days.  Toys, our fingers, spoons, his hands, blankets, and the list goes on.  So yesterday I bought some zwieback toast and gave Max one while I was making dinner.  He gobbled it up all by himself!  This definitely made making dinner a quieter process.  I think I'll stick these in my bag whenever I go out.  Instant Max entertainment! 

Perfect Summer Morning

This morning I took the boys in the stroller and ran to Chris's office to bring him some lunch.  The weather was breezy and sunny...perfect!   So perfect our air conditioning is off today.   The route to Chris's office takes us through the campus of Indiana University and downtown Bloomington, and both are beautiful this time of year.  Lots of flowers blooming, students walking to class, green trees and limestone buildings.  We saw several police cars, fire trucks, UPS trucks, diggers, and bulldozers, too, since summer on a college campus is prime time for construction projects.   Cole was enthralled!  On our way home we stopped at The Copper Cup for a raspberry smoothie.  Yum!  The ride lulled Max to sleep, so he missed out on the smoothie.  When we got home, we painted rocks in our driveway and ate some lunch.   Now it's nap time!  

GMAT

On July 12 Chris takes the GMAT.  It's the entrance exam for business school.  He's been studying for months, alone and with a Kaplan tutor, hoping to score well and be granted admission to an MBA program for Fall '09.  Where?  He's not sure yet.  I am so proud of his diligence and positive attitude in the face of algebra, geometry, critical reasoning, sets, and many more topics.  He has had to re-learn a lot!   He has spent countless hours in front of the computer in our basement and more countless hours with a GMAT preparation book on his lunch hours and after the boys are in bed.  And on the weekends he breaks to eat, sleep, mow the lawn, and go to church.  His practice test scores have been increasing, and I think he would tell you that his hard work is paying off.   Whew!  I'm ready to have my husband back in a couple weeks.   GMAT, release my husband from your grip with an awesome score, please!  

Pool Love

Max was definitely not feeling the pool love this morning.   Too cold?  Too unfamiliar?  Too much Cole splashing?  Is it a bath...outside...what?  Whatever stole his pool love wasn't so important as soon as I sat in the pool with him, though.  He had a great time after that chewing on every toy he could grab.  Once I saw him dive for a red cup!  Thankfully I was holding his arm so he didn't faceplant into the bottom of the pool.  Whew!   Hopefully we haven't turned Max off to swimming.  Before the summer is over, I'm confident Max's pool love will grow! 

One Big Day

We dropped Kelsey off at the airport this morning, so we decided to make a day of being in Indianapolis.  First, we visited GrandBob at work.  Cole loved sitting at my dad's big desk, and it was the first time Max had been to Lilly.  Fun! 

After visiting with my dad, we met my mom at the Indianapolis Children's Museum.   Cole loved exploring the Curious George exhibit, which was of course designed for curious kids!   Cole also fished with my mom in the Playscape while Max chewed on some toys, and we ended the day on the carousel.   Both boys took naps on our way back down to Bloomington and woke up right when we pulled in our driveway, which means I am a sleep deprived mommy today! Bedtime, come soon! 

Kelsey & Puff Balls

Our good friend Kelsey is a missionary in Marghita, Romania.   She works with orphans and is building an new life there with her foster son, Caleb.  We've known her for a few years and have been part of her support team.   Well, after four years in Romania, Kelsey came home to the USA to raise more support and share about Romania with family and friends.   Due to Romanian government restrictions, Caleb had to stay in Romania.  We are so bummed that he and Cole couldn't play together!   Anyway, Kelsey stayed with us for a couple days and we hosted a BBQ for her while she was here.  We also met Chris for lunch on Monday at the Irish Lion downtown, because Kelsey couldn't believe that we've never tried the Puff Balls there. They were yummy, and I think she had her Puff Ball fix until her next Bloomington visit!  

Boys in the Bath and My Addiction

Yes, folks.  I am definitely addicted to blogging.  Hence, multiple posts daily sometimes.  I am interested in all things blog.  Your blog, my blog, strangers' blogs.  Everywhere I go I take the camera and anticipate blog opportunities.  One of my love languages is gifts, and every time I take a picture and post it with a story, I feel like I gain something...a memory!  This may explain my habit.  I really do love photographing and documenting life's adventures with our wonderful boys.   Thanks for your patronage to Frankly Speaking!

So my latest victory is bathing both boys simultaneously without extreme splashing and a soaked mommy and bathroom at the end.  Now that Max is sitting up better, this is even more fun.   This video moment is something I've been hoping for!