Fun Time in the Summertime!

Gavin is now nine and a half months old. He is 17 pounds putting him in the 10th percentile. His iron was low at his 9 month appointment. Now we are giving him a ton of food that is rich in iron. The doctor gave me a list of food but the majority are things he can not yet eat! However I have upped the amount of food he gets at each feeding. He gets a full jar of meat, full jar of veg and a full jar of fruit. He eats it down quite happily and I expect that he will have moved up out of the 10th percentile at his 1 year appointment.

Henry and Irene have finished their dance and tumbling classes. Each class is only $7 which I think is a fair price. In the fall there is a ten week dance class and a ten week tumbling. Of course these means I'd need $140. I'd LOVE for them to go since they enjoyed it so much but right now money seems to have forgotten where we live. Preschool will be starting in September and right now I don't have the money for that either and I am a bit sick of constantly worrying about it!

Now let's talk about happier times! My favorite holiday is the 4th of July. This year Mark's parents came up to spend a couple of days with the kids. The kids had a wonderful time! Unfortunately I never took a single picture! We spent a ton of time at the carnival. Rides, corn dogs, lemonade, more rides. There was also a flea market that my kids ruthlessly used to get a bunch of inexpensive gifts from their grandparents. The petting zoo animals were also well fed by my children. And the reptile exhibit was paid for and gone through several times. We did manage to go through the art fair where my mother-in-law bought me a huge basket to hold my knitting. It's big and beautiful and already full of yarn! Mark bought me a green bead bracelet which I have forgotten the name of the stones used. We did have a lot of fun though and the kids still talk about the fun things they did with Grandma Pat and Grandpa.

Mark's parents came up for the day a couple of weeks after the 4th. We spent the day being tourists in our downtown area. Then we had a nice dinner out. A week (I think) later I took the kids to Ludington while Mark was on the road. His parents were there with his sister and her children. Her oldest son wrestles and was at the "Barn Brawl" at the county fair. He came in second place! I was impressed with his skill but I hope Henry and Gavin never want to wrestle! It looks like it hurts! At some point during the matches Grandpa took Henry and Irene for corn dogs and ice cream. What a mess! What huge smiles! Darn grandparents...always spoiling the grandkids ;-) Afterward we went out for lunch at Big Boy. It was another good day. We keep hoping to head down to Grand Rapids to see them and go to the zoo there. Has yet to happen though because of the current lack of funds. Until then the kids will call the once a week or so. That is always a hoot. My kids do a lot of yelling on the phone.

My brother, Peter, turned 26 last week. For his birthday he wanted all of us to meet at my brother Matt's cabin for the weekend. We drove up early Saturday morning. It was not the easiest 3 hour ride.The view from the porch out to Rainy Lake. The weather and the water was warm and beautiful!Mark took Henry and Irene out on the jet ski. The both really wanted to go out but they wanted to come in even more!Above is a picture of my brother Peter getting ready to try knee-boarding. Days later he still hurt from that adventure! Daddy taking the jet ski out alone this time.And yes, that is a golden retriever on the jet ski. Her name is Marne and she loves to jet ski. She also loves to go on the boat. Marne on dry land but she is very wet! She loves the lake and is constantly in it.

Out on the pontoon boat. Irene loved to drive but thank goodness there was only one other boat out. She is a crazy driver!!!

Gavin was not a fan of the infant life vest.

Grandpa with Gavin and my nephew Eric.

Well, hey there! Sleepy time on Grandpa

More fun in the water. Irene liked that it wasn't wavy there. They both played for a long time.

My brother Peter...or Uncle Peeda as the kids call him :-)

On Sunday we heading back home. Peter followed us in order to spend the night with us. He was suppose to be here until Wednesday but he had to leave early for a dentist appointment. I've been trying to get him to come back to stay until Friday. We have been having beautiful beach weather.

Monday we went to our beach or rather the gorgeous beach we have since our town is on Lake Michigan. We played in the warm lake until Peter had to leave. Of course, I slathered the children in sunscreen and neglected myself. Now my shoulders and arms are flaming red!

Uncle Peter dug a hole for the kids only to have them promptly fill it up. My little guy. He doesn't look that little and everyone says he is so big but in reality he is a lightweight.Daddy and Henry cooling off in the water.A few weeks ago Peter called to inform us that he and his wife were moving back to Virgina. They have not been in Michigan even a full year yet but Ashley hates Michigan. If you've read my blog you know we started off as great friends but recent comments have soured our relationship. She was not very restrained in her great dislike of Michigan and its inhabitants. I don't think she thought about what she was saying or how it was coming off to others. It was off putting and I've done a lot of tongue biting in recent months. She is now working in Virginia mere miles from her family and from (more!) recent comments she seems to be in very high spirits. I am disappointed that my brother will be again moving out of state. I've tried to be understanding though and even got visitor information on the area to which he is moving. He and I have always been very close. We've always been huge text messagers so I am hoping we will continue on.

The entire situation is a big disappointment. They lived in Livonia which is in the Detroit area and I don't think she ever came up our way in the beautiful summertime. Michigan is soooooo much more than Detroit and its people. I feel like she never gave it a chance. Sometimes you have to actually look around you. You have to make the best of the situation. However, these are things I have learned through life experiences and old age.

While we were at the beach a big ship left town. It seemed like a fitting end to all this. Leaving the harbor for the unknown of the big lake. Sailing out into uncertainty. Shall I go on? Things are always changing and for some reason you can't change that. I wish my brother still living near me. I wish ashley and I were better friends. I wish a lot of things.Another ending happened recently. In July my 15 year old dog died. His name was Sam. He was a chow/lab mix. I got him when I was 18. He was a funny dog. He had a lot of quirks. And he was never sick until the last month of his life. Even though he was still living with my mom he was still my buddy. We had a thing called Butt Scratchers where he'd stand between my legs so I could scratch his back right where his tail started. He'd have fallen over from pleasure if I hadn't been holding him up with my legs! He was a silly old guy and I loved him. I miss him. More change is on the horizon for us. We need to find a new place to live. Since last year when Mark was out of work we have been behind on rent and this new job is not paying like promised. Unfortunately we have not been able to catch up on the back rent as well as keep current on the bills. The landlord, a truly good guy, stopped by last week. He needs us to make some kind of decision soon on how we are going to handle this. Either we somehow catch up or we move. Currently, I cannot see how will are going to manage doing either. I am trying to look at this positively. We won't be living on this darn hill for another winter! We will not be in this spider infested scary place! Perhaps we'll finally have a yard for the kids to play in! See! Positive thoughts. I am concerned though. We need money to move and like I said before, money seems to have forgotten where we live. We shall make the best though! I don't want to end on three serious notes. Yes, my brother is moving, but I am trying to think of it as a chance to visit a different section of Virginia. Yes, Sammy died, but he had a good, long life. Yes, we are poor and are about to be homeless, but I have three great kids and a grumpy husband that I love. I looked around and discovered I am blessed.

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