Oh Dear...

It's been a couple weeks, wish I could say we were busy doing something cool and fun, but no. Kelsey got some icky virus last week that kept her home one day from school. Then this past Sunday, Drew became pretty congested and when he gets sick, it's ugly. He ended up coming home from school Monday. He barely made it through school Tuesday and Wednesday. I think he then started Kelsey's virus Wed. night as he was up every 3 hrs with diarrhea. So he stayed home yesterday. Today is their first field trip to the pumpkin farm and I was praying he'd be better to be able to attend. I woke him up a little early this morning to check on him. I whispered in his ear, "are you going to the pumpkin farm today?" And with a big smile he shook his head yes. I told him I want him to pick out the shiniest, coolest, most orange pumpkin he can find! I'm excited to see them after school today and

Drew with all his girls in gymnastics class! (he's in the middle)

School pics!

I had totally forgotten our friends took us out for the last boat ride of the year
2 (3?) weeks ago. It was a bit chilly on the boat but the sun was awesome.

Drew checking out the giant cargo ship

Fall is here

We are a busy crew since school started. Parent-teacher conferences are this week but I don't think we will hear any surprises. We routinely see Drew's teacher outside of work and the benefit of Craig being there, we are constantly updated on their behavior and learning. Kelsey had a bad run of "accidents" while at school. Almost every day last week, she came home in different clothes. She was also wetting bed, and not getting up to use the bathroom at night like she usually does. I remembered almost exactly the same time last year, I took the kids in thinking they had UTI's because they were wetting bed for no reason and the odor was off. They ended up telling me it was just a phase, growing pains, or whatever but NOT a UTI. So then when it happened this year, the only correlation is starting school again. Maybe she is stressed or tired or all the newness had overcame her. She hasn't had an accident at school all week but she has had to wear a pull-up to bed, which is almost punishment for her because she dislikes them so much. But I.CAN.NOT wash her bedding every morning.

Otherwise we are getting ready for the end of the month. Homemade Halloween costumes and a couple trick or treating events will be keeping us busy :)

This was from the middle of September . The sun was wonderful
and the kids were determined to fly a kite.

They play so nice together when they get home from school. I attribute
this to NOT being in the same K4 classroom.

Last Friday we went out for dinner and craft beer. Kelsey entertained
these ladies (our friends/Craig's coworkers) the entire time!

Indian Summer

Every year, the weekend after Labor Day, the Summerfest grounds hosts Indian Summer. Every year, Craig's school, ICS, goes on Friday on education day to teach other students about Native Americans. We go Saturday or Sunday, mostly to eat Indian tacos and shop from the Native artists. This year Craig's parent's came along. Drew saw the sky glide "ride" and insisted on being stubborn until he got to go on it. I had a couple talks with him about how he would ride it when we were ready. After his ride, we enjoyed the yummy food, a couple drinks, and watched the competition dances.

You can see the teepee way off behind Kelsey

He's hanging on!

So this has nothing to do with Indian Summer but Kelsey started ballet at the same gymnastics studio they attend. I couldn't help but get a pic of her last week when she had her full "gear" on. Totally adorable.

First Day of 4K

Some of you have seen these photos on Facebook. But these are all of them that I took that day. So far the first week has gone well. Both teachers called to update us and said they seem to be adjusting well. They participate in class, are making friends, appear happy during the day, Drew naps during every rest time! I expected them to be much more tired when I pick them up and even at night but they are going on like troopers. I do get scolded in the car on the way home for asking too many questions! Thankfully I see their teachers as they are walking other kids out to the buses and they update me if there was anything unusual that happened. So they are in separate 4K classes but they save seats for each other at the lunch table and play together at recess and have breakfast every morning together before going into class!

First day complete!

It's fuzzy, but this is Drew's teacher showing Kelsey how
to polka at a beer garden on Friday evening :)

Weekend with the Cousins!

Two weekends ago we headed to Wausau to hang with family before everyone started school. We were hoping for a little bit nicer weather but the only positive was it didn't rain like it did in Milwaukee. Since the weather wasn't all that awesome, Uncle Dale to us to where he works, to see all the tractors/farm equipment he sells. Drew was in heaven.

Hey we fit in this tractor's tire!

Of course we have to sit in it!

This was the big chopper Drew got to drive around 

Always sat in the buddy seat and always put on the seatbelt!

She's over the tractors...

It was a little rainy at home when we left that morning
and they were so cute sharing the umbrella

Drew was pretty determined to go fishing while we were there. And every time he mentioned fishing, Kelsey said the girls should go shopping. So Sunday the fog cleared up and the boys headed out. The girls did some strong work shopping, finding amazing deals and finished the day with ice cream for lunch! It was a fun little weekend and I hope we can do it more often!

A 3 Hour Tour

4 nights sleeping on a boat, while our kids get spoiled by grandma!

Our friends were making a trip across Lake Michigan, to Muskegon and then up to Ludington, and asked if we wanted to to join. We were essentially going to "live" on the boat and dock at the marinas once we arrived in those cities. It was something we've never done, so we thought why not. We left on Wednesday, right before noon (and right after a bon voyage mimosa!) when the lake looked to be the most calm, according to the coast guard. It took us 3.5 hours to get to Muskegon, with a stop in the middle for a quick swim and snacks.

Our first night in Muskegon. The view from our table at the Lake House.

Then on Friday we left Muskegon around 1 and "drove" north for almost 2 hours to Ludington. This marina had a pool and was only a block away from a brewery and downtown. We had better weather here - like I came home a little burnt :(

Pere Maquette settlement - Craig is giving the thumbs down

Suds on the Shore! A brew fest to support United Way in Ludington

Hammerschlagen - a game we play regularly in our backyard

More beer at the Mitten bar in Ludington

Our last sunset 

Now this is all the fun the kids had while we were having ours! They went to the FDL park, which is an old memory for me as a kid. It's very little kid friendly and the aunties and cousins all got to hang out!!

Tara said they liked this ride so much, they went on it twice

This was Saturday when Grandpa Irv was off work. He took the fishing boat to Long Lake
and Drew caught the first fish!! They were both so excited.