Summer 2021

 Summer 2021 - We were grateful to have done some camping!  Our June trip turned out to be quite rainy!!  July we camped with friends which is always a great time!  Our end of summer and fall camping is great for fishing and smores! Other fun activities were summer camps for the kids. Ty went to his first overnight camp with a friend and Ella did another week with a friend. Cort had a great week at day camp. There were a few beach days which are fun for me. Of course July was birthday month which is full of fun treats and a birthday party!

 Spring Happenings - SO THANKFUL!

We have been immensely grateful that all of the kids have been in school so far this school year!!  We appreciate everything the school has been doing to keep school going!  

Peter and I are also thankful to have celebrated 10 years of marriage in March!  We originally had plans to go out for dinner as restaurants had just opened a few weeks prior.  However, after a day or two back at school from his surgery, Tripp was exposed to COVID at school and was in quarantine.  Then, the day of our anniversary, Peter came home from work with a few minor symptoms.  Our dinner was officially canceled.  A few days later we had the confirmation that Peter had COVID.  

Again, we are so grateful for how our COVID situation went.  Peter had mild symptoms and worked from home each day successfully and recovered.  (Thankful!)  All of the kids were home from school, but the school was already set up for the kids in quarantine so that went smoothly. (Thankful!)  Between the isolation and following quarantine for the kids, spring break was incorporated in there somewhere, so that was a relief. (Thankful!)  I was already fully vaccinated so I could continue to work and get groceries. (Thankful!)  And no one ended up getting any symptoms of the virus! (Thankful!)

Ty and Cort also lost a bunch of teeth. The tooth fairy was going broke quickly!

After our COVID situation, it was time to get out! A nice long hike was just what we all needed! 

Mother's Day was a joy!  We all went to the zoo where they had new lego creations!  This is Ty and Cort by the tarantula... ewwww!

Ty joined the running club this year and did his first in-person 5k!  He did great!!

Ella was part of her first school sports team - soccer.  The girls played great together! 

Tripp

 Our little guy Tripp has had some ups and downs so far in 2021.  After a few rounds of antibiotics, we were searching for the source of his infection.  We did a few tests, then headed to the ENT.  They decided to remove his tonsils, and we were hoping that was the cause!

Before

and After

Tripp did so well in surgery!!  Then we headed into the recovery time.  We were watching to make sure the infection didn't come back, and it didn't!!  Thank goodness!!  So he spent almost 2 weeks at home recovering and healed well! 

January and February 2021

 Although these months are still a bit different, we have been doing our best!  

In the past, we have been able to visit the museum in Chicago over the winter break, but that wasn't an option this year.  We were still able to make it to Meijer Garden for the trains and trees!

The kids like to go ice skating during the winter so we were grateful to be able to secure spots at Rosa Parks twice this winter!  The first time Tripp wasn't able to make it.

The birthday boys!  We won't mention how many candles are on that cake!

The second time we went, all of the kids were able to make it!  You can't really see their faces with the masks, but we are all smiling in there somewhere!

  

Christmas 2020

 Christmas 2020

Our Christmas season was nice in that the busyness of the holidays was subdued.  It allowed for more meaningful time with our crazy family. 

The kids decorated a gingerbread house and camper!

They also enjoyed the LEGO advent calendar

Ella decorated an impressive Santa cookie with a mask! 

And we got matching pj's and even included Riley!  

The most creative gift was from Ella and the boys.  It was a nice handwritten note on a roll of toilet paper!  Quite fitting for 2020! 

 Thanksgiving 2020

As is most of the year, Thanksgiving was a little different. 

It was my turn to run the 8K, but it was canceled.  We live inside the course, so I ran it anyway.  As I was on my way back, I passed a large group that was also running the course!  And I had the kids to cheer me on!

We didn't see anyone else to be cautious. So we made a nice meal that took days and days to prepare.  Then the kids were done eating in 15 minutes...

 Ty read a book to a few grandparents on facetime!

Then we went outside for a hike to Lake Michigan!

 

Summer 2020

 Summer 2020

COVID summer....  looks a little different. 

We had some great camping trips!  They boys had a small Bluey birthday party.  The Canadian border was closed, so that came off the calendar. 

Here are a few pics!

Fathers Day!

The boys birthday party was outside with the grandparents!