May in Michigan

It's already JULY, and I'm just getting around to posting about May.  Strangely enough, it is the 4th of July...and this is the quietest our schedule has been in the last month.  Phil is home, the kids are swimming in the pool, Myles is napping, and I am sitting down in what feels like eerie silence.  

Back to May...and our fantastic two week trip to Michigan.

 The kids traveled superbly, and we arrived in Michigan completely under-dressed. 

Our Florida blood was not prepared for the 40's and 50's that we experienced our first few days back in The Mitten.

 The kids didn't seem to mind.  

They were just happy to be outside...and with all the grandparents.

We spent Memorial Weekend in northern Michigan.  Phil ran a marathon (his second ever) in Traverse City, and we spent the night at Great Wolf Lodge.

 The kids had a BLAST in the water park, and we enjoyed our mini-vacation within a vacation.

Phil prepared for the marathon by following the "John Durham Training Plan."  I kid you not when I say that he consumed three donuts and a piece of apple pie as part of his carb-loading.

This donut "had" to be consumed because it was "the biggest long john ever seen."

The pie was "homemade in Traverse City"...another no-brainer, right?!

 All the carbs paid off because he ran an outstanding race.  He finished the marathon in 3:19:15.  Not only was that a huge PR (30 minutes faster than his first marathon), but his overall pace was 7:36 per mile...for 26.2 miles.  That is outstanding, and I was extremely proud of him.

It was a chilly morning for race day, but that was perfect for running.  It was roughly 40 degrees COOLER than the weather he trained in, so that may have contributed to his overall success.

Papa with Myles...waiting to see Daddy.

Phil's fans!

Another highlight of the day was that Phil shared the marathon experience with his oldest brother, Brian.  It was a great accomplishment for both of them.

 

The kids played hard...

...and crashed hard.

We spent a few days up at the Hillary family cottage in Glennie, Michigan.  Uncle Phil gave the kids tips on how to find morel mushrooms.  Unfortunately, everyone ended up with ticks rather than morels.

Pure Michigan!

Fishing with Uncle Phil

One boat

+

Six kids

One brave uncle!

The three girl cousins...one from each family.

The ten cousins...

a few happier than others.

Fun on the water!

Fun on the swing...and by the fire.

Fishing fun!

A few more irresistible snapshots.

Myles at 7.5 months!

Clare helped put in the dock at Papa and Mema's house.

Wiped out....AGAIN!

The kids enjoyed sitting in the cockpit on our airplane back to Florida.

It was a GREAT trip to Michigan, and now we're less than a week before we get to go back.  :)

School is Out For Summer

Summer is in full swing...in more ways than one.  If the relaxed morning schedule and the full-time presence of a 5-year-old in the house wasn't indication enough, the 104 reading on our thermometer this afternoon sealed the deal. 
Summer is here...and it is hot...and it is humid.

Clare finished school at First United Methodist on May 23rd.  Here are some highlights from the last few weeks of school.

Mother's Day Tea

Artistic representation of MOM...

Can you pick me out?

Clare with her fabulous teacher, Mrs. White.

Is this the one you guessed?

Spittin' Image

Thrilled to be Clare's Mommy and the subject of her artistic masterpiece.

Clare's school hosted a special banquet at the end of the year.  It was catered by Outback, and all of the teachers served the meal.  It was TOP NOTCH, and it made me sad (for the umpteenth time) that the school doesn't go into higher grades.

The room was decorated like an art gallery with their best creations from the year.

Self-Portrait...

Where is Clare?

Given that she was the only girl in her class, this was a safe guess.

Eight kids...seven boys and our sweet Clare Bear.

Silhouettes

Hmmm...where is she?

This was Clare answering the question, "What was your favorite thing about school?"

"ART"

Clare Ann

May 20th, 2014

5 years and 9 months old.

Clare and I visited her new school this afternoon, and she was uncharacteristically nervous and shy.  The new school is big and unfamiliar, but I think she will do well.  She was most intrigued by the concept of buying lunch at school.  It's hard to believe that TEN WEEKS from today will be Clare's first day of Kindergarten.

May Recap

 May passed with lightning speed.  There were several notable events, dozens of adorable pictures, and absolutely no time to record them on our digital baby book...A.K.A. blog.

Clare and Isaac were invited to an "Ice Cream Meeting" at our local YMCA.  There's a long story behind the concept, but the kids ABSOLUTELY LOVED it.

This was the agenda for the Ice Cream Meeting.

Phil logged a lot of miles during the month of May.  While wrapping up his training for his second marathon (post to come soon), he participated in a local event called "Miles for Moffitt."  He pulled a team together from Busch Gardens, and it was a fun day.

He ran the 8K and did very well.

 He never runs by the kids without giving each of them a high five.

Phil and I are both excited for the day that we will be cheering for the kids as they run past us in a road race.  Not if...WHEN.  :)

Even though I was still unable to run (because of my lingering hamstring tear), I dressed the part and cheered for the best looking runner on the course.

We picked blueberries at the beginning of the month.  The kids loved the picking experience and seemed unphased by the 90+ degree heat and humidity.  Isaac initially wanted to pick all the green berries.  He kept saying, "But green is my favorite color.  I need to pick the green ones." 

 We consumed all ten pounds of berries within a week, and that was with only three of us eating them.  Isaac tried ONE, and only one, and he literally gagged on it.
Free labor from him. ;)

 Clare's school did a train ride for their end-of-the-year field trip.  The event was open for the whole family, so Phil took the big kids. 

 Fun day!

 Phil spent many, many hours on a tree project.  A neighbor hired him to remove this enormous oak tree, and he took on the challenge.

 He had a team of guys helping him, and they now have one removal under their belts.  Here is video of one of the falling limbs.  Multiply that by A LOT and voila...no more tree.

The kids thought it was entertaining to watch the lumberjacks in action.

We now have a lifetime supply of oak, 

so I think that our smoker and bonfire pit will be getting extra use.

 And now, to wrap up this totally random post, I want to add this picture.

 I like this for a number of reasons:

1. It's my dad and me.

2.  My dad is probably the biggest fan of this blog.  I know, without a doubt, that he anxiously awaits updates of how the "Party of Five" are partying.

3. At 6 months old, I am already dressed in Hope College attire.  The same has been true for all three of my munchkins.  I hope the brainwashing has a similar effect.

4. I can see Myles in this picture.  I have the hardest time seeing either Phil or myself in the physical attributes of our kids.  This picture is a slight exception.

That is all for now.