Mackinac, Baptism and The Great Flood

So this was a rather insane weekend, with lots of fun and several Maggie meltdowns.  Friday we left mid-morning (after a work meeting) and drove up north for a late lunch and beers at Shorts Brewery with Jamie's cousin Sue and her girlfriend Sukey.  We both really liked the brewery, but we were so preoccupied with Maggie that I think we missed out on some of the ambiance.  I definitely want to go back again someday!

Wha?! We're going on a trip!

Afterward we drove to Mackinac and got the 6:30pm ferry just in time to meet up with all of Jamie's family and head over to the island.  Maggie thoroughly enjoyed the ferry ride!

I'm on a boat, with my flippy floppies!

So much wind!

We got to see Uncle Justin and visit the bike shop that he's worked at all summer.  I have to say, it's a pretty awesome way to spend the summer, and my previous self is (was?) very jealous of him.  We checked out a little bit of the town and then had a nice family dinner.  Maggie was starting to lose her cool around 7pm... so you can imagine that it was a bit stressful until we left at 10:30pm.  My baby girl is generally very sweet, but when she misses out on sleep, it's tantrum after tantrum!

You won't like me when I'm angry

The Donoghues!

Saturday was awesome.  We all went to the splash pad (even little Will joined in), then the pool, and even the lake.  I thought Maggie might not enjoy the lake, but she was so happy to be able to walk around in water (all the other pools she's been in have been too deep).

What is this sorcery?

Looking good, honey

Time to get a bathing suit on!

Splash splash!

Vacation is the best!

This is the life!

This is what I think of vegetables, Mom

Bubble time.  It's how we roll.

After playing all day, we drove home and put our little girl to bed.  She slept a little in the car, but mostly just watched Frozen.

Sunday was Claire's baptism!  I was a very proud godmother of this little cutie-pa-tootie!

Claire Marie!

With her most important teachers

What a good looking family!

Godparents!

Proud aunt and uncle

Can't forget Grammer and Pops!

On the hunt for a kitty cat!

Today was a Monday, a really really Monday-errific Monday.  It's been raining pretty hard all afternoon, and the water is currently about 10 feet from our house, about 2.5 feet deep in the street.  Jamie has been helping people push their stalled cars out of the flood.  Our basement drain and laundry tub are currently spilling water into the basement at an alarming rate, and we have about 4 inches of water... at this point there is nothing left to do but wait and file a claim.  All our neighbors' basements are flooding too.  Keeping my eye out for Noah's dove... seriously, where is it?!?

Fun Stuff.

August already?

Maggie’s vocabulary has been growing quite a bit these past couple weeks, and her pronunciation is improving too.   For some reason, I love the way she says “mouth.”   She pronounces it perfectly.

Jamie and I went with our buddies Julie and Ryan to a Tigers game on Friday and had awesome seats, front row on the first-base-line.  Jamie finally got his hands on a foul ball!  Maggie enjoyed playing with our new “ba-ball,” though she seems to be more into soccer than baseball:

I have to say, I was rather shocked that Jamie let her play with the ball at all!  Just shows how much his priorities have changed.  Maggie > Memorabilia.

Finally!

Jamie was lucky enough to see Jennifer Garner in person this week with Maggie.  She and Ben Affleck are living in Royal Oak while he shoots a movie, and we’ve heard they go to a lot of our favorite spots around town.  Jamie took Maggie to Grant Park and Jennifer was there with her 3 kids.  He didn’t try to bother her, but as they were all leaving to get out of the rain, Maggie was jabbering and walking in everyone’s way as usual, and Jennifer said, “she’s adorable.”  (is it pathetic that I find this newsworthy?)  This is all from Jamie’s mouth… so for all I know, he saw her and professed his love, after which she replied, “that’s adorable” with sympathizing eyes.

Earlier this week we got to meet Adam and Sara's new baby girl, Hazel!  Maggie was practicing her babysitting skills... she still needs a little training!

Don't worry, I totally got this

Jamie goes back to school very soon, so he’s trying to enjoy all his time with Maggie before the summer ends.

Daddy, I've processed all the data

And I've drawn you this pretty picture

So let's play soccer!

The bigger the sunglasses, the cooler I am!

Absolutely fabulous, darling

Grandma turned one her old tank tops into
a little dress for messy play time - too cute!

Hanging with Grandpa

Sleeping with Grandpa

Maggie loves playing the piano, and
loves adjusting my music even more

Future sports fan?  Attorney?
Air traffic controller?

Luke's Birthday!

We celebrated Luke's 3rd birthday and Bobby and Al's house yesterday.  There were kids everywhere - I just love big families!  Luke was a sweetheart, and even put up with Maggie (most of the time).  Maggie was soooo happy to be there.  She loves Luke, and was so happy to play with his swing-set, sand box and new power car!

The birthday boy!

He knew how to blow the candles out this year

If we work together, we can make twice the mess!

Playing with his gigantic crane from
Uncle John and Aunt Michelle

"A puzzle! Can we play with it now?" 

Claire was such a little sweetheart all day,
I actually enjoyed changing her diaper
(no squirming or crying!)

Here's some pictures and videos of Luke's new car.  Luke figured out how to drive really quick, he's a natural!  Maggie loved riding alongside Luke, and kept trying to push the pedal with her hand.  PJ tried to show her how to drive, but she had no interest in that - she just wanted Luke to take her around... sigh, such a girl...

Double trouble

I thought this was a sweet photo

I love this video - if you listen, you can hear Luke saying thanks for his new car from Uncle PJ (without being prompted):

Maggie really loved swinging with Pops:

Best. Party. Ever.

I hadn't used the slow-motion feature of my iphone yet, and I thought this was a funny opportunity:

Maggie also got to spend some time with cousin Will this week.  Jamie said she really liked petting him and kept putting (probably more like shoving) his pacifier in his mouth.  I was happy that she didn't try to keep the pacifier for herself.  

Stick with me, kid,
I'll show you the ropes

I love you, cuz!

Helping Grandma feed Will

Maggie also made progress in the pool this week.  She is now happy to float along by herself with water wings on, and can kind of shimmy/kick her way across the pool.  We had a ball playing together!

Must swim further! 

This is Maggie a year ago - so little and plump!

Maggie is a huge fan of the sand box

I think it might be time to buy her
a booster seat.

Jamie was busy all weekend helping Ben's Encore at the Henry Ford Maker Fair this weekend.  He was even interviewed by the news!  Unfortunately I haven't been able to find the interview, but I'm sure it was great!

Support Ben's Encore!

Will and Kim's Wedding!

Our dear friends Will and Kim got married in Houghton Lake this weekend, so Jamie and I were away from Maggie for quite a bit... I managed to get a few photos throughout the week though.

Where've you been, Mom and Dad?

Our friends Andy and Katie stayed with us for a long weekend, and Friday we drove to the Grand Rapids Area to sample a few breweries and also bottle a keg of beer (a bunch of the guys brewed a session IPA as part of Will's bachelor party).  We had a good time, good beers and good food!  My favorite spot was Founders Brewing Co.

Bottling at Saugatuck Brewery

Flaming Impala IPA (don't ask)

Saturday we dropped Maggie off at my parents' and then drove up to Houghton Lake for the wedding.  The weather was perfect!  It was a beautiful outdoor wedding with great food, decorations and friends!  I enjoyed the bonfires as the evening got a little chilly!

The bride and groom grabbing their first drink as
a married couple!

Four dudes and a baby

Obligatory couple photo

Jamie made the signature board for
the wedding - all the guests signed a leaf!
(though one drew bird poop... womp womp)

Here's a few other photos from Maggie's week:

Maggie's all about dental hygiene

I love this photo

Life is so unfair!

Maggie likes to talk on the phone a lot - here she is talking to Grandma.  Feel free to call her if you want some gibberish!