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!

Family Fun Time

I took Friday off work to spend some time with my sister and family while they are in town.  I was super excited when my older nieces and nephew showed up to hang out too!  We had a good time walking around, and then had some lunch at our house.

Attempting a candid shot, but they caught me

  

Too bright for a photo, Aunt Holly!

Silly Uncle Ed...

Poor Gilly... all she wanted was to see
a meerkat, and the exhibit was closed! 

Come with me, I know where the cool stuff is

Crocodile Dundee decided to join us too

The polar bear was swimming everywhere!

She loves her cousins (and Elmo)!

1-2-3 Weee!

Cousins!

Sisters!

My mature nieces...
playing with alphabet magnets...

On Saturday we went to Jamie's cousin's graduation party, and they had an awesome park.  We also got to see baby Will again!

Swinging with Grandpa

Hanging with Grandma

I'd like some ice cream please

Woo!!

Love his little hands by his face

Strolling with two of her favorite guys

Maggie went to get her third set of shoes for her braces this week.  They order them oversized so that she doesn't grow out of them before our insurance covers the next pair (these are easily her most expensive pair of shoes ever - Manolo's have nothing on these!).

Third set of brace-shoes... they are gigantic!

I put some shoes on, can we go outside now?

We celebrated 7-11 with slurpees!

Getting scolded for her "wall art"...
thank goodness for Magic Erasers

Jamie and Maggie visited his old day camp
this week to play with the kids and toys.
Maggie was in heaven!

Helping wash Uncle Jason's turtle

One of Maggie's favorite things to do is spin around in circles and get really dizzy:

She is also deeply attached to Elmo, or "Melmo" as she refers to him.  Maggie also likes to have dance parties.  Here we are on a walk with our wireless speaker in her car: