The KC Ohlund Boys Visit!

My brother drove in for the weekend with his two boys for a quick visit. It was too short, but we really packed in the parties and had a great time. We missed Charity, but she stayed home to work, redo the bathroom, and enjoy a quiet house.

Maddux is four and taller than ever! He's a sweet boy but tended to push the buttons of his younger cousin Eleanor. Boys will be boys, right?

And Nash was great to have around. Always happy, always smiling. And polite too. I've never heard a 1-year-old say thank you so much!

Eleanor, Maddux & Nash tickling the ivories

Frozen go-gurts - the only way to let your kids near those things.

The boys!

Eleanor & Uncle Sven (all weekend, Eleanor was saying, "Hey Uncle Sven, watch this...")

Nashy-boy

Eleanor

Carolyn. Maddux & Eleanor

Awww!

Sven, Big Madd, Tara

Nash (he loves his silky blankie just like my girls)

The Dilleys & Sven (Nash was wiped)

Great Grandma Gorski & Grandma Pam laughing at Maddux

Mom & Nash

These two were cute together (and close to the same size)

Nash in his boxers :)

Thanks for the visit guys - we miss you already!

Streidl Family Reunion on Lake 16

In early August, the Streidl's (Matt's mom's family) far and wide returned to their home state of Michigan and their quaint cottage on Lake 16 for a family reunion. We spent two days with all of them. Saturday started out stormy and cold, but the sun eventually made it's way out. And Sunday was a perfect day with plenty of swimming and Plainwell ice cream.

Grace & Matt

Chris, Madeline, Ryan & Eliott

Frances - Eleanor's best cuz

Carolyn in the hammock

Ollie, Aunt Becky, Gracie & Carolyn

John & Addie

Carolyn eating Michigan sweet corn

Uncle Pat & Eleanor - the tire swing was a big hit

Chris & Oliver

Group of unknowns on the dock

Becky & Bret

Sarah & Joe

Uncle Jock, Addie & Matt

Eleanor, Aunt Shea & Bella

Jack & Carolyn - I couldn't keep Carolyn out of the artisian well

Tomatoes, er onions.

I just found this in my notebook. Something that I jotted down before I could forget it. Something that totally cracked me up and brought me to tears. Kids rock, especially smarty-pants 3-year-olds.

So Eleanor has been studying vegetables in preschool. One day she brought home a paper onion that she had made. As she gave me the onion, she proudly proclaimed that onions make you cry.

(fast-forward a couple days)

Eleanor was showing daddy her onion while I made a mental list before heading to the grocery store. I asked if anyone had any requests for dinners that week. Of course, Eleanor tells me she'd like "something with onions". Okay, French onion soup!

(Back from the store and slicing onions for the soup. I'm crying.)

Eleanor: Mama, what are these? (points to the onions)
Me: Onions. They make you cry. (I look at her so she can see my tears)
Eleanor: But I don't hear you crying. (puzzled)
Me: Well they make your eyes water like you're crying.
Eleanor: (handing me an onion) Mama, here are more tomatoes.
Me: They're onions Eleanor. Tomatoes are red.
Eleanor: These aren't red.

Ah, you make me laugh Eleanor.

Cute Red Cabin in Kewadin, MI

For Memorial Day weekend, we were able to take a long weekend trip up to Kewadin, MI and stay in my cousin Cindy's charming red cabin! Kewadin is just north of Traverse City and Elk Rapids and the cabin is on a sand-bottom little lake called Birch Lake.

Eleanor was very excited about the bunk bed!
Carolyn found a trike and was in heaven

We all had a wonderful time, especially the girls who loved being outdoors, cooking on the campfire, hiking, and taking rides in the canoe.

Hotdogs on the fire - ohh boy!

First trip out in the canoe!

The weather was great and go up to the high 60s with plenty of sunshine. I was amazed at how clear the water was. The sandbar went out about 60 foot so the girls had a great place to wade in the water.

Eleanor enjoying the peaceful morning on the lake

Birdwatching
We took a short hike
Eleanor and Daddy looking for some ducks who may want the hotdog bun in Eleanor's hand
What's camping without 'smores

Eleanor and I were walking around looking for crayfish when Eleanor took a wrong turn and fell. After the initial shock, she was happy to continue her hunt in the nude.

This is the little spot that Eleanor called "Her beach"

We found a crayfish!

Bath time!

The last night at the cabin - we had to have cherry pudgie pies!

On our way back, we stopped in the cute town of Elk Rapids. There we found a great park, walked the town, saw the island house which is home to the city library, and had brunch at Pearl's, a great cajun restaurant. If you ever so during brunch hours, the blackened catfish benedict is 'umbagood!' (For those of you not in the know, 'umbagood' was one of Eleanor's first words and she used it whenever she saw or ate really good food)

Annie

So a while back I took Eleanor to see Annie. Matt thought she was too young and would forget it. Well so far he was way off. She's since watched the movie a handful of times and now has an "iPod" loaded with her three favorite Annie songs. I had to buy her an MP3 player because I was worried about giving a 3-year-old my Blackberry all the time to listen to Annie songs.

Here she is, belting out 'Hard-Knock Life' while it plays on the Blackberry.


So, to emphasize her love of Annie, one day I asked Matt to help her clean her room. Once back there, Matt had to remind her that it wasn't time to play. That they needed to clean. She looked at him and said, "Daddy, how 'bout you be Annie and I be Ms. Hannigan. I say, 'Clean this room' and you can sing 'It's a Hard-Knock Life'. Yeah, she definitely hasn't forgotten Annie.

Favorite Eleanor Words

Matt and I both agree that Eleanor says some of the cutest things. Here's a list of our favorites:

Pake-pake (pancake)
Pick-pick (picnic)
Pack-pack (backpack)

Matt loves it so much, he's often trying to get her to say, "Let's take our backpack and go on a picnic and eat pancakes." :)

Mother's Day Painting

For Mother's Day I thought that some paintings from the girls would be a great gift. I went ahead and bought all the supplies and got the girls set up to create their masterpieces. I didn't want to influence the gifts more than I already had so I left Matt in charge and ran to Harding's for groceries. I no sooner parked the Jeep and my phone rang. I was Matt asking me if the paint was toxic. I had to laugh. I couldn't wait to get home to see what was waiting. And to my great pleasure, I not only got 3 beautiful pieces of art to adorn my bedroom wall, but also these videos: