Moshawquit Lake 2009

After the few days that we spent in Door County we headed up to Moshawquit Lake, where David's relatives own a cabin. Once again, great weather and lots of family fun!

Natalie on the turtle floatie boat.

No man is an island, unless you're Garrett
Everyone on the jet ski, G didn't really ride (that's why he doesn't have a life jacket on)
Daddy and baby G on the steps
Natalie being a "dock lizard" as my family calls it
Jessi and Garrett, Lille and Henry
Our fam on a pontoon boat ride
My cute kiddos on the pontoon
Uncle Tony and Natalie driving the boat
The underwear tree, I got worried we'd run out of clean panties (she still has accidents most every day) so I started cleaning underwear in the bathroom sink and airdrying them on this clothes tree. Funny, right!
Mommy and G chillin' while Dad and Nat fish
Nat loves to drive the pontoon
Something tells me if you still use a paci, you shouldn't be the skipper of a boat!
Natalie fishing, she caught two!!!
Her biggest fish of the day!
Natalie, Mommy and Hailey on the tube behind the jet ski. I think I went temporarily deaf from the screams (happy ones) of "DADDY, DADDY, DADDY" in my ear.
I love time with my family!!

Door County Vacation

Just a few photos from our family vacation last week to Peninsula State Park in Door County. It was an adventure to say the least. Camping with young kids is very fun, but not very relaxing....shocker I know.

The "vinny van" all loaded up.
Garrett's first trip to Fleet Farm, en route to the Peninsula.
Natalie and Garrett's favorite campsite "toy", a large boulder.
SMILE!
Hear me roar! Also, notice the blur that is Natalie.
Natalie helping Daddy with the tent, while Garrett proceeded to get extremely dirty in record time. The site was a bit wet from rain on the way up, but other than a few sprinkles while we set up, the whole time was dry and sunny!
G and Nat with the headlamps David insisted that we needed in order to properly camp with children...they did turn out to be a blessing!
G eating a massive amount of blueberries, he pooped purple for a few days!!
Goats on the roof of Al Johnson's Cafe in Sister Bay.
Natalie being Daddy's bike kick stand.
Garrett won the determination award for countless attempts (and success with a little help) at climbing UP this slide.
Natalie and an ostrich egg, equivalent to 20 regular eggs I think they said.
Natalie feeding the goats at a little zoo on Washington Island.
Mommy fearfully feeding an aggressive camel.
Natalie and the goats again.
Mountain Lookout Tower on Washington Island.
Washington Island Ferry on the way back to Gills Rock (on the peninsula). G and Nat both napped on the way there but loved the ride back!
Natalie and Garrett playing in the flowers while Mommy and Daddy enjoy coffee at Leroys.
Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.
Fun time at the beach before we headed out, Garrett did not like the lake but loved his little mud puddles.
All in all, a wonderful vacation with lots of great memories to cherish forever, but once again, not much in the way of actual relaxing done by anyone!!

Chicago

August 4-6 my kids and I went to Chicago with my Mom and Dad because my sister Leah (who lives in Montana) had a conference there (her husband and daughter came along as well) and we wanted to visit with her while she was close to home.We got there late Tuesday night after a stop in Milwaukee and rush hour Chicago traffic. The garmin GPS was very confused as to how to find our hotel and we found it completely by accident! Natalie and Garrett were stir crazy and running around the fountain like crazy while we waited our turn to eat. The Chicago style pizza was great though!
Garrett, Natalie and Kaya ready to see Shedd Aquarium Wednesday morning.
Natalie is almost as big as this fish...well maybe next year she will be.
Garrett enjoyed the aquarium immensely.
We got to see a training session with the beluga whales, here one of them is waving to us.
Leah and I and our kiddos at the FantaSea show, which was absolutely awesome, I couldn't believe it was free. We did have to get seats 45 minutes before though. We killed the time by playing on the seats, and visiting the potty and the gift shop (while the rest of the fam held our seats). I told Nat she could pick out one thing at the gift shop and she chose a beluga whale after insisting she did NOT want a shark because they are SCARY!
Leah, Mom and I and the kids outside the aquarium before our Chicago style hot dogs and ferry ride to Navy Pier.
Natalie opted for a "Mega Missile" instead of a hot dog...shocker.
Me and Garrett on the ferry, my lips are blue because the bottom part of the "Mega Missile" was blue and that's the part that Momma got to eat.
My Mom on the ferry.
Navy Pier
Kaya enjoyed Navy Pier as much as Garrett loved the aquarium.
Natalie occupied some time while the adults stopped for a drink by pushing her brother up and down the sidewalk. People kept looking around to see of there was an adult responsible for those two or if they were out there by themselves. She was never out of my sight though.
Grampy, Kaya and the monkey enjoying a refreshing drink.
I think Natalie peed in every potty on the pier so when I saw this on the way out, I had to take a picture, as it was pretty much the motto of the visit!
Dinner Wednesday night at McCormick and Schmick's. "Put a cork in it Kaya!!"

I think she's a walrus, mostly just trying to get attention though.
Garrett looks a little afraid of his big sister here!
Mom, Natalie and Kaya
We saw this building on the way back to the hotel and I said "Look Natalie, that building has your name on it, what does it say?!" to which she replied, "Natalie!!". I guess we need to keep working on the letters in her name (she does know them!!)