June 7 at Millenium Park

Tuesday:  I can hear rain on the roof of my little beach house tonight as I sit at my computer, editing photos from yesterday ... it's been in the 60's all day today, but my heart is still WARM from being with these dear little souls yesterday. I feel so blessed.

I picked the children up at 11am and told them about a new addition to the playground over at Millenium Park. Actually, I am almost certain we didn't get to play there more than once last summer--so they really weren't sure which playground I was talking about! Anyway, this new addition is called the "Ninja Warrior" playground. They ALL loved it!

Aidan decided to make a SLIDE out of this climbing ramp ... he said it felt "bumpy" ... no kiddin!

Here is Brendan at the tippy top of the Ninja apparatus ...

And dear Erin ...

Both Aidan and Erin had gotten rather artistic with some markers in the morning hours before I picked them up. If you notice various "odd" colorations on their faces, legs and arms--that's the reason why! They made NO apologizes for decorating their small bodies. Aidan thought it was rather a GOOD idea.

I tried very hard to snap a picture of these two together ... but Aidan kept photobombing my efforts ...

Erin is a very good climber. She is not one bit hesitant to go as high as she can on any apparatus.

Aidan was not about to be "shown up" by his younger sister. I was a bit surprised Aidan climbed to the very top of this curly slide and went down laughing. Good for you, Aidan!

Erin was "hooting" like a monkey while swining on this bar ...

This is a HUGE play area ... I was a tiny bit nervous when I couldn't see all three kiddos--but they kept going their separate ways. Thankfully, I was quick on my feet and kept good track of where they were ... but it was just about ALL I could do! 

Look at Brendan. Isn't he growing up so much ... and too quickly? And look at how handsome he is! He is such a dear person to my heart ...

These TWO imps ...

I love these children ...

Aidan settled into the Ninja arae and made himself a bed since he was NOT going to climb to the top of this tricky apparatus!

Brendan made it to the top. So did Erin!

Look at Erin's precious little face!

Aidan ... just chillin in his very own "playground bed" (this is what he called it).

My heart is still so warm from being with these grandchildren yesterday. I am one blessed person, for sure. Thank you so much, Lord.

June 5 Harper's Party

Sunday:  This is Harper. She is one of Kaity's very best friends. Her parents threw her a really nice party to help celebrate her 7th birthday. Her older sister, Kenzie, is Kaity's BEST friend--she is closer to Kaity's age (Kenzie will be 11 in August). 

Look at Harper's pretty princess dress! I asked her who purchased it for her and she responded that it was a Halloween costume! Okay then!

The party began at 5:00 pm. I arrived at that time thinking that I would see Kaity and Emma (they were returning back to Grand Rapids from a weekend with their mom in Frankenmuth) ... but they didn't get back until 6:30. So for an hour and a half, I kind of hung around--not knowing many people other than Harper's mom and dad (who were busy with the party) and Jesse.

This is the ONLY picture I got of Kaity as she was walking away to go into the bounce house ...

And this is the only picture I got of Emma, watching Harper at the cake table listening to her birthday song.

This is Harper opening the small gifts I got for her ...

 

After opening her gifts from me, Harper later told Jesse this: "Your mom is AWESOME!"  Which means she must have liked the toys! (Kenzie is standing to the right of Harper in the picture above).
 

June 4 White Pine Trail, Rockford

Saturday Afternoon:  I had an errand to run up in Rockford today--goal? Buy a small birthday present for Harper (Kaity's good friend) who is turning SEVEN soon. The party is Sunday afternoon and I have been invited to come!

Naturally, I shopped at Aunt Candy's Toy Company--the best toy store anywhere in 100 miles of here (at least!). After looking around and wanting everything in sight, I got some pretty cute stuff for Harper without spending too much.

While I was in Rockford, I decided to get some walking in. It's a beautiful day today--VERY mild--high 60's and kind of overcast. I was dressed to go into the woods ... so into the woods I went! I love some of these pictures. We have SUCH an AWESOME Creator ... I am always happiest out in the woods ... or over at the beach (but that is a much farther drive--and with gas $4.99/gallon today, I have to be careful!).

Today, instead of beginning my walk on the White Pine Trail from downtown Rockford, I drove north about 1.5 miles and parked in a warehouse parking lot at the back where I saw a tiny pathway going down to the trail. There was no indication that I would not be allowed to park there, no prohibitive signs, so I parked!

This is a familiar "spot" on the trail for me, and it is almost exactly where the pathway from the warehouse parking lot dropped me out ... I marked the spot in my head so that I wouldn't LOSE MY CAR and not be able to find it ever again! And then I just walked north (with little diversions here and there) ...

This picture is taken from the "lookout" and I have about 100 pictures from this exact place in every season of the year ...

As I walked farther north, I noticed this little lake to the east of the trail ... what lake could it be? How could I get down to see it closer? Hmm ... I puzzled over this for quite awhile. There really were NO paths through the thick woods and there was quite a DECLINE between the Trail and the lake ... should I just venture on through the woods anyway?

Well ... I HAD TO ... as it turns out, once I was close enough to photograph the lake there were "NO Tresspassing" signs everywhere along the water--so I did NOT GO IN THE WATER! There! I just walked along the edge and snapped a few pictures. So arrest me if you must!

Getting back up to the main trail was a bit of a trick ... firstly because I couldn't remember WHERE I had come down, and then ... the mosquitos were really hungry, and I was a tiny bit worried they would eat me alive. But ... no worries. I made it up to the main trail again and headed back the way I came. Actually, I walked up to 12 Mile before turning around. There is a very nice parking lot just off 12 Mile where I will park next time I come. THEN I will hike further north to see what I can see.

Meanwhile, I cautiously walked down this root stairway to the bottom so that I could get a nice picture of the Rogue River.

Beautiful, beautiful place! I WAS SINGING FOR JOY BEFORE THE LORD ... I couldn't hear the trees, but I bet they were too!

June 3 A SURPRISE gift!

Friday Evening:  Emma is gone to Frankenmuth for the weekend with her mom, David and Kaity. They are even going to take in a Tiger game Saturday afternoon. SO ... I decided I would MEND a few of my rock paintings that didn't weather well over the winter (some of the lettering faded out almost completely). I didn't take any pictures of the "fix", you will just have to take my word for it. But while I was working on the rocks, I decided it was high time that I haul out the rocks I collected last fall while up north at Whitefish Pointe with my brother, clean them up, and think about what to paint on them. While I was beginning some of that, Jesse called. He hardly EVER calls ... so I picked up right away! 

If you haven't ever heard Jesse's voice on the phone, you won't know how wonderful it is! IT IS. He has the nicest telephone voice ever. He told me he had a surprise present for me ... could he bring it over? Yes! The last time Jesse surprised me with a gift was a painting of a lonely harbor with an old sailboat docked at a small marina. I have loved that picture for close to 20 years now! 

Look what Jesse found at a garage sale for $20?!!! What?!?! My favorite Grand Haven light ... IN THE FOG!

The only possible place for this size picture to hang is either right above my desk ... or above the couch. However, I already have/HAD very large pictures in those places. In fact, the painting Jesse brought home for me all of those years ago used to hang right where "Grand Haven in the Fog" is hanging right now. I am hoping to hang the other picture in the spare room, which is now Emma's room above the bookshelf--but we'll have to see how she feels about it! 

I love this picture so much. I LOVE Grand Haven! Mostly, though, I LOVE that Jesse thought of me when he saw it and purchased it. My heart needed just exactly this tonight. So thankful.

June 2 To the playground!

Thursday Afternoon:  After taking my three Tuesday kiddos over to Grand Rapids Township Park on Tuesday and noticing all of the changes made to the playground equipment, I knew I had to show all of it to Kaity! She gave all of the new stuff a huge "thumbs UP".

I think the most loved change at this park is the added monkeybars! Kaity loves them.

Kaity had no trouble with this spinning thing ...

She especially enjoyed sitting on top of the circle and spinning as fast as possible. No thanks. Me and spinning do not mix.

I love watching you "work out" Kaity-dear! You are SO physical, SO strong, and SO happy when you are on the move.

Nothing has changed about the tire swing. I have pictures of Kaity on this same swing since she was three years old.

We went over to my house afterwards and played there for a little while. Kaity built a Magna-Tile house for Paco, Oscar, and Alberto--it turned out super nice!