Road Trip

I started this post a few weeks ago but blogger was having trouble uploading photos so I set it aside. I sat down to do it again today and I just got another error message. AAaarrggghh. Here are the photos that worked. Maybe I'll try the others later. I just haven't felt like blogging knowing I only have a 50/50 chance of having success. Any ideas for alternatives??


We had a great visit to Michigan to see Daniel's parents, his brother Steven, and his grandma last month. Spencer and Esther were very excited to go see new places and were good little buddies the whole trip. We also made a long excursion and drove 14 hours to Pennsylvania for Daniel's grandpa's 90th birthday. We got to see the rest of Daniel's siblings (but missed you Lynsey and Gavin!) and really enjoyed the mini-reunion.

Checking out the organ at Great-Grandma Rinker's house.

Spencer and Esther were glad to get candy and cashews each time we stopped in to see Grandma Rinker.

We had a great time at the hotel pool in Pennsylvania with all the cousins. Esther was hesitant to be in the water at first but had so much fun that by the end she did not want to leave.

Spencer was very interested in Uncle Jim's electronic gadgets and was happy to play with them with Charlotte.

The best parts about the birthday party for the kids were playing with the ice,

and the live music. (I got a video of them dancing but they were also intrigued with the instruments and loud speakers.)

Esther was so happy to be home again and see all her old toys!

Summer Catch Up

Spencer and Esther have loved playing in the water outside, at least on those days when we don't have a heat advisory. Spencer loved his two weeks of swimming lessons this summer also and is eager to get back to the pool.

A happy daddy on Father's Day.

It's hard to believe this was our back yard a month ago, one morning after a particularly hard rain. The grass is now brown and we are missing the thunderstorms.

Esther makes the goofiest faces at the table to get us to laugh at her, and it works!

She is also very interested in doing everything Spencer does. Perhaps that will mean she'll be ready for potty training early?

Spencer has started to request that I take pictures of him and wanted to make some silly faces for the camera.

Here was another request for a picture. Esther started by putting on my shoes and Spencer wanted to join in since Daniel and I thought it was so funny.