Tigers Game With Nathan, Daniel, Joel & Shontel



Win number 8 in a row for the Tigers! (Courtesy of Inge and an amazing bottom of the 9th home run that no one expected.) 



Eat 'Em Up Tigers

Daniel had a pretty good time. (Although, I am not sure if he ever doesn't have a good time.)

It turned out to be a pretty hot and sunny afternoon game, even though it was cloudy and rained all morning.  Jamie and I needed to escape the sun (frequently) to cool down.

The wave (check out Daniel in the green).

  

It was Star Wars night...which made Dawson very excited.

Next morning...after a late night, all rested.

Jamie's first homework assignment as a first grader...



Clarification:  When she grows up, she wants to be a singer (not a sinner).



Back to School...

1st day Back.

Big time 1st grader.

2nd Grade.

 

Ahhhh.....it is so peaceful here now!  (For at least 2 more months...)



Remodel Blog Back Up

We have finally settled our dispute with the builder.  He is now out of our lives, and we are now working with the first builder that we originally wanted to work with at the beginning of our project, but couldn't because of issues with bank approvals. 

Now our 1st choice builder is on the job, we have started up more work....exterior painting this week and some other things on the outside of the house that needed to be fixed or completed.  The remodel blog is back up and running, if you would like to see the work progress.  David also did more interior painting during the builder interim.  We will continue to post pictures on the remodel blog of his work and the other work happening. 

Hopefully this crazy house project will be mostly completed before the wee one comes in a couple months!

*Side note, due to legal obligations we can not comment on our settlement with the builder, but I do have to say that it is such a shame we had to part ways with him.  He was so unbelievably organized, very even tempered, super detail oriented, had such fabulous accounting skills and really kept a very clean and productive worksite.  Oh well.  We will somehow find a way to move on.

Lake Mitchell - Cadillac 2011

Our annual Lake Mitchell get-together with the loud, big, crazy side of the family was last week. 

I might post more pictures if I ever get them all from my brothers and sisters. There are also more pictures on facebook if you are really into looking at photos of all us in swimsuits and other slobby vacation wear.

Missing 2 of the grandkids (Lydia and baby Makayla)...and very soon there will be 15 total!

Lots of fishing for Dawson again this year. 

Pretty much all fishing, and a little baseball here and there (in between sleeping & meals.) 

He was pretty proud of his catches this year...included in the mix of sunfish and bluegills caught from the dock - were a Large Mouth Bass and pretty big Pike (while fishing with Uncle Chuck, on his boat).

There were fires everyday, thanks to David's fire building skills.

and....some bird roasting.

Lots of boating, on many types of boats.

Seven kids piled on this pattleboat and got stuck way far out away from shore. 

They had to swim it back, before they sank. 

Jamie had quite a story to tell us when they got back.

David & Taylor sailing, and Chuck/Julie/Sarah.

Dawson attempted to ski again this year (maybe not on his own will...but he tried at least).  He couldn't quite get up, so David took him around instead.

Jamie is getting more brave every year behind the boat.  She was even going no-hands for part of the time.  Maybe next year we will convince her to ski or kneeboard.

Taylor doing what 16 year olds do, and David taking his annual lap around the bay.

Lydia, Joel, Emily and brand new baby Makayla visited for a day.

Makayla

Hoping he will be this eager and helpful come November.

Topper came with us this year too.  He did what he does best...sit around. 

Not sure how no one got hurt with all the firey sticks in the hands of minors.

Besides all the fun shown above, most of us (who weren't busy building fires all day, or fishing, or boating) did a lot of reading.

Now, back to reality.

School starts in just a couple weeks!

Their Faces Pretty Much Say It All...

St. Joe Vacation / Family Reunion

We headed to St. Joseph, and the beach (more importantly) over the 4th of July weekend. 

37 people stayed in two houses, so that we could have a reunion, of sorts, with David's family. 

Here is the well coordinated photo that we took together before going home.



Look how happy and excited everyone is to be getting ready for a group photo!



Kayden & Jamie



Cousins

This is how we slept (or didn't sleep) for the few nights.  All four of us in one tiny room, basically camping.

The kids probably had the most fun in Mark & Leanne's cooled down hot-tub.  They wanted to go in everyday.

Josie is two and she sort of knows how to swim, which is a little crazy.  Sometimes she swallows too much water though, and here is what happens.

The bluff overlooking Silver Beach and the really fun splash pad fountain below.

Scavenger hunt fun.

Bags (or corn hole) fun.  Dawson is pretty good at it...who knew?  Ask him about how well he did in the tournament!

Grandma & Babies

Beach Fun.

We had a pretty good time even though all of us were a little grumpy by the end, due to lack of sleep.  Thanks Chuck and Julie for watching Topper while we were away, and thanks to Mark & Leanne (and their neighbors) for hosting us!