Memorial Day Weekend 2016

For Memorial Day Weekend this year, we headed to the cottage (Eric's parents' house) again.  It was a great weekend full of fun, family, food...and LOTS of mosquito bites!!

We left on Friday night after work at about 6:30 and made it 10 miles down the road to Pleasant Prairie before Asher was asking for a potty break and both boys were begging for dinner.  Although we'd hoped to get further along before stopping to eat we decided that we might as well get it over with.  We had dinner at McD's, multiple potty breaks, changed into jammies and then we were on our way again (7:30pm).  The rest of the drive went alright with a couple of more stops including one where Eric had Asher pee out the side of the van on the tollway (this whole traveling with a potty trained kid thing is new to us).  Avery slept for a couple of hours on the way and Asher never fell asleep until almost the very end, but eventually we arrived and were able to get in bed...or so we thought...

Avery went to bed pretty easily after some snuggle time with Daddy; Asher however refused to sleep.  He was up talking and bouncing around in his bed until well after 1am and then both he AND Avery woke up just 4 hours later...a tiring way to start the weekend...

Video: Mama, Mama, Mama, Mama...

On our drive to Michigan, Avery called for me as he often does from his seat.  I think he just likes hearing me say something back to him, but on this particular trip he must has said Mama around 200 times!!

Video: Early Morning Silliness

Since Asher was up way.too.early on Saturday morning and we didn't want to wake Eric's parents, Eric took him outside to go fishing.  The hope was that I would be able to get some more rest, but just minutes after they left, Avery woke up too and was ready to party despite it being super early (and even more early on our own Central Time!)  I tried to get him to go back to sleep and he did snuggle with me for a bit but then he just wanted to play, so I entertained him while resting for as long as I could.

When I could no longer keep Avery content and quiet, we headed downstairs and then outside to join the guys fishing...

Asher's first catch!  He was excited but had no desire to touch it!

Avery wants in on the action.

Avery wasn't so sure that his pole was quite as cool as Asher's.

Avery & Gramps.

When fishing was done the boys headed straight for the water...in their pajamas.  Then after a little more fun outside we headed back in to make some breakfast.  Asher got to help Grammy make waffles!

And Avery got to enjoy some bacon while he waited for waffles!

When breakfast was over, Asher desperately wanted to have a "Hot Tub Party" so he and I got suited up and enjoyed our first dip in the warm water.  Avery was devastated that he couldn't join us so Daddy took him on a paddle boat ride...and then Asher was devastated that he wasn't on the paddle boat with Daddy and Avery!  First rule of parenting: You can never win.

As the morning continued, Eric's sister's family arrived and everyone was excited to see one another again!

Avery and Olive saying hi.

Avery swinging with Auntie Julie & Olive.

Since Asher was bummed that he didn't get to go on a paddle boat ride, Eric did him one better and took him out on the jet ski (which he LOVES) and even let him control the gas.  I am told that he is a complete maniac and floors the gas so they can go as fast as possible.  After riding around a little while (and taking Avery for a little ride too), Eric took Asher out for a long ride around the lakes.  When they returned I found out that there had been a bit of an accident.  While Asher was speeding along (with Eric steering), Eric spotted a big wave heading their way.  He told Asher to slow down, but Asher didn't listen and they hit it head on.  Asher (who was leaning too close to the steering) hit his face and was immediately gushing blood from his nose and mouth.  Thankfully I wasn't there because Eric said it was really bad.  After calming down though and getting the blood to stop, he was fine and learned his lesson: Listen to Daddy and keep your head away from the steering!

After a really fun first morning, it was time for lunch and naps (thank goodness!!).  Back in the day, we used to sleep late making the morning fly by.  Now, I am constantly amazed by how much we can do before lunch!

Emmett, Asher & Avery enjoying their lunch outside.

Asher, Eric, Avery and Olive.

When everyone was rested, it was back to the beach...

Since Asher uses a lifejacket when he swims, Avery was pretty convinced he could get in the water if he put on a jacket too.  It was a little big.

Popcicles!

Oscar?

We played all day, enjoyed our dinner and then headed out in the boat for an ice cream adventure!

Asher & Emmett waiting for departure.

Cousins enjoying their Blue Moon.

Daddy even let Asher drive!

Avery enjoying some snuggles with Auntie Julie.

The next morning, the kids were all up bright and early again and ready for another "Hot Tub Party". We tried to convince Avery to do something else, but he just wanted to do what the big kids were doing...so we gave in and let him spend a few minutes in the warm water with Gramps and the boys.  Then after a good warm-up, we headed back to the lakefront for more fun.

Emmett, Asher & Avery playing in the water with Uncle Dave.

Daddy joins in on the fun.

Emmett action shot!

Who knew Eric could jump so high?!

Eric working on getting Asher to trust his lifejacket.

Asher trusts the pool noodle more than the life jacket.

Father & Son <3

These boys always want to do whatever the others are doing.  When they saw that Eric and Avery were out on the paddle boat again, Asher and Emmett quickly got their jackets and hopped in and Molly swam behind to watch over them all!

Asher learning the all-American sport of Baseball.  Up until now we have hid the sport from him thinking it is too boring and hoping he isn't interested.  After watching his lack of coordination and understanding how to swing a bat though, we may have to work on it a bit more!

With another long morning down the drain, it was again time for lunch and naps, but before these boys went to sleep Grammy made homemade ice cream with them to enjoy when they woke up.  When everyone was rested our routine continued with more fun at the lake.

Avery wanting another paddle boat ride.

Avery enjoying his ice cream with some blueberries on top.

Eric and Avery going for a ride on Betsy

Gramps, Emmett & Asher going for a ride on Blue Eyes

Before bed, Eric and Avery enjoyed an outdoor shower to clean off the sand.  It's hard to see in this picture, but I found it funny because Eric was standing on a bench to talk to me while Avery was on the floor, so I could see Eric's head and Avery's feet as though they were one strange/gigantic person!  :p

Avery all set for bed.

On Monday it was Memorial Day and unlike usual we took Tuesday off so that we wouldn't have to head home.  Thus we got to enjoy a full third day at the cottage!  Since our kids seem to have no ability to sleep in while we are at the lake, we were up bright and early again and headed right out to the lake.

My boys on this beautiful Memorial Day morning!  So thankful for the men and women that sacrificed so that I could share moments like this with my family!

Another catch.

Cheese!!  Avery playing on the boat with Gramps.

What is more fun that throwing sand in the water?

...pretty much nothing apparently.

While we were able to stay for the entire day on Monday, Eric's sister and family had to head home.  Before they left, we got our annual cousins' picture on the hammock.

Olive (10m), Emmett (3y-1m), Asher (3y-11m), Avery (1y-8m)

Cousins + Gramps

Baby Olive.  Can't believe she is almost 1 already!!

We spent the remainder of Memorial Day doing the same as we had each day before and then finished it off the best way possible: With pizza on the boat and s'mores by the fire!!

Brothers on the swing.

Snuggles and stories with Gramps.

You may not be able to see it well in this picture, but if you look closely, Asher has red welts all over his face (& the rest of his body).  They are mosquito bites!  We were reminded again that Asher doesn't do well with these bites and swells up quite a bit in addition to getting incredibly itchy.  Poor guy was looking so rough that we bought him some Benadryl and some itch-relieving calamine lotion.

On Tuesday it was our last day in Michigan and our boys woke up super early again.  So early, that I took Avery in bed with me in another room to try to lay down a little while longer and not wake up anyone else (Asher willingly went back to sleep).  He snuggled with me for a bit, but then got restless and just wanted to play while I wanted nothing more than to go back to sleep.  At one point he was standing up and looking out the window when he quickly dropped down to snuggle on my chest.  He smacked me right on the bridge of my nose with his head and I literally heard something pop.  I was afraid that he cracked my nose, but thankfully I got no bruising and nothing was out of whack, so I'm pretty sure it was ok...just SUPER painful as it took almost two weeks to feel better!  When I could keep him quiet no longer, I headed downstairs with him where I was met moments later by Eric's mom who offered to take the little man so I could go back to sleep.  It was an offer I could not refuse!!  When I woke up a couple of hours later, I headed outside for a little bit more fun on the lake before it was time to pack up and head out.

Emma making a mess while trying to get a chipmunk.

The ride home went very well.  Avery fell asleep quite quickly and although Asher didn't pass out until we got close to Chicago he was very good the whole way and by the time we reached the North side of Chicago we were getting hungry and decided to make a stop at one of our favorites (On the Border Mexican Cantina) for dinner.  We enjoyed a nice early dinner together a short jaunt the rest of the way home and then early bedtimes for all!  ...another good end to another good weekend!

On our drive home we spotted the Wiener Mobile just over the Wisconsin border!