Welcome to our National Parks Kick-Off Tour!

It was a bit of a challenging start – huge van switched to a massive Ford F150 4-day truck named Evie, a drive through Miami at night ending up at a slightly scary Air B&B… leading us to YUMMY pizza (that we ordered by didn’t eat), a run-away plan that was stressfully delayed by Evie not starting, and culminating on a King size comfy bed in a very nice Hilton eating our cold pizza.

The next day we took a double-decker bus tour to go around Miama with a main goal of a Coconut Grove Art Art Show and ending at Little Havana. We really did have a great time. The art show was a definite highlight!!

Coconut Grove Art Festival

Around town including Little Havanah

Yesterday a very special relationship began… you chose 5-year old Miguel to be your pen pal and friend. You were so excited that you slept with his picture on the pillow next to you. Can’t wait to see what happens next….

Click here to see my letter to Miguel

Every once in a while your school hosts a roller skating event for a particular grade level… today was yours. And your Daddy Jim volunteered. He was so excited to do that for you… Looks like you had a great time!!

Love you Peanut

Last weekend and again this weekend you got to spend some quality and treasured time with your cousins, your aunts and uncles, and most importantly – your Oma! Thanksgiving gave us an excuse to gather at Aunt Bi’s and Uncle Mark’s. Some awesome highlights from that long weekend included:
* Swimming at the Y with Uncles Mark, Jim and Hakon
* An awesome trip to Meijer Gardens
* Exploring Grand Rapids Museum and watching “Let it Snow” in the planetarium
* Movie night – 2 nights in a row: “Home” and “Earth to Echo” – leading to serious snuggles with and for Niklas
* The game of “Unravel” -> saran wrap ball of goodies
* Opening gifts from each other (Lizzy was super excited about her donut mug)
* Jojo and Scooter got to play together!!

This weekend we are celebrating Uncle Mark’s 50th – and we TOTALLY surprised him!! Auntie Amy and Oma flew back from Seattle and Minnesota and arrived early yesterday morning. They snuck into Mark’s office…and SHOCKED him. Then you, Madey, Dan and I arrived after a long day drive, arriving at 10:30pm and snuck up to his bedroom and jumped on his bed. Again, total surprise – super fun!!

Mama:80 minutes, wow! Were you supposed to read 20 min a day for the weekend? so 60 minutes?

Maya: No! Just 20.
Mama: All weekend?
Maya: Yup.

Mama: So you read 60 extra minutes?
Maya: Yup.
Mama: Do you know what they call you?
Maya: No

Mama: Over Achiever
Maya: Is that bad?
Mama: Only if it leads into an illness
Maya: Like you.
‘
‘Yes, Indeed.”

Some fun memories from our trip this year:
. Perfect Family 1.0 (red swim suits) and Perfect Family 2.0 (including Dan’s “Life Partner”, Grace)
– “Summer in a Glass” – yummy drink
– Mama’s bibliography and Daddy’s updated biosketch – ugh!
– Candy Kitchen versus Kilwin’s – where is the cookies-n-cream fudge?
– Doors to the house connected to an alarm that said “side door open” every single time
– Dolphins – many – swam by us every day, sometimes multiple times a day
– “Playing tennis” with Dan and Maya across 2 courts and into the trees
– Maya getting good at volleyball
– Madey reading Harry Potter book 2 for bedtime
– Mama got to sleep in
– Went on 7 mile bike ride through a Henlopin marshland; Maya and Mama traded bikes for the second half.
– Madey and Maya getting Henna tattoos – matching moons on their legs and interesting hand/finger designs
– Stepping on crabs
– Outdoor shower was a huge hit
– Watching “Penguin” movies with while eating Gratto’s pizza
– Bunkbeds and the kids’ dorm
– Grandpa Dick – Go fracking
– KEMPS – card game
– Cilantro times 2
– “Gentle Hugs” = Dan’s (attempted) dunking of Dad (failed)
– BigFish and PigFish – both with Grandpa Dick
– Body surfing!!! – Maya and Mama learning how
– DiJube on the beach
– Subway on the way down and the way home

A classic beach quote!! This time it was yours…