Happy Birthday, Paul!

Paul turned 4 on Wednesday.  He wanted to go mini-golfing for his birthday, so we did that in the evening.  We spent most of the day at home, Benjamin letting him choose what they played the whole day, since it was Paul's birthday.  What a great big brother!  

Paul requested an ambulance cake for his birthday.  A professional cake decorator I am not, but it was at least recognizable to Paul.

Playing with a Batman birthday present.

Another birthday present--basketball hoop

Youth Fair

First snowcones--they were a hit!  The other big hit (besides the rides, of course) were all of the tractors to climb on!

Inside a combine wheel with new friends

You have a lot of time to think while riding on one of these!

Around the house

Benjamin showing off his latest lost tooth--a total of 8 in the past year!

Beach Day

Hiking up Warren Dune--Paul beat us to the top!

Beautiful view of Lake Michigan

Calm day for swimming

There was a creek flowing into the lake close to where we set down our things.  We followed the creek, and found this clay that people were using to paint their bodies.  Someone told us they even took a clay pot that they had made home, and fired it in a kiln.

Installation

Jonathan's dad preached for the installation service.

I don't have a shot of all of the family that was in attendance, but we had quite a few people there!

Outdoor fun at our new house

Michigan has had an usually cool August.  We've only had our A/C on about three days since we've been back.  This means a lot of playing outside in beautiful, not-too-hot weather.

We did get the pool and slip-and-slide out for the few warm days.

Someone from the congregation gave us their old swing set.  The boys were showing me how high they can get by themselves.

Not to worry--the boys still have plenty of room for their golf, which is a daily activity!

This is the front and side yard, which leads to the church parking lot next door.

A view of our backyard--a cornfield--and the slip-and-slide.

Traveling back to Michigan

We took three days traveling back home, so we were able to do a little sight-seeing along the way.

We took a cave tour at Ruby Falls.

Here's the waterfall at the end of the cave tour.

Since we were so close to Alabama, we decided to add the state to our list.  This was another cave at a national park there.  The boys were disappointed we couldn't go inside this one.  It had just rained, so there was some mist floating out of the cave--very cool-looking.

In Kentucky, we stopped at the National Corvette Museum.  The boys really enjoyed the children's area, where there was an assembly line and this pretend auto shop.

Florida

We took two long days to drive from Iowa to Orlando, staying at Aunt Vicki and Uncle Mark's house in Nashville as our halfway point.

The happy couple after 50 years!  Jonathan and his dad did a vow renewal service for Uncle Ken and Aunt Mary.  We had a group of about 50 people there to help celebrate.  The service was followed by a nice dinner.  The rest of the week we were in Florida, we spent relaxing and hanging out with family.  The boys and I passed around pink eye, and I lost my voice and had a cold, but otherwise, we had a good time.

Mini-golfing at Pirate's Cove.

Aargh mateys!

We spent a lot of time at the swimming pool.  We had a pool right by our rooms, and there was another larger one we could go to as well.  The boys weren't big enough for the water slides, but there was a smaller one in the kiddie pool that they enjoyed.

Iowa

We visited Backbone State Park.  The kids loved playing in the creek.  Here are Bo and Bella playing in the sand.

Michael discovered sand works well for a facial, and doesn't taste too bad, either!

And Paul and Benjamin are up to their old tricks--throwing rocks in the water!

All the cousins--minus Michael--taking a TV break.

Grandma and Michael at the water park.

And, more baseball!

S'mores!

Indiana and Illinois

Grandma and baby Clara--Jessica and Andy's 3-month-old

Waiting for the 4th of July parade to start in Steeleville

Baseball, of course!

Michael and Grandpa

Riding rides at the carnival