More Madelyn...

Here are some more photos of Madelyn and her first couple weeks at home...

Grandma Linda and Maddie

Daddy and his girls. Kaitlyn likes to hold Madelyn while she's sleeping. Kaitlyn is a very helpful big sister. She also likes to help us give Maddie her baths.

After Grandma Linda left, Grandpa (Pa) Mark came to help out and visit.

Happy Birthday Pa!!

Of course Kaitlyn asked Pa to help blow out his candles.

Kaitlyn and her baby sister during a little tummy time.

Pa Mark with his two granddaughters. It's a little hard to get a good smile from Kaitlyn these days. She'd rather make faces at us.

Cute picture of our girls!

Pa Mark with a very sleeping Madelyn.

Silly Kaitlyn...her orange smile!

Family visiting Maddie... Cousins Cris and Peggy (cousin Dave not pictured). Thanks for coming for a visit and bringing us a yummy dinner!!!

Kaitlyn pretending to lay down like Maddie.

Out like a light (photo from today).

Welcome Madelyn!

On our way to the hospital Monday morning...

Welcome Madelyn Leigh!!

First bath

Meet daddy sweet girl!

It's mommy!

Kaitlyn and Grandma Linda snuck up to the hospital for a quick visit the night Madelyn was born. Kaitlyn was the official 'toe' counter.

From three to four!

Meet Grandma Linda Madelyn! You have more grandparents anxious to meet you!!

Catching some zzz's shortly after birth.

More sleeping...

Kaitlyn getting ready to hold Madelyn for the first time at home.

Kaitlyn's a gentle and sweet big sister!

Extra photos...

Silly hair day at school today...

Kaitlyn's MDO End of Year Luncheon

Kaitlyn's mother's day out had an end of school year concert and lunch for the parents. She was a good girl and stood where she was told, but ended up being a few feet away from the rest of her class. Below is the video of her class singing...

Nursery

Here's the nursery for #2 - no we still haven't decided on a name yet!

We turned the old guest bedroom across from Kaitlyn's room - the dark depressing yellow room, into the nursery and moved the guest room into the workout room. The walls were repainted, chair rail added, furniture moved and some furniture painted (still need a couple touch ups) and finally wall decals added. The room took just over two weeks to finish - whoohoo! While we still have some small finishing touches, daddy, Kaitlyn and I really like how the room turned out!!

The photos are taken from the doorway into the room with the exception of the changing table/dresser view.

Just a few fun photos of the soon-to-be big sister! She seems really excited and has willingly given up some of her 'baby' stuff to share with her little sister.

Tennis with Daddy

Kaitlyn received a tennis racquet with pink tennis balls for her birthday to replace her 'old' racquet (daddy's racquet ball racquet) so she can play like mommy and daddy.

Mommy hung a tennis ball from a tree outside so Kaitlyn could hit it this summer. While Kaitlyn and mommy played as soon as it was strung, Kaitlyn excitedly asked daddy to play with her when he got home from work. Here's how it went...

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Food & Wine's Recommendations in Northern Michigan

Food and Wine magazine had a flattering story about northern Michigan wine country in their May 2010 issue. In a nutshell, these are the places they recommended to taste and eat:

Taste

• L. Mawby (Suttons Bay)
  
• Peninsula Cellars (Traverse City)
• Tandem Ciders (Suttons Bay)
• Two Lads Winery (Traverse City)

Eat

• Carlson's of Fishtown (Leland)
• Cooks' House (Traverse City)
• Martha's Leelanau Table (Suttons Bay)
  

Kaitlyn's Birthday Party

My little girl turned three this weekend!

We had a very small 'Minnie' themed party for Kaitlyn with her friend Olivia and friends/cousins Carter and Kennedy. The kids made bean bags and enjoyed some cake and ice cream afterwards.

It starting raining by noon, so we had the party inside instead of on the deck. The photos start at the end of the move towards to beginning of the day (I do not have the energy to reorganize them all). Enjoy!!

Kaitlyn received a bubble machine and just loves playing in the bubbles. The Minnie Mouse display is for tossing bean bags the kids made at the party.

I think Kennedy enjoys the bubbles too! Super cute!!

Carter, Olivia and Kaitlyn tossing bean bags.

Hi Carter!

Olivia showing us her 'Minnie' bean bags.

Cake time - yum! Kaitlyn is still asking for cake four days later...

Kaitlyn blowing out her birthday candles with Mr. Josh pushing the cake closer (it was quite heavy) and Carter watching.

Kaitlyn and Grandma Linda.

Family shot (mommy is about 33 weeks preggers here).

Kaitlyn waiting patiently to eat her cake. She must have sat in that chair for 20 minutes before guests arrived and we started making bean bags.

Kaitlyn's Minnie mouse cake made by mommy.

Party decorations.

A fun birthday gift before the party. Kaitlyn loves to dig!

She also loves to play in water.

Minnie mouse bean bag target.

Pa Clinton brought home balloons for the party.

The following photos show the Minnie mouse cake in progress...