Reunited!

Alicia and I were college roomies in 2004 (can't believe it's been that long!).

We got randomly paired together, and are as different as can be, and absolutely love each other!

Her family got to stop in Detroit on their way to a wedding, and it was so fun to see them and show them a little bit of the city.

We had an absolutely beautiful night down on the River Walk

Sophia was in love with these kiddos.

She cried all the next morning after they had left.

So glad to have such long-lasting friends.

Nurse Life.

Just another day at work...

Urban Farming: Capuchin Soup Kitchen

We try and do at least one family service project a month.

This month we got to volunteer for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen in their urban farm.

We got to harvest elderberries (above)

Plant some beans...

...and just have a lot of fun.

The kitchen uses the food for the soup kitchen, donates it to local people in the neighborhood, and sells it to raise money for the kitchen.

Such a fun morning for such a great cause!

Grilled Pizzas

We have loved this summer in our new backyard.

We now have a deck, and have eaten at least half our dinners outside.

One of our favorites is grilled pizza.

We are big pizza connoisseurs, and make it every week, but grilled pizza is the. bomb.

The prep and the outcome are equally delicious.

Love summer!

Blueberry's for Sophia

We had a beautiful summer day to go blueberry picking with some friends.

I love how we can drive 30 minutes and be out in the middle of the country.

And these blueberries were SO good- like I doubt we picked as many as we ate along the way.

Sophia could not get any to stay put in her bucket.

So, might as well wear it?

\

Cuties.

little scientist

Baby's first pipetting experiment.

Awww...

She was very excited to see what happened when we mixed different liquids and powders- of course, baking soda and vinegar were the hit. 

Dinosauria

We got to go to Dinosauria at the Zoo.

Life size animatronic dinosaurs- a walk into the past.

Don't let her smile fool you- these dinosaurs were LOUD and often scared the crap out of her.

Raarrr!

Loved it!

Morning on the Water

Perfect morning kayaking out on the lake.

I love the peaceful calm of the lake in the morning.

Rick and Sophia LOVED the waterlily fields.

Love our little family.

Morning on the water.

Afternoon in the water.

summer

I think this may be the happiest, most summer-y, picture ever.

little fish

Little fish here started swim lessons and has just taken off! 

She LOVES swimming this summer, and is doing so great.

She's learned so much at her school, and she practices lots at our friends pool.

She literally swam half of this pool all by herself.

Here she is in class.

With in 4 lessons she got bumped up to the next level in her swim class.

So we got a little treat to celebrate.

Love my little fish.

best idea ever.

bubbles + pool = best idea ever.

at the beach, and feeling...

...fabulous!

Take Me Out of to the Ball Game

A beautiful afternoon to enjoy a 1860's baseball game down at one of our favorite places: Greenfield Village!

We also hung out and played around for a bit.

But we just relaxed and had such a good time.

I think the quieter and slower nature of these historic baseball games are more my speed.

science in action.

Sophia was playing with her barn full of animals, and she was laying down her dinosaurs under that table.

I asked her why, and she said it was because they were extinct.

Bowling Party

Sophia got invited to a cute little bowling birthday party, and I realized this was the first time she's ever been bowling!

She had so much fun.

She loved using the little kid roller slides, but would run away right after pushing the ball- haha.

And don't you love how dramatic she is.

Love her.