Lake Geneva 2012

Oh my goodness gracious!  Did I really almost go an entire month without a blog post?  First-I really need a new computer, this one is on it’s last legs.  Secondly I blame the program I use for blogging.  It’s new update is messing with me.  And third I blame those adorable little boys I get to hang with all day.  Down time doesn’t exist in this house anymore.  Ben is up and talking all.the.time!

So…we had so much fun at Grammy’s house for 4th of July.  Third year in a row.  Might be my favorite tradition!  We left at dinner on July 3 and pulled in about 8:30 am July 4.  Four very happy people to be out of the car.  B went straight to sleep and I snuck in a good nap a little later.  B had to fly back home for work after a couple days, but then flew back up for the last week.  But…while he was gone Grams and Pops flew up to visit!!!  Our family is so little, but SO wonderful!!! 18 days of relaxing, family, laughter, shopping, swimming, reading, cars, movies, playing and food!  Can’t think of anything better!

Ben did amazing on the car ride.  He was wearing a pullup, but kept it completely dry!  He woke up at 3 am and insisted on using the potty instead of going in the pullup.  So we pulled onto a dirt road in the middle of Missouri so someone could do his business in his ‘car potty'.

I tried to be a crafty momma and make the boys pillows that would attach to their carseats so their necks wouldn’t hurt during sleeping.  Neither one used them.  The thought was there.

Swimming!  We must have swam every day.  Grammy had two pools in her backyard for the boys and then we’d go up to the club to play in their 3.  Ben kind of tried swimming on his own.  Briggs loved to just float in his puddle jumper.  Happy, happy boys!

Love our Grammy!

Grammy and Pal bought a slide just for Ben to use to slide into the pool.  Love them!

Grammy is so awesome-she even turned on the sprinkler ball for the boys to play

Such a great way to beat the super hot, humid weather we were ‘blessed’ with while there.

Heaven forbid the boys have to share a pool so Grammy made sure they both had their own.

Sometimes we’d just hop in in our regular diaper!

Nothing like a forced hug

Baby pool fun

Pops and his mini me watching the tennis lessons

The Beach!  Ben loved going down to the beach to play in the sand.  Briggs got better with it as time went on.  Neither one liked the lake when we first took them, but Ben did much better when Daddy took him in.

team work

King of the hill

B made an AMAZING picnic dinner for us one night that we enjoyed on the beach.

 

Milwaukee’s Children Museum.  This place is amazing.  We went with Grammy and Pal and Ben loved it so much that B and I took him again a week later.  It was perfect for his age.  We’ve since been to the Dallas one and it doesn’t even compare to the Milwaukee one.  Loved it!!!

Enjoying beautiful Lake Michigan while waiting for the museum to open

My boys love grocery stores!

Future bag boy and cashier???

Working on cars…yep, he’s a Mahrer

Pal was showing Ben how things work

At the bank with Daddy during our second visit (Briggs stayed home and slept during this one)

Live at 10!

Daddy had us stop at a restaurant that was featured on one of his favorite food network shows after the museum.  Yummy hot dogs!

Family!  We may be small, but what we lack in size we make up for in love (and goofiness)!

Enjoying some ice cream from Grammy

Sibling love

SO BUMMED!  Grampy John drove up to meet us for lunch (another tradition 3 years strong) and normally we have B to take the family pic, but he was back in Texas.  So Aunt Linda asked a teenager she knew and he didn’t get ONE picture!  Never pressed down hard enough on the button.  Thank God for Grams’ and her iphone.  At least we have a couple!

‘Tex’ and Grampy John

‘Tex’ and ‘Kit’ love their great grandpa

Smart kid…already getting money from the old man!  Love this face when!

Ben and Grammy loved reading together

Grammy and Pal outside the museum

Picnic time at the beach

He might be going to his 40th high school reunion this weekend, but Pops is the biggest kid I know!

Grams and Pops…two of our most favorite people

Pops and his boys

Guess what happens when you say “stupid” in front of Ben?  He puts you in timeout!

Tickle time with Pops

followed by puzzle time

Briggs and his Grams

Water babies

 

Around the house-We just hung out so much at the house doing nothing.  There were many times where I’d wonder where the boys were.  Ben got very used to just walking outside and running around.  I was sitting reading once and looked out the back door and there was Ben in his undies playing in the pool.  That boy can get Grammy to give him anything and do anything for him. 

The neighbor’s granddaughters were visiting while we were there.  Ben loved playing with Ellie (4) and Kira (2). 

Look-the kid has table manners!  Of course he will use a spoon there, but at home it’s all hands!

Briggs and Daddy on the swing

Ben took over the first floor with all his toys and puzzles

love my sweet little man

double trouble during cocktail time

First-they still have the BEST bathtub ever!  Second-how sweet is this picture.  I love how they are more and more loving towards eachother.  They really do have fun together

Briggs thinks it’s hysterical to put anything on his head, including food.  All.the.time!

Ben was super affectionate while we were there.  Lots of kisses and hugs.  Loved it!

Briggs helped Grammy in the kitchen by looking out the window.  He loved it up there on the counters.

Waving hi to Daddy’s train when he came back.  As soon as the train got closer Briggs freaked and ran to me screaming.  Too big, too loud!

Little laundry helper

The second Daddy got back the boys couldn’t wait to start wrestling with him!

A little reading/writing during quiet time

Daddy finally put money into the game so Ben could drive the boat.  He had a blast!

and then it was Briggs’ turn!  This kid is hysterical turning the wheel!

Love these two kids!!!

Scuba Ben

Ben LOVED peeing outside when we were there.  He’d even run downstairs, take off his clothes and go pee outside instead of the potty.  I swear this kid is going to do me in!  But man he’s funny!

The drive home was HELL and the goodbyes were awful, but it was such a nice and relaxing trip.  Ben still asks us to go back.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing family who lets us move in for almost 3 weeks and does it all for us while we sit back and watch.  I seriously didn’t lift a finger while up there.  11 months til  we make it 4 years in a row!