Ringing in the new year with Michigan cousins

All done! Big girls now

On our way

Kaitlynn has about 5 stuff animals with to hug while getting her ears done. 

Cousin time

Today is the big day. Shortly we will be taking off to get the girls ears pierced. Lauren, Addie and Kaitlynn all together

Reading Time

Bundt pancakes?

Turns out you can make pancakes in about any shape. We have moved from pancakes muffins to pancakes in a bundt cake pan. You would have thought I invented cold fusion when the kids saw it. One in the W column for mom

Happy Halloween from Addie and Me

Projects for who?

Is it just me, or do other people get sucked into projects that were supple to be for their kids?  Here Kiki and I are beading together. Which quickly turned into  "Mom, can you make me a turtle?  Pretty please with a cake and a cherry and a flower on top?"

Picture day!

Is it just me, or does Kaitlynn kind of look like a little old lady, almost like Pink Shirt Grandma.

Pumpkins

Another successful year of pumpkin carving. Look at the second picture. Addie is showing off her guns...ready to

punch the pumpkin. 

Freshly cut

Someone got a fresh hair cut for picture day. Now she is begging to eat the sucker

Along comes Kaitlynn

Kaitlynn started two days later then Addie. She could hardly wait. I think she was most excited to get on the bus with the rest if the kids in the block. But the novelty wore off by day two. She told me she didn't want to go in the second day because now that the first day was over, every day was going tone the same.

Addie's first day of 1st grade

Addie started 1st grade this year. She was not excited about it at first. But after she got to school the nerves went away and she had a great day

I'll do it myself...

One last project before school starts, Addie wants to make a blanket. It started out as she wanted to do it herself... to she needed me to help... to can you just do it mom please...

Early bird gets to make the pancakes.

Addie and I tried a new way to make pancakes. It worked!! Bake in oven at 350 for 12 to 14 minutes. We should have made more sprinkle ones and less fruit pancakes. Rookie mistake.

1st grade here we come

Addie and I got haircuts for a little girl time. She has yet to learn to appreciate how nice it is to have someone else do your hair as she fought me tooth and nail the whole way! Girl doesn't realize what great hair she has... School here we come!

Addie's Awesome house

Addie and I made the best Trio house ever. Complete with garage, ceiling fan, TVs, zip line, private plane, privacy canyon, sugar slide and our own giant pet crab.

Steep Girl-ism

You know how your kids say the funnies things and you think to yourself you should write then down before you forget? Here are some of them...

Hanitizer = hand sanitizer (this one actually makes sense to me)
Ham-hock = hammock
Lemon-lade = lemonade
Mustachios = pistachios

Kaitlynn's favorite words right now are "actually...." "The thing is..." And "literally..." Hopefully her teacher finds her as entertaining as we do. Or it will be a long school year!

Toughest 5 year old

Kaitlynn and I went to her well check this morning to get her ready for kindergarten. She had to get 3 shots and too them like a champ. Barely cried. Nurse was shocked. Kaitlynn was tough all because she got to get some bubble tape from the gas station.

What happens if they explode?

Today we made lava lamps. Took a lot of oil but was fun. Kaitlynn thought they would explode. I think ever since the exploding chalk experiment she now thinks everything should explode.

Payment in kisses

Tonight I tried to bribe the kids with kisses. I told them if they emptied the dishwasher I would pay them in kisses. Addie wanted 30. Kaitlynn wanted 100. She drives a hard bargain.

Sunday Morning Slime

Project number #342

So Long, Farewell!

In true Steep form, the nicest day for weather is the day we are leaving. But what a beautiful even if it is 6 AM

Beach time at Traverse City

Kids jumping the waves

Kiki with snacks...like always

Addie hiding from the seagulls

Mom chill-laxing

Kiki and Adam taking off to hit some waves

Addie hiding from the seagull...do you see it?

Appendix to Michigan Summer Trips

This is the cabin

This is the sandbar

This is what Kiki does every night after swimming, ice cream, sand bar trips and walking up and down those steps a hundred times.

Fourth of July fun

Watched fireworks from the boat this year. Captain Kiki drove us out there!

Vacation Day 1

FINALLY we hit the beach. The kids have been dying to swim and tube. Off we go to the sand bar!

Vacation Day 1 wrap up

We did it all in our first full day here. Checked all the boxes. Swimming. Fishing. Sand bar. Ice cream. Fire works and sparklers! Even after passing out in the afternoon they still managed to go to bed... Eventually.