Living and Learning

Justin and I have been big on the whole "learning through experience" thing since Logan was little. Many of our family outings have also been learning experiences, fun for one, or two or sometimes if we are really on our game, all of us ;).

One thing we recently did, was visit the museum. Logan has been to his share of museums in Michigan, and in Chicago, but the one here in Wisconsin is definitely his favorite.

Whats not to love about a 20 foot dinosaur that moves and "growls"? Or a shark exhibit with creepy sea creatures from the oceans depths? Or my favorite, the streets of old Milwaukee?


Pictures to come soon :)

See That-------------------->

There is a small link to Flickr on my sidebar, on the right of the page. I don't want to bog down my blog with one picture a day :) Click that for updates to my 365 set!

Project 365

A big trend on the world of the interwebz is Project 365. Basically, take a picture, just one; every day for a year. Its a way to capture the day to day life and remember what went on in that year's time. So, I figured I would give it a shot.





Here is day one. A big hit at our house this Christmas were the nerf guns. Requiring six d batteries and 50 darts. :)

Traditions.

One thing I have become sort of a freak about is traditions. Especially at Christmas. I have fond memories of things my family did growing up, and I really want Logan to look back and remember the things we made a priority as a family.
A tradition we do every year is take Logan to see Santa at Younkers in Sheboygan. Justin and I both did that as children and its special to us to walk in and see Bruce the Spruce and all the animatronic animals. Everything is the same :)I hope it stays that way for years to come.

ps. I realize it is now Boston Store......but it will always be younkers to me :)

I am still in search.

For the perfect Holiday card. Really, it shouldn't be so difficult to get one child. one terrier. and one collie to look the same way, at the same time....right? Gah.

I eventually gave up after 33 out of focus pictures with weird faces and fake smiles. Next year right?

So.

I'm a little late in the game.....but Logan started Kindergarten.



Today we received a copy of his journal that they have been documenting since the first day of school.

Page six held this gem.

Logan- "I like to watch tv and eat cucumbers"

Oh really?


I think the best part was the drawing of him sitting in front of a black box holding a whole cucumber.

Where does he come up with this stuff?

Is it summer yet?

I have decided that snow can go away forever. Yuck.

Its been awhile......

I think I am ready to start blogging again. Stay tuned for more. We have a lot of ground to cover......

Happy Birthday Logan

5 Years Old.


Happy Birthday little guy!

19-29-362

Nineteen evenings spent watching the sun go down over Lake Michigan



Twenty nine afternoons spent lounging at the beach





Three hundred and sixty two days learning and growing as a family.


Michigan became a blessing that none of us anticipated. We spent hours crying over leaving our families, friends and everything we had always known. Now, nearly a year after that move across the lake it hasn't been hours spent crying. I can't speak for Justin, but I've been crying for days. Its not because it is beautiful here, or because there is so much to do or because the lake is nicer or any of those superficial reasons. It's because our time spent in Michigan has been wonderful for our family. We only had eachother so that is who we turned to. We grew together this past year more than I thought we would have ever even needed to. The implementation of family dinners nightly was one small change that made our family closer. (something that was never feasible in Wisconsin due to crazy schedules) Gathering around the table for a well-rounded dinner and a chat about our days is something we have always wanted for our family. I have seen Logan open up and been able to recognize nightly what an awesome, smart, clever little guy he is. 30 minutes spent together at a hand me down table is one memory of Michigan that will never leave our hearts.

We have spent hours walking, driving and now even running to explore every last inch of our new home. We have made great strides to be healthier here, to implement all kinds of fun things into our weeks to make the time go by. The problem is, the time did go by. Much too fast.
So yes, when someone exclaims with such glee and excitement "you're moving home!" It stings. Not because I don't love the people in Wisconsin, not because I will yearn for the warm waters on the Eastern side of Lake Michigan but because I will miss our lives here in Michigan. Fulfilling. Easy. Slow-paced. All things we never experienced living in Wisconsin for various reasons.

The thought of moving to Michigan made Justin and I cringe when we found out we were moving here. But now we are reluctant to leave. Funny how that works eh? All we can take away from this experience is the lessons we have learned and the bonds we have forged.

As for you Michigan? We'll be back ;)

Little Fish

After an entire summer at the beach Logan has learned a few new tricks. He is now doing summersaults backwards and forwards with and without his vest, diving into waves and floating on inner tubes :) Last year we were lucky to get him in the water with a few waves ;)
We also took him to the waterpark this week and he wanted to go off the diving board. We cautiously said yes and thought he'd chicken out, but nope; he got right up there and did a huge cannonball :) He thought he was so cool doing all kinds of tricks and jumps off of that diving board. I didnt' bring my camera that day, but I am going to next time :)

Here is a video of his summersault underwater :)

Campfire in Wisconsin

Logan was very, very excited to go to Grandpa and Grandma's for a campfire :)