Stay with me - its high gear now - Leadbetter arrive - (2 batches of them =)!

While Riley was with us we had some visitors starting with Barbara and Wyland on Sunday night.

They brought up 2 cars (so when liz flew in from Texas she had it to use).  WE spend the evening touring Canton looking for a yummy place to eat.

 - Liz, Seb and Winslow flew in from Texas late that night and Riley was happy to have another girl around too (I hear ya sister!)  This photo was Winslow helping me pick up the bear trash (he helped himself to our trash can and made a mess with it in the neighbors yard...)

Monday morning Pauli secured her spot in the trip as Barbara and Wyland were happy to make room for her

Barbara had a feeling I might title this photo amusingly - so lets think - Pauli is 13, (dog years 91) the The Denali is up there in years and miles - so that makes Barbara and Wyland spring chickens!  They were the Lobster lake advanced party and headed North on Monday

The kids had fun hanging with each other and the chickens (coolest pet ever - yes, you have heard me say that a million times)

Seb snagged a photo with one of our girls - Muffet

I truly loved Tuesday afternoon soaking in the time with her and letting the kids be kids - 

They left that afternoon headed to Boston for an overnight before their trek to Lobster lake - Family #2 enroute!

Sibling swap

So as part of our weekend at my sister's I cooked up a sibling swap - with our wonderful summer schedules the kids had lots of 'together' time.  

And while those together days are great - sometimes siblings could use a little time apart from each other - Plus with my sister and I so close - its nice to have another loving family to swap them with.  Since Shane is now under 'staple' watch he couldn't stay with my sister.  But nick conveniently fit into Shane's clothes and opted to stay with Aunt Stosh or a few extra days while I got Riley!

LOVE LOVE LOVE having a girl in the house - she quickly organized her things and set out her dolls and helped ME around the house!

While she was with us -the Leadbetter, and Liz, Seb and Winslow came through - she was a perfect host and enjoying making everyone feel welcome.

In all her great packing, she had forgotten her bathing suit - we had to go shopping.. bummer....  Just kidding - she was SO excited to go!!  Being the end of summer, our selection was crummy, but that didn't phase her at all!!  We score a sweet Roxy site 12 so in 5 more years it just might fit - Of course there were a few other dresses that made the cut too.

I cannot tell you how awesome it really was having Riley, she was happy to bring in flowers, help grab things - she was organized and really on her best behavior - I feel like the swap brought out the best in everyone (as I hear Nick was loving his time with his cousins too!)

A cute photo of us being silly at market place day camp (where riley knocked out all 5 crafts in one day!)

Cocktail hour with chickens

With a crazy summer and lots of logistics this week, I was thrilled and thankful for fitting this one in. My sister and I met 1/2 way on Tuesday to swap back out in prep for the next set of Leadbetters to arrive (and our trip to start) I loved having the time with Riley and I truly hope she enjoyed it too - it gave me such hope and ability to look forward to really being in my nieces and nephew's life - love being here!!  

As family, we can be another set of eyes and ears for our children raising them to be the best kiddos and seeing life from different eyes too.  LOVE!!

Here's the part of summer that seems to be on WARP speed - Headed to Stacie's for our first babysitting and over night

Nothing like your everyday average trip to my sister's up in North Attleboro.  Shane was holding Darwin and Nick in the back with Iris - my mom and I were on Lizard transportation detail.

WE made it in time to relieve Woody or his babysitting details and take over - after a few 'cannonballs'  - Stacie and Jason were out at the Pearl Jam concert in Fenway (reliving the 1990s!)

Friday night was the FIRST night we all stayed together with my sister (my dad and Chris even came up that night as a surprise)  12 folks in the SAME house sleeping comfortably!  I LOVED that for my sister.  She loves having us all together (or so she says!) and we all finally were.  Breakfast was wonderful.

Now time to head to the Brinkerhoff family BBQ - we have been 'grandfathered' into their family events as Mia considers our kiddos her cousins.  We are hoping Zak and Nick will feel the same way.

Seriously love these photo of Drew trying to be patient while Mia decorates his face

here is the finished product =)

So all these photo were taken while Chris and I made a trip to the ER with this sweet kiddo - just a some simple climbing on the playset - while on the climbing wall, he slipped, held onto the rope and when right into the wood - he needed staples - the Doctor used 5 - YIKES - honestly 3 may have been plenty!  Poor sweet shane

Meanwhile the party continued and this pretty lady got her face painted too

Love the excited Mia face!

A few others got into the action - too include cool Uncle Jay

Possibly 'Bat-Jackson'

No Brinkerhoff BBQ is complete without a flip cup tournament!

Loved that they caught my folks for a quick smile too - 

Lots of kiddo attention from all the Aunts - I have to admit - Jill and Marc did an amazing job pulling off such a big BBQ with family - tons of food, last minute tent (as thunderstorms were predicted at the exact time of the BBQ) and they really seemed to enjoy it instead of stressing about it!  

Cute 3 faces!

I loved that Saturday night at my sister's - we all came home, put the kids to bed and enjoyed the Olympics TOGETHER - in her living room - it was wonderful!  Sunday morning breakfast and home we all went.  Thanks Stacie and Jason for hosting us - while you are still moving in....

Are we home yet??

After leaving Natalie we made the long push to Buffalo NY and grabbed a comfy room with a yummy breakfast.  The kiddos slept like rocks and we woke up with only 6 more hours to get home.

The coffee was SO good that this one had a few too many cups and was the reason for our first stop... O.k., we needed gas too.

These are the final moment - we turned off screens, started fart noises, ran out of snacks and just got 100% stir crazy.  Over 1800 miles, 7 days in the car, lots of stuff, sand, snacks, water, whining, tons of hugs, celebrations, and memories.  We LOVE a road trip and we nailed it - no stone left unturned!

Looking at our lives ahead and knowing our career choices truly lend to this flexible life - neither of us took vacation days.  We could both 'work' while away and truly chose a life balance work - its that pinch me moment when we realize it doesn't have to be the last time we do this - 

Kudos to C&H Fire Sprinkler and Rodan + Fields - 

Its a different life out there - 

Success!!

Special Stop in Put-in-Bay

The wonderfulness of FB - while posting we were on this trek natlailie commented reminded me she was still in town - her family has orders to Korea leaving August 10 - so there was still time.  In all the chaos of her moving, she offered up and afternoon we could all link up - so we did it!!  We drove to Port Clinton and grabbed the quick 20 minute ferry.

All the way over to Put-In-Bay Ohio

These travelers are truly rockstars - 

As soon as we landed we walked over and snagged a golf cart for 6 to tour the island

Natalie is a 5th generation Put-in-Bay resident.  She grew up here and was 1 of 4 in her graduating class (heading onto Air-Force ROTC at Bowling Green).  Her mom still owns a bed and Breakfast there.

This passed year her husband Steve was deployed to Iraq - so during that time she opted to take her girls to HER home for the year.  So they could experience the small town magical life.

We rolled up to Natalies hoe and grabbed them for a ride - The kiddos hadn't seen each other in 4 years.  As the kids get older - its more of a challenge to get them to hang out especially with the boy/girl difference.  

But it you give them ice cream and a chill movie......

They will let you have a beer at this Biergarten!  

Prost!

We later got a beautiful tour o fate rest of the island and it was truly amazing imaging Natalie growing up there.  She spoiled the boys with Sprites and Ice cream like the coolest Aunt ever!

A few photos from Shane

And one final photo from the Selfie stick

I have FULL appreciation of all the moving pieces on our end and Natalie's end to make these few precious hours possible.  I will always remember the TIME we spent and how I know have a full appreciation for HER childhood and where she came from.  Natalie - you are one truly special person and I love your heart inside and out!  Thank you for making the time for us!

On to Ann Arbor

Still Sunday - and the next stop was another 2 hours in the car south east to Ann Arbor.  Nicole opened her home to us for the evening and I am thankful we could squeeze in some time together.

We asked the kiddos to pose for a quick photo to get them all together.  10 total!  Yooza.

In case you were wondering the last time we all got together - 5 year prior when we flew home from Michigan via Detroit.  Look at these cuties - 

The kiddos were great and happy played while we could all catch up - except of course Nate who is only 1.5 years old and is at that wonderful age that really keeps his patently jumping.  Thanks Michele and Andy for making the effort to come out!  LOVED seeing you

We had a visit from 2 more special guys - LOVED going back in time with Shane and Vito - their personalities could keep me chatting all night.  Always up for cards, white banter and reminiscing.  Love these 2 and loved how they made me feel 20 years old again.

One of the coolest things was getting Shane and Shane together.  They were born 3 days apart (and maybe a few years) but I remember Chris and I in the hospital debating names, Tyler, Shane, Finn.  Knowing this great guy with this glowing personality really pushed us both over the edge on choosing the name Shane - Shane, you have got some cool shoes to fill!

Thanks Nicole for opening your house to us - We needed a bit of time to regroup.  Monday morning we headed into Campus - love that drive on, seeing the initial signs, counting all the Ms, trying to remember all our favorite haunts.  I know we can't get into the stadium, but there was a chance we could get into the Natatorium!  And guess what, we did.  They were even having practice!

I got to swim in this pool twice - that was it - The boys kept asking me what sports I did here.  Gosh, the school is SO big and competitive I was thankful to have had the opportunity to swim for a club intramural team - maybe one of the 3 will be on the Michigan swim team....

Impressive place!

And yes of course we popped over to the football stadium - ever more impressive today - more than when I was a student (and LOCKED) now.  They even opened the gate to let a few worker through.

I asked if we could take a quick peek and was denied - clearly not the first person to make that request...Here's to the high hopes of a great season!

Next stop the Michigan Diag - right in the heart of campus - passed by this many times

Went into the grad library ONCE - maybe - during the orientation process.  Not sure why my kids are running to it - its SO quiet in there.  (I did attend libraries, just the ones on North Campus for engineers....  Yes, I do know what Libraries look like...)!

I have to admit, while walking through campus, I am reminded how HUGE Michigan is - even after going there I can be overwhelmed by its size.  

It was the friends I made that brought my true love for the school.  Here was the first house we lived in - 5 girls, 3 SMALL bedrooms and 1 bathroom (we only had the first floor).  With every step on campus I am reminded of you all and how YOU guys changed my life!

So many memories and wonder what is to come for these 3 boys - 

Alright, time for lunch at the brown jug and onto the next stop!