Dear Holly...

...I miss you bunches.

I keep thinking of things I wish we had been able to do while you were here - places we didn't have time to get to. I guess that means you'll just have to come back. :)

My favorite part of your visit was our little trip to Laketown Beach, just you and me. It was stormy, and the wind was chilly, but the water was freakishly warm. Still not sure what was going on there, but it was a nice, funny surprise. Thanks for climbing all those stairs with me! And for indulging me by getting up on that wet log so I could take your picture. You're so, so very beautiful - inside and out. I'm so proud and happy that I get to call you my sister.

I love that we can just take a walk together and be quiet together, and it doesn't feel uncomfortable or awkward. It feels nice just to be together. We're a lot alike I think. We need the quiet times, those alone times just as vitally as we need water, food and sleep. I love that we like the same weird music and trends. I love your sense of humor and listening to the hilarious stories about your cray-zay Starbucks customers. 

And speaking of hilarious, you always find the BEST stuff on Youtube. Thanks for introducing us to LAHWF. I am hooked.

Come back soon!

Love, Jacqueline xoxo

Catching Up

August, August - what is up with you?

It has been in the upper 40's - low 50s when we wake up in the mornings and it's too cold to take our walks by the lake without warm jackets or sweaters. We've had lots of rain and lots of beautiful sunsets, and here and there trees are turning yellow. 

I don't know what it is - I usually look forward to this change of season more than any other, but summer felt way too short this year. Maybe it's because I felt sick and tired for a portion of it, or the busyness of company and having fun outdoors made the time pass to quickly. Maybe I'm apprehensive of all the major changes that are coming early this winter. Not really sure what's up, but I feel very sad about summer saying goodbye so soon.

I need to just start pumping myself up with excitement for pumpkin-spice-everything and cardigans and all that jazz.

Another thing I'm a little sad about this week, (and this is pretty ridiculous and self indulgent, but bear with me...) was having to say goodbye to our little Honda CR-V and exchange it for this big old, soccer-mom approved minivan. We knew when we were surprised with the news of baby number 3 that we were going to have to get a bigger vehicle sooner than anticipated - our CRV barely sat 5 people and getting 2 car seats and booster seat squeezed into that backseat was going to be a problem. We also take quite a few long distance trips since our family is spread out all over the country, and the amount of stuff we have to take along increases exponentially with each new small Frey. The CR-V just didn't have enough storage space.

God is good and provides more than we expect or even need. Matt found a gently used Honda Odyssey for an extremely good price, and we were blessed to get a great trade in price for our CR-V. It was the right move at just the right time. And even though I have dreaded having to drive a big ol' minivan for years, if I have to drive a van this is the most tricked out, modern, comfortable van I could have wished for. It's going to make errands and travels with three little ones much, much easier.

It kind of broke my heart having to drive my sister Holly back to the airport last week. It was so nice to visit with her and I loved watching my kids enjoy getting to know her more (sorry Holly that they wore you out! They really love you!)

I'm savoring every last minute we have my other sister, Grace, with us. She's been working through a lot and is making some hard decisions about where to go next. Post graduation is one seriously tough phase of life that not many people talk openly about. So many adjustments to work through and just feel through. We love you Gracie.

I am on day 3 of my sugar fast and feeling much better. The last two days were, as expected, full of headaches and grumpiness but I woke up today feeling alert and ready to take on the day. I'm hoping eating cleaner for a few weeks will give me a burst of energy, because I am in desperate need of an extra dose of energy. No where looks quite as appealing as my bed these days. (Note the bedside Tums? Heartburn is back in my life. Thanks little baby.) ;)

Yesterday I took Silas to get a much needed hair cut. (Little Critter hair back and driving me crazy.) He looked so tiny sitting on the stool all by himself, wrapped in that giant black cape. He would wince and make faces when the hairdresser sprayed his hair with water, but then would look blissed-out and sleepy when she was combing his hair which made me laugh so hard. (This boy loves getting his hair brushed.) He looks so handsome and much too grown up with a fresh hair cut. It's pretty impossible not to chase him around with kisses and tickles when he looks so stinkin' cute.

Life is good. 

God is so very, very good.

I Shouldn't Have Climbed Mt. Baldhead, But...

...I did anyway.

310 steps, and they were steep. Worse than these or these.

The worst part though, was the lack of pay off at the top. No view of Lake Michigan.

(There was a path to the beach, but there was no way we were attempting that after those stairs!)

I am now paying for this in the way of braxton hicks and leg cramps, but there's just nothing

quite like the fun of exploring new places and taking on challenges with Matt and the kids. 

Going back down...

Olive did most of the climb alone! She is getting so strong!

Random thoughts:

//Today we visited a new church and I sat next to a man who was the spitting image of Walter from "Fringe." I took this to be a very good sign.

//I start another month long sugar fast tomorrow. I'm getting a head ache just thinking about it.

//The leaves are starting to change here already.

//Inspector Morse improves exponentially during season 4. The first three seasons are the equivalent of extra strength Ambien.

//Baby names baby names baby names...

//We spent all Saturday afternoon making a new budget and we loved it.

Meanwhile

While it's been quiet on this silly blog...

// My baby sister has been visiting from NC! So cool to have both my sisters here with me. 

// The weather has been annoying and weird and just really cold. Well, cold for August anyway. I love autumn-ish temps, but is summer really over already? Please say no, Michigan. I'm just not ready.

// We made concrete plans to make a trip back to WV to visit family, friends and take a brief "babymoon" in DC. So very excited!

// All of us are having serious allergy issues this week. I don't know what the culprit is that's blooming/pollinating around here right now, but I kind of hate it.

// We re-watched season one of the "I.T. Crowd" with my sisters this week and that show will never, ever fail to make me laugh to tears. 

// We played Wits and Wagers with the girls last night and I am so not good at that game, but it was fun to play. We used to play games all the time, but now in my ripe old age I usually just want to crash in bed with an "Inspector Morse" episode.

// Speaking of "Inspector Morse" - what's up with all the sleazy older ladies on that show? Offering Morse cocktails in their bathrobes and curlers? And what's Morse even thinking calling on these women to question them after dark instead of during normal working hours? These are the questions that (barely) keep me from falling asleep halfway through every episode.

// This nailpolish is a really, really good one. 

// I went from hardly showing to just, huge, in literally the past few days. So when I found a pair of petite length skinny maternity jeans yesterday (not easy to find) I caved and bought them and gosh are they the most comfortable things ever.

// Olive is really into the old "Davey and Goliath" shows right now and is constantly humming the tune of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." 

// Silas is just constantly hungry. And whiny. (I hate teething time!) But he's also occasionally still very cuddly and snuggly, so all's well.

// I'm really enjoying this cookbook. The chili recipes are gooooood. (I always crave chili when it's cold.) The book is specifically written with those with multiple food sensitivities in mind. Most are gluten, dairy and egg free!

// Speaking of cravings, mine have taken a turn for the worse. Greek chili dog, anyone? This baby - I have a feeling he/she is going to be quite a character.

// Speaking of the baby - kicking is it's new favorite thing and it does a lot of it now, especially when I'm trying to go to sleep. We find out if it's a girl or a boy very soon!

// Also, when did the process of choosing a name for the baby turn from the most fun part of pregnancy to the most stressful? I think we may have settled on a first name for a boy and a girl but no middle names. 

Skyline

I love the feeling I get when I see the skyline of a big city we're headed to from the highway.

Exciting.

We had such a fun first visit to Chicago a couple of weeks ago.

So much fun that I didn't take many pictures with the Nikon. Too busy looking up and around.

We spent most of the time at the Shedd Aquarium, where we saw the aquatic show...

(Verdict: Baltimore's is way better.)

We also got to pet sting rays! 

(Verdict: they feel surprisingly slimy and just, gross. Sorry rays.)

Some funny Chicago stories...

We were supposed to meet my cousins at 10am at Shedd. 

We totally forgot about the hour time difference and ended up downtown at 8:30CT. 

Oops.

We had the hardest time finding a place for lunch.

We had spent so much time at the aquarium that by the time we left the kids were really antsy.

(^ that is an understatement, folks! ^)

With the aid of our combined smart phones, we finally found an open place near Millenium park.

It was called "The Tilted Kilt."

Of course Matt and I had no idea what a Tilted Kilt was, being the naive, sheltered kids we are. ;)

But we figured it out pretty quick once we saw the hostess.

However, the restaurant was practically empty, and the kids were nuts. And we were all starving.

So...mistake or not, we just ate there.

And laughed the whole time, because seriously, WTH were we doing? 

(But to their credit, the waitress behaved extremely well and was super nice and the food was good.)

Mt. Pisgah

Also over the past weird, chilly weekend: we climbed Mt. Pisgah.

(Which is really just a huge sand dune.)

There were a whole mess of stairs to climb.
(239 to be exact.)

But the view from the top is worth every step.

But then you have to climb back down...

...Which totally justifies a stop for ice cream, amiright?

^ (He's righteously ticked off that he can't eat ice cream too. Darn milk allergies.) ^

We walked by Lake Macatawa on our way back to the car, just as it started to rain.

I love exploring this area! I feel anxious to see as much as we can outdoors before the weather gets seriously cold. It's coming all too soon - this summer is passing much too quickly! 

Like Christmas In July?

This weekend the weather changed dramatically.

You could feel the difference most at the beach, where temps were under 60*F and very windy.

We had to all wear jackets, and were still freezing!

I love the constantly changing weather and landscape of Lake Michigan.

However, I was a bit freaked out by the cold.

Because I am in no way shape or form ready to say goodbye to summer yet.

(Luckily the sun's supposed to come warm things back up this week. Yay!)

^ This girl loves sand. ^

^ Despite the rip current warnings, there were still para-surfers (right word for it?) Crazies. ^

^ Big Red really pops when it's stormy. ^

^ Can't tell if he's giving the stink eye to me or Olive, but it was probably me (for lagging behind taking pictures of his bum. ;) ^