On the Road Again, part 1: the cottage

First stop on our 10 day roadtrip was Lake St. Claire in Ontario, Canada to visit dear friends Ruth, Aaron and Ralphie. We enjoyed lovely accomodations on the water, delicious treats prepared (and grilled) with love and lots of play-time, little boy style....with cars, trains, bad guys and water fights. The views were breathtaking, the breeze was fresh as it gently blew through the open windows as we slept and the company was superb. And let's not forget the butter tarts...

longest game of peek-a-boo ever...in this position for the entire dinner

Ralphie

giant squirters!

Lake St. Claire

breakfast at the cottage...Kaleniecki style

HOT Fun in the Summertime....

A summer filled with friends, family and fun, we've been either in the lake (thanks Grandma and Grandpa Beckman) or in the pool and we've discovered that Henry and Sam are amphibious! Henry is a rockstar swimmer, now in his 5th week of swim lessons and Sam has no idea he's not supposed to be able to swim. Both boys boldly jump over and over again into the deep water at the "big pool", sinking far beneath the surface before bobbing back up again for a quick breath before doing it over and over and over again. We spend every day in water of some kind, breaking only for snacks (or "na-acks" as Sammy says) and an occasional nap. It's hot, but we're loving it.

Bubbles for Isabelle

My sweet boy...

...or something....

...Happy Father's Day Daddy, it's 6:30am and I'd like to go for a kayak...

Hot...

...FUN...

...in the summertime...

A 4th of July swing in the hammock

Happy 4th...Hidden Valley Lake style

Slip, slidin' away...

Thank goodness for Libby...swim Libby, swim!

Grandpa Dan with afternoon treats on the dock

Boat Ride!

3 Beckman Boys in a kayak

Sleepy Cooper

2 Barron Boys on a raft

We swim and we swim and we swim...

Road Trips and More, Part 3 of 3: Zionsville Happenings...

And now we're back at home (see Road trips and More, Parts 1 and 2), enjoying every moment of summer. School's out and we're splashing in the pool, swinging on the swings and digging in the sand...all with good friends, good food and fantastic weather. Here's to summer...

Pre-talent show pic...

Henry and Libby...Field Day!

Field Day


Backyard pizza party picnic

Bed Head

Road Trips and More, Part 2 of 3: Missouri!

Shortly after our trip to New Jersey, we welcomed our dear friends Sarah, Lily and Fisher to Zionsville for a few fun-filled days. Unfortunately I have only one picture to prove they were here, though anyone en route between Zionsville, Indiana and Bolivar, Missouri on Saturday May 28 could surely vouch for us as we, not-at-all-discreetly, made our way home. The wagon was filled with two mommas (age 34) and four kiddos (ages 1,2,3 and 4, roughly)...and 9 hours later we landed...all of us...and it was a pretty enjoyable ride. I'm ready to do it again...Sarah?

Anyway...we then spent a fantastic few days with lots of family and friends in Bolivar, MO. Thanks to all the family who came to visit, especially sweet Emmaline Rose...

And, because we deposited Sarah and Co. in Bolivar, BOB made the trip back with us...thanks, BOB.

Fun with Jack

Chillin' with Papa

Morning stories with Papa on a swing outside...does it get any better?


A Beach Boys Serenade...thanks, Papa

The Proof! Lily sits in our kitchen...

Sweet Emmaline Rose

Cousin Sarah and Aunt Betsy


Fun at Grandpa's

Road Trips and More, Part 1 of 3: New Jersey!

Our first big road trip of the summer was to New Jersey for Sweet Sophie's First Communion Celebration. The weekend was filled with all of our New Jersey favorites: Family McCarthy; Grandma El's chicken cutlets, pizza and pasta; Italian pastries; AMAZING Taylor Ham sandwiches and bagels; a Friday afternoon picnic with REAL sloppy joes; a Daffy's run; backyard kickball; bedtime stories with Olivia and Sophie and much, much more.

The white pizza...

My boys...and my girls...

Worms!

The Buckeye Express Diner...what a find!

Henry in Heaven

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