On this particular day the weather was not very warm, and neither was the water.  Kellen jumped in, freaked out because of the cold water and then hung out by the door until we left.  I don't blame him, I wouldn't go in either.  But as you can see I put Catarina in the pool (it was her first time) and she didn't fuss at all.  I was particularly fond of the kids swimming because Adam would take them I would get the house to myself.
2. Lorelei's Dance Recital
Lorelei took a ballet, tumbling, tap combo class this past year and participated in her second dance recital.  She did amazing and of course made Mommy tear up.
3. Catarina's Birthday
Catarina turned 1.  What a sweetheart!!!
 4. The Wing Family Visited
My sister and her family visited us for two weeks, however, my sister and her husband left for part of that time for a vacation in the Cayman Islands, so we had the kids for two weeks and my sister for less than that. We had a great time doing tons of various activities and the kids of course had the best time.
 5. Our 10th Anniversary and Traverse City Vacation
Adam and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary this year.  We took the whole family to Traverse City, Michigan for an incredibly fun vacation.  I already blogged about our trip so if you want more about our trip check out that blog post.

 6. Highfield Discovery Garden
I love this place and so do the kids.  We bought a pass this year so we've been a few times already and we all love running around the garden playing and exploring.  Catarina actually started walking when we came here with my sister (she had already taken her first steps a month earlier but that day she officially started walking).
 8. Nature Center
This was Lorelei's third year attending Nature Camp at the Nature Center, and now that she is old enough she goes for five hours each day for a week.  Her close friends attend the same camp so she always has the best time.  We also took many hikes this summer around the Nature Center and now that the kids are all walking we can start exploring more trails since we won't be needing the stroller.


 9. Camping...in the backyard
We really wanted to go camping this summer but we were too busy to make any plans or have an available weekend.  We're hoping to go camping this fall, if we can get around to making the plans and having an available weekend.  Nevertheless, we set up the tent in the backyard, cooked some hot dogs and marshmallows on the BBQ and played with Nerf guns in the backyard.  Kellen was supposed to sleep in the tent with Adam and Lorelei, but it just didn't work out.

 10. Vacation Bible School
Lorelei and I both participated in VBS this year, she as a participant and I as a crew leader.  We both had a great time, although one day while jumping around with the kids I hit my leg on a chair and got the blackest bruise the size of a tennis ball on my upper thigh.  And unfortunately we went to Traverse City the following week and I was in my bathing suit most of the trip with this most disgusting bruise on my leg.
And that was our summer, well, the highlights from our summer.  When I was first putting this blog together I had ninety pictures I wanted to include and my sister told me just to do my top ten.  I don't think anyone would have wanted to look through ninety pictures, this was a much better idea.

Lorelei swimming in Lake Michigan.  The water was warm and this section she is swimming in is super shallow.  Probably up to my thighs.
Kellen and Catarina went in the water for a little while, but both preferred to play in the sand, or eat it.  They both kept eating it, which freaked me out because there was a sign about E. Coli posted.  I think the sign was saying they were keeping their beach clean from E. Coli, but I don't care, you post a sign with the words E. Coli and it going to cause panic.
We stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge.  I absolutely love this hotel.  The kids loved sleeping in their Kid Kamp room.
 We took a boat ride on the Nauti-Cat.
 The kids got to sit on these nets during the boat ride.


 Lorelei got to steer the boat.
 So did Catarina.
 And Kellen too.
After the boat ride Kellen and Catarina took a nap and Lorelei went to the kids spa in the hotel and had her nails done.

 At the Great Wolf Lodge indoor water park.



I went around this lazy river about a hundred times.  Soon after getting on with Catarina she fell asleep.  Here she is after her nap.


 Getting ready to have lunch at the restaurant in the hotel.
Having ice cream at the hotel.  It was nice that the hotel offers SO much to do.  One of the days we were there it rained so we just hung out at the hotel, eating ice cream and playing in the water park.
Every night they have storytime in the lobby.  (For those of you in California, they are building a Great Wolf Lodge in Garden Grove.)
Lorelei and Oliver
 Their wolf ears came with their lunch at the hotel restaurant.  They are howling like wolves.
On our anniversary we spent the day at the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes.  Good Morning America named the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes the most beautiful place in America, and it was gorgeous.



 The water was so clear








 On our way back to the hotel we stopped for ice cream.