Robots

 Sometimes the simplist things excite the boys...
Here the empty laundry baskets turned them into robots. 
They bopped around and into each other for nearly 30minutes :-)
All the while giggling like maniacs!
 There is definitely some perks to having the laundry room on the same floor as the bedrooms...

Finding a church

How can finding a home to worship be so difficult?

I have been comensing my looking on-line, scouting local churches by demonination, beliefs, and music programs.  I have learned that if any congregation complains that they aren't growing with members, they certainly should up date their website!  Make sure the site at least include when your service(s) start and where parking is located.  From what I can gather, Vermilion is mostly Lutheran, Baptist, and Congregational.  I'm not sure my own beliefs align with any of these denominations.

We tried a Methodist church a few weeks ago.  Our first impression was that it was so small!  Both the church and the congregation were small.  There also was no nursery available in the summer and no handbells.  We liked that they were using some of the more modern music, but were concerned about the size.  I also noticed that they were locking / unlocking the doors to the sanctuary for everyone.  I was disturbed that they felt the need to lock people in while worshiping...it was a bit odd.

We tried an Episcapal Church this week...well, we attempted to attend the church.  We got there and it took two passes to figure out which parkinglot belonged to the church and not nearby businesses.  And then when we tried to go in, the church was locked!  We had the right time (and that time was on the sign out front) but no one was there...absolutely no one.  I have no idea why a congregtion just decided not to hold service that morning.

We had a passed another church on the way to the episcapal church so we back-tracked to that one. I didn't recognize the symbol on the sign so I don't know what denomination it was.  Again, I couldn't figure out where to park...and we didn't know what time the service was!  There was a huge lack of signage. 

At this point, I was getting fustrated and the boys were getting restless.  I headed north towards home and said we would stop at the Presbyterian church (PCUSA) if it was holding service currently.  It was and we were only a smidge late.  But, no nursery so the boys had to sit with us through service.  This was a bigger church than the Methodist, but at a glance, fairly traditional (no contemporary service/ or hymnal).  We did talk with the leader of the choir, who practically begged Brian to join, and he did mention that they bring in quite a bit of theatrical music when they can.  They did have handbells (3.5 octavies).  However, their language was still very patricarical and not inclusive, which was have become very used to with our last churches.  We liked the musical prospects, but were quite concerned about the lack of kids and young people.

So what is left?  There is another Presbyterian church west of us that I want to try.  Brian suggested asking the cousins where they worship (at least we'll know there are kids). 

Potty Training up-date

Well...we gave up.
Jude is stubborn and potty training while a four year old is running around too is insane.
We put him back in diapers this past month.

However... I think we are ready to start again.
During this break from PT, Jude has become way more vocal and can readily say diaper, potty, and pee.  Now, he often will say potty right after he pees in his diaper.  We also picked up a travel potty on sale so that we have a spare one in the car. 

We picked up pull-up diapers tonight at the store and are practicing pulling them up and down.  So, perhaps, this week, we will attempt no diapers.

Keeping our fingers crossed that our little dude can become a big boy dude!

Summer Swimming

Shelly, Rick, and Ciearra came to visit us for a weekend.  It is really great to be so close to family that we can just bips over to see each other for a day or two.  Tam and Jude were so excited to see them!  The downside was that it rained, and rained, and rained on Friday and Saturday.  This totally ruined the plan to go the beach or blueberry picking. Luckily the kiddos didn't mind just playing with each other and all the toys and books for chunks of time (with minimal fighting).  We did get out for a while to show the family downtown Vermilion.  It was Christmas in July, so many of the little shops had sales.  I totally let the kids have fun...flavored popcorn at the farmer's market, sugar candy at the candy store, late night watching movies.  It was great. 

On Sunday, we found the local community pool.  Back in Grand Rapids, we visited a few of the huge pool facilities and the splash pads...but now we are in a smaller town.  The weather was warm so we suited everyone up and headed for the water.  The beach was out because of the storms the previous day.   To our delight, the pool was a decent size and not crowded at all...and it was salt water!   The shallow end was only a little over a foot deep, so Jude could touch the bottom.  Everyone went in, but Ciearra threw a fit and sat in a chair for a chunk of the time.  We put arm floaters on Jude, but just let Tam have at it in the shallow end.  I was fully prepared for Jude to throw a fit, especially since he has only recently sort-of enjoyed going into Lake Erie while being held in our arms.  But, that stinker, surprised us and LOVED the water.  By the end of the swim time, he was jumping into our arms from the side and bobbing around on his own.  His grin stretched completely from ear to ear.  Tam loves the water and had no problem swimming around in the water...well, kind-of swimming...he isn't quite coordinating the kicking and the scooping but he tried when we reminded him.  He also jumped in from the side of the pool into deeper water.  He attempted to jump off the dive board, but stalled on the edge.  Maybe next time.  Brian's grin was also huge because he was so proud of his boys and how well they behaved in the water.  I swear his chest was so puffed up with pride :-)  If we can swing it, I would really like to get both boys into swim lessons when possible at the YMCA.

Overall, it was a blast.  One of the nicest things Shelly commented on was how great it was to all be sitting around the table just chattin' and chillin' and laughing.  I agree. It was awesome to just to hang out as a family.

Can't wait for the Reunion coming up in a few weeks.

Someone got a haircut . . .

So a few weeks ago I buzzed down the boys' hair for the summer...

Someone else in the house decided that they needed a haircut too...

One more hint... This person decided to trim as short as it has ever been in a bazillion years...

Yep...
Brian decided it was time for a major hair cut.  For reference, the last time his hair was this short was way back in 1998 (maybe 1999).  He is heading out for job interviews in the upcoming weeks and wanted to trim it up.

I wasn't sure I would like such a drastic change, but we have always said that it is only hair.
I can't believe how much YOUNGER he looks with this haircut, not that he looked old with the long hair.  I love how neat and trim it is and his head feels so fuzzy.  It is a little longer on top so he can have a few options for gel if he wants.  He likes it and has said how much lighter his head feels.

The boys still call him daddy, so I guess it wasn't too much of a drastic change.

Tamlin's Lego Car

Tamlin built a lego duplo car...with a tower of blocks on the back.  There were a few random spaces between the blocks.
He explained that the spaces were cubbies...one cubby for his toys, one cubby for food, and one cubby for "grown-up toys."  Brian asked him what exactly were grown-up toys...
The reply we got was "I don't know...whatever grown-ups like to play with"

Chuckle...

At least he was thoughtful :-)