While the Cat is away...the Mice will play...

After a week off for a conference, I'm back to my regular work schedule. Chris's father (Emma's papa) and our nephew Marc are staying with us this week. While I've been at work, they have had a several days full of adventures (a rope course at John Ball Zoo and visiting the Holland Pier). I'm extremely jealous.









Aunt Shelly - Marc can stay with us anytime. Josie and Emma have had a blast with their cousin. I think I need to have a K-12 summer work schedule...sigh...

Retracting my weather comment...

You know what? I'm retracting my earlier blog post on the weather. I love this kind of summer weather...warm, not hot, not yet yucky humid either. The weather this week has been perfect for enjoying our candle filled deck in the evening.



Speaking of summer, I've redone my little corner of happiness in our bedroom. It brings me right back to Lake Michigan and our wonderful week at the cottage.



The shell wreath was one of my latest craft projects. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Actually anything that requires a glue gun makes me happy.



As I was finishing up this post (in between putting Josie to bed) the rain has started. I'm hopeful it doesn't continue into the weekend. We have plans for a Tiger's baseball game on Saturday and I'm hoping to sneak away to the Allegan Antique Fair on Sunday.

What's the saying..."If you don't like the weather in Michigan now, just wait a few minutes."

What happened to our summer weather?

I had been warned that the temperatures in Michigan were cold while we were in DC and they were right. Dang. Where did our summer weather go? It feels more like fall!! Speaking of fall, check out Josie's new lunch box. Thanks for the lunchbox tip, Katie.



We picked up this panda bear lunchbox while visiting the National Zoo in DC. As much as I loath packing lunches, seeing Josie's excitement over a new lunchbox is pretty cute. Here's to enjoying the rest of our summer!!

Home Sweet Home...

It could have been worse. On our return flight, we came armed with stickers, candy, and new coloring books. Even better, we were upgraded to Express Economy which included in-flight tvs on the back of each seat. Josie couldn't keep her ear-buds in her ear, but she enjoyed seeing a television in between coloring and putting stickers all over my shirt. Josie's still not an easy traveler, but it was better on the return flight.

Overall, it was a enjoyable business trip and it was a bonus to be able to bring my family along. I still can't get over all the museums and monuments we didn't get to visit while in DC. I definitely want to go back someday. It's an amazing city. The cost of food or taxis wasn't cheap, but I loved the free admission to most events. Meeting up with a part of Josie's past, was an added bonus. Thanks again, Schaefer family!!



Josie is sound asleep in her bed with her favorite pillow and blanket, while Emma is curled up with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I'm going to ignore the mound of dirty laundry for at least another 12 hours. Yuck.





Have I said it's good to be home? Home sweet home...sigh...

Day 6 in DC...Reuniting with Josie's Orphanage Roommate

Our final day in DC was spent at the International Spy Museum (no cameras allowed..and they even had a James Bond Aston Martin car!!!) and visiting the Capital Building.







The highlight of our trip was meeting up with Schaefer family to reunite one of Josie's former orphanage roommates (Nora).





Our families rode paddle boats around the Tidal Basin near the Jefferson Memorial and dodged a few raindrops. The Schaefer family explained that the view of the cherry blossoms from this area in the spring is absolutely breath-taking.







They were so kind and even treated us to dinner at The Old Ebbitt Grill. We aren't sure that the girls recognized each other, but they sure enjoyed each other's company.







Our families will be seeing each other again in October when we travel to Disney with three other families from Josie's orphanage. It was so nice to finally meet in person after all these months of email correspondence. Thank you for being such kind hosts, Schaefer family!!



Tomorrow we fly out early afternoon. We've had a fabulous time in DC and could easily spend more time here again. Here's to hoping for an easy return flight home and a happy quiet Josie on the plane!!