Stafford Cottage

Being together with family and friends in a place that gracefully holds 5 generations of memories is special. We are lucky to experience Northern Michigan this way and we know it. Lucky that we have memories for us and now our children that include a cottage built in 1926 and friends we hold so very dear.

We loved being here. Really being present...aware of how beautiful it is and experience daily activity so different from the busyness of home. Changing the routine is not always easy, but so very worth it. Every second of it.

While in Michigan we experienced many firsts...

From trips out on the ski-doo, the kayak, the boat, going tubing, naps taken under a tree while the water provided us with a natural sound machine, record time spent awake, record time spent in the carseats (7 hours drive time).


Stafford cottage in the distance as we pull away on the tube for Bennett's first time. He LOVED it...no suprise there. Each time we stopped so they could check on us, he just repeated "I want to go fast, mommy."

We all (babies included) ate nearly every meal outdoors...breakfast, lunch, snacks...all by the water or in the sand. Perfect break in our routine. You know those Michigan commercials...they suck me right in each time - talking about "pure Michigan" and all there is to do or the way you can slow down. It is true, those commercials. Even driving to dinner where the blue sky had turned grey...the back-drop was rolling hills, beautiful wildflowers - interrupted only by the occasional farmhouse.

Bathing suit babies started early and continued throughout the day. No reason to change.

Bennett and Exy.

Bennett playing with Mr. Stafford's bulldozer from when he was a child. He brought it out of storage after seeing how much Bennett loves construction equipment. It is over 50 years old and worked like a charm.

Kevin and Amber don't have children. At least not yet. So, we basically feel like they are saints for inviting a family of four to be part of their vacation. Truthfully, we know they love our children. And you love the people who love your kids. We have always known they were a special couple, but it just keeps growing. They also love to teach Bennett new tricks. On one of the "man trips" out on the kayak, Kevin and Zach taught Bennett that anytime you see a boat with girls on it, he should say, "hey ladies!"

Elly Rose and her sweet Godmother. Amber is training to complete a full Ironman at the end of August. We admire her strength, commitment and determination because just thinking about the grueling training schedule is exhausting.

Bennett and mommy on our way to go look for Amber during one of her long, morning swims.

The spring water just outside their house is delicious. I look forward to this water with each trip. Bennett spent so much time playing at the stream...gaining confidence to jump over it, drinking from it, rinsing his sandy feet at it. When Bennett spotted a decorative fountain while out to dinner, he stood up and stated he need to go drink that water.

How many times could he carry a cup of water from the fountain to the beach? Walking on his tippy toes, careful not to spill.

On our drive home, we passed a couple trucks filled with pigs that did not smell so pleasant and without prompting, Bennett perked up both times (hours apart) and announced, "mommy, Elly Rose stinky." Just left Zach and I laughing.

a big, quick post.

I should be packing, and I will. Actually, I have the little ones packed. Just have to get my stuff together, but first I wanted to do a quick blog post before July gets away from me.

In late June/early July, we enjoyed some special time with this little lady...Charley Sinclair Dick. We loved meeting this special girl and look forward to some real play dates as she grows.

At the July 4th celebration...meeting her namesakes (the Sinclairs). So sweet.

Our annual trip to the howard county fair. I love this picture...each boy doing something different. We were definitely busy this night. Lots of yummy fair food, rides, 4-h animals and tractors.

Riding the "Cooper" bear! I was the designated chaperone - all littles under 42 inches needed an adult to ride with them. Makes me feel like such a kid to ride these rides.

Papaw took Elly Rose on her first ride...the carousel. We went on an evening where if you purchased a bracelet, you could ride as many rides as your tummy could handle. Papaw also had to get a bracelet because the little guys didn't meet the height requirement on many of the rides. He was a trooper.

I just love this little guy. Last night while reading a book, he asked me so many questions about what was happening...where is this, who is that, etc. I just looked at him and started to laugh and I think he got it. He started belly laughing back. He knew the answer to nearly every question asked, but he still loves to engage (or stall before bed time).

Elly Rose had her 9-month well baby visit today. Her new stats are 15 pounds, 11 ounces and 27.5 inches long. We almost have waving "bye-bye" down, her second tooth has just cut through the gum on bottom and we can begin introducing table foods.

This is how she greets us each morning and post-nap. She loves to stand in her crib and even more than her crib - her brother's crib. Elly Rose wakes up before Bennett in the afternoon and we both usually go in to his room to greet him. She can't wait to get in bed with him. He jumps up and down and she giggles.

This is Bennett's tool belt. I think he wore it all day today (along with his p.j.'s). His hammer, flash light and hard hat are never far. His shirt appropriately says where we are headed...I hope everyone survives the trip!

The Little Things

Zach left for work this morning before Bennett was awake. This is not the norm with our routine and I could tell Bennett immediately sensed a disruption in his routine as I was trying to get him out of bed, to the potty, dressed and downstairs to breakfast while juggling Elly Rose from one hip to the next...

It continued for a bit. Kristen arrived sending the dog and both kids into a frantic mode. I was giving her the run-down for the day when Bennett popped up from playing blocks to announce the garbage truck had arrived. It was Tuesday. I had forgotten to listen for the screeching brakes and rumbling engine, but Bennett did not.

We raced to the front door in time to watch as each can was emptied. We waved and today the kind man loading our bags in the truck waved back and gave Bennett a beep-beep of his horn as he drove away. It made our little guy's morning. Back to the routine. On Tuesday mornings we listen for the garbage truck.

It was a good reminder of the little things in our routine...our day. They are a big deal. I have a dear friend who writes about the little things. And how, really, they are not so little. The beep-beep made me so happy and when Zach called me this morning to check-in, I told him about the garbage truck and he responded with, "I don't know why, but that makes me so happy."

Babies and kids, no doubt, are a constant reminder to stop and notice the little things. A tiny little tooth has just barely popped through in the last week for this little lady. The past few days have been quite steamy. We have stayed cool with frequent visits to the pool, but also with our sprinkler and hose.

Balancing work and parenting is stressful. Combine it with the never-ending laundry pile, cleaning and home-projects (like our a/c freezing on us yesterday afternoon, making it 80+ upstairs)...and Zach and I often meet at a cross-road of stress and panic. But then we see the smile and excitement from a garbage truck beep-beep or our own arrival home from work and it erases all the stress and panic.

One-week shy of 9-months...we decided to try a barette in the hair. It is just barely hanging in there, but we aren't complaining! Zach thinks her leggings are a huge fashion police disaster, but her poor little knees can't take much more hard-floor crawling.

Quiet Fireworks

We have vowed only to practice quiet fireworks at the Ford household in an effort to preserve any sane nerves left in our dog's body. Fireworks, like thunderstorms, make her so nervous...digging, climbing, barking and inevitably spending long periods of time in her blanket-covered crate.

So, sparklers it is. We thought Bennett would enjoy trying these out this year. To add a little distance between him and the sparkler flame, we taped it to a stick.

As is usual with this little man, he liked the tool just as much as the sparkler. He kept the lighter "in my belly, mommy." (tucked in the side of his shorts). And my favorite phrase he is saying these days - "...it'dle be coo-ool."

Carefully checking out the flame. I have to say, it was a little stressful...he would fling that stick all over. I had visions of his hair catching on fire.

Elly Rose chewed on the roll of electrical tape during the sparkler show.

Bennett shared his sparkler with me when he decided to help daddy push Elly Rose in the swing. They were both belly laughing as he would always stand too close and she would nearly knock him over as she came swinging toward him.

And one last pic of the little lady laughing while sitting on papaw's lap last weekend.

Independence Day

Our firecrackers from a packed weekend of activity...more to come, but I had a few minutes to say happy Independence Day. Thankful for freedom and those who have sacrifced much.

Sitting pretty. One talent she is doing less of these days. The second I set her down it is off to explore.

One of the many times down a bounce house slide.

Only needing to hold the sadle with one hand these days...big boy that he is.