Ana turned 3

So, it's been almost a week since Ana turned 3, and to be honest I'm not sure I'm a fan of it!  3 might be a long year for Ana!  Maybe that's just being a girl.  Oh the emotions....

However, we did have fun celebrating her birthday!

Ana, you are smart.  Most of the time too smart!  You know how to push your sisters buttons, and you always want to be older than you are!  You love your mama, and stick close most of the time.  Sometimes you melt down though and are a daddy's girl.  You are my domestic one and like to help with all the chores, laundry, cooking, and babysitting.  You love to cuddle and climb into our bed for some morning snuggles.  I'm always impressed with how much you take in, even when I don't think you are paying attention.  You have no desire to watch cartoons or movies, but would rather be playing make believe - doing mommy's hair at the salon or being a waitress and taking orders.  I love you so much!  I'm thankful God has given you another year, and I pray that He will use you for His glory, even at the age of 3!   

How else to start a Nordine birthday, except with donuts

Morning of swimming with her friends

She asked for a Dora cake, this is what I delivered:)

 

Oh Ana!  She got make-up for her birthday...thaannkksss grandma:)

On to Michigan

After Iowa, we headed on to MI.  Lee's whole family (parents, sister, brother-in-law, brother) were all going to be up there as well and we didn't want to miss out on the time being together, as it doesn't happen often. 

It's my home town.  I love it there, especially in the summer.  We had beautiful weather!  It can be hit or miss up there.  I love the beach, the dunes, the state park, the lighthouse, marina, ice cream, etc.  Our kids loved it too and we had a great time!  I think we got in everything we wanted to do, in the time we had there (which is always too short) and enjoyed being able to relax and have some downtime too. 

Some highlights from MI...

We're not competitive at all...bring out the tape measure...

Finally found some time...

Finally found some time to update the blog.  So, where to I begin...oh yes, our vacation!  We took a two week family vacation the first part of July.  I would say it was our first family road trip.  I mean, we've gone on trips like up to MI and stuff, but this was the first time we went far enough that we had to stop for the night (or chose to stop the night) at a hotel.  We ventured to Iowa to visit a family farm (Lee's moms side of the family), and have a family reunion. 

I was reminded as we traveled how much of the country is farmland, especially in Iowa.  The scenery was kind of like this...corn, corn, corn, soy beans, corn, tractor, corn, corn, etc.  The girls did GREAT in the car. 

Parents, I have found a long car ride activity that I LOVE (actually my friend gave some to me)!   It's by Usborne Activities and they are sticker books, kind of like paper dolls, but they are stickers that you get to dress the people.  They have all varieties and it occupied my kids literally for a few hours.  The best part, it's all contained in one book.  Awesome!  Another plus, they have them for both boys and girls!  They were perfect for Isabel's age or older.  Ana needed a bit of help.

Anyway, back to our trip.   So highlights of the trip.  Stopping at a hotel with a swimming pool.  Isabel will swim underwater now by herself.  Going to not one, but two Fourth of July parades.  We now have enough candy for a small army.  The farm life - picking apples right of the tree, exploring the barns, bon fire in 100 degree weather, bocci ball, the bulldog (40+ year old 3 wheeler that has 9 lives, probably more than 9), the reunion, cousins, and just being together.   

Just a few of the several hundred pictures we took.  

 

The big 3-0

We just got back from a two week vacation.  I'm still in that "I don't want to go back to reality" phase, yet it's good to be home, sleeping in our own beds, being together, and all getting settled back into our normal life.

There is SO much I could write.  I think I will have to do it in stages about our vacation and all that we did, but first I need to start with what happened before we left.

Yes, I turned 30.

My dear friend and Lee's cousin, Audrey, and her family drove to visit us and spend a few days.  All the cousins love each other.  It was SO good to see them.  They live too far away and I wish we got to see them more often. 

My wonderful husband and dear friend, Cydney, (party planner extraordinaires) threw me a wonderful birthday party.  I told Lee I wanted it to not be a party about me, but just a fun time when our friends could get together in one place, and I think it was just that.  We had a bounce house for the kids.  Yes, I had a bounce house for my 30th birthday party.  There was also an ice cream sundae bar with 30 different kinds of toppings, a fun painting project, pin the cherry on the ice cream sundae, a photo booth, even custom water bottle labels.  

Did I mention it was like 100 degrees and my friends still came!

 

The finished product.  Each friend painted a square.  A great keepsake.

 

On my actual birthday I got to hangout with some great friends, eat a delicious Chipotle lunch, and spend the afternoon swimming.  All things I love.  I feel SO blessed and am already thankful for this 30th year!