Schooner or Later

While we were in Wisconsin we got to go for a sail on a replica of a 19th century schooner! It was a great experience, the boat was beautiful! I didn't think to get any pictures of the entire boat with all the sails open, so you'll have to just take my word for it -- it was a site to see! (found a photo here) The crew lives on the boat year round, they're based in Milwaukee, but sail the Great Lakes and up to Canada in the summer months, then head south along the east coast when the weather turns cooler, stopping at various festivals and festivities in port cities along the coast.

The SV Denis Sullivan bell and anchor...

Funny face...

Pirate baby! Argh!

It was a beautiful evening for a sail! The kids and Bj got to help hoist the sails and the kids got to see lots of real life pulley application! :) (We'd been studying simple machines just before the trip!) It was fascinating to watch the crew running around doing their thing, singing, climbing rigging and to listen to them calling out the commands and sailing jargon!

Sheboygan again!

There was a wonderful little children's museum just across the street from our hotel! There was lots for the kids to explore, and best of all, we had the entire museum to ourselves! No one else was there on a Saturday on Labor Day weekend??!! Weird.

Clowning around...

This was one of those pin board things, and it was HUGE!

A fun little machine made up of every day objects -- Alex was fascinated!

It was a wonderful afternoon, inexpensive, lots to do and we had the run of the place! :)

Lake Michigan

Earlier this month, we took a lovely long weekend together to Sheboygan, WI. We ignored the fall colors creeping up behind us and partied on the beach like it was July and school hadn't started 2 weeks earlier. A gorgeous, relaxing, wonderful weekend! The lake is absolutely beautiful, the beaches perfect and nearly empty, aside from us and the seagulls.

Hard at work on a masterpiece... castle craftsmen need to be on constant guard, there's a marauding baby along these shores!

Hi Baby. You're cute.

Sprinklering!

I know it's not a word.

Anyway, this one cracks me up:

Don't ask about the green armpit. I don't know.

Good times at Grandma's!

Brother love.

This brother love they share is wrestly, wriggly and noisy!! I see a lot of broken lamps and vases in my future.

It'll be worth it though.

Summer...

is already almost over? As always, it's been flying by.... our summer has included lots of fun so far! Camping: Fun. Exhausting. Sunburning. Worth it.

"Fires are smokier than I thought!" said Abs...

But still so fun!! (A few too many marshmallows, perhaps?)

2 nights of camping were followed by a stay at water park resort in Wisconsin Dells. Hotels are blessedly comfortable after camping. 3 cheers for beds! And friends to share breakfast with!

Next, on to the watery fun!!

The waterpark was a complete hit with all!! SO much fun! Alex is still too short for the big slides and is now counting the months until he's 4. (we're all hoping 4 = tall enough!!) Abs and Ezra loved the big slides -- and happily skipped up the 16,492 steps to the top, cheerily calling, "Come on, Mom!"

Time to dry! Goofiness going on in the whole body blow dryer...

Oh my... he's cute. Here's the first of Elijah's customary bathtub pics...

Oh my, my...

Elijah was the pre-fireworks show this year... good gracious... those eyes! Those cheeks! I can't stand it. I have to go kiss them right now...

"Abby, smile!"

"I am!"

"No, a normal smile!"

"I am!"

I give up, back to baby...

Good thing the fireworks finally started, I was running out of camera memory. Fireworks with friends = almost as fun as camping and water sliding with friends.

Around home -- tea parties.

A new Martha craft book. Yes. Fun. I heart Martha.

Finger painting. Alex notes, "Mom, finger painting is SO fun, I just don't understand!" (?? I guess that means he likes it.)

Artsy Smartsy class at the library has been fun, but is sadly almost over... then it's swimming lessons for 2 weeks, then 3 days of "Ocean Odysseys Vacation Bible School", then back to school already! I'm almost all set for the new year of homeschool and Abby is dying to get into her crisp new math books and readers!

Elijah's got some lovely, shiny new teeth, and is working on a few more... he follows the big kids all day, pulls up to standing and gets into ev. ry. thing. All. The. Time.

In fact, he's been very quiet for quite a while...

Awww...