Bringing up Baby Brang!: Jump on in and Eat More Donuts!

Let's just start with Lalaloopsy's birthday. Laney was all tucked into bed one night when she very matter of factly let me know that the next day was Lala's birthday and we'd need to make her a cake. She settled for a candle in a banana muffin and we wrapped some gently used toys for her.

Laney rode her new big bike to the Ada Farmer's Market last week! The four of us rode almost 4 miles. She did awesome. We had lunch at Blimpie and picked up some strawberries, veggies, and a cupcake too. Farmer's Market Tuesday's will be fun this summer now that we can all ride!

These girls watching Carson work at his swim class and being the best cheerleaders! And speaking of Carson, he just passed his level 3 American Red Cross Swim Training! We are so proud of him he's turning into quite the swimmer. He looks way better than I do out there that's for sure. His favorite was that they learned how to dive...and with that Carson did his first official belly flop. It was a two week course so luckily Grandpa was able to help out a lot so the girls didn't have to go every day. Carson could not wait to show his Grandpa his certificate after the last day.

Carson was trying to build a fire using sticks on his advernture through the park with Grandpa after swim class.

Mustaches, that's what Carson picked up from the dollar store. Oh and a plastic gun that broke after 3 minutes.

Face timing with Evie and Maeve. Love it.

Always fun to visit with Baby Maeve in person too!

Grandma and Grandpa Brang came to stay over on Father's Day weekend! They watched the kids Saturday night and then hung out with us for Father's Day along with Aunt Dawn and Uncle Tom.

That's one FULL lap!

My helper at Forest Hills Grocery Store. We were getting supplies to make homemade strawberry shortcakes at Grandma and Grandpa's house. She picked out everything herself and told me to call her "Mom". Ha.

Evie just decided one day that the lawnmower is the COOLEST thing and that Daddy was the COOLEST because he pushes it. It was the first time in her life that she didn't want to come to me when I put my arms out. She screamed and clung to Patrick until I tore her away. Even inside she just sat at the window watching him finish up. So cute.

We just got back from a fabulous trip to Traverse City with Patrick's family and the Mazzetti's as well! Get ready, there are tons of pics and I didn't even include all of them. We went non stop from morning until night and we had the best time!

Evie loves the pool but she's really interested in jumping (aka falling/sliding) into the pool. Out, in, out, in...= exausting!

Our day at the beach was awesome. There was a pool right behind the beach area and the water was crystal clear. We stayed for about 5 hours until we just couldn't go anymore. Laney made some new friends that she ran around with and Carson went kayaking around the Bay with Patrick for an hour.

Carson could seriously stay out there all day long.

And then we rented the water trampoline! I stayed back with Evie that water was WAY TOO COLD for our liking.

After the beach we showered, changed, and headed to downtown Traverse City with no plans in mind. We found this great food truck spot where we all got to eat what we wanted, and it was delicious, sit outside, and listen to the band.

Right across from the food trucks was a little donut shop called Peace, Love, and Little Donuts...mmmm! So good we went back two more times!

We walked around exploring until about bedtime and then decided, why head back? It's vacation after all! My bff Courtney was staying with her family up on Old Mission Penninsula just 20 minutes away so we headed up the most scenic road, stopped to pick up some s'mores supplies, and met up with our best buddies!

Not a bad view from your summer home Mr. and Mrs. Cooley! I feel bad for you guys I really do. :-)

Just waiting for that row boat to tip...the kids ended up jumping off the boat with all their clothes on for a late night swim. They just couldn't help themselves!

Laney and Elle....does it get any sweeter?

Laney was all over those s'mores!

These two boys...they are the same ages that Court and I were when we met and became the best of friends. Luke, we love you buddy.

We had the best night with the Cooley's and Morin's. Thank you for having us for the evening! We had some very wet, exhausted, happy kids to carry into our condo late that night. And this Mom's heart was so completely full from getting to spend quality time with Court, Ben, Luke, Ellie, Drew, and Mr. and Mrs. Cooley of course! Watching our kids play with each other makes me the happiest!

Back at our donut shop! This time with Eliana and Addie! They loved it too!

Now that's a girl who is enjoying her donut!

Photo op! We spent the next day bouncing around Traverse City with the whole family.

Thanks for bringing us along with you on your trip Grandma and Grandpa!

The Brang/Mazloom/Stalder clan!

We told Laney and Carson that we were going to skip the fountains because we didn't bring swimsuits, towels, or a change of clothes downtown. That lasted a whole 2 minutes. Laney walked up to the fountain, turned and looked back at me and Patrick debating, then went full force through it all like a bird that had just been freed. She came running over soaking wet and said, "Sorry Mom, I just couldn't help myself". I'm glad she did because they had so much fun in those fountains for almost an hour while Everson took a quick snooze in the stroller.

Next stop, Right Brain Brewery! I mean the fun just never stopped!

Laney loves feeling those baby boys kicking their beautiful Mama!

Darts with Uncle Blake!

Finally won that toy after hours of playing and countless quarters lost. That was one expensive shark, but it kept him busy!

Then that night, we went back to the indoor pool. And guess who joined us...Courtney, Ben, Luke, Elle, and Drew-man!

Hot tubbing with a life jacket, safety first :-)

And last, to top off the night we stopped to get Moomers Icecream. Voted the best ice cream in the country. It was good, but don't get me wrong, it was no Cook's Dairy.

Evie completely confiscated my whole milkshake and she would not share once she had it in her hands.

The morning that we left Traverse, Aunt Beth and Aunt Sarah brought donuts back to the condo from Peace, Love, and Little Donuts for breakfast. Always room for another mini donut! We had an amazing trip...I'd say we left nothing on the table. Let your kids get their clothes wet, eat more donuts, and stay up late, right?! We caught up on sleep as soon as we got home and the kids will talk about those memories for a long time.

I'll just end this blog with Carson and Laney painting EACH OTHER'S nails and getting along about it. They didn't even notice me take the pic. I mean....ahhhhh!