St. Joseph, Michigan

We had an amazing first family vacation. We could not have picked a better location to visit or a more perfect hotel to stay at. Everything was walking distance, we were across the street from the beach and we didn't have to move our car once! We were able to check in to our room early which was awesome. We then changed and headed to the beach for a picnic lunch and play!

The Boulevard Inn

Checking out the hotel room!

Gorgeous beach!

Eating lunch!

Someone is excited...can ya tell?

Jemma liked the water too, but was equally happy sitting in the sand playing with the buckets and shovels! 

We headed back to the hotel for some quiet time, but had to stop at the Compass Fountain spray ground on the way back! 

 Dinner was at Silver Beach Pizza, followed by a ride on the Silver Beach Carousel and a little walk down Lake Blvd.

Day two began with breakfast at the hotel and a walk down Lake Blvd while we waited for the children's museum to open! We all had a blast!

Next was another picnic lunch and time at the beach!

Dinner on our last night was at The Buck. After dinner we rode the carousel one more time and then walked out on the pier!

On our last morning we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel and a stroll through downtown browsing the flea market and the Chalk the Block pictures before heading home. It was a packed but very fun and relaxing weekend!

Wrapping up July

We had such a fun and busy July that I never got around to posting until now! So, here is how we wrapped up July.

Ice cream, playing outside, chalk & a haircut for Jade!

Some special and fun time with my sister and the girls' cousins at an indoor playground, wild west town, train museum & a girls day at the mall where Jade and her cousin Cora got their ears pierced!

Spending the weekend in the Buffalo Grove area with the extended Obermayer family playing at parks, splash pads, eating and even some kid free time! Thanks for planning everything, Dad!!

..... and if you made it to the end, I will leave you with a few last pictures, because they are just too cute! :)

Jemma - 11 Months

Where oh where is the time going? How can my sweet baby girl be turning one in a month? Eek! 

Eleven things I want to remember about you at 11 months:

1. You learned to clap

2. Your favorite song is If You're Happy and You Know It

3. Your favorite foods are yogurt, macaroni and cheese, veggie sticks & graham crackers

4. You are obsessed with phones and remotes

5. Your chubby cheeks and big blue eyes attract attention everywhere you go

6. You pull to standing on everything and now cruise around it

7. You stayed overnight in a hotel for the first time, and did great

8. You can drink from a straw and have been enjoying smoothies 

9. You still have only 2 teeth

10. When given the opportunity you would climb the entire flight of stairs

11. Your favorite toys are the rock activity table, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse figurines and baby/cabbage patch dolls

Fourth of July

For the first time since having kids, Nate was off work for the 4th of July. In fact, he was able to get a few extra days off so he was home from the 3rd through the 7th! We had so much fun just hanging out as a family. The girls looked adorable in their matching 4th of July dresses, although Jemma's had to get bubbled up because it kept getting in the way of her crawling.

The girls spent the afternoon playing in the kiddie pools! Obviously this is Jemma's pool, Jade has a larger pool not pictured!

Jade also got to test drive her new Viper. This was a hand-me-down from Nate's cousin Michael.

We even kept the kids out way past bedtime and tackled the fireworks! We found a spot to park at a nearby high school where we had a great view. Both kids were pretty unimpressed, haha. I think by the time the fireworks started (after 9:30) Jade was pretty exhausted.

Nate and I even got to spend a night out at the Naperville Ribfest which included a concert by one of our favorite country groups, The Band Perry! Good food, good music & GREAT company! :)

Jemma - 10 Months

Ten things I want to remember about you at 10 months:

1. You have two teeth

2. You are constantly in motion and now crawl on all fours, very fast

3. You can pull yourself to standing and try to do so on just about anything you can reach

4. You tried and liked some new foods this month including pizza, spaghetti, green beans, peas and bananas

5. When not after Jade's toys, you love playing with your baby dolls & the play kitchen food and dishes

6. You are very vocal (screams and babbling) but no real words other than an occasional mama when you're sad

7. You love swinging at the park

8. You enjoy when I read books to you

9. You don't like getting dressed and roll over when getting your diaper changed

10. You still have the most beautiful blue eyes