Big boy!

With Mason being just days from his first birthday and having been out of his routine while we
were in Michigan, I saw the perfect opportunity to switch him from bottles of formula to
sippy cups full of whole cows milk! It didn't make sense to get him back into his old routine for a few
days and then switch him. To my surprise, he's done great and he's even been sleeping better
at night!  He's also started standing on his own and has learned to crawl up and , most importantly, DOWN the stairs. It seems a much as I want to keep him this age, he is set on growing up!

Big boy water bottle! Thanks, Grammy!

I pulled the cushions off the couch to give Mason a chance to
climb in a safe place. He and Mack played here for an hour!

Michigan Adventures

What better way to detail our trip than a host of pictures? Here they come ( in no particular order)

Finally! Grammy :)

Mack checkin' out her loot

Mason had two birthday celebrations while in Michigan. This
is is how he reacted to his very own cake at Grammy's.

Opening presents with Aunt Janet

Mack climbing the wall at the Hands on Museum

Just like a day had never passed since last we saw Aunt Meg

Grammy doing some research at the museum

She's spent a lot of time plucking the green balls out of the
pit at the museum

A trip to our favorite zoo was in order- off to Toledo we went

Happy Birthday celebrations with the Wilson's!

An evening walk with Grammy

Where ever I go, March Mamas are a must!

THAT is how Mac and Cheese should be done! We had
dinner at the Pizza House on our last night in Michigan

We braved the cold to get in some time at McHattie Park

I was able to snap a few pictures of the Wilson's after the egg hunt

Mason's first trip to Ann Arbor, The Farmer's Market and Zingermans!

Mack atop a huge pile of poop at the zoo

Griffin having fun at the Egg hunt

Not in the mood for pictures, mom!

 Going home is never the fun part of any vacation. There always seems to be a bit of a hang over from all the fun and the let down of it being over. This was especially true for us.  Mike got very sick while we were in Michigan ( Just before his big presentation, as luck would have it. Strange since Mike never gets sick!). Not only that, Mack and Mason both seemed to have a touch of what he had. Despite it all, travel went well until we hit Nebraska. We'd been watching a storm tracking across Colorado . It dumped 11 inches in parts of Metro Denver ( not our area, thankfully) and then parked over Nebraska...and that's where we met it! There wasn't much snow but high winds and ice closed I-80 from mid-Nebraska to the Colorado border. We, along with a large number of fellow high way travelers pulled off to wait it out. Arbys was the only place around and boy was it packed! We got side lined again as we got closer to the border but still made it home that day. Thankfully! Mike went to the doctor first thing the next morning and came home with antibiotics for a sinus infection, infected ears and antibacterial eye drops for the infection that settled in his eyes! Home, sweet home, Indeed!

Ellie got to ride up front the last quarter of the ride.

My mom, who'd been taking care of our house, had a hot dinner ready for us.
Mason nearly jumped out of my arms into hers and we all settled in for a really
cozy first night home. Thank you to all our Michigan family for such a great, but much too short, visit!

Let's go, go , GO!

Are we ready for this?

The day had finally arrived! I'd spent the days before packing and cleaning and organzing while Mike worked and suddenly it was time to head to Michigan! Mackenzie was so excited she could hardly sleep the night before. I , too, had a tough time sleeping. Like most people, a million last minute thoughts raced through my mind and the anxiety of taking the whole family on cross country trip plagued me. Once Mike got home , we loaded up and headed out! The kids were both fantastic the entire 1200 miles there and back. Ellie was on her best puppy behavior and we all had a really good trip!  Of course, the hotel was the high light of the road trip both there and back.

Nothing feels better than a warm bath after a long day in the car

Bright eyed and bushy tailed and ready to go!

Our girl was fantastic!

Slightly sleepy

As a baby , Mack would really only sleep in her crib or the car. I sort of envied those pictures I saw of babies falling asleep in their dinner or mid-play. Last week I got my first chance at a picture like those I'd seen. Mack was so sleepy after school, she fell asleep in a chair on the patio!

Easter flop

Don't let the title fool you. Our Easter weekend was pretty great. The flop part came when my memory card for my camera bit the dust, deleting all my Easter photos . Despite that, we ended up having a busy and fun filled weekend. We celebrated Mike and Carley's birthdays ( since we got snowed out on Mike's actual birthday). Mike and my dad smoked a load of ribs and everyone came for dinner. The kids had an Easter egg hunt and then dyed eggs before we headed home to put our little bunnies to bed. Mack was excited to see two Easter baskets filled with goodies waiting on the table. After Mason's afternoon nap, we headed out to Grams and Papas for ham and scalloped potatoes!  The days flew by and now we're loading up for our big trip east!

Stretching my artistic muscles

My love of photography has always been present but when I had Mackenzie, it became more than just something I'd learn " some day". I felt a responsibility to capture special moments for her, photos that would jog foggy memories later in life and help recreate feelings she had as a child. One of the best material gifts I've ever gotten is my DSLR camera , given to me three years ago by Mike. I love every bit of photography, from seeing a photo in my mind and figuring out how to make it happen before I even push a button to editing the hundreds pictures I've taken. With the help of some good photography friends, I've really learned a lot over the last year. Because I post so many photos, friends that I haven't seen since high school now recognize my kids before they recognize me when we run into them around town. Lately, I've been branching out and taking pictures of people other than my two favorite subjects. I have no desire to take pictures professionally but I can't describe the excitement and joy I get when I capture a photo that I know a good friend or family member will love. I have a long way to go with lots left to learn but it sure has been fun along the way. I got to snap Logan's 9 month pictures today. I don't know who was more thankful- Cass for me taking Logan's pictures or me for her letting me take them! Here's a favorite:

He makes it so easy! Look how beautiful he is!

Mission accomplished!

Mack's New Years resolution was to learn to tie her shoes and to grow freckles. Phase one: completed!