Visitors

Many of you know how much I LOVE Howell corn, well as it turns out Lily is loving it too!

Sadly because of the heat and humidity our work-outs are not what they used to be in Oregon. Instead of 6-8 mile runs we are lucky to make 4 miles. So we have been riding our bikes lot. The first week I scored an old free beach cruiser from a garage sale down the street and Colin bought a great mountain bike for $30 so our bike riding has commenced again. Lily absolutely loves it. She points at her helmet and squeals, she loves to put it on and play with the buckle and wear it around the house. We can typically get 10 miles in before she asks to get down. Her vocabulary is changing/growing by the day. Our first day back on the bike she pointed at the bike and said, "buh-pff." Now every time she sees a bike she points and says buh-pff. Not to be confused with boat which is "buh."

It was a nice transition to have Katie and Harper here for our first few weeks of being in Michigan. We were able to see them a few times for lunch and dinner. Grandma Carol even made yogurt popsicles for the kids.

They came over one night with Katie's parents and my parents and we all swam after dinner. The kids were adorable.

Adjusting

Last week we had the opportunity to go up to my family's cabin for a few days (also 10 miles from where Colin grew up). It was beautiful and so peaceful. First of all we were lucky because southern Michigan was 95 degrees with 90% humidity and it was 90 degrees up north with a whole lot less humidity. Second of all we were lucky because we got to hang out on the dock and swim and throw rocks for two whole days. Lastly we got to see Marmie and Poppie and Uncle Dave and Aunt Carrie for 3 different nights.

Lily loved jumping off the dock (with our help of course). She would stand up at the edge and bounce up and down holding on to the post to ask to jump off.

Sitting in the sand looking at rocks. We spent 2 hours doing this.

Roxie has hated water ever since we got her but there were fish swimming everywhere and she she spent hours chasing the fish in the water. The next day she got in to a bees nest and her face swelled up the size of a football, one eye and ear swelled shut. It was so sad. Luckily we were able to call a few vet friends for advice.

We were able to do some really sweaty hiking.

It has been a nice transition back to Michigan. Katie and Harper have been here for 2 weeks and so the kids have had a chance to play a few times. Meg and Annette also just moved back from RI. They are living 20 minutes away so we are looking forward to lots of play dates.

When Harper saw Lily he gave her a big hug and kiss and then proceeded to kiss her the whole rest of the day. It was the sweetest thing! Above he is going in for it!

How can you not smile and laugh at this?

Lots of playing with Harper and Nettie!

The Move

We made it! After a month of craziness we are happy to call this home. Many of you have had to hear the long version of this last month but the Reader's Digest version is this: came to Michigan for interviews in June, found a job for Julie, then underwent a very ridiculous negotiation period which made us feel as if we had lost the job (they wanted me to sign a non-compete clause of 20 miles from their clinics and all other corporately owned clinics in the US), found tenets for our home in OR, we did not have a place to live in MI until our moving truck was in Nebraska, my job offer was finalized at the end of June 1 week before leaving for MI, Colin and I both worked a lot during the month of June whilst packing or looking for jobs or a place to live until midnight most nights, upon moving out we had minor plumbing issues that about put me over the edge, then on our last day in the house in OR I came home to to new tenet MOVED in 1 day early which was ok'd by the property manager we hired. So to say the least I had a bottle of wine readily available for the month of June. BUT last minute (the day after the truck arrived ) a small miracle occurred and we were able to sign a lease for the place we are in now (we were previously on board to sign a lease for a hole in the wall that butted up to a Ford dealership - it was so bad we titled it the Blooth house because it was blue and such a hole in the wall for all of you Arrested Development followers). So we have moved into a small cottage on a lake that has the most amazing sunsets!

Colin and Charlie drove this giant 26 foot truck while toeing a car 2,500 miles. Colin's fan/AC broke in Nebraska while Charlie was driving it on a 97 degree day so luckily my car was in tow and the AC worked so they switched the vehicles around and life was much better for them. The drive took 4.5 days. The guys and Roxie did such a great job.

We were so sad to leave our garden. This was a head of broccoli I picked right before leaving. It is to late to even plant pots in MI now and I am already having growers withdrawal. Luckily Brighton has a great farmer's market.

Our dear friend's Katie and Geoff watched Lily for 3 days while we packed the truck and cleaned the house with many other friends. I cannot imagine 2 1 year olds for 1 day let alone 3 days. We could not have done it without them. The kids had the time of their life and became even closer. We have so many adorable stories from this time. On the other side of things we had 1 week to pack and clean the house and there is NO WAY we could not have done it without our friends. It made it that much harder to leave such an amazing group of people. I can't tell you the number of times I have already said, "I wish.......insert your name here....could come over tonight." The hole in our hearts is large a the indebtedness is even larger. We love you guys and miss you so much.

It seemed so fitting that the day before leaving Eugene I ran 'The Butte to Butte' with Mike, Adrienne and Ana while pushing Lily in the stroller. The race is a 10K that spans from one side of town to the other starting and stopping at each Butte. The race has been a tradition for years for the Simpson's and Davis'. The race brought many tears and a lot of great memories back to mind. We all got personal bests even with pushing the strollers! Rosie and Lily got to ride on the school bus for their 1st time ever together and that made my heart smile. (Above: Lily, Adrienne and Rosie)

A very HAPPY daddy to be holding his little girl again. Lily is pointing and talking about the moving truck here. She loved the truck.

Father and son (and Roxie) happy to be at their destination!

I was ecstatic to see that nothing had moved and nothing was broken in the truck we packed with the help of a few amazingly strong men!

Pure craziness!

more craziness!

The movers (minus my dad) on the MI side! We cannot thank them enough. I have no idea how we would have survived without them.

We have a great patio over looking the lake. Side note Lily is so smart she is starting to copy everything we do - putting on sunglasses, shoes, headbands, toweling off.

A very happy Aunt Megan. Lily took the hat off of Megan and put it on her own head.