Swinging Joel 8.9.16

Poor Joshua never got to use the baby swing due to our garage project.  So he finally got to use it when Joel gets to use it.  All of our kids have loved this swing.

Baby Joel...

Kindergarten for JP 8.8.16

We started our school year early.  We were ready and eager to get started.  I plan to do school year around (with lots of breaks).  The first week felt a little rocky for me, but we eased into it and she's enjoying her year (and I am too).

Blueberry crepes 8.6.16

It was Blueberry Festival day in Ketchikan.  Quent and I were both volunteering some time for the festival that day, so he picked an early morning time at the blueberry crepes booth for the Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad.  He brought home some "samples" for us to enjoy for breakfast.  Yum!  I volunteered some time later on that day to make cotton candy for Ketchikan Theatre Ballet.  It was a SWEET day!  Get it?  Ha!

Wrangell Visitors 8.5.16

Our friends Nate, Alicia ,and their kiddos Luke and Lily, were in Ketchikan for the weekend.  We had them over for dinner one night.  It was a fun visit and was fun to think back to those years we were wishing and hoping (if they read this they will know what I'm talking about). xoxo

Playing Dress-up 8.3.16

Joshua asks (yes, he asks) Jeralyn to dress him up...or maybe he asked me to put the dress on him this time.  It's so fun to watch the kids play together, even if Joshua makes his daddy shake his head.  Ha!

Great Lakes 7.21.16

We met my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins at a mall.  Our original plan was to meet with them at a park, but it was in the 90's this day and very humid on top of that.  It was so nice to see everyone!

Great Grandma holding baby Joel.

My cousin Nicholas and I.  I hadn't seen him for about 5-6 years!

My cousins Nick and Allison.

Uncle David

Joel got so comfy!

It was some time after this point that we lost Joshua.  He was playing in the play area and suddenly he was gone.  My heart was pounding and I was about to enter freak-out mode when a lady asked me if I was looking for a little boy.  I said I was and she told me where she last saw him.  I walked in that direction and another lady stopped me and asked if I was looking for a little boy with a plaid shirt on.  She said she just saw him in a dressing room in a store.  Ahhh!  So I rushed over and there he was, held in the store clerk's arms.  He was fine.  No tears.  I was like, "There you are!"  I assume he thought he was heading in our direction out of the play area, but he went the other way instead and just kept on walking.  So scary!  I thanked those two ladies (they are mothers of young kids too).

Joshua playing in the cars.

Jeralyn really wanted to ride the carousel so Great Grandpa treated them to a ride.

And then we had ice cream...because what is a Keller get together without ice cream?  *wink*  These are my people, for sure! *smile*  xoxo 

One last photo before concluding our time together.  I love and miss them so much!

Gramma Mary 7.19.16

I can tell this was one of those hot summer days in Michigan (the kids look hot).  Jeralyn would step outside of the air-conditioned house into the heat and she would say, "Is it hot out here to you too, Mom?"  It was like she wanted to make sure it was really happening.  I guess what's what happens when you are from Southeast Alaska where you have mild summers and it doesn't get very hot.  She loved the heat and the sun!

We did a little photo shoot with Gramma:

It's so hard to get everyone to look at the same time.

Oh Jeralyn!

The Leow's visit & trampoline antics 7.18.16

Our friend's Pat & Sara and their twins, Garrett and Olivia were in Roger's City while we were visiting Quent's family, so they drove over to spend the day with us.  It was so wonderful to see them since we haven't seen them since Jeralyn was 13 months old.

We went to a park to play and have a picnic pizza lunch.

And then later we had dinner with them at Smith Acres and then played on the trampoline before saying goodbye to them.  We are hoping to do another vacation with them soon.  It was so great to see them!

Good times with good friends!!

Insta-Michigan July 2016

I had some photos on my phone that I shared on Instagram (when I used to have an account).  I wanted to share those photos too.

My dad holding Joel.

My sister Amanda and I.  She's going to graduate from high school in 2017 and it's just crazy to me!  She's the same age I was when she was born (17 years old).  Love this girl so much!

Someone (*cough* GRANDMA) gave Joel a mohawk after a bath.

Aunt Harriet holding Joel.

Aunt Margaret feeding Joel.  He was pretty popular.

Natasha feeding the blind calf.  It was born that way and I hear it's doing really well.

Because you never out grow baby toys.  Right?

My friend Rebekah.  She's married to Quent's cousin, Brandon.  She and I were friends before were ever related.

We had a very short but very sweet visit with my friend Carrie and her daughter, Maggie, at Chili's on our way back down to my parent's.

Quent and I saw a Detroit Tiger's baseball came.  It was so fun to experience this with Quent.  And it was HOT.  Hot. It was *only* 75 degrees when the game started, but when it ended it was 83 degrees.  I drank 2 of those Icee drinks and tons of water.  We were practically melting in the direct sun.  When you live in Southeast Alaska, 60 degrees feels warm, so we were HOT.  Everyone else was hot too, just for the record.  The Tiger's didn't win this game, but it was a really great time!  My mom watched the kiddos (thank you!!).  It was like the best date ever.

My little man and I smiling at each other in the mirror.

And this is a little sneak peak of more pictures to come.  Sweet baby Joel fell asleep in Great Grandma's arms.  xoxo

Hello Smith Family 7.16.16

This was everyone at the reunion:

Jeralyn is making a goofy face.  There were 2 other group pictures like this one that Natasha shared with us, and in the other photos Jeralyn's eyes were closed and she was sticking her tongue out.  *shaking head* *sigh*  Kids these days!  It's so hard to get a decent photo of a big group like this.  Thank you, Natasha!