Baseball in the backyard

We spent a wonderful number of nights playing baseball in the yard this summer. TJ tried out his new glove, and both boys took plenty of batting practice. 

A+ for effort!

And the video:

We started Jojo out on the tee, but he wanted to hit like TJ. He's doing amazingly well for an almost 2-year-old!

Especially when the camera is out, it feels like 100 swings for every hit, but when he gets in a groove it's probably 1 hit for every 6 or 7 swings. And yes, he prefers lefty for hitting though seems to be a righty for everything else.

Working on getting hands ready to catch.

Hot Day in St. Joe's

We picked one of the hottest weekend days of the summer to meet up with Kathy and try out the beach at St. Joe's. It was...crowded. But the beach sure is prettier on the Michigan side of the lake--sandy, blue water, gentle waves...

The highlight of the afternoon was not actually the beach, but the water park right behind it. The boys loved it!

The water shot a good 6-8 feet in the air, but the boys preferred just to stand on top of the water spouts.

On the beach...it was almost as crowded as our visit to Coney Island when we lived in NJ--you weave your way around beach towels, sunbathers, and umbrellas.

The boys also loved the painted trains, cars and planes situated around town.

We let TJ get an ice cream cone. He saw some other kids with Superman--blue, red, and yellow ice cream--and had to have it. I was really hoping I could steer him toward something chocolate so that I'd want to share. No such luck. He had a blast eating the cone, but wow, was he messy! 

Everyone who walked by commented that it was good his ice cream matched his shirt!

The tube ski!

We've been talking up the idea of water skiing to Thomas all summer, but he wasn't quite convinced. Uncle Mark found this "tube ski" and TJ wanted to try it. 

Niki started out by pulling him along shore. She was key in convincing him to ride behind the boat.

Then he got braver and went behind the pontoon boat. Love the thumbs up he's giving here! He had a blast and started waving to people on shore, as well as tucking the rope in the crook of his elbow, something he's seen me and Ed do frequently.

Here's what Ed was doing while TJ was behind the boat: holding the other end of the rope!

Check out that skiing hair!

Water fun at Pearl

July 4th weekend continued...plenty of water fun!

Thomas and I tubed with Corey and Niki

Hanging out on Mable during the booze cruise. TJ was getting dragged along just for fun!

Cousin fun on the boat--the boys are both so sweet to James!

Do you see Jojo in the exersaucer?

With second cousins Abby and Gwennie

Uncle Pat helped Thomas catch a fish

Jojo tries out his new fishing pole with Buppa

Love that red hair!

Jimmy James gets a headfirst dip into the lake!

The inflatable fish has been very popular with each of the boys. 

Jet skiing with Corey

Jojo's hanging on Big Mable with Niki

He can fly!

TJ decided he didn't want to tube with Grammy and Buppa but Jojo did!

And then he changed his mind...

Lunch on the pontoon

What a great nap spot!

Niki took Thomas for a ride on the paddleboard.

Jimmy James snoozing in his mama's arms

Squirt noodles!

Swimming under the pontoon boat

More squirting fun

Water fight!

Water fight continued!

Celebrating the 4th of July

We started the day out at the Schoolcraft July 4th parade--a fantastic small-town event. The boys had on their flag shirts that I'd made and snacked their way through the parade with preschool friends, oohing and aahing over tractors and trucks.

Very exciting giant John Deere tractor!

Later that afternoon we headed up to Pearl Lake. Apparently everyone else was out celebrating, because we made it in record time, and even got to see fireworks that night on the lake.

Three cousins decked out for the holiday!

Thomas helped carry the supplies for my uncle's fireworks extravaganza

That is A LOT of fireworks! My uncle and cousins rig them up so the fuses are all attached. They light a long fuse and push the raft away into the lake. Then we all enjoy 20 minutes of fireworks!

Every year we take a family pic on the front porch. Look how it's changed over the last few years:

2009

2010

2011

2012