Loving Leland Part 2

We are down to our last few days in Leland and we have been having a great time. Uncle Cullen, Kristen, Jon and Jamie joined us last weekend - It was a little cool but we made the best of it. 

• We visited the Lighthouse in Northport with the Lawrence's. Avery and Matilda did a scavenger hunt in the museum and both got suckers and also climbed to the top of the lighthouse. 
• We went to Lisa and Kirk's house and saw baby Clara and got to go for a boat ride. Avery LOVED driving the boat.
• We hosted a big dinner party for everyone one night and had over 20 people at the cottage. The rain held out and it was just a great time. 
• Had a great dinner in the rain at Martha's under the sails. There was live music and Avery danced with Uncle Cullen and Hung. And got to try on Kristen's lipstick.
• We made it to the beach even though it was a little chilly. 
• On Hung's last day, we went to the Children's Museum in Traverse City. It was small, but Avery had a blast and we had to drag her out. There was a puppet theater that she really liked and lots of boats and nautical things to play with - she was off in her own world and had tons of fun.

I am back working this week so Avery is playing with G and Papa. They are getting lots of good walks, library time and park time. Avery is one lucky girl!!

Northport Farmers Market and Lighthouse

Avery was being Callie the Cat in this picture - she had to "meow" and couldn't smile

Friday Night BBQ

Boat Ride with the Taylor's

Beach with Uncle Cullen

Playing at the Children's Museum (She really was having fun despite the stoic face)

Pretending to be Ella the Elephant with a magic hat at the park

Avery trying on Kristen's Lipstick

Loving Leland 2014 - Part 1

We are lucky enough to be able to spend 3 weeks in Leland this summer. Avery and I started the trip with my mom for the first week. We arrived on the day of the St. Mary's Festival and Avery got to ride ponies, play lots of games and get her face painted. We were joined the first couple days by Kathleen and the McDaniel girls and headed to Smocks, Paper, Scissors in Glen Arbor since it was a little cool. It warmed up later in the week and we got lots of good beach time, walks around town, trips to the Farmer's Market, time at the park and yummy meals! Avery has been loving the local park - She pretends to be Sheriff Callie and the alligator bouncy toy is her horse named "Sparky" and we have to go "Vanilla Plains" and save Toby (where she then turns into Doc McStuffins and gives Toby a check up). 

Hung and Du joined us at the end of the week and the Lawrences also arrived so we have been busy! Luckily, it's been pretty warm so we have had some great beach days and also went Cherry Picking in Traverse City which was really fun. Cullen, KJ, John and Jamie are joining us tomorrow and we are looking forward to a full house for the weekend.

Some memorable Avery things so far:

• Whenever she falls she tells us "Don't worry - It was a soft landing"
• She is really into her "cousins" Knuckles and Tandori - Talks about them a lot and tells us where they are and when they are doing. A lot of times they are at meetings.
• One night my mom was trying to put her to bed and she heard Chuck, Hung and Du talking downstairs and asked what they were talking about. My mom said maybe Golf or casinos. And Avery goes "Or maybe Chipmunks and Squirrels?". Possibly.....
• She is making lots of "deals" - Always starts with "OK, here's my deal......". The deals are usually terrible like "Here's my deal, how about I not rinse off, put on a dress, eat a snack and watch my show and no bath. How that deal?". She was COVERED in sand - No Deal! 
• She has a new pretend friend named "Texty" - She likes to call Texty a lot.
• Avery has been really into fans and pretend cell phones. She told us she doesn't need to charge her phone because it's only pretend and whenever she calls Knuckles, he never answers. 
• Avery took a bad fall when she was at the park with my mom and they went to dinner afterwards and my mom was so nervous and kept asking Avery if she was OK. At one point she said "Avery does your chest still hurt?" And Avery said "Uh G, I am eating my chicken now, My chest hurt when I fell and now I am OK and just eating Chicken."
• Avery has named one of her pool noodles "Melinda" - It's a dog and she feeds it treats by sticking them down it's "mouth". Melinda needs lots of naps, too!
• She responds a lot with "That's COOL!".

St. Mary's Festival

Smocks, Paper, Scissors and Cherry Republic

Naked Beach Time at Sutton's Bay

Lake Michigan

Hanging Out in Leland

Cherry Pickin' Fun