The Summer of the Car Seat

We have been traveling quite a bit...

and this is how Lucy feels about it.

Actually, that was her at her happiest in the car. We did a lot of stopping because she just wanted to be held and cuddled for a while, or stretch her legs out. But, I think we're done traveling for a while! Here's what we did:

After coming back from summer training, we spent one week at home, and then took off again for Wisconsin for a very PACKED two weeks. The first weekend, we traveled a few hours north to the Stanley family reunion which took place at Aunt Val and Uncle Mike's house. They have a beautiful house right on Lake Michigan. Basically, there back yard ends in a kind of cliff and there is the lake. Beautiful! As I sat in their living room breastfeeding Lucy and looked out their huge windows to a great view, I thought, "I could get used to this..." Unfortunately I didn't get too many pictures of the day. Lucy was a little out of sorts from all the driving. But, here is some kite-flying.
During the weeks, we spent a lot of time visiting friends and family, and when we weren't doing that, James spent time fundraising while Lucy and I hung out on the farm. Lucy decided to do quite a few "firsts" there: she rolled over from her back to her belly for the first time, got her first tooth, and sucked on her toes for the first time! I just missed getting a picture of it.


As I'm writing about all of this, I'm realizing how many pictures I should've taken and didn't! I definitely should have gotten more with Grandma and Grandpa, and also some of the bachelorette party that I threw for my maid of honor who is getting married in October. Bummer!

Anyway, here are some pictures I did take of a memorable day spent at Karen (James' half sister) and Don's house.

Two of our nieces, Bella and Zoe, riding their little vehicle (I'm not really sure what to call those things).

Caitlin and Tessa playing.

Lucy and I enjoying the beautiful Wisconsin weather. And when I say Lucy was enjoying it, I mean that! She LOVES trees. She'll just stare at them for as long as you let her, and lately she'll reach out for them too, no matter how far above her they are. The only other thing that gets this reaction is feet. She loves those too! Any feet-- her own, mine, strangers... Ahem, anyway!

We almost got a wonderful Stanley grandchild picture (minus Adriana and new baby Haley!), but Caitlin was more interested in acting like a frog at the moment : )

She ended up crouching on a rock while everyone tried their best to get her to come back, but with no luck! I should take a moment to say how much James' nieces are in love with Lucy. A lot. Bella especially could just love on Lucy all day long! When Caitlin and Bella realized that I was absent from the party for about 2 minutes, they went all over the house looking for us, until they found us in Tessa's room. I had Lucy under a blanket breastfeeding and she had fallen asleep. They decided that they would wait for her to wake up, even though I told them it might be a long time. And they were very good whisperers too.

On our last weekend in Wisconsin, we got to go to the wedding of one of James' groomsmen, Jack. Jack chose his four college roomates (including James) to be the ushers. At the beautiful country church where their wedding was held, there happened to be bells. At the rehearsal, the boys noticed the bells. I think the bride's father did as well, and basically the boys all got their secret wish of being able to ring the bells at the end of the wedding. Here they are practicing before the wedding.

It was a very nice wedding, and another gorgeous Wisconsin day. One of our favorite parts was spending a lot of time with old friends, especially James' old roommates and their significant others. They are such a fun group. Here is Sarah (who was married in the wedding I mentioned in the last post) playing with Lucy at dinner.

The day after the wedding, we decided we had not traveled enough, so we got up ridiculously early and packed up the car so that we could drive home and make it to my niece Taylor's 3rd birthday party, which is about an hour from our house. So, about a 7 hour drive. And then another hour home after the party. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the birthday girl (she was pretty busy), but I did get a picture of Lucy getting interested in their dog Hoss.

So there you have it! Our summer travels. Almost. We have one more trip to make, which will be a mini-vacation to the Lake of the Ozarks. Just don't tell Lucy.