July 2015

What isn't to love about sweet summertime?  Fireworks, farmers markets, family and friends to visit with.  It was glorious.  Toronto is in it's prime at this time of year and we're trying to make the most of it while in town.   

July Chicago Visit

James Robert and I extended our 4th of July trip and headed to Chicago for a few weeks to visit with family and friends.  Our visit was filled with non-stop fun activities!

Visiting the Arboretum where Mommy and Daddy got married

Blackberry Farm

James Robert's second carousel ride of the trip

James Robert's first trip to the dentist visiting Dr ("Aunti") Eryn!

Celebrating Gram's Birthday

Lots of play time with Aunt Nikki

Visiting Downtown Naperville

Brookfield Zoo

Visiting the Monkeys and Gorillas

I even managed to sneak away for an evening out with friend's!

Great Lakes Ranch: Yakety Yak

Just a quick PSA.  If you haven't slipped your foot into an alpaca and yak lined sock, you're not living. Yes, I am aware that it is the middle of summer.  But moving to Canada will make one prepare for winter months in advance.  Let me explain...

We discovered these gems while visiting Great Lakes Ranch.  

We came as a fun activity for James Robert, which it was (yaks are adorable).  And we discovered that they also make incredibly soft wares. We left with a few pairs of, what I'm sure will be, a winter necessity.  

P.S. Great Lakes Ranch was just featured on Blue Collar Millionaires and it's fascinating to learn about how they breed the alpacas and yaks!

July 4th in Northern Michigan

There is an earnest wholesomeness in the summertime of Northern Michigan that induces nostalgia and childlike-joy to bubble up. Besides the cherries, it’s one of my favorite things about visiting this area every year. 

It's become a family tradition to come back to the U.S. for 4^th of July while we are expiating. A patriotic pilgrimage, if you will.   Living in a different country, albeit hours away made this year’s celebrations one of the best yet. 

Polka Festival in Cedar

Parade in Glen Arbor

Fireworks over Little Travese

Second Annual Flag Cake

June 2015

June was a gem.  Sunshine, salt air, fresh fruit etc. Summer announced it's presence and we've been taking after-dinner walks to commemorate the extra daylight.  In fact, we have been walking everywhere- to the farmers market, library, parks, restaurants and cafes. Our little town may be quaint, but we love being able to take advantage of all it has to offer at our doorstep.  

Strawberry Picking + A Recipe To Use Them

We've been reading Blueberries for Sal on repeat lately.  Kuplink, kuplank, kuplunk!  is the refrain of berries in a bucket that causes a shriek of giggles on each reading.  We attempted to duplicate the fun by doing our own picking and strawberry fields are plentiful in our neck of the woods.  

It was wonderful to pick and use our bounty.  With countless recipes to try, we opted for one with the greatest ease- a strawberry shortcake trifle.  The layers are pound cake, whipped cream, strawberries and an extra special layer of whipped cream that is pink due to mashing a few strawberries and adding powdered sugar.  Easy peasy and so delicious.  

One Happy Island: A trip to Aruba

That magical moment when you arrive on vacation:  

Our wonderful trip to Aruba could be summarized by the following sequence- beach. pool. drink. eat. repeat. 

Of course, we squeezed in a few of our other favorite activities such as Scuba diving, iguana feeding and sunset gawking.

   But the best part was getting to spend time together as a family.