Big Girl Bed!!!!

Emma has now slept in her big girl bed 4 nights in a row!!!! She helped pick out her new bedding, and has been very excited to jump on it, lie in it, play on it, etc, but hasn't slept in it until this last week. We are very proud of her. We're planning on moving her completely into her new room in the next few weeks - making way for baby Jones! Yes, if anyone hasn't heard, we are due for number 2 in March 2009. Emma is very excited to be a big sister, and talks about sharing her crib with the new baby. (Let's hope this holds out. ) By the way....I have no idea why this is underlined, and I can't figure out how to turn it off. My computer savvy.

More Camping Photos

Emma and her baby tired out from the day's adventures.

Hmmm......I wonder what Daddy fed Emma.....powdered donuts??

The park was on Muskallonge Lake and Lake Superior. This day we spent at Lake Superior. The beach was beautiful stones mixed with the sand. We built a "mountain" of stones in the water, and learned what an agate looked like from some other campers who were rock hunting.

Gorgeous beach. Lake Superior was so calm.

We're back......

SO......we've had a busy summer, and the blog suffered. Thanks to everyone who visited and shared the beautiful summer days with us. I'm trying to get back in the swing of posting regularly.....we'll see how it goes. :) We took a small family vacation over Labor Day weekend, and went camping at Muskallonge Lake State Park. It was wonderful to have some time off and just relax. Emma LOVED camping!!!!!!

SMORES!!! Emma was an oooey, gooey mess and loved every minute of it.

Beach Babe!! Our friends, the Cain family - Jason, Becky, Andrew and Samantha-were camping near us in Grand Marais. We got to spend a day together on the beach, enjoying Lake Superior.

Emma and Momma at Sable Falls.

Here is Emma being silly and posing for the camera in her pajamas. She thought it was so fun to be outside in her pajamas every morning.

More posing in front of the tent.

Emma and Momma Being Silly

Emma and I had some fun with the camera.....

CHEESE!

Smooch!

OHHHHH! Silly faces.

I'm praying, momma!

Belly giggles!!! They are the best!

I am so thankful for silly girl days with my daughter. I put double french braids in her hair for the first time this day....I was amazed she sat still that long. They looked so cute, and she couldn't wait for daddy to get home to show him.

Engagements, Weddings, Anniversaries and More!

Engaged!!!! Lindsey and Kyle got engaged June 14th at Little Beaver Beach on Lake Superior! We are so excited for the big day and thankful Kyle let us be a part of this special event. Welcome to the family Kyle!!!

Married!!! My friend Jessica became Mrs. Jarrod Flood on June 21st in Sanbornton, New Hampshire. As you can see, it was an amazing outdoor wedding at Steel Hill Resort. What a view!!! Congratulations Jess and Jarrod!! We are blessed to have such wonderful neighbors!
Five Years!!!! Jess and Jarrod got married on our five year anniversary!!!! I was blessed to be her Matron of Honor, allowing Brad and I to spend our anniversary at a beautiful resort in New Hampshire. They had a special dance for us at the reception (and 2 other couples sharing their anniversaries). Jess even had them play the song Brad and I danced to 5 years ago at our reception. A very special surprise. I am thankful everyday for a strong, loving marriage. It's amazing how fast 5 years flies by.
We can't post without a new picture of Emma!! Here she is at Grandma and Grandpa Erickson's house playing in her new sandbox Grandpa and Dad put together for her. She loves to play outside and get dirty!
More wildlife!! We discovered this little fawn yesterday just beyond our front yard. It was so cute, all curled up!!! It even raised it's head and looked at us for a minute. We didn't want to scare it by getting too close, but I managed to get a few decent pictures. The zoom did a pretty great job. Last week we were able to see a doe with a newborn fawn in our backyard....it looked like it was just born!!! God's creation is so beautiful!

Work and Play

Here are some pictures from the past week. We got some work done around the house - two concrete slabs poured - and found some time for a little fishing. We are so thankful to be able to take time to "play" together this year.

Brad helping Emma make her footprints in the concrete.

Brad and my dad, hard at work. They made a great masonry team.

Brad.....trying to keep the paparazzi away.

I love the spring colors! We were on our way up to the lake, and the ride was just beautiful.....even in rush hour traffic. :)

Brad caught a few small mouth bass, pike, and one large mouth, while I caught some decent bluegill. It was fun to fish together.


Back to work. Emma was Daddy's helper. Do you see the resemblance? I even helped a little on this concrete pour. During this last pour, I had Emma on my shoulders watching Brad mix the concrete.....I walked into the backyard to see how our newly planted grass seed was doing.....as I'm looking at the ground, I hear Emma say, "Bear Momma." I look up and see a momma bear and two cubs in the woods just beyond our house!!!!! I ran for the camera and got Brad, but I didn't get back fast enough to get a photo. It was amazing to see them so close!

Tahquamenon Falls - Whitefish Point

Whitefish Point Lighthouse

Emma and Brad in the rowboat at the lower falls.
Exploring the island at the lower falls.
The Jones Family at the upper falls.

May 24, 2008

We took a day trip up to Whitefish Point and Tahquamenon Falls. At Whitefish point, we went through the lighthouse and Shipwreck Museum where they have the bell from the Edmund Fitzgerald on display. From there we went to both upper and lower Tahquamenon Falls. At the lower falls, we rented a rowboat to get to a closer look the falls and explore the island. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time. Emma loved the falls and being in the row boat!! We even saw a bear cross the road in front of us on the way home. A wonderful day.