JW Marriott

Last year I took this picture.

DJ, without telling me, submitted it into a photography contest through the West Michigan Tourist Association.  We won.  He called me from work, ecstatic, because we won a one night stay at the JW Marriott in downtown GR.  Complete with a couples massage, and a gift card to Six.One.Six.  While we both were excited, at the time, High Maintenance Baby Ellary was only 4 months old.  She was still waking up every hour at night, and I couldn't get her to take a bottle.  Meaning, there was no way we could leave her.  We figured we would wait a few months, maybe we could use it for our anniversary in December.  Unfortunately, her sleeping got worse before it got better.  We were exhausted, and our gift certificate got tucked away in the hutch, and we sort of forgot about it.  We decided we would try to use it for our 5th Anniversary this December.  When we realized it would expire in August, if we didn't use it, we called to have it extended, but they wouldn't let us.  Part of me figured we would just lose it-there was no way I could leave Ellary for more than an hour.  Then, our sweet girl decided to became a little more independent.  She still definitely needs Mama at night, but we could leave her with Nana all afternoon, then Nana could bring the kiddos down town at night.  

DJ and I haven't gone out, just us, since before Karson was born.  We left after the kids went down for their naps, and headed downtown.  We checked in, went to TGI Friday's for a drink and some spinach dip, and took a walk along the river.   We had scheduled massages, and when we were waiting DJ started talking. I shushed him...it was quiet...I was enjoying it!  After our massage (amazing) we ordered a pizza and took it to Rosa Parks Circle.  

Nana dropped off our kiddos after dinner, and I was ready for them to join us!  I loved the few hours of quiet, but I missed my babies!  We took them swimming...they reminded us they are complete opposites.

Karson swam for a few minutes, got cold, and snuggled in a towel.

Ellary swam, and swam, and swam, and swam until she was blue and shivering.  

She cried when we made her get out.

One of my favorite moments from the trip was when the kids were eating left over pizza, that we had ripped into small pieces, off the ottoman, with a towel over it.  ...at the JW Marriott.  Nice

The view of the sunset from our room.

While the kids were eating their pizza, they saw the horse & carriages walking along the bridge.  They started jumping up and down and screeching with excitement.  We decided to get them dressed up again, and take them for a walk, in Down Town Grand Rapids, at 10:00 at night.  When we walked into the lobby, there was a band playing, and people all over with drinks.  We walked out of the elevator with our massive stroller, and our 1 and 3 year old started dancing and waving at everyone.  Priceless!  Needless to say, they were the only kids out and about, but it was a fun memory, and the kids loved every second of it! We walked around looking for the horses for a long time.  

"Look Mommy, its the white horse.  Look, Baby Ella, its the brown horse.  Mommy, look look!!" 

We knew breakfast wouldn't use up all of our gift card money, so we ordered room service when we got back to our room.  Fresh chocolate chip cookies with chocolate milk.

The next morning, everyone was a little sleepy...

...and a little disappointed that the horses weren't on the bridge again. :)

We all got ready, and went out for an amazing breakfast.  So, so, so, so good! So much so that I will be asking for breakfast there for Mother's Day, or my birthday next year...or sooner.  So so good!

Before we left, we took a walk down town to get some pictures of the kids....

It was a fun night away!!

A Full Beach Day

I remember, when I was little, my parents putting us in the motor home first thing in the morning, and heading straight to the beach.  We would stay there all day, get motor home "showers," jammies on, and would fall asleep in the motor home on the way home at night.  I have many memories of days like this, and although I have said for the last few years that I wanted to do this with our kids, we just never did.  I said this year would be different.  We would be picking the nicest day each weekend.  Luckily, DJ is on his summer schedule- every other weekend he gets a 4 day weekend.  Yay! 

There are only 2 spots we can pull our travel trailer into in the day area.  They are first come, first serve.  Meaning, we have to get there right when they open.  It is a half hour drive.  We put the kids in the car, straight from their beds, at 6:30am. 

Kids in jammies at the beach.....there are few things better.

The kids played in the sand dune with DJ while I made breakfast in the trailer.  Sausage, eggs, and banana pancakes on the beach...yes please.  All things are better on the beach. 

I wanted to bring breakfast over to a picnic table by the water, but Karson was so excited about being in the trailer that we ate breakfast in the trailer.

Funny aside: I brought my Keurig with me.  It was only 7am when we got to the beach.  I had every intention of making myself a cup (or 3) of coffee to take down to the beach.  I knew we had to run off battery, since our trailer wasn't plugged in.  I did not, however, know that because of this the plugs wouldn't work.  Basically, I didn't realize until I got there that I couldn't make coffee.  Not cool.  Also, the little cafe beach store opened at 10:00-3 hours later.  Also, we didn't bring cash and there was a $5 minimum...yea I got 2 really expensive cups of coffee....at 10:00. 

We were the first ones on the beach.  Which meant we got the spot right on the water, straight down from the board walk!

New toy.  The kids kinda lucked out with the $5 minimum rule.  Mommy got a cup of coffee.  Kids got a new toy.

The kids played and played and played all morning.  We went back to the trailer at lunch time, and brought our lunch to the channel to eat.  

 After lunch, is exactly why we bring the trailer with us:

While she napped, brother did this:

Another cup of coffee for Mommy.  Another new toy for the kids.

He was so excited to take a nap in the trailer, that he couldn't fall asleep.  Funny.  Luckily, he stayed in a pretty good mood all day.

Sister woke up, to join the fun....

Then back to the beach we went.

We played for a few hours, and then it started pouring. 

Sideways.

We got drenched, and while everyone was scurrying to their cars to leave, we were playing in the trailer.  I was determined to "save" the rest of the day.  Even if it meant playing in the trailer.  We decided to take the kids out for dinner, instead of grilling on the beach, to see if the rain would pass over.  It did, and after dinner, it was beautiful out again.  

Back to the beach we went...

Daddy taught the kids the art of running from the waves....which were freezing.

Nana even joined us for a few hours.

 

Ella tries so hard to keep up with Karson, but she have not so great balance.  Also, she got knocked over by a wave, and was extremely leery of the water.  Bad combination.  Sister spent a lot of time on the ground from trying to run too fast.

 

I am wrong.  

There is something better than babies in jammies at the beach...

Babies in matching stripe jammies at the beach...

...loving on their little sisiter.

Before we left, we caught the sunset.  

The kids fell asleep on the way home, and we put their little sleepy-sandy-sun kissed-bodies in bed. 

It is my favorite way to spend our day.

And I love that my kids are making the same memories I did when I was little.

What we have been up to lately...

An Update

Truth?  Transitioning from one child to two about did me in.  Add in a baby who never sleeps and a big brother who has struggled with his new title, and you have a Mama who has had to let go of some things.  Obviously, my blog has been one of them...cleaning my house and keeping up on the laundry also have made that list.  Yesterday, for the first time in almost 13 months, Ellary took a three hour nap.  A 3 hour nap that she wasn't being held for.  Granted-she was in the stroller...still an accomplishment none the less.  In addition to the fact that she was sleeping in the stroller, Karson was sleeping in his bed.  The first time ever in 13 months that Ellary has slept that long, not in my arms.  The first time ever they have slept that long at the same time.  We parked Ellary in the shade on the front step, turned on Pandora...and cleaned our garage.

I have grown accustomed to the sleep deprivation.  That, and Ellary is sleeping longer than an hour at a time now.  Sometimes she even sleeps for 3 straight hours at night.  I have been told countless times to stick her in her crib and let her cry.  I have even been told this is some...not so nice...ways.   We haven't, and we won't.  Right now she needs her Mama at night, and in the morning, I need my Keurig.

After struggling with his role as a Big Brother, Karson has been blowing me away lately.  I hear him say things like "do this Baby Ella", "good job Baby Ella", "come with me Baby Ella."  A huge improvement from his "Baby Ella go away" request after we brought her home last year.  He loves his Sister, and it thrills me to see their sibling relationship grow!

Sister is fearless, and needs her Big Brother to look out for her.  And of course, teacher her things like how to climb on the couch by herself.  Thanks for that one sweet boy. :)

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We have finally had some spring weather here.  Even a few days of summer weather.  An 85 degree day last week prompted a "coffee on the beach?" text.  We like the beach.

 

One of my favorite things to do is watch my kids play on the beach.  The same beach I played on when I was their age.  

 

Aunt TT is one of very few people this girl will go to.  She is starting to come out of her little shell.  Also-if you want to win her over, baby gold fish crackers win every time!

That water...cold...so cold.

While the crazies dipped their feet, I took pictures.  From afar.  Where my warm feet stayed dry.  

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Hopefully it won't be another month before I update this again.