With all the cousins in the age range of 1.5 to 10 years old – they had lots of fun running all over the camp ground together. (NOTE: I realize that Lauren is missing from a lot of these photos – we’ll get to her 🙂 But since she’s a bit younger she didn’t have the run of the place quite like Maile Girl.)
Maile became fast friends with all her cousins. If she wasn’t being piggy-backed around by Aidan, she was off exploring with Natalie, chattering with Katie or playing tag with all the older kids.
One of my favorite pictures from the weekend - one of those you look back on in 20-30 years. From left to right: Cooper, Olivia, Max, Rachel, Katie, Maile, Caleb, Aidan
Maile playing the pusher with Natalie and Harlow
Definitely a special bond between Aidan and Maile
Candle making with the cousins
Hay ride time!
Just the girls this time headed out on the water - Maile, Natalie and Harlow
Climbing trees with Natalie
We got home a little while ago from an amazing weekend in Michigan with Grandma Jill’s side of the family – over 50 members attended our family reunion. We’ll share much more over the course of the week, but wanted to post a quick one before bed.
Almost as soon as we arrived, Maile donned a life vest and headed out on the canoe with her cousins, Aidan, Caleb and Harlow. (What’s kind of funny is when I looked back at the first reunion Maile attended, the first pictures I posted were also of her in a kayak…)
Caleb, Maile, Harlow and Aidan braving the lake... and old enough to go out solo!
The rugged adventurers at the start of an amazing weekend!
Hey! What about me!? Wait up!
It truly was a fantastic weekend as you’ll see from the future pictures I share – the best part was definitely seeing all the cousins running around and playing with each other. It was awesome!
(Having trouble with the blog from the hotel wifi, so posting this from my phone – hopefully it formats okay.)
This weekend we are headed to Michigan for a family reunion (Grandma Jill’s side of the family), but before we head there, we stopped in Chicago to visit GG Bea and GG Irv.
Maile (5) and Lauren (1.5) with their great grandparents!
Both girls were fantastic. Maile had a lot of fun teaching GG Bea Mancala and Lauren was definitely the apple of GG Irv’s eye – he kept watch on her as she scooted and ran all over the place.
GG Bea was a quick study and soon was giving Maile a run for her money on Mancala
Meanwhile Lauren and GG Irv tried a Lauren version of Uno - which mainly involved GG Irv holding as many cards as Lauren could place on his leg
On Sunday we took Lauren on her very first cable car ride and earned her San Franciscan stripes in the process…
Waiting for the cable car to arrive - very exciting!
Don't worry Lauren, I'll be right here the whole time!
Lauren was a little nervous as things got going...
... but then she warmed up just fine!
Mommy, Maile and Lauren on the cable car
The girls hanging off the side (with a little assist from Mommy)
Our San Francisco Girl!
No doubt you’ve heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now. It’s been incredible to watch it spread – one of the most viral things I’ve ever seen hit Facebook.
Christine was tagged by one of her good friends yesterday, so this evening, we gathered the family to participate and help spread the word even further. (And yes, we also donated some money to the cause.)
Maile had so much fun, that she wanted to do her own special version after – and had a special call out for her Auntie Elyssa!
When we came back upstairs, check out the picture Maile drew…
Maile's interpretation of our Ice Bucket Challenge
Love. The whole thing was a great bonding experience as a family – we hope it does a lot of good for those in need!
(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)
Hard to believe, but the summer is rapidly coming to a close. Maile spent her last week of camp back at Presidio Knolls. Maile had a lot of fun back at her old stomping grounds and it definitely helped get her excited for Kindergarten as well.
Maile and her fan dance crew...
For the summer camp, each afternoon the kids participated in an activity for the whole week. Maile did Kung Fu Fan Dancing. On Friday afternoon, they put on a show for the parents. Christine went and got a great video of Maile doing her thing. Fair warning, it’s a bit longer than normal – but the end is worth it when Maile does her solo intro 🙂
(Click here for the video.)
August 17th, 2009 - 5 years ago
August 17th, 2010 - 4 year ago
August 17th, 2011 - 3 years ago
August 13th, 2012 - 2 years ago
August 19th, 2013 - 1 year ago
August 14th, 2014 - Today!
Wow.
There’s a new hotness in town and it’s name is Mancala. It’s a simple board game where you move colored stones around a board and try to capture as many as you can. Maile learned to play it this summer at Steve & Kate’s camp and she is absolutely addicted. She plays it non-stop – 5-10+ rounds a day right now – Mommy and Daddy both play (and she typically whomps us), but she is also plays by herself, solitaire-style.
She’s very, very fast at it – and I kind of feel like she sometimes cheats, but I’m not sure, because she moves too quickly. (And to be honest, since in order to cheat, you kind of need to use math, I guess that’s not so bad.)
Mancala is serious business.
(Click here for the video.)
Awhile back very good friends of ours started a company called UrbanSitter to help families find great sitters for their kids. There are plenty of sitter-type agencies out there, but UrbanSitter added a social element where I can see the sitters that friends have hired (after all if friends have used a sitter and gave them a good review, seems likely that I will also like them).
In any event, we’ve been using UrbanSitter for awhile now and have had really good luck finding great sitters and nannies for the girls. Separate from the personal relationship, we’re big fans! Recently, we met a girl named Andy who bonded with both girls right away, but especially Maile. They both love art and every time we come home they have created some incredible art project to share. (The first time Andy sat for us, Maile actually came into our room in the morning and asked me when we were going out again!)
In any event, their latest creations are books – and they are amazing. Check out the latest installment – the story of the Lost Donut:
“Daddy, do you have any Carrie Perry?”
“Katy Perry? Yes.”
“Yes, Carrie Perry. Play it! Play it!”
And so began our Thursday night dance party 🙂
(Click here for the video.)