Friends and Family

Well, it's already August. We can't believe how fast this summer has gone. We're so lucky, though, that we've had a chance to spend time with so many of our friends and family!

Daddy is still working really hard. We wish he was around more. But when he is, he often has things to work on... like his surgical logs or presentations. Sometimes, we help (more often, we don't!) Here's Bennett helping Dad with his logs.

Oh, happy Ben just woke up from a little nap (tsk, tsk, Mommy, for letting him sleep on a pillow on the couch!) and found his toes... his favorite toys!

We got the exersaucer out the other day, since Ben's been wanting to stand up and grab and hit things. He LOVES it!

We went up to Lewiston to see some really old friends of Mommy's... the McPartlins. They have known each other for a really long time! My grampa Dave used to work with Rick, and then Grampa, Rick, Mommy, Shannon and Alyson all worked at InteliTouch (with Aunt Jen, Uncle Wally, Uncle Dave, Aunt Melissa and Uncle Cy, too! I just learned a new word... nepotism!) Anyway, Alyson has two sons, Josh and Zack, and Zack sure thought Bennett was neat! He helped a lot!

Here's Alyson and Zack playing with Ben!

Shannon, who is Mommy's age, has a daughter named Alanna, who is 12 1/2... and Shannon looks like she could be her older sister! They look so much alike!

Alanna let me play with her cool heart necklace. Sharron is Alanna's grandma. She's very nice!

Shannon is playing peek-a-boo with me!


Here are the grandmas... Betty, Jackie and Sharron!

Matt is Alyson's husband... he was lots of fun to play with and brought fireworks. Too bad it wasn't dark enough yet!

I asked Grandma Betty to pick me up... then I changed my mind!


Here's a picture of the whole crew... missing are Rick, and Meghann and her husband Chuck. We wish we could have seen them and had more time with the rest! Hope you all enjoyed your Up North vacation!! We miss you!

I wasn't feeling so great the next day when we got home... I had a runny nose and a cough. I laid on the couch for a while and Mommy thought I looked very cute curled up in a ball... I didn't think she looked cute with the camera!

But Bennett was feeling fine and having a great time in his exersaucer!

See this trick I taught Ben? He's stealing Daddy's glasses... without looking! I'm so proud!

How come Daddy and Bennett are sitting in MY chair??

Mommy couldn't resist this cute one of Ben rolling on the floor playing with his feet...

Or this cute one of his bare bottom!

Or this really adorable one of him sleeping in his carseat with his hands behind his head!

Gamma Penny came to stay with us one weekend while Mommy was working. You know Ben loves to sleep in someone's arms, right? You think Gamma's enjoying it??

On Monday, Gamma and I were dressed alike in yellow tops and khaki bottoms! We looked so cute together (although we often do...)

Daddy's so proud... I know how to use the stethoscope (although I can't say it very well...)

Sitting in the Bumbo seat, playing with his toes...

Miss EB and Carolyn came over to play one evening... Dr. Brad was in Africa teaching about God and how to be a good obstetrician (we're glad he's home now!). It was so good to see them! Carolyn loved Bennett... good thing, too, because she's going to be a big sister early next year! Congratulations... being a big sister is fun!

So Bennett got his first veggie... carrots! Don't let that look fool you... he loved them!

Saturday, Daddy was mowing the grass while I was napping and found this little froggy for me! It was so cool! I kept saying "Oh my Goll!" (like Gamma says) and giggling. I sorta wanted to hold it, then I didn't. After a little while, we let him go back home to the pond behind our house. I waved "Bye, Froggy!" and it's nice to know he's still there.

Sunday was a beautiful day so we played outside in the backyard. We got our bathing suits and sunglasses on and set up the umbrella so that Bennett didn't get too much sun. I was supposed to wear my hat, but I wouldn't keep it on. But how cool does Ben look in his sunglasses? (By the way, they only stayed on for a little while, then he chewed on them!)

Mommy, Bennett and me in the pool. I loved squirting and splashing!

Daddy had the whole weekend off, so naturally on Monday he was really really tired. He got home in time for dinner, but fell asleep playing with Ben on the floor. See? Ben is being attacked by Elmo and Daddy's snoring away!

And one more, just to give Daddy a hard time, I'm actually sitting on him, Ben is rolling all over and talking, and Daddy's asleep. Poor Daddy. I know we wear him out! But we sure love it when he's home!

Well, not much else is new here. Everyone is doing pretty well... Ben's growing like a weed and claps his hands now. He has a lot to say. So do I, for that matter. Anyway, I gotta go take a nap. Hope you are well. Mom's going to try to do a Kodak Gallery upload soon and send out the link in case you want to order some photos...

See you soon!
Love, Mollee

Manistee Vacation/Uncle Will's Party

Hello, Family and Friends!



We've been having a great summer... it's been so much fun to see everyone and to see my baby brother get so much bigger. I'm getting bigger, too, and I love to sing. I know the words to lots of songs, and the soundtrack to "The Sound of Music" is now one of my favorites. I could listen to "The Lonely Goatherd" over and over again, but I call it "O-Lady-O" which makes perfect sense if you know the song.



Anyway, like I said, Bennett is getting so big. He loves his new friend...







But he still loves his swing. Here he is sleeping with his leg up...





Getting ready to go on our Manistee vacation. Can you believe Daddy had the whole week off??






Tighe and Carlee, Uncle Rod and Aunt Peggy came over to Gamma's for the fireworks...





This was the sunset of the 3rd of July, the night of the fireworks. We had so many beautiful sunsets that week, but here's a picture of just one of them...



Carlee and I are watching the sunset and playing in the sand...

We had a big bonfire with the neighbors, Al and Janet, and all their guests. Here I am sitting on Miss Janet's lap. She's so good to Gamma and all of us!

Here's a picture of all of us around the fire watching the fireworks.

Mommy and Aunt Peggy talking to me.

The next morning was the Fourth of July parade. We got there late and left early because I was really tired (I like to get up early on vacation!)

Uncles Randy and Rod, Mom and Aunt Peggy waiting for the parade to begin.

Bennett is getting to be such a big boy... here he was sitting up so straight! He doesn't sit on his own yet, but now he is rolling everywhere!

Gaa loves Ben and Ben loves Gaa (and his fingers!)

Mommy got me a little elephant watering can so I can help Gamma water all her pretty flowers!

Saturday, Mommy had to work so Daddy and Gamma took us to the petting zoo. I loved the kangaroos!

I met up with my cousins Maegan and Emilee at the carnival, too!

Another beautiful sunset over Lake Michigan!

Uncle Rick holding Bennett...

Mady and Blaire walked down from Orchard Beach while they were camping just to see us! (Their moms and aunt (Laure, Lisa and Maria) came down later! Thank you for visiting! Hope it didn't rain too hard on you that night!

Here I am in the swimming pool with my dress on! Later we turned it into a sandbox (and yes, I realize that I had a whole beach of sand to play with!)

Watering Gamma's plants again. I'm such a good helper!

Aunt Kay and Uncle Bob came with Busia Belle to visit.

Bennett sitting with Gaa and her big sister, Belle.

Uncle Bill, Billy, Chris and Sarah came from the east to visit, too! They sure love to play cards!

Bennett liked Sarah... see his smile?

A big lower laker came out of the river during my nap. Good thing Mommy took a picture of it!

Courtney helped me look for bugs. That's my new obsession. Bugs are cool (except for the one I was playing with in my sandbox at home the other day. Mommy called it an earwig, even though it didn't look like either an ear or a wig. She didn't like me playing with that one!)

Maegan helped feed Bennett. Really soon he'll be able to eat other things than rice cereal!

Thursday afternoon, we finally got our suits on and went to swim in the lake. I got knocked over by a wave and the water was cold, so I didn't love it, but I still keep asking to go swimming in "Gamma's lake!"

Well, Bennett found his thumb... although since that week we think he's forgotten where it is!


.

Friday we headed over to Gaylord for Uncle Wow's Florida Farewell... he's going to medical school to be a doctor like Daddy! The party was a lot of fun. I played golf with Dad and Hunter... Daddy actually golfed three times that week and is quite good!

Aunt Mary Beth holding Bennett...

Gigi and Uncle Keith came up for the party, and so did Miss Geri and Miss Carynne! It was nice to have so many people there!

Bennett got cranky for a little while, then Mommy took off his clothes and he was happy. He was even happier chewing on Miss Geri's finger! She's going to be a wonderful grandma!

Swinging with Aunt Mary Beth and Hunter.

Mr. Kelly brought his harmonica and bongo drums and he showed us how to play!

Daddy brought his guitar, too, and he played for us by the fire that night. He's really good and we all wish he would play more often. Mr. Kelly played his drums and harmonica then, too. Good idea, Kelly, to jam!

The next day a deer came in to Gramma's backyard. She didn't stay very long, but Mom got a few pictures of her!

That evening before we all went out to dinner, Mommy fed Bennett and then as she was burping him they both fell asleep. I guess Mommy was tired from all the vacationing (did I mention that I like to wake up really early when I'm on vacation?)

We went to Michawye Inn the Woods for dinner (thanks again, Gigi!) and got a great picture of Uncle Will and Bennett. (It took a few tries...)

The next day we went to Miss Jan's to see Grampa Dave and Aunt Pam. Grampa Dave and Miss Jan are going to get married next year! This was the first time Aunt Pam met Bennett. It was so nice to see her... it has been too long!

We had grilled pizzas and mac'n'cheese on the patio. It was a nice way to end our vacation.

Thank you to everyone who let us stay with them for our vacation. We had such a good time seeing everybody, and afterwards, I kept talking about everyone I had seen. We all look forward to seeing everyone again soon!

Miss you and love you!

Mollee

P.S. Aunt Jen came and took some pictures of me, Bennett, Foxx and Kate last week. She has a preview up on her blog... click the link at the top right that says "Aunt Jen's Photo Blog" and scroll down to the post titled "Mollee, Ben, Foxx and Kate" from July 21.