Mackinaw City/Mackinac Island

Matt finished his horrible month of working nights last Friday and we decided to celebrate by taking a long weekend to up to Mackinaw on the northern tip of Michigan's lower peninsula. This is the bridge that goes from the lower to the upper peninsula (the "U.P." as the local Michiganders call it--yes, Michiganders.) It's the longest bridge in the western hemisphere, the 3rd longest in the world--about 5 miles.Our hotel had an indoor water park with the cutest kiddie pool which Jack LOVED! I'm so glad this kid likes the water. It makes me much more excited for swim lessons next week!
Mackinac Island is a small island in the Straits of Mackinac. They don't allow motorized vehicles so all transportation is done by bike or horse (except in the winter they allow snowmobiles). If you've seen the movie Somewhere in Time (with Christopher Reeves and Jane Seymour)--this is where it was filmed. --the Grand Hotel is still there. (we didn't get to it and so no pictures, but did see it from the ferry). We rented bikes and a trailer for Jack and rode the 8 mile trail around the island (the only highway in the country where cars aren't allowed M132). Jack loved riding in his little trailer and "talked" to Matt quite a bit as we rode.
Jack's first encounter with a horse. The horse came right up to him and stuck his nose through the fence when we first walked up, but we of course didn't have the camera ready for that.
We took a little nap at the park in front of the old British fort. We napped a little too long because when we went to see about going into the fort they had stopped letting people in 15 minutes earlier. Oh well, at least we heard the cannon and rifle demos.

Jack has started eating cereal. It's a big mess, but he seems to like it. (I don't know if he likes eating it or squishing it in his hands the best)
He is also liking books better. He mostly wants to chew them, but does get excited when you turn the page and he pats the new picture.
Jack and I got to go to Florida to meet his new cousin Liam (my sister Lindsey's first). Lindsey hadn't met Jack yet, so it was pretty fun. She kept saying how huge Jack was and I couldn't believe how tiny Liam was!
Jack and I got some pool time in. I'm so excited to start infant swim lessons next month!!
You can't tell they're related but they are pretty cute!!

Blueberries!!

Yesterday one of the families in the ward (the Savages) invited us to go blueberry picking. (The dad, Sasha, also happens to be one of Matt's attendings--so he went berry picking with his boss) We came home with more than 5lbs of berries. I'm not sure what we'll do with them all--it's a lot of blueberries for two people to eat. The Savages left with 35lbs. Last week they took home 45lbs and ate enough that they needed more yesterday. (They do have six kids, but I'm watching for them to turn blue like Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. ) Here's Jack holding our bucket of berries. Don't ask why he's buckled into a seatbelt, it just seemed like the right thing to do at the time. Jack really liked to try to grab the bushes--he didn't last long in the moby wrap (baby carrier) and spent most of the time on a blanket under the bushes.

We also took a drive up to Lake Wixom. Matt got to go boating with the other interns on a "team building day" and this is where they went. It's only about 20 minutes from us. One of Matt's classmates has a boat and he promised he'd take us skiing soon--the water sure looked glassy just before dusk!
Jack's latest trick is to sit up by himself. He can't get there on his own, but his balance is getting pretty good. His other new trick is screaming at people in public when they aren't looking at him and telling him that he's cute. (This personality trait could be trouble in a few years maybe;-)

Jack is rolling pretty consistently now. He even manages to link them now and then. It took forever to get him to perform for the camera, but this is his best take.

Fun house and cute baby

Our house is starting to come together--I promise to post pictures room by room as we finish them (or get close), as requested.. This is our bedroom--I bought a duvet cover with shams and then made the accent pillows. I bought curtains too, but we haven't hung them yet (they're the same brown as the pillows--and the bedskirt-- with a little decorative stitching.)
Our yard is HUGE! I didn't realize when we bought the house how big a half acre really is. I've had fun in the garden though (yes that's me)
This is the only picture I have with Matt's big red truck in it. He was set on getting a truck, so here it is. I hope it does ok in the snow.
Just cause he's cute...
I love the look of determination on Jack's face here. He really wants the toy he's looking at. He is going to crawl pretty soon I think. I have a video of him rolling over, but it's taking FOREVER to upload so I'll put in in another post.

Sorry about the technical difficulties.

So I've had major problems getting the pictures I want to post. For some reason, I pick one picture and it gives me one somewhere in the vicinity of the one I wanted. I don't get it. So I'll just go with what I've got. (And they are NOT in chronological order)
On Memorial Day we had the chance to see Matt's brothers family. Jack thoroughly enjoyed having his toes sucked by his cousin William. It wasn't long after that he discovered he could suck his OWN toes. (As you'll see below)

This is Jack taking a nap with his new buddy Corky, my parents Yorkie. Corky didn't know quite what to make of Jack, but was very sweet to him while we were staying with them (He even tried to give him a turn to throw his ball)

Jack finally found his toes! It took him a long time to figure out how to grab them. He looks like such a little boy and not like such a little baby to me in this picture.

My little boy stands up. This is his newest trick. He actually has pretty good balance and can stand if you just give him a finger.

Goodbye paradise...hello Michigan!

This is the awesome view from our apartment in Honolulu. Our apartment was old and tiny (I know, not as tiny as yours, Lins), but the view more than made up for it.

I decided that Matt needed to SCUBA!! I hadn't been since before we got married and it was something I really wished I'd done more living so close to the ocean. As you can tell, he was thrilled. I know he never would have done this had I not bullied him into it, but he did great. He even thinks he'd like to do it again. Yay!! (Now I have to convince him the certifications classes aren't so bad)
Jack's first encounter with a gecko...awwww.


Jack and Grandma Taylor Jack and Grandpa Taylor
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