The Need for Speed

It's time for Mia's first boat ride. It's about an hour before bedtime, but she is still less than enthused.

Her brothers, on the other hand, have been waiting for this all day and can hardly contain their excitement. Hardly? Forget that. They were unable to contain their excitement.

And who can blame them? It's really fun speeding around the lake so fast that your cheeks and lips flap in the breeze, tears and drool run across your face, and you can hardly hold your eyes open as the wind whips you. No. It's seriously fun. Even Mia almost has a smirk on her face. Almost.

It's hard to tell what the best part was: the smooth sunset, the huge fish jumping out of the water, the eagles diving in our wake, or being surrounded by smiles. Well, maybe it's not so hard to pick the best part, but Mother Nature was pretty cool, too.

What's better after a speedy ride in the boat than popsicles? The only thing better is watching your three year old share it with his baby sister.

The Best Beach

Jim went met his parents at the property today. My dad had to work, but my mom took off to hang out with us. After lunch, we went down the road to the best beach. We first checked this beach out during our last visit, but this time was way better because we virtually had the lake to ourselves.

Evan got busy in the sand right away as usual, but Owen surprised us.

There were no other people swimming, but there were two dogs wandering around the beach while their owner sunned herself up the way. The dogs were very old and docile. As we were wading in the water, the lighter one slowly and casually made it's way to our circle and dropped a stick in the water near Owen. Owen is usually timid around dogs, but I explained how I could tell from this dog's mannerisms, that he was gentle. I also had to explain why the dog had brought Owen a stick. Once Owen realized that he was "the chosen one" and that the dog wanted to be his friend, he played fetch with him on and off for the next hour.

Meanwhile, Mia was giddy about floating around in her inflatable turtle.

She really got a kick out of being able to move so freely and independently in the water.

Owen began to run up and down the beach, making big splashes with his feet. Since there were no other people in the water, he could splash as much as he wanted for as far as he wanted. All this action in the bright sun made me reach for my camera.

Soon I was setting up shots and practicing some photo techniques I learned at a recent workshop. I sent both boys down the beach and told them, on the count of three, to get me. Right when they reached me, I snapped a quick photo and held my camera quickly up in the air so it wouldn't get wet. This is not zoomed. I love how both boys have the same form in their bodies. They both are running with their knees way up and their arms swinging side to side. It reminded me of another favorite "brothers" shot that I took during a trip to Florida. That photo is on canvas in their room now.

Evan actually did get me, but really I just wanted to capture that adorable smile.

This one made me laugh. He's chasing Owen. His face looks a little "Here's Johnny." Honestly, I've never watched the movie, even though we own it, but I did watch the clip on that link and the funniest part to me, is in addition to his manic look of sure determination, Evan also has a love for The Three Pigs. Even though that's a little scary, I admire Evan's ability to express so much with his face.

I couldn't end on that note.

Owen thought Mia needed to be pulled around. Note the nice big mosquito bites on her face.

The Discovery Center

Jim and my Dad took Owen to the property today to do some work and fish. Evan is so adaptable in his play. He can easily play with Owen one second and switch to Mia the next. He got her giggling with this knight that he pretended was under attack from the Mia Monster.

After lunch, we took Mia and Evan over to the Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters. We've been wanting to check it out for some time. They have had many events that we have wanted to check out for the kids and for ourselves. Nothing was going on today, but we checked out the grounds.

We found a little log cabin. Evan and I reenacted The Three Pigs. This is one of the pigs being "so scared" of the wolf.

Our scene needs a little work.

I think Mia was suppose to throw balls at the wolf.

The grounds were beautiful. They must have had a wedding the night before. The arbor was still set up. What a beautiful site for a wedding. The trail had stations with telescopes and interactive displays. Evan really enjoyed it until the mosquitoes found us. They must have sprayed the grounds for the wedding and once we ventured into the woods, we were swarmed!

We weren't the only ones who got eaten alive.



Owen got the worst of it.










Evan slathered himself in Kids Afterbite until the tube was empty.









Even Mia got bit up, although she didn't scratch like the boys.





The mosquitoes may have won this round, but we'll be back!

La Aguila Caca Manana

"La Aguila Caca Manana"

Apparently that's what my Dad's employees use to say the day before Pay Day. I'd say that's pretty fitting.

Day 1 of our Manitowish Waters vaca started with a screeching noise coming from the lake. Upon quick investigation, we found two eagles nesting in the trees in the yard.

Apparently this is not a new site this week. The boys had watched this very pair the day before. In fact, they are more than a pair. There are three eagles all together.

As we sat, eating our homemade scones and sipping coffee, the eagles went fishing. After failed attempts, they lit back up in the tree. In the tree, they don't seem so imposing, but when they spread those wings, it casts quite the shadow down on all those who lie below.

Their wing span is not the only thing that is oversized about our national symbol, as the title of this post refers. This one let out a mighty one all over the side of the boat house!
The boathouse has been abused by birds all summer. I'm not sure if you can see it in this picture, but there is a nice smattering of feathers and such on the top of the garage door.
Me: "What do you think of that, Evan?"
Him: "Good."
That's his answer to almost every question.

A little later on, we decided to take a spin in the kayaks. Evan and I collected all sorts of trinkets for a collage we plan to make entitled "Our Kayak Trip." In addition to a cat tail, a lily pad, some flowers, and moss, we also found this...

The Eagle's Nest!
We saw an eagle land on one of those long, bare branches. We've never seen so much eagle action!

Remind Me Again...

The boys hitched a ride up north a few days ago with Grandma and are currently staying with my folks (a.k.a. Ya-ya & Bumpa.) Jim, Mia and I decided to take our time heading up and stopped off at The Property. When we pulled into the drive, we found these lovely tracks. Remind me again why we have this place.

Jim wants to purchase another section of property adjacent to ours. According to him, it will give us more access to our property. He wanted to show me this new property. See how easy it is to access? See those trees straight ahead? See how there isn't a trail? See my little baby strapped to Jim's back, unable to defend herself from snapping twigs and the swarms, yes swarms, of mosquitoes that pursued us? Remind me again...

When the mosquitoes swarmed, I grabbed Mia and retreated to the van.

Even inside the van, I was constantly defending us from the blood sucking varmints.

The van became covered in mosquito carcasses, but somehow Jim convinced me that there wouldn't be mosquitoes on the trail or by the lake. I must have been crazy, but I got out of the van and entered the woods.

But look. I remember. This is why. Look at the sun glowing green through the trees. Look at the eagerness to pursue on Jim's face. Look at the peacefulness on Mia's. This is why.

To preserve things like this.

But wait. What's this? What has been tearing up this log?




Apparently a bear had been playing with our kayak. Jim found it flipped over and pushed away. Just a bear. A bear that flips kayaks and rips up tree trunks. Remind me again...

Finally. My favorite spot. My only spot, really. Lakeside breeze, minimal mosquitoes, sandy bottom, shallow water, and surrounded by old, tall trees. OK This is why.

And this. Discovering the magic of nature through the eyes of our children. This is why.

And this. For you, Jim. For you.

Mia's "9" Month Photos

Almost exactly a year ago, I saw a shot like this taken by another photographer. I was pregnant with Mia at the time, but I could visualize this moment. Shortly after that, I bought the dress that you see here on a clearance rack, hoping it would fit just right when this moment came. Then a friend from my mom's group, who recently started a photography business, advertised a mini session. I had been feeling guilty for missing the milestone 9 month photos and when I opened the boys' closet, they already had blue polos. Everything seemed to fall in place.

Then I got lost on the way to the location... twice. Then Evan feel on the gravel driveway and didn't want to hold her hand. Then Owen said she was too heavy.

and the grass was wet. Suddenly the perfect picture was falling apart. But, actually, the shots turned out great because they perfectly display life. I adore this photo of her sobbing in the wet grass abandoned by her brothers who I just released to the park.

Mia was skeptical. We were late and I didn't have the time to feed her or help her warm up to Rebekah, but that is life. She the reflection in her eyes. She's scowling at the photographer and me!












Despite Mia's attitude, Rebekah took amazing pictures. Check out the catch lights in Mia's eyes.

Even though Mia's head is not in this shot, it's one of my favorites. I love the fresh cut grass stuck to the bottoms of her feet that are poking out of her silky pink dress while she sits on the crooked wooden porch of this historical farmhouse with her pudgy baby arms slightly blurred in the background.

Toward the end of the session, Mia started to warm up. Little by little, she decided things weren't so bad. She got a bit goofy int his basket and realized her dress had layers of netting underneath and she could play peek a boo with it.

And by the time we got her into this chair, she was giggling. I never would have put a shiny pink dress in a retro green velvet and wicker chair, but the contrast in texture and color is awesome! What is even better is that Mia finally let her personality shine.

We got big toothy laughs with her trademark wrinkled up nose

and some sweet flirts to show us she did have fun and Rebekah's not so bad afterall.

THANKS REBEKAH!
Check out her work at http://imageseverlasting.blogspot.com/

When Did They Get So Big?

Yes, we were just here a few days ago, but summer is almost over and we have to make the most of our passes. More importantly, our time for freely hanging out with the Yeagers whenever we feel like it, is rapidly coming to an end. Plus, who could possible resist a day where you could repeatedly see faces like these?

Want to see them again?

So hard to think that in just a few short weeks, these two will be starting a new phase of their lives. They've been the best of buds since they were babies! Before we know it, they'll be getting their real driver's licenses and dating. (Calm down, Jackie, we're a long ways from daughter-in-laws. LOL)

Seems like yesterday they were DJs Owen and Owen, rocking under the Christmas tree.