Michigan Vacation

We spent last week in Boyne Falls, Michigan with my family. Levi turned six months old during the trip (we took the photo a couple days early), so we obviously had to have a half-birthday celebration with everyone present! 

Everyone needs a half-birthday cake on their half birthday! Mommy couldn't watch! :) His uncles were a little jealous that he got half of the cake to himself...although they did split up the slobbered-over cake when Levi was done. 

We arrived on Saturday with enough time for supper and grocery shopping. Sunday evening we explored the area a bit. Our house was part of a ski resort, so we got to ride the chair lift to the top of the mountain! The rest of the family went disc golfing down the mountain, but we took the easier way back down the lift. :)

View from the top! 

On Monday, we visited Mackinac Island and enjoyed biking around the island. Once again, the three of us took the easy route while the rest of the family explored the hilly areas. Levi did pretty good, but enjoyed being out of his seat the best! The Island was beautiful! Of course, we had to try the famous Mackinac Island Fudge before we left...delicious! 

Ferry ride to the Island 

Enjoying the scenery! 

  

No motor vehicles are allowed on the island. We learned that this is the only state highway in Michigan where vehicles are prohibited. :) 

Tuesday was pontoon day on Lake Charlevoix! We again had beautiful weather and enjoyed our time tubing, swimming, and cruising on the lake. 

Our Chauffer

Tubing! 

Levi wan't a fan of the bulky life jacket he was required to wear all day, but he did manage to enjoy himself a little! 

We spent Wednesday enjoying activities around the resort. The boys played tennis and I took Levi swimming in the pool. Later, we visited the beach on Deer Lake. It was so shallow that we had to go a LONG way out before the water was above our knees!

This is my brothers inventing a balancing act game... 

Levi and Grandma 

Thursday we drove to Petosky State Park and went hiking and then to the beach (this time it was actually Lake Michigan, so we can say we stepped in it!). Afterward, we went to Kilwin's for a "free" chocolate tour that ended in purchases of ice cream and fudge that certainly did not qualify as free...but was quite yummy!

Hiking at Petosky

Friday was similar to Wednesday as we stayed around the resort. Tennis, kayaking, swimming, and shuffle board filled our day. 

Matt and Levi enjoyed a good nap on the beach! 

In the evening, we walked from our house to the top of the chair lift and then rode the lift down to the resort. We experienced a hay rack ride, s'mores, and ice cream before heading back to get packed for the way home!

Hay rack ride! 

As for our house, it was perfect for the week! The boys all stayed downstairs, and then the rest of us had rooms on the main floor. There was a fire pit out back where we roasted marshmallows one night, and a trail out back that headed up the mountain. We made all of our morning and evening meals, and packed lunches for the days. The beautiful weather made the trip very nice! 

The boys enjoyed their foosball games in the basement! 

...that is, until Mom turned it into her drying rack. :) 

And, obviously, Levi got spoiled. It has been an adjustment getting back to life without constant attention! 

Saturday morning, we took a couple last pictures before splitting up and heading separate ways to the same destination of Grand Rapids.

Mom and Dad and the boys went to Sleeping Bear Dunes. Assuming we could find something more baby-friendly, we headed to Grand Rapids and ended up at the zoo for the afternoon.

Yes, Levi went into the petting zoo basically just for the sake of a picture. But while he was petting the goat, another one stole the map out of Matt's back pocket and ate it! 

The final highlight of our trip was spending Saturday night with Aaron and Laura, Matt's cousin. We got to see Heidi's Farmstand and Bakery and tour their operation, and it was very interesting! They also have a little boy who is two months older than Levi. 

All dressed up for church! Kellan was feeling much more photogenic than Levi that morning. :) 

We met back up with my family at church in Alto, and were thankful for the love shown to us by the people there. We got home late Sunday night and were glad to sleep in our own bed again!

Lots of peaches, blackberries, and tomatoes welcomed us home this week, so we are getting broken back into life around here. And Levi is really struggling with the harsh reality that he isn't getting the constant attention that he enjoyed on vacation.

We were thankful for safe travels and a relaxing trip to spend time together enjoying God's creation!

Knee-High in July

Before Levi turns six months old on Monday, Matt thought I should at least post his five month picture. So here you have it...

He went through a "phase" around that time where the only way he would look halfway pleasant for a picture was if I let him stick out his tongue... 

We have kept busy, but for some reason most of my pictures indicate I have been so bored that I have resorted to only taking pictures of my baby.

My apologies. 

One highlight of our month was having Steve and Julie and their family in the area for a week. Levi was happy to meet them for the first time! We enjoyed getting together with the Schulz family, and Mom even got us a four-generation photo!

Four generations of Schulz boys! (Looks like trouble...) 

Over the Fourth of July, the Steffen family made their annual trip out to reunite with the Massners. Unfortunately, the only photo that remains of the event is this one of me with a cheesy grin on my face, so I am entirely obligated to share it with you. 

Myca and me ready for fireworks! I didn't last much past dusk due to a crying baby. 

A Corny Photoshoot: "Knee High by the Fourth of July"

I had a great idea to get a picture of the neighboring cornfield on the Fourth of July to show that our Southeast Iowa corn has exceeded the expectations this year. Not only was it me-plus-my-knee high by July 4th; but it was also beginning to tassel.

Except then I realized that I had no prior experience posing with a cornfield. And that my Sunday clothes did not fit into the scene very well.

The corn didn't do a very good job of "leaning in" for the photo... 

So I decided the hands-on-hips pose would look more natural. 

In the end, the awkward hands-at-sides stance seemed to work out best. 

And then I wonder how my son turned out to be so photogenic.

After the holiday was past, Levi finally stopped sticking out his tongue long enough for us to see two teeth poking through! 

We told him those two front teeth were an early Christmas present.  

The other day I got to work in the garden for about the first time all summer, thanks to the beautiful morning that put Levi to sleep! 

Snowbell (cat) stood guard and ended up taking a little snooze himself. 

 I know I mentioned the word "garden," but what we are really discussing right now is a "weed patch with a few random edibles." I picked enough beans for a meal, along with a few potatoes, snap peas, and onions. Our fruit (Matt's project) is looking good, though. Blackberry season will soon be upon us and we are excited for our first potentially-bountiful harvest!

Matt and Levi have formed a great guitar-piano duo and enjoyed serenading me the other night with their tunes.

Thanks to Bumbo, one no longer needs to be physically able to sit in order to play the piano.  

And now, a word of farewell from the one who made this all(most im)possible: `ghxw 37y6ijng

Quackin' up the Heat

OOOH these lovely days of summer in Iowa have arrived, where I start to wonder if I will ever be able to simultaneously breathe and stand outside again.

As the title of this post may or may not have suggested, the ducks are still plugging away, alive, well, and almost adult-like. It won't be much longer until Matt will be letting them out on the pond. That is my hope, anyway, because I truly cannot go near that cage and simultaneously breathe at the same time. It stinks something fierce.

Matt rigged this cattle tank/chicken wire combo up so the ducks had something for swimming. Never mind that we dug a foot-deep hole next to the house for our temporary duck shelter...  

...because, hey, these are some happy ducks.

This is them now...they are getting big! Last week's update from Matt predicted that they would all be males. Last night's update predicted that they would all be females.  

Speaking of little ones growing up...why not talk about the little guy who is inside the house and smells much better (even when he does stink)?

Ok, so his four month photo looks a little...tired...or something. But that is just how photography and babies mesh. Compared to three months, Levi has thinned out a lot but is still gaining weight! He weighed in at 14 lbs, 10 oz and was 25 inches long at his four month appointment. The only milestone that occurred this month was rolling over from tummy to back, but it still doesn't happen very often. He still sleeps at least nine hours at night, and has started stretching out his awake times during the day to 1.5-2 hours at a time. And he has also learned how to be fussy sometimes.

Levi also has a favorite song called, "Oh, Nancy." It is sung by my family on a phone video, and is all it takes to quiet him down during any sort of fussy period. Such knowledge came in very handy on our way to Morris two weekends ago.

[Video below. If you received this post through e-mail, you may visit the blog website to view.]

"Oh, Nancy" was recorded after Jonathan's graduation open house when my Uncle Jim and Aunt Nancy got their official welcome to the Massner home. 

Which brings me to my next subject: Jonathan graduated from high school in May! 

Great Grandma Knobloch got some bonding time with Levi. 

Congrats, Grad! 

Giving mommy The Look. 

We went on our first lengthy trip since Thanksgiving for my cousin's wedding up in Morris on June 4th. Levi traveled pretty well (many thanks to "Oh, Nancy" in some instances). On the way up, we stopped to meet Alice for lunch in Minneapolis! She is getting adjusted to the new city and is working on her CPA exams right now before she starts her job in the fall. 

L to R: Billy, Us, Alice, and her current roommate 

Levi was pretty proud of the "Macho Man" outfit he got from Alice! 

We journeyed a few hours more and arrived in Hancock, where my Aunts and Uncles got to meet our little guy for the first time.

Uncle Tony decided he was a keeper! 

The wedding was really nice. For some reason, we forgot to get our cameras out that evening. Best wishes to Kevin and Nikki! The next afternoon we were able to listen to Hannah and Jacob's wedding back home in Burlington as we departed Morris. How refreshing to hear two wedding services in one weekend. We always appreciate the reminders of what God desires for our marriage.

Home again, Home again...

Thought you were going to get away without seeing a new project? Nope! Here is the latest:

I got this dresser (without the shoes) at a garage sale back in May. 

With Matt's help...we did a little sanding, filled in the holes, reinforced the drawers, painted the dresser, and replaced the hardware. It now looks much more beautiful, though it is currently lacking any kind of decor on top.

Found its home in the purple room!

Monday night, Levi was delighted to be personally welcomed to Kohl's with his name on display! What an honor! They seemed to have his size wrong though, because he pretty much just slid right through the legs of the jeans in this section.

June is keeping us pretty busy with all of the weekend plans and this summer seems to be flying by already! Matt turned 28 earlier this month and we are now in that odd 7-years-apart stage until I turn 22 in a couple weeks.

By far the most joyful day for our family this month (thus far) happened last week when my brother Justin decided to make a beginning in serving the Lord. We are so thankful as he goes through this change and seeks the blessings God has waiting for him.

Let us all seek God's blessings every day!