Fall leaf cleanup begins!

Fall is falling and we did our first round of leaf-blowing and raking today...

Quotely's Birthday!!

Hey folks!!  So after 2 years of work and teaming up with a couple developers, Scotty has launched a new app TODAY - Quotely!!  Woohoo, I am so proud of him, happy for him and so, so thankful to God for seeing us through the process!  If you or someone you know has an iPhone/iPod Touch, PLEASE download, write a review and pass the word along by clicking this link:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quotely/id578355239?mt=8 

Thanks!!

Here are just a few cards I've made.  Fun, fun. 

First "Official" Ruth Family Camping Trip!

Here's one of those posts I had planned to get up a month ago - documentation of our first camping trip.  It's been a whole year since our backyard "camping."  The last weekend in July we loaded up our tent (thanks g'pa and g'ma Sovilla), sleeping bags (thanks g'pa and g'ma Ruth), and other gear for an overnight on a campground.  The kids had.a.blast.  Scotty and I enjoyed ourselves too - except for our tent neighbors who were watching some TV show on loop on their laptop until 4am (thankfully the kids slept through it and when it did stop, Scotty and I finally got some sleep too)!!  

Our destination was Torch Lake.  Scotty learned about it earlier this summer and wanted to visit it ever since - he said it was supposed to have crystal clear water down to the bottom (we discovered that to be true).  Absolutely beautiful and clean.  

First stop - Torch Lake!

Next stop - campground!

Now back to the lake before dinner, campfire and bedtime.

Roasting 'mallows.

S'mores are soooo tasty!

Our sleeping bag kiddos.

The way I found Noah bundled in the morning - sans sleeping bag.

Morning!

Playing on the campground playground.

Breakfast before loading up (which we did in a hurry - it started raining)!

One more stop at Torch Lake before heading home.

Got soaked.

Homeward bound!

Open roads and beautiful skies.

Family Visit :-)

Yikes!  Has it really been a month since I last published a post?  I've "written" plenty a post in my mind but actually getting that onto this here blog with pictures too is quite another story!  Our family is doing well and God is taking care of us. :-)  Here is just a snippet of a wonderful visit we had from my in-laws and grandparent-in-laws (they hadn't met Noah or the twins yet - what an incredible time we all had together)!!!

Warming up to great grandpa Ruth right away.

Papa probably telling a tall tale to one of the twins ;-)

This one cracks me up - cousin bonding??

Ladies breakfast with some of Lisa's friends - delightful (and tasty)!

Good eats at Craig's Cruisers.

First ride at Craig's Cruisers - fun, fun!

Big boy, ready to race.

Cutems.

Watching big bro race.

Putt-putt golf.

Yay family!!

Two upcoming bdays to celebrate. :-)

2 Lakes Twice Visited

A week ago Sunday we went for an afternoon drive with some sandwich fixins' for dinner in an ice chest, and swimming suits just in case we found some water to swim in. :-)  By the time we finished driving and finding a good waterfront area, parking and walking to the beach front, it was already dinner time so we had to skip swimming.

We told 'em they could wade, but we're not swimming...

...and then here's Joy wet to her waistline. ;-)

What kid doesn't like sand? (Yes, he's dumping it on the blanket).

A big stick and a sandpit - what could be cooler for little boys?

Well, yesterday we hit the road sooner in the day and went back to the same spot and got to stay for 4 hours - we ate, swam and played hard!!  The kids had an absolute blast.  It's a fascinating little area - the choice of swimming in Lake Michigan or Duck Lake or the shared inlet from where the lakes meet (which is a warmer, shallow pool-like area).

The sand was HOT, wanted to protect our sandals from the hot sun.

Duck Lake

Lake Michigan

They had fun, fun, fun.

Building a channel from Lake Michigan to a smaller inlet.

Enjoying the smaller inlet - no waves to startle him :-)

Summer Days

July has provided lots of opportunity to be out and about, enjoying school break and longer days of sunshine.  I'm thankful to God for this more "restful" time to just be together as a family and see friends too.

Transitioned Noah to a big boy bed - new bedding from G&G Ruth

2yr check-up - fit as a fiddle and cute as can be!

Bubble Mower from Uncle Brad & DeeDee for bday.

Enjoying morning play in PJs.

Playdate with our twin cousins - baby Z.

Who doesn't love the swings?

Baby E.

Picnic lunch with DeeDee and the twins after playing hard :-)

Tire swing big enough for all 3!

Yummy - suckers from the bank.

Splash pad!

Storytime with daddy.

Homemade yogurt/blueberry popsicles (we picked 'em)! 

Our Sunday to be Coffee/Cookie Servers at church - fun!

A friend's bday party - kids had a blast!

Coloring sheets from some friends at church.

Bandana siblings band together! ;-)

A "new" park (hadn't been for a couple years)...

...tons of fun and things to climb on too.

Enjoying family walks after supper.