Quick Trip to Michigan

We took a whirlwind trip back to Michigan for the weekend so we could see family (or...should we say so family could see Brielle) and so Kathi could have a shopping day with the Lohman ladies.


The trip included Brielle's first trip to Crane's orchard with Grandpa and Grandma Carlson...




























as well as Brielle's first experience at a Hope volleyball game with Dad, Grandpa Grotenhuis, Uncle Eric, Grant, and Brooke.




Brielle also spent a little time teaching Grandpa Grotenhuis how to read the Sunday paper...and emphasizing the importance of looking through the inserts...such as Target, Kohls, and of course the coupons!


And of course there isn't a weekend home without a little cuddle time with Grandma Grotenhuis!

Happenings...

Hi everyone! Brielle here to once again update you on what's been going on this past week and a half! Well since Mommy's side of the family visited a couple of weeks ago, it was Daddy's side to make the visit last weekend. Yep, Grandpa and Grandma Carlson made the trek to see me. (They wanted to see Mommy and Daddy too...but I'm pretty sure mainly me!) I think Daddy was the one to plan this visit because it just so happened to fall on a home Penn State football game. Lucky for me Grandpa and Grandma were willing to babysit while Mommy and Daddy went to the football game. I sure did have a great time! Grandma taught me to play the Four Seasons by Vivaldi. She said next trip she'll teach me the ever so difficult Alpine Polka. (I hear Grandpa Grotenhuis would really like me to play that for him!) Grandpa Carlson took me for a stroller ride through the neighborhood and we just played all day long. They wore me out so much that I took a 4 hour nap the next day! (Which I NEVER do...so needless to say Mommy and Daddy took a nice long nap too!)

After they left, it was all work from there. Mommy needed some help around the house so she had me help her fold the laundry...

and then she asked me to help put it away!

Man...are there child labor laws against this?!!

Otherwise I've just been hanging around...hanging on Mommy's hair that is! I just love grabbing anything and everything and it just happens her hair is always there and oh so grabbable! She is slowly starting to bald on the left side of her head...similar to Dad on the top of his head!

We're heading to Michigan this weekend so I can't wait to see everyone real soon!

The Past Week in Pictures

We've had quite the action going on in the Carlson household the last week and a half. Here's a quick update of what's been going on.


The annual Grange Fair took place a couple of weekends go, so of course we had to take Brielle there for her very first experience! She was able to see goats, bunnies, mullets, rednecks...you name it they were all there! Unfortunately her Tony Stewart onesie was in the wash otherwise she would've fit in really nicely!



The main reason for going to the fair is always the food...and it appears that Brielle can't wait to get her hands on that monkey bread dad was eating!


Brielle is becoming quite the mover and shaker. Last week I set her down in the MIDDLE of her activity mat and low and behold I leave the room for 2 minutes and this is where I find her!


I think I prefer her to do this all day instead...this way I know she'll stay exactly where I put her!

This past weekend Kathi's family came into town for the holiday weekend to visit. Oh man...3 kids under the age of 3 all in the same house...makes me thankful the good Lord didn't give us twins! We're still finding areas of the house that were touched by snot, drool, and marshmallow-stained hands!


What a great weekend. Saturday was of course the opening day for college football which in our house is an observed holiday (Michigan won its first opening day game in 3 years - woo woo!). So Saturday was a bit of a lounging day...but
Sunday was a different story! We went to Del Grossos amusement park for the day (the Del Grosso family sells pasta sauce and operates an amusement park - all on the same grounds). Our 3 year old nephew Grant had a hay day (apparently they let boys of all shapes, sizes, and hairlines on the rides). Brielle and Brooke were just along to sit back and look pretty but will have a great time participating/running everywhere next year!






















The Grotenhuis clan left on Monday morning, so to wrap the holiday weekend up (and to celebrate Chad's 29th birthday!) we went to Pittsburgh to take in a Cubbies baseball game. Needless to say the weather was not ideal (as you can see...Brielle snuggled up with dad in his poncho) but the Cubbies won and the Pirates clinched their 17th straight losing season.



































Also to top the whole week off, our little girl starting giggling. There is no greater sound than hearing your daughter giggle. Here's a sneak preview of her (in between the hiccups)