CTFD

Mike's cousin's wife (got all that) shared a blog post "Latest Parenting Trend - the CTFD Method" on her facebook page last night.  Her comment - Language inappropriate, but quite funny.  I obviously had to read. 

I didn't get past the first paragraph without insisting Mike listen.  His response?  Yup - that's been my method from the beginning.

Sixteen Months

Lily turned 16 months on 7/11 - did you get your free Slurpee?  As a parent, I'm not sure when you stop counting your child's age by months.  Or maybe you just don't?  Sometime down the road a person in the grocery store is going to stop me and ask how old my little girl is and I'll say - 42 months.  Is that so weird? 

I thought Lily might give me some smiles while we looked for frogs in the back yard but it's apparent frog hunting is really serious business.  I might not have gotten any smiles but at least there were no melt downs.  She even put up with me posing her on the garden steps and making her wear a silly hat.  



Hoy Family Pictures

Two years ago - the weekend Hollie and I announced we were expecting - we got a Hoy family picture taken.  Two years later, we're plus two babes and still looking pretty good!  It was a super hot morning and we had some restless subjects (adults and babies) but we managed to get some nice updated photos! 



I love the expressions on everyone's faces.

Typical Lily

Yup - at it again

Grand Haven

We have a new found obsession with Grand Haven.  We ventured that way again this past Saturday and Lily loved every minute of it.  We spent almost an hour sitting along the river watching the boats passing by.  When we are at my parents' lake, Lily will point and say "Bo!" when she sees a boat close to shore.  I think it blew her mind to see so many!

Lily also felt it was her civic duty to pet every dog she saw.  As we were walking in and out of the shops (Lily of course requiring that she walk NEXT to the stroller), we encountered many dogs.  I've learned that Grand Haven is a very pet friendly town.  Most stores have water bowls and offer leash ties outside their stores.  Many actually invite friendly dogs in.  One dog in particular needed Lily's attention more than others.  He was tied out up on the outside patio of a restaurant while his owners were just on the other side.  She saw them sneaking the dog food and insisted she get to greet him.  She even threw in a foot stomp to let me know she was serious.  So we politely interrupted lunch and asked if we could pet the puppy.  If Lily wasn't so cute, she might have been told no....  

Christmas in July?

Hi blog world!  It's been awhile and I owe you several posts.  We've been busy on vacation and then I struggled with some technical difficulties on the blog site.  But I think we're back in action so here it goes!

Since before I can remember, my parents began hosting the Sundstrand Annual 4th of July Party!  It's been one of my all-time family favorites since I was little - mostly because nearly every family member (including 2nd cousins) pencils it in as if it's Christmas.  I get nearly as excited for this celebration as I do any other family holiday and I can't wait to watch Lily grow up with all of her cousins.



I'm having a really hard time convincing Mom & Dad to get the matching outfits like Grandma and Grandpa







 

Beach Bum

We ventured to Grand Haven on Saturday with my brother looking for a good beach day.  The weather wasn't the best in my mind but it was cool and cloudy which actually made for a really good day to walk around.  We hit up the art festival and did lunch before walking from downtown to the lighthouse.  We weren't too sure how Lily would react at the beach since the waves in Hawaii had her climbing for her life.  Unlike that experience however, we could barely keep her from drowning herself.  She charged into the water with her new found freedom of walking and got angry when we tried to hold on to her.  If the water hadn't been so cold we probably could have let her play in the sand for hours.  She was in heaven.