Officially a Gravenstreter!

I didn't waste any time getting out and getting these errands done!  Until I got to the Social Security Administration office...I had brought all necessary documents, but I had not been aware there was a form I had to fill out, not to mention the millions of people there already waiting when I got there at about 9:45.  I sat there for about 15 minutes, and only 2 people were called, and I figured I'd do that part another day!

I had much better luck at the Driver's License division, and my new Driver's License should be in the mail soon!  My temporary at least has the newly correct name on it, and I'm super excited to be legally and officially becoming a Gravenstreter!

Marriage License!

Our official marriage licences came today in the mail!  Now the work of changing my name everywhere can begin!

Driving after dropping the girls off this afternoon there was this glorious bout of sunlight over the mountains.  The picture of course doesn't do it justice, but it was beautiful.

This evening also heralded further acts of war against the aphid population in our garden.  They have INFESTED the plants and it's really pretty gross.  I now have to wash all the greens we cook with warm soapy water to get the little guys off.  Ick.  Jon took matters into his own hands with the purchase of a sprayer.  He loaded it up with a Neem oil dilution and went to work!  We think we planted the plants too close to each other, which allows for rapid spreading of the aphids.  The plants need a large, dry, hot (here) space between that doesn't allow the bugs to go from one plant to another.  Live and learn for next year!

Cake Pops

I tried my hand at a swervy braid today.  I need to make the curve more pronounced, but it turned out pretty cool.  Mac sure liked it!

And little Mac.  She's been so patient with me these last couple months.  She's been trying to adjust as best she could, and today we finally got around to doing her cake pops.  We started a batch before Michigan, but the crumbs just got gross in the freezer, so today we started over and completed them!!

Strawberry cake pops with cream cheese frosting and sprinkles!

Poor Leiden got a black eye last night at gymnastics!!  I guess she was doing some sort of trick and her knee came up and smacked her in the eye.  She sent me this picture this morning from her dad's before she went to school.  Sweet little girl.  I think she's feeling a bit self conscious about it, and it hurts a little, but she said she'll be okay.

Today while Jon was at work, I headed over to his apartment to do some more moving and cleaning because Jordan and Alicia will be moving in this weekend!  It's crunch time, and we haven't had a lot of time since we got back from Michigan. 

It is ALMOST done.  There are only a few things left, and then the final cleaning.

This evening we made good on one of our summer promises, which was to take the girls to Cowabunga Bay!  We packed up our cooler bag with food for dinner, intending to spend the evening there, only to find out they don't allow outside food!  We left the food in the car, played for a while, then went out to the parking lot to eat.  Back in, but by then it was getting pretty chilly.

One of the benefits of it being rather chilly (like 85...I think it would need to be over 100 for it to be really comfortable.  Even pools are a bit cold for me.) was that there was hardly anyone there!

We all loved the giant bucket spill...it's incredible how much FORCE that much water comes down with.  On one of the last dumps we were there for, Mac was the only one to run out and get under it and I snapped this incredible picture of her.  Seriously, my best photographs over the years have been mistakes or quick shots that I didn't think about.  And this one I took on my phone!  There is something so amazing about this picture.  A lone girl silhouetted against the sun with water pouring down around her.  A super lucky shot.

We had a great time, but it's a once a year thing when they do their discounted evenings.  It's just too expensive for more frequent trips.  But I'm glad we could get there for the girls!

First Day of School!

The day is upon us!  It's back to school, and it seems as though the summer has gone by in a flash!  The wedding kind of took over much of our time and it has flown by.  Each girl consented to stand with a sign.  They are GROWING so fast.

Leiden gets unceremoniously dropped off at the middle school, but I got to walk with these two, who still line up in the back and a big production of going inside the school is made!

It was a beautiful summer morning today, blue sky with some clouds, and quite warm.

Because it's Wednesday, Master Thomas got to join us in the send off!

Mac was excited to meet up with her friends, and (thankfully) is optimistic about making new friends because Lucy isn't in her class!

Mimi, still head and shoulders above her classmates!

And sweet Mac, happy to greet the day!

I made (bought!) these to welcome them home this afternoon.  This year they come home to a temporarily empty house because I have to pick up Leiden right as they are coming home.

It was a successful first day for all of them!  Here's to another great school year!!

Meet the Teacher

And the Tooth Fairy wrote her back!!

Today it was Meet the Teacher at the elementary.  I came up with quick little gift for them.

When it was time, we headed out to the school.

Mimi has Ms. Grab, and she's very excited about it!

Mac has a new teacher, Mrs. Hawkins, and she's excited too.

I can't believe another school year starts tomorrow!  This summer we didn't get to do nearly the things we had hoped as a family...the wedding took over!  And while that was an awesome thing for our family, many of our activities we had hoped to do were not gotten to.  But there's always next year!

Solar Eclipse

Today was the solar eclipse!  Jon was supposed to go back to work but he decided to take ONE more day off and go with Jordan up to Idaho, where the eclipse was total.  He wanted me to come with him, but I didn't feel good about leaving the girls again.  He took some pretty cool pictures and he was gone for about 18 hours.

He and Jordan were able to purchase eclipse glasses, but we weren't in the path of totality, so they would have been less effective anyway.  Not to mention the scary logistics of making sure three children correctly look through them at the sun!

We went the hole in a box route, and were able to see the partial eclipse.  It was really cool.  And at the point of the most coverage, the light got really weird.

We were on our way down to the Smart's for Lydia's birthday party!  It was so great to see Meghan and the kids again.  Despite all the hubbub, it was wonderful to catch up with Meghan and gossip about newly married life!  She is living at her parents' house while she attends law school, and she gifted me one of her mom's onions right out of the ground!

Leiden lost her last baby tooth today, and she wrote the SWEETEST little note to the Tooth Fairy.  This little girl is growing up, and it's equal parts bitter and sweet.  

Mercedes Gravenstreter!

My mom gave me an invitation to a shower Joni and she are throwing, and it's the first time seeing my new name in print!  Soooo exciting!

Headed Home

Travel days home are always hard.  You just want to be home already, and it always seems to take forever.  We didn't check in early enough for either of our plane rides, so we had to sit apart on both flights!

Our layover in Vegas was interesting.  Slot machines everywhere, even in the airport, with dead looking people staring at them.  It's kind of eerie...but we finally made it home!

We have missed the girls, and are looking forward to getting into some family routines.  We talked to the girls every day while in Michigan, and they seem to have done well, but I think they are eager to come home.

Michigan Day 11--Ship Replicas and Woodward Dream Cruise

Today we headed back to Detroit, which meant a long car ride, but we stopped at Mission Point and walked around a little.  Manning a lighthouse would take a special kind of personality that didn't mind isolation.  I think it would appeal for a short period, but the years that the operators would live there would be wearing.

Jon happened to look up those ships we saw sailing the other day, and found that they are in Traverse City Harbor, and open for tours!  They are replicas of the , and SO cool!

We decided to pay the fee and get to go aboard them and it was so fascinating.

They travel the world with volunteer crews that man the ships.  They come into harbors and let people tour the ships.  They are available to answer questions and there is a lot of information there on the ship about how things were in the days of Columbus.

We took a ton of pictures, but this one shows how tiny Columbus' private "quarters" would have been on such a small ship.  Literally not even enough room to sit upright, and cramped sleeping.

It was an incredible experience that was completely unexpected!

We FINALLY got back to Detroit and decided to head over to the beginnings of the Dream Cruise!  There were SO MANY cool cars, but my favorites, besides this pink cadillac, were the turquoise ones!

Someone was passing out these cool Woodward stickers, and we managed to snag three for the girls.

We have missed them, and although we have talked to them on the phone every day, and have loved this trip, we are excited to get home to them tomorrow and get down to the business of real life and establishing the new normal.