We Beat the Heat

How did we do that?  Well, we traveled north for one of the biggest heat waves.  We went to Michigan and Ohio.  I say we, but we sadly had to leave Daddy in Missouri because he's a master student and can't afford to go on vacation for a couple weeks.  He did join us for a weekend though :) The drive to Michigan was pretty rough for me (not sure I will volunteer for that again if I don't have to).  We hit construction, weather, and full on toddler meltdowns (okay maybe even mommy melt downs).  But Michigan and Ohio were so worth it.
While we were in Michigan we visited Katie and Seth and family.  Pace and Grant loved playing with their cousins.  We hung out, went to the Detroit Zoo, got ice cream, and celebrated Pace's 3rd birthday together (that's right I have a 3 year old).  A big thanks to Katie for baking a birthday cake.

He was a lot more excited than this picture shows

Then the next week we headed to good old Marshallville to visit Grandma and Grandpa Haake.  We had a great time.  We had another birthday celebration, a bon fire, the boys helped my dad mow the lawn (a Pace and Grant highlight, believe it or not), went to Liz's farm and fed the animals, swam in Mike's neighborhood lake, visited Kirtland, visited friends, rode a train, got a back stage pass to the Akron Zoo, celebrated Caroline and David's Baby (coming Aug 2016), and hung out with my parents and brothers.

Trucks and dirt, perfect combo

Swimming in the lake

Swimming buddies

Beach Buddies

Mowing the lawn (no we didn't let him go by himself)

Kirtland

At the temple

Waiting to catch the Cuyahoga Valley Train

Loving the train ride

Just a couple penguins we found a the Zoo

The last week in Ohio we went to the Doelling Reunion.  I got to see all my cousins/aunts/uncles/Oma/Opa.  It was a great time and pace liked having "big kids" to play with.  We hiked in Hocking Hills, swam in a local reservoir, and I even got to zip line for the first time ever (thanks Dad for watching the boys).  I just didn't get as many photos as I wanted.

Snuggle time with Uncle Sam

Then we headed home.  I am happy to report the trip home was so much smoother.  Good weather, little construction, and tired boys helps a lot.  No melt downs and we made it home to eat dinner with Daddy!

The huge rocking chair we ate lunch by

Pace is ringing the world's Largest Wind Chime