Fourth of July Loch Alpine Style!

July 3, 2009- the neighborhood put on another spectacular 4th of July event (on the third of July). The weather was a little cool, but the kids did not seem to mind! The water slide and the dunk tank were big hits! Elysa must have gone down the slide at least 15 times while Katie had fun being dunked in the tank at least three times! The fireworks which occurred in the evening were breathtaking!!

Saying goodbye is never easy to do--- two

June 26, 2009- Another goodbye. Seo-Young left today. She wanted to go to El Azteco for dinner last night so we drove to Lansing and enjoyed the time together along with the Mexican food! Seo-Young was a wonderful surprise addition to our house! Famous Seo-Young statements: "OMG!" (said before almost any statement, or when scared, or surprised...or whenever!) We are so glad that she joined our family! It is hard to say goodbye....

Saying goodbye is never easy to do....

June 22, 2009- Bianca left today. We went out to eat with the family last night to say goodbye. It is hard to believe that she was with us for just 10 months. Famous Bianca quotes: "SERIOUSLY??!!" (sirry-us-lee??), "Please, please, please?" (pleez, pleez, pleeeeeeeeez?), "I hate the (fill in the blank with: airport, post office, YFU, waking up). We really enjoyed having her in our family. She was a great addition to our family and we will really miss her!

Basic Skills Competition June 13, 2009

Both Katie and Elysa skated in the Ann Arbor Figure Skating Club's Basic Skills Competition on June 13, 2009. It is amazing to see them both step out onto the ice and skate with such confidence!

Getting ready to say "goodbye"

June 20, 2009- We had a "goodbye party" for Bianca and Seo-Young on the same day as Elysa's birthday party. We have had a really good time with them over the past year and it will be really hard to say goodbye!

Elysa turns 5 years old!

June 20, 2009- It is hard to believe that 5 years and one day ago Elysabeth Grace Grossman came roaring into our lives! What started out as a 7 pound 12 ounce little bundle that slept all the time has morphed into a bundle of energy that talks and moves non-stop! She had a great birthday party with friends and some family. We started out at home with decorating cupcakes and opening presents and then moved on to the Ann Arbor Country Club pool for some fun in the water!!

Dexter High School Graduation 6-7-09

YEAH!! Bianca and Seo-Young "graduated" from Dexter High School with the Class of 2009!

Vancouver, Canada- end of Alaska Cruise

Sylvia MacCalla Ryder- still going strong at 101 years old!!

Juneau, Alaska

Seals out sunning themselves

We saw a lot of Humpback whales!

Breeching

Totem in Juneau

Skagway, Alaska

REALLY happy dogs who LOVE to RUN!

Ready to go dog sledding! (golf carting)

The "city" of Skagway

Sitka, Alaska

Sitka, Alaska


Trail head warning!

Alaska June 2009

Cruising out to Hubbard and Turner Glaciers

Alaska 5-29-09 thro 6-5-09

On the way to Hubbard and Turner glaciers 5-30-09

Icebergs! 5-30-09

Beluga Point, Anchorage

5/29-6/5/09: I was able to travel with my mother, father and 101 year old grandmother to Alaska! We started in Anchorage and cruised from Seward to Vancouver visiting Sitka, Skagway and Juneau on the way down. Here are some of the many pictures I took!

Katie's First Grade Reading Event- May 2009

May 27, 2009- Katie's First Grade class put on a "Reading Event" that featured their science projects (Katie researched horses) and then had each child reading to small groups. Katie has really taken off with her reading skills! She reads chapter books now and can often be found sneaking a book by light of a contranand flashlight when she is supposed to be asleep!

Elysa Graduates from Preschool

May 17, 2009- Elysa graduated from Sunshine Special Children's Learning Studio! She attended for two years and loved every day of it!