Clara's 2nd Birthday

After an exciting train trip to the Bahamas, Clara's birthday was pretty low key - just our family (plus Grandma and Grandpa) hanging out near home.  In the morning we went to Tiny Town and treated ourselves to a train ride and an ice cream cones. We had a DQ ice cream cake after dinner.  Two ice creams in one day had Clara pretty wired, which was quite amusing.

The kids had been practicing the "Happy Birthday" song all week, and Clara was running around saying, "Happy birthday to YOU!  Happy birthday to YOU!"

The new big girl bike

Tiny Town fun with the grandparents.

Ice cream cake!

July and August

After we got home from Ohio, our family officially started a paleo lifestyle by doing a Whole30.  The results were incredible and we never looked back.  We've had weight loss, less joint pain, more energy, less tummy trouble, less mental fog - it's so good!

The quiet summer travel season gave us some good times at home.

Andrew started to enjoy talking on the phone.  Here he's speaking to Uncle Devin.

Flying a rocket to outer space on a rainy summer evening

Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site

Nana came to visit!

Then Grandma and Grandpa visited right after!

Grandma's toy horse

Happy 70th birthday, Grandpa!

"That cake was paleo?  I couldn't even tell!"

Sibs

Hail storm!

July in Ohio

We spent the week of July the Fourth in Ohio with Grandma and Grandpa.  Orrville throws a huge celebration with a fair and a softball tournament, a parade and fireworks.  We also got to see lots of dear friends and family.  And tractors.  Lots of tractors.

We flew into Columbus on a deal, so we spent the first night at the Hyatt Regency Downtown and scored a sweet (suite) upgrade.

From there we made our way to Grandpa and Grandma's house.

We went over to visit "Uncle" Raymond, and his impressive array of equipment.

We went to the parade in downtown Orrville.

We went to the beach at Charles Mill Lake.

The kids got lots of tractor rides on and behind Grandpa's lawn tractor.

Uncle Sid and Aunt Karen came over.

We had a cheese tasting at Heini's of Berlin.  And ice cream.

Nana even came to visit while Papa and Uncle Devin went to the races at Norwalk.  She brought bubbles.  And we got to visit with our friends the B family.

Then we went to the carnival and fireworks in Orrville.  Andrew rode all by himself on a ride.