The Ringstrom Family

We went to  a grassy field near the Baptist church at 52nd and Breton which has a great view of the fireworks, not much in the way of crowds, an easy exit to the main road home and plenty of space for the kids to run around. We’ve done this every year since we’ve been back to GR, courtesy of our neighbors who first told us about this spot. Every year Sam makes friends with some random kid(s). This year was no exception. Avery this time was not afraid at all of the fireworks — though she did worry a little that they were “getting close” — and her favorites were “the pink ones.”

Go long, Daddy!

Mmmm...cookie

The boys passing the time until dusk

Avery's reading "Fancy Nancy"

Avery makes herself comfortable

Avery liked the sparklers

Sam loves sparklers

Is it fireworks time yet?

Happy Fourth!

Tags: Avery, holiday, Sam

Ready! Where are the people throwing candy?

Lucky needs a haircut. So does Bruce, come to think of it.

Avery doesn't care for the sirens

Neither does Sam

Hi parade!

Sam says his two favorite parts were the veterans and the candy

Everybody smile at Daddy!

Tags: Avery, holiday, Sam

Avery: (Theatrical sobbing)
Sam: Why are you so sad?
Avery: (through theatrical sobs) Because Mommy doesn’t have any ham!
Sam: It’s OK, Avery, Mommy still loves you!

Tags: kid funnies

I packed a picnic lunch, plastered sunscreen on the kids (and me, learning my lesson from my sunburned shoulders) and hopped in the van to go play on the splashpad in Kentwood. Then…alas! Horrors! Lightning broke the splashpad! Now I’ve got two hysterically screaming, disappointed, hungry children. Here’s where a Blackberry or something would come in handy. Instead I called Bruce, hoping he was by a computer. He was not. Next call, my parents, who fired up their machine and through some intrepid Googling figured out that my memory was correct, that Lamar Park in Wyoming had a splashpad, too. Dad told me how to get there (though I could barely hear him on speaker phone) and it was a half-hour later than planned, but we made it! No sand at this one, unlike Kentwood, and it’s not fenced in, but it’s bigger, and there were some smaller, gentler water things for the little ones to enjoy. So it all worked out in the end….

Mmmm, sandwich.... They were good sports about eating first.

She looks so grown-up! She let the babysitter give her a braid today.

He's not as thin as he looks, here. He's sucking in a breath because he got wet.

Worth the extra driving, I'd say....

Tags: Avery, Sam, summer

Like father, like son...

Sam at dusk

Remember this? The classic movie poster?

And the worms become useful for more than comedy and ick

Happy Father's Day fishing

Peek!

Think she had fun?

Tags: Avery, camping, Sam

Setting up. So roomy!

Splashing in Goose Lake

Sam splashing

Worms! Avery is talking about how they have no eyes

Sibling smile. With worms.

I know, another worm picture. But they're laughing! So cute.

Tags: Avery, camping, Sam

How Sam has spent the day

At least, when he wasn't helping me paint

Meanwhile, Avery thinks I'm the pararazzi and is running away

And hiding

"I said, NO PICTURES!"

Tags: Avery, Sam

And then we couldn’t resist running to Festival again Sunday. We ate ice cream from a waffle cone, listened to a rock band at the Calder, did sidewalk chalk, and Sam made a funny hat. The wind was COLD and it sprinkled a bit, but like I said, we’re tough. Avery was re-enacting our fun at home. She pronounces it “Fest-uh-bul”.

This band was called Common Shiner. Acoustic rock, and upbeat. Like Simon and Garfunkel with some more pep.

This was Sam's reaction to the band. He loved them, and danced while eating his ice cream.

Sam's funny hat at the Mad Hatter station

Why is sidewalk chalk more fun downtown than at home? Oh, because it's FESTIVAL

Bob, Erin and Kaeleigh came down so we all went together. The weather was a bit drizzly but nothing that tough Michiganders couldn’t handle. I did quote my dad a couple times, as in, “You’re not made of sugar, you won’t melt.”

The best way to see Festival, obviously.

The brothers grin...

Sam and Kaeleigh leaping off a low stone wall at the courthouse

Running around in the trees next to the Calder

The kids loved sliding on this thing, which according to a plaque was in memory of some lawyer. RIP?

And then it got rainy enough to chase us away...

Tags: Avery, events, Sam

We can’t wait to try out our tent! Fingers crossed for good weather next week

Avery in our tent, gorgeous smile

Look out Goose Lake

Tags: Avery, camping, photos, Sam