A horse named Chuck

Summer is officially here in Wisconsin. The heat and humidity seem to have set in and I am very grateful to Willis Carrier... the inventor of air conditioning!  We have had a few good thunderstorms already. We are still not use to having a thunderstorm roll in at 3 a.m. It just seems to go against everything we know about weather.... not sure if we will ever get use to that.

Father's Day weekend was full of adventures for our family.  On Saturday the Sheboygan Yacht Club hosted the 2nd Annual Harbor Fest.  It was a fun festival at the Lake Michigan harbor that raised money for the youth yacht club program.  Owen had a wonderful time, it is hard to pick his favorite activity.  The first thing he wanted to do was go on a pony ride. Since he was first in line he was able to pick which horse he wanted to ride and he requested the brown one, Chuck.  He still talks about riding the brown horse.  Our adventure went onward to the petting zoo where Owen fed goats and sheep. He was also excited to pet the baby chicks and rabbits.  The Coast Guard Station was open for public tours and Owen was able to get into their rescue boat and "drive" and honk the horn. The Coast Guardsman joked that we had a lingerer because Owen was in no hurry to get off the boat, we could have left him there all day and he would have been quite happy. Much to my apprehension, the bounce house came next. I was very glad that the kids bouncing were Owen's size and he had a wonderful time.  Thankfully, the Home Depot tent was next to the bounce house and we were able to convince Owen that making a helicopter would be as much fun as bouncing. He was a little dangerous swinging the hammer but all in all the "copter" was a success.  Unfortunately a huge thunderstorm rolled in and we had to make a mad dash to our car in the pouring rain. It cut our day a little short but we had a great time.

Owen and Chuck

Hanging out with the Coast Guard

It can be hard trying to hit that small nail....

Owen's goofy new smile... and the finished "copter."

On Father's Day  the Sheboygan County Airport hosted a Wings and Wheels Show. Imagine a combination of the Hildabrand Tractor Show, the Klamath Cruise, a model train exhibit and a small/vintage air show all on a smaller scale. Owen was over the moon looking at the tractors, planes and trains. When we arrived the life flight helicopter was getting ready to leave on a medical call. I had not been that close to a helicopter taking off since my days at ODF.  There is something about the sound of the rotor blade combined with the scent of jet fuel that still can get my adrenaline flowing.   We spent quite a bit of time looking at tractors, planes and trains then finished the day with Owen sitting on his favorite tractor.  I think that his love for tractors will always stay with him but we are glad he is branching out to other forms of transportation!

Getting ready to watch the "copter" take off.  (For those wondering and the concerned Grandparents, Owen was not on Brian's shoulders when it took off, the rotor wash would have probably knocked him off....)

One of Owen's favorite tractors.... it has a plow!

Owen was excited because this is like Papa Jim's tractor.

Airplanes! 

Watching the model trains.

Finally getting to "drive" the tractor...

We are settling into our summer schedule.  Owen wakes up and immediately wants to go outside to play in his sandbox... it takes a while to convince him that eating breakfast and changing out of his jams is a good idea.   The morning is spent outside playing then after a quick snooze most afternoons are spent at the pool or playing in the water in the backyard. Owen has become quiet dangerous when he has the hose, no one is safe when the sprayer is on.  Running through the sprinkler is also a favorite activity. Of course he wants either Brian or I to run through it with him so we all get cooled down. I have a feeling that this will be a fun filled summer with Owen.... without much rest!  He is a boy on the go....

Just call me Joel Goodson....

 Running through the sprinkler.....

 Such Fun!

In the last month Owen has seemed to grow up a lot. I know that will seem even more apparent when the little one comes in September.  He has transitioned from calling me "Momma" to "Mom."  There are times that I hear him yelling for me from upstairs or from the living room and I wonder where my little boy has gone.  One day Owen was in the living room having a snack and yelled "Mom, more crackers." It made me think of Will Ferrell'ss character in Wedding Crashers, yelling from him mom to get him meatloaf... all I could think of is "oh my...."  It is fun to watch him play with his friends and get more daring on the play structures.  It is wonderful but a little bitter sweet watching your little ones grow up.  

The next 2 weeks my sister Amy and nieces Madeline and Meredith will be visiting. We are so excited for their visit and are gearing up for Kohler's 4th of July celebrations. It will be a very busy week here in Kohler as the US Women's Open is playing at Blackwolf Run.  All of the extra tourist in town might  make it a little crazy but it also brings lots of fun. This week there will be a movie shown in Ravine Park and a big street fair celebrating the golf tournament. It will be a fun week and the Bush's will get the full Kohler experience!