Kings Island

Luxottica Family Day:

Toronto - June 2013

My girls:

Lunch on Center Island:

Our weekend...

Our weekend started off at Panera where Mia had a filling breakfast consisting of: her own sock (see the picture), stolen mommy's bagel, 2 napkins, and daddy's plastic water cup... After which we embarked on a lo-o-o-o-ong (8-minute) walk home, grabbed Brie and headed for Caesar Creek Park for a hike.
The park was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L! The hiking trails at Caesar Creek are not exactly short and easy (especially if you are pushing a 45lb stroller or dragging a 42lb dog named Brie), but it was sure the time well spent! :)

Daddy-Baby Duo

Nothing beats snuggling with daddy under his sweatshirt on a cold October night. Mia quickly figured that out and kept herself warm the kangaroo style!

Celebrating 5 months!!!

Introducing Mia's latest present from mommy & daddy for her "I-am-five-months-old-now" birthday... the Jumpie Seat!

Needless to say, Mia was thrilled to get it! She LOVES jumping, and she has been doing it so much (with mommy's help, of course) that mommy has developed some serious biceps and triceps and started to look a lot like The Arnold... :) Since mommy has never considered doing arm wrestling or any other stuff like that, we made a strategic decision to purchase this great jumping sack. In the end, it made everyone happy (except for Brie who always tries to escape every time I try to stick her in it... I wonder why... Maybe it's just not the dog thing?)

Mia got her driving license!

Great news! Mia finally got her driving license! It took her two months of practice, forty two smashed lamp posts, ninety eight crushed cars, one hospitalized squirrel and over a hundred of scared to death Centerville drivers who saw her driving around the town... And you thought Scary Movie 4 was scary? :)

Last Day of Swimming

Rain forecast all day? Didn't matter to us, not when it was supposed to be the last warm weekend of the year and the water felt terrific. We managed to squeeze in one last time at the lake for a day of swimming. And, as we were leaving it started to pour rain. What luck!

Mr. Apple

Labor Day - Saugatuck, MI

Pistachio ice-cream....Mmmmmmmmm......Cherry-Amaretto ice-cream?! MMMMMMMMMMM.............. :)

Labor Day weekend doggies.... and Jessie :)

Grandma Rita's new laptop

Labor Day Weekend, Saugatuck, MI

Every year we spend Labor Day weekend at Nick's mom's cottage in Saugatuck, MI. This time we had 27 brothers, sisters, cousins, and parents there!! Plus 6 dogs!! (not counting all other dogs they attracted from our neighbours :)) Mia mastered her swimming skills, and said that next year she would like to join Baby Olympics in swimming... Well...I told her I'd think about it :)
Some of the best memories we are going to have from this trip are:
- Eating ice-cream in downtown Saugatuck with Jen and grandpa John
- Going on a wine tour in Fenn Valley vineyard and sampling blueberry wine
- Cooking dinner for 27 people!
- Swimming in the hotel swimming pool with Mia
- Buns and gravy :)
- Going to the lake Michigan
- Apple-picking and apple cyder-drinking
- Brie breaking out of the house and tearing the screen
- Seeing everybody again

Great times! Thank you Rita, Leslie and Roxy for having us!

Special Guests

Another great weekend. This time we had visitors from Wales. John and Jenny arrived for the weekend with Dad, and we spent our time swimming at the lake, making pizza, entertaining Mia and hanging out at Jamie's house. Mia was proud to show off her latest trick of turning from her back onto her tummy. Thanks for a great visit. See you at the cottage...

Look what Grandma Olya gave me!

This awesome pink sweater was hand-knitted for me by my Russian grandma Olya! It's a little bit too big so far, but I couldn't wait to try it on!

Wine & Cheese Cruise

After the daytime is almost over and darkness is almost here, the ski boat is docked and the skis are put up to dry for the night... But wait! There is time for one last cruise around the lake, and of course, my favorite event of the day - Our Nightly Wine & Cheese Cruise.

This is us before the wine starts pouring...

Captain Mia

... Masha, after a taste of white, red, some more white, a little more red, and yes, a little more white please... "Has anybody seen my cracker?"

Mia's First Swim

Rick's Surprise 40th B-Day Party

Here we are in our "Cabin Weekend 2007 : Guess who turned 40?" T-shirts. Nick and Masha went out on the lake and "broke" the speed boat so Rick could come out on the pontoon boat and save us. While he was doing that, Rick's Mom, Dad, sister and brother came over to setup for a surprise birthday party that was waiting for him when he got back. Was he surprised????? Who knows, but he sure was happy.

Kangaroo Pillows

Visit with Grandpa John on the way to the cabin: August 9th.

Fun In The Sun

Mia catching up on her baby tan.

Heads up!

"Play time is so much fun. Thanks mom! Look at me goooooooooo..."

Masha, Mia & Jessie Swimming at Ceasar Creek State Park

We spent the day at Ceasar Creek State Park on July 29th. Masha, Mia, Jessie and Brie went swimming - Nick and Grandpa John watched. (Brie went swimming but only because Jessie dropped her in the lake.)

Video Below...

2006 Christmas Video

Cabin '06 : Group Photo