July: Branson for the 4th

We had a great week in Branson with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and Grandparents. 

 Tablerock Lake is warm and clear, the perfect combination for playing in the water and riding in Grandpa's boat.

 This floating island was the hit.  We might need a second one next time--one for adults and one for kids:-)

 Sarah, Brenda & Lauren attempting yoga on the floating mat.

 Cousins playing Uno at Great Uncle Lavern's 4th of July BBQ

 Great Grandpa with his Grandkids and Great Grandkids

 The boys had fun their first time go-karting.  (Let's just say I'm not too anxious for them to turn 16!?)

 Aunt Brenda took the boys to Branson's newest attraction.  An indoor ninja warrior course.

 We spent one day at Silver Dollar City.  The boys were tall enough to ride everything except one roller coaster.

 In line for the fastest, scariest roller coaster we've ever been on--Outlaw Run!

 At the end of the day, we were wet and tired, but couldn't have had more fun and thrills!

Dick's 5 & 10 old fashioned dime store was a hit with the boys!  This if our first of three trips.  The highlight was Great Grandpa giving each boy a $20 bill and telling them to get WHATEVER they wanted with it.

 John tubing behind Grandpa's boat.

 Jacob tubing behind Grandpa's boat

 Kenny tubing behind Grandpa's boat

 Trip #2 to Dick's.  Jacob is channeling his inner army man.

John was thrilled to drive Grandpa's boat:-)

June 2017: Michigan summers are the best!

We had a great week in Michigan visiting family and celebrating Maria & Liam's marriage.  

 The boys enjoyed fishing with Uncles & Cousins at the canal at Aunt Kathy's house.

 They hit the jackpot--candy galore from the Islandfest Parade!

 They weren't quite sure about the actual pig roasting at the family reunion, but they sure thought he was tasty!

 We had a great time exploring and building at the mini Legoland in Auburn Hills.  John is posing with Tiger Stadium.

 Kenny is posing in front of the Ford Rouge River Assembly Plant.

 Ready for the 3-D Lego show!

 We had a tasty and entertaining lunch at the Rainforest Cafe after legoland.

 And then took in the aquarium.

 Sarah's favorite was the family yoga session that cousin Celeste taught.

The cousins had so much fun at the Grosse Ile playground.  Stella, Ellie, Rowan and Missy met us a couple times during the week!

And of course the annual Gronda family picture!

June 2017: Camping at Canyonlands National Park

What an adventure we had!  1 hour from civilization and camping in triple digit heat.  Our group campsite had huge boulders that formed a cave.  The kids hung out inside where it was 20 degrees cooler than outside!

 We did amazing hikes in the morning and evenings with lots of water....

 Marin was the birthday girl!  We celebrated with a hike and sweet treats at this picturesque spot.

 The kids loved this old cowboy cave with artifacts from the days when cattle roamed these canyons.

 A perfect rest spot--shade, views, and a pesky black crow that wanted to eat our food!?

 The sunset created some beautiful colors!

 The kids atop their boulder cave in the middle of our campsite.

 This was the view of our site from the top.  It would be the perfect spot for April or early May camping!  Just a wee bit hot and buggy in June.

 Katy, Sarah & Jennie--happy hour from the lookout above our campsite.

 Andrew, Darin & Bryan--happy hour take 2

We stopped at roadside arch between Canyonlands and Moab.  Katy had the great idea for this picture--isn't it amazing!?

 John caught a lizard within our first hour of arriving.  It lived in a water bottle for 24 hours before succumbing to captivity (we laid him to rest on our morning hike:-)

 This was the brave crew!  We spent Saturday afternoon sitting in the shade with our feet soaking in 5 gallon buckets of water.

 We stopped at a swimming hole in Moab on the drive back.  Jacob did a lot of considering before he jumped (I was very encouraged by this as a mama:-)

 John didn't blink and did a very theatrical approach to his jump.

 Kenny was beyond brave and made the jump just 2 weeks after hernia surgery (not sure that was the best parenting move!?)

Jacob couldn't get enough after his first jump and made the hike to the top and jumped 3 more times!