Trip to Holland:
We spent 22 hours in Holland. Joel had the weekend off, but we had a lot to catch up on at home. We borrowed a Dutch Costume for Anja and Kyper, but only Anja was willing to wear hers (like she had any choice in the matter). On Saturday, we met family downtown at Centenial Park, and we watched the Dutch Dancers. Later in the afternoon, we made the always necessary trip to the beach. Grandpa Herk had a blast digging a hole with Kyp. We topped the day off with Captain Sundae, dinner with cousins, and spent the night with our friends Tim and Melanie. We left early Sunday morning to make it back to church and have a relaxing day before the new week hit.
Color Run:
The next weekend, Julie did her very first 5K, with a few of her friends from high school. It was the Color Run, the happiest 5K on the planet.
Washington, DC:
Joel took a whole week off, and we traveled down to DC to See JP, Katie, and James, before they move out of the area. Joel had to work overnight on Saturday, slept Sunday, and on Monday, at 4:30AM, we were on the road. We made it to DC by 2:30PM and had a nice relaxing day--catching up on sleep. Joel helped JP study for his Spanish exam while they listened to the Red Wings.
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| We met Joel's Parents, Aren, and Leah on their way back from DC for James' baptism. We had a picnic in Somerset, PA |
On Tuesday, JP worked, and the rest of us explored Teddy Roosevelt Island, a wooded park with trails in the middle of the Potomac. Kyp loved it because it is on the flight path for airplanes landing at Reagan National, so a plane flew over every 45 seconds. We had a picnic lunch in front of a giant statue of Theodore Roosevelt. Afterwards, we found a frozen yogurt shop for dessert.
Wednesday brought hot weather in the 90's. JP worked half a day, while we took the kids to a huge playground. In the afternoon, JP picked Joel up and they went sailing on the Chesapeake Bay. JP sails on a J32 every week, and works the foredeck, rigging the spinnaker. Joel was able to help out, and afterwards, they enjoyed crab cakes on the bay. Joel had a blast, getting his water fix for a while.
Since JP and Joel left the ladies with the kids on Wednesday, Thursday became Mom's Day out. The girls spent 12 hours away, shopping, and eating out. The boys took the kids on a hike to Great Falls. This is a national park spanning Maryland and Virginia, where the Potomac River drops over a series of rapids. We had a picnic, overlooking the falls, then hiked upriver to a hydro-electric dam. Kyper hiked all three miles on his own, while James and Anja got the privilege of riding in hiking backpacks. We all had a great time, and everybody managed to get wet.
On Friday, it got cold and rainy. This was the day we went to the "Dinosaur Museum"--The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. We only spent 2 hours, but got to see the dinosaurs and the Bug Zoo. We will save more for next time. Friday night was also date night. JP and Katie found a sitter for the kids, and the adults went out. Good times had by all.
It was still cold on Saturday morning, with wind and sun. We packed a picnic breakfast complete with bacon and coffee, packed the Coleman stove, and headed to the Potomac. Breakfast on the beach is a Phillips/Rosema tradition for Memorial Day. Since we were not going to see JP and Katie on Monday, and since the closest beach is over an hour away, we had breakfast on the Potomac (maybe next year JP and Katie will have to do breakfast on the North Sea). In the afternoon, we met our friends from Calvin, Mitch and Rebecca with their son Simon, to go to the national zoo. It was a full afternoon, seeing the pandas, frogs, elephants, and seals. We had a relaxing evening, and drove home Sunday morning.
Real Life Farms:
Kyper also got to go to Real Life Farms with his preschool class. The highlight was milking a cow.
In June, we have been a little less active, but we did manage to celebrate 2 birthdays so far, and Julie made cable TV!
Julie's Birthday:
On Julie's actual birthday, she treated herself to a new haircut. We celebrated with birthday cake and when the kids were in bed, we enjoyed her new present--a small patio table and chairs. We enjoyed a glass of Traverse City Cherry Riesling, with tiki torches lit, watching the sunset. Then we Skyped with our good friends Rick and Monique, who live out in Colorado. That Saturday, we had a party. Joel marinated 2 whole chickens for a taco bar. For dessert, we had strawberry short(birthday)cake. We had a campfire to top off the night. Tim Russcher came out to help with the festivities (Melanie and Judah stayed home sick).
Joel's Birthday:
Joel turned 31 yesterday. His brother Aren and sister-in-law Leah were in town as Leah had a continuing ed course by the airport. Joel and Aren took Kyp to the beach in Port Huron. They had fun rock-picking and goofing off with the underwater camera. When Kyp came home and said he sorted his rocks, Joel asked "How did you sort them, into the ones you are keeping and throwing back?" To which Kyper replied "No, Dad, I'm keeping them all!" A true Phillips boy.
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| Kyp and Cason J. Calloway |
From the beach, the guys headed to meet Julie and Anja at her boss' house to watch the premier of their HGTV special involving Rebuilding Together Detroit and U of M competing against Ohio Stated with their local affiliate. Julie made quite a few shots (in the crowd, painting, rolling up the flooring, and putting furniture together), but no lines...maybe next time.
We all returned home, had coconut shrimp and an ice-cream bar cake. When the kids were in bed, we watched the fireflies and the sunset.
Today was just a relaxing day. Back to work tomorrow, and regular life. Maybe we will post again before the summer is done!
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