Week 30 of 52

Here’s what we did in our everyday lives this week:

Going for walks in the mornings is one of my favorite things to do. Going for walks and picking wildflowers from the side of the road is even better.

The house we’re renting has been home to many a Microsoft worker. As we’ve settled in, we’ve felt the need to organize the kitchen a bit differently than the previous tenants. Here’s Elsie helping me match (and unmatch) the pots with the lids.

Brent’s job site: a muddy mess!

Elsie had a tick on her this week and I didn’t even know it was a tick! Here’s the red bite mark. I guess on the positive side, it gave us a chance to establish a primary care physician.

We live across the street from the former site of the Randolph Macon college.

Afternoon nap with his tractor catalogue.

Throwback

Looking up...
❤️, Molly

29

July 15-21

We kicked off the week with a family barbecue in Michigan!























Cousins: Elsie (13 months), Chantal (16), Justin (11), Samuel (27 months)


Fixing Grandpa's lawnmower


It works! Victory lap!


More rides


Samuel's ideal tourist destination


He can inform you that they're made by John Deere.

Somewhere in the Appalachian mountains


Happy roadtripper



Free and easy down the road we go... (HAH! Not so much unless there are frequent stops, generous amounts of snacks, and the "Wheels on the Bus" song playing on repeat.)


Park time to get out the wiggles


Storm clouds


Sunset clouds


In Kentucky, we stopped to see the "Ark Experience." We didn't research anything beforehand, and we didn't have many expectations going into it, but in the end we were glad we stopped. Someday it would be interesting to visit again when we have time to take in more of the exhibits. (It's not the most suited to young children.) It was also crazy crowded. The first views from the outside were my favorite part.
































From the inside


Possible food and water storage

After the Ark, we stopped in Kentucky to reconnect with our dear friends and former teammates, the Wilsons. We left with full bellies, gifts, and the special joy that comes when you get to spend time with people you love, but rarely see. I love how sweet Tetch wore her Abu Dhabi shirt for good measure.


Brent and David: Pakistani smile // American smile


Virginia is for Lovers


Decisions...


On Saturday night the Walmart parking lot filled up with teenagers and pick up trucks. Who knew this was a thing?


Welcome home!

Love, Molly

Week 28

July 8-14

A beautiful day on the water

It's really nice to have a friend with a boat. Much nicer than owning one ourselves. ;-)
Bonus: Baby Elsie was so good about wearing her life vest. Didn’t scream or fuss once! Yay!

Samuel at the wheel

What my life feels like. 👆
Monday after we got home from the beach, we found out we're moving to rural Virginia! Brent and his team will be working on a Microsoft project and we can expect to be there for at least 8 months. We left Ann Arbor this week!!!!

My sunshine

Our apartment in Ann Arbor wasn’t fully furnished, so we acquired a lot of new stuff. That didn't really fit in the car. This was my view looking ahead and behind from the middle seat. Eek!

Another downpour, just like our last visit to my inlaws’ house. This time though...

... they put on swimsuits and played in it!

Elsie was particularly enthusiastic, as evidenced by her near-constant screaming, shrieking, and stomping!

Samuel with Grandma Laura

Busy bee

Greetings!

These remind me of my brother, his girlfriend, Lilly, and their soon to be born little baby! Can’t wait for my brother to be a dad!
Love, Molly

Week 27

July 1st-7th

This week really felt like "summer".


Brent's childhood friends own a beach house in Tawas City. They invited us to spend the weekend with them, and it was magical.


We celebrated the 4th of July with a little fruit picking.


Raspberries were in season. (They're my favorite!)


The wagon ride to the cherry orchard; despite all the bumps, Elsie managed to take a long nap in the stroller.


Choo-choo!


Her kind of fun: playing in the dirt


His kind of fun: watching tractors


A little taste


Nothing, not even lunch time or sweat dripping from his face, would stop him from playing trucks in the dirt.


Exploring all of the big equipment at a new building site on campus


Getting festive! We found a salad spinner in a free pile on the sidewalk and decided to use it to make "fireworks".


Long shadows and beautiful planters on campus


A stroll past the University of Michigan Museum of Art


Playing in the lawn at the Law Quadrangle


Starting the week off right! Sunday at the waterpark


Light through the leaves

Love, Molly