Introducing... Bright Green Door!

You read it right. My new blog has launched, www.BrightGreenDoor.blogspot.com. While I love having the McGurn Family blog, it just wasn't working anymore for the wide variety of posts that I was posting (and want to post). So please, keep reading, and follow me over to the new blog here!

Get Ready...

Get Ready for What??? 

I'm on a short blog hiatus while I get my new all-inclusive blog ready! A blog suited for family stuff, DIY stuff, North Dakota stuff, EVERYTHING!

Are you on the edge of your seat? Want a little preview? OK... just a sneak peek of the new blog design!

Stay tuned, I'll be launching soon!

How We Measure Up.

I had seen a few really cute growth charts popping up on Pinterest, so last week I decided to make one for us! With a board, some stain, stencils, and black paint (the same paint I used on the fireplace), I was able to make a super cute vintage looking yardstick! I think that the boys love it even more than I do because I have measured them a million times since we put it up!

Crystal Lake 2012

Because we were only in Crystal Lake for 4 days, we had to pack in as much as we possibly could into our short time there.

Each day the temperature was over 100 degrees, so it was so nice to have a cool and comfortable hotel room to head back to at the end of each night.

We started out with a visit from Matt's cousins Keri and Nicole. Nicole hadn't seen the boys since Mase was 6 weeks old. They had fun just goofing around in the hotel room together.

We also had a great visit with Matt's Grandpa Frank and Grandma Jane. Although it was a great visit there were no great pictures to document it!

Then one night Grandpa John and Grandma Debbie took the boys for a "sleepover" with Ana and Matt and I got a night out on the town! We met up with Matt's high school friend Ian and his wife Erin, and Paul and his girlfriend Ciera. Of course we had to hit up Crystal Lake's famous ice cream joint, "The Freeze". We also went bowling and Matt is ashamed to let you all know that I beat him in bowling! That night we got a night to ourselves and the next morning even treated ourselves to breakfast in bed!

Grandma Debbie sent pictures from the sleepover of the kids all knocked out together and Grandpa John knocked out while, "babysitting"!!!

One night we all headed out to Nick's pizza where we met up with Matt's Aunt Lynda and Uncle Gregg and his cousins again. The boys thought this bench outside was the coolest!

Which turned into an impromptu photo session where we got an ok family picture!

On our last morning in Crystal Lake John and Debbie threw a brunch for all of the McGurn's to get together and see us! John is one of eight, so there are a LOT of McGurn's!!! Debbie is an awesome cook so the food was delicious and it was awesome to get to see so many family members all in one place!

By the end of our time in Crystal Lake we had been away from home for 20 days and the boys were exhausted. Although it was an awesome time, hopefully next time we can hit Crystal Lake on the beginning of a trip, rather than with two overtired exhausted little boys!

POOL Party!

Although I've been back in North Dakota for a few days, I still have the last leg of our Midwest tour to document! Since we were already in the heart of the Midwest for the Roommate Reunion, we couldn't be that close to Crystal Lake and not go see Matt's family! So we made the 4 hour trip from Green Bay down and we were greeted by loving family and muggy 108 degree Chicago heat!

This was not like a North Dakota or Denver heat, this was the kind of heat that just takes your breath away because it's not only hot, but muggy too! Anyways, John and Debbie treated us to a day at their health club where the only time any of us got out of the water was to head down the waterslide for trip, after trip, after trip! 

John had a hard time getting his feet under him at the end of the slide!

The minute Jack would get done with one trip down, he would race back to the steps for another, whether anyone was coming with him or not! I may have had to go sprinting up the stairs once to catch him before he tried to go down alone!

 Mason thought it was absolutely hilarious to try and attack Debbie and hold her under water! He is a little stinker that we're learning to watch out for!

Ana lost her tooth the night before, and was proud to show it off to everyone!

On this trip Mason became fearless of water and prefers that we don't catch him when he jumps in!!! He'd rather touch the bottom of the pool and push up, then not be grabbed by us until his head comes back up to the top. Even though it's like 3 seconds, that is the scariest thing EVER for a mom! I swear I went under every time to come back up with him!

It was sure nice to beat the heat by hanging out in the pool!

Whitefish Dunes State Park

During our roommate reunion for the 4th of July we headed out to Whitefish Dunes state park.

 We started out with a barbecued picnic lunch in a beautiful forest, the boys enjoyed just exploring while we cooked!

Then we headed to the beach which is right on Lake Michigan. We built sandcastles, swam, and enjoyed the gorgeous day. It was the absolute perfect beach day!