Family

I'm so thankful for my parents and siblings.  It has been a treat to spend so much time with them all lately.  Charlene and Eyvind came for a trip to Michigan.  My parents were even able to make it for 2 days.  I also love it that Blake and Eyvind are such great friends and get to spend so much time together.

We showed Auntie and Eyvind how we roll at our house... We love to be very busy and adventurous!  Thank goodness they were up for all our crazy plans.

How many nerf gun wars did we have????  Hard to count.  It was really fun.  It was the 4 kids against Charlene and I.  They creamed us every time.  They did give us limited ammo, crappy guns and had us enter downstairs.  They blasted us as soon as we walked through the door.  It was so fun and a great work out for all of us...

It was such a treat to be able to take my parents out to the boat.  I have so many wonderful memories as a kid out on the water.  My dad was a wonderful slalom skier and loved teaching us all how to ski and tube.  I think that I need to try to slalom this summer.  I was a little nervous about driving with them.  I was hoping that they wouldn't be scared.  They thought that I did GREAT!!!!

Auntie was a wonderful first mate.  I even almost lost her off the front of the boat while docking one time--- oops.

I love my time on the water...

 Of course we had to take them to Binder Park Zoo.  This zoo is very special for us and them.  All 4 kids have been to this zoo ever since they were very little. I love how excited they still are about it.  Wild Africa still makes me smile.

 Crazy Caitlin pretended to be a cheetah all day at the zoo and tried to get the other 3 to chase her...  That girl can run!!!!

 The boys were so adorable that they choose to wear their matching Binder Park Zoo t shirts that we got last year there.  The shirts have snow leopards on them...

 Miss Madison...  She came up with a great idea.  She wanted to celebrate her birthday!!!  We celebrate Cait and Blake every summer with Auntie and Eyvind because they have summer birthdays.  We never get the chance to celebrate Madison's because it is in February.  It was a great excuse to eat more cupcakes and ice cream.  This will probably become a summer tradition!!!!

I will post more of our adventures of the week with them...

Officially a BOAT Owner

So...  I learned several lessons so far with the boat ---  cell phones can fly easily overboard and E on the gas gauge really does mean EMPTY.

Blake and I learned how to gracefully run out of gas, but more importantly how heavy our boat is, how little the paddles are, and thankfully how to be towed back to the gas station...

I actually never freaked out and am officially not nervous about a thing with the boat now.

Brett, Blake and I headed  up to get the boat out of the water for our upcoming trip up north.  I was a little hesitant on getting the boat out last night because it was 7:30pm, cold and a bit rainy.  Brett convinced me that it wouldn't take long and it wasn't a big chore----  I have also never had to put this boat on a trailer yet.

After finding out that our trailer got mysteriously moved and some abuse, a bumper lost or stolen off the side of the boat; Blake and I set off for the boat ramp.  Brett was driving the trailer over and meeting us there.  The boat quickly sounded a little funny and made me a tad nervous.  It sputtered out and DIED...  I might have said a swear word in front of Blake and let him know that we just ran out of gas.  Since it wasn't a very nice night to be out on the lake, there wasn't any boats around to help us.  I frantically called Brett.  He told me to grab a paddle --- hahaha...

Blake and I needed to get the boat to the gas station ----  it was not very close by.  After about 10 minutes and Brett texting me positive comments, we were getting nowhere:(

I saw a boat approaching.  Thank goodness.  I had them drive over to pick Brett up from the dock.  I wasn't confident on my skills or the skills of the three teenage kids in their boat.  

After getting gas, I decided to let Brett take the boat and I would meet him with the trailer.  We pulled the boat out, washed it at the quarter car wash and FINALLY got home close to 11pm...  The girls were able to spend the night with grandma.  It was a super, fun adventure that I hope not to have to repeat very often.  Blake was a trooper!!!

A Golden Birthday

Blake turned 11on the 11th!!!!  He is the sweetest 11 year old boy that I know.  He likes to make everyone feel special and loved.  I am so thankful for him in my life!!!!!  All he wanted this year was a day at Michigan Adventure and a SNAKE...  I couldn't do the snake - sorry buddy.  Hopefully a new Ipad, bike and a few nerf guns made up for it.

We went to Red Robin the following night with Grandma and Papa and even celebrated with Aunt Charlene, Eyvind, Oma and Opa the following week.  I love being able to stretch the birthday celebrating out.

We love you so much Blake...

Camps, Sleepovers, Playdates, and VERY HOT Weather

We just got through two weeks of super hot, humid weather...  UGH!!!!  Thank goodness for pool parties, lake michigan, the boat and even a few indoor activities...

The poor girls had a week long soccer camp and I felt horrible for them.  I did buy them the misting fans and cooling cloth.  They didn't seem to mind too much.  Blake also had his first overnight camp that same week.  I missed him like crazy and had no way to contact him, but I survived and Blake loved every minute of it and wants to go longer next summer.

Super Awesome SOCCER chics

Sherman Lake Resident Camp...

Caitlin spent a week at Vacation Bible School with her great friend Claire.  She LOVED it so much and even dragged me out of bed one morning to get her there.  I was letting her miss because we were up so late the night before from Michigan Adventure.  She couldn't miss her last day.

Blake also went with a friends family up to Crystal Mountain for 3 nights.   He loved it...

Rock climbing wall expert...

A little Museum time with friends and a few wonderful lake Michigan days...

Kalamazoo Valley Museum

Madison LOVED being a weather girl and has even been playing news reporter since this museum visit!

Not much more beautiful than this...

23 kids!!!!!

We have also celebrated Blake's birthday, been to Michigan Adventure and had my parents and sister here...  We are loving summer and don't want it to end.   We still have our week long cabin vacay, Blake's trip to Maine, girls to Sherman Lake camp, maroon 5 concert, a trip to the Detroit area and many more Lake Michigan days ahead of us--hopefully!!!  Summer in Western Michigan is simply amazing!!!!!!

A GLORIOUS Day

Just the 5 of us have been enjoying some wonderful time on the boat.  I am a driving, docking and tubing pro...  I have constant bruises on my shins from all the crazy tubing with the kids.  All three kids love doing tricks now ---  handstands, backwards, standing up, and dancing are just a few of our polished skills.

We also love just chillin' in the middle of the lake...

Vegas Baby!!!

My wonderful friends have been talking about throwing me a wedding renewal for quite some time.  This was the year.  We always throw a big fourth of July barbeque and fireworks.  So they thought it would be the perfect thing to add a SKIT to the middle of the party.

We all had a great time and Brett even surprised me with his and Blakes' outfits...  super cute!

My kids were so adorable and will remember this for a very long time I'm sure.  Happy 16th Anniversary BABE...  It definitely was a LITTLE different than the first time around.  The ceremony was complete with vows, rings, readings and a mad dash out of the rain...

The lovely girls

Groom and Best MAN

The ladies that made it all happen 

During the ceremony.  Guys walked in to "What a Man".  Blake is holding the rings in a tooth fairy pillow:)

The girls were very serious about throwing their petals...

I danced my way in...

The girls faces says it all...

Cheri had a beautiful reading about CHANGES.

Sarah had a second reading about making love last.

The girls were disgusted by the KISS

We all danced the night away...

The night ended with a wonderful firework display...