Thank you Grandma and Papa

We got the best packages from the UPS man today.  Thank you Grandma and Papa so much!!!!  The kids were so surprised and excited.  I had them run out and get the packages.  It was priceless to see them running down and carrying them back.

 Caitlin running down to get her box!!!

 Madison is always willing to help open boxes

 Brett and I also got some yummy treats - chocolate covered strawberries...  my favorite!!!

 YUM!!!!

Painting Rocks

My girls LOVE doing art projects...  I am constantly trying to find new things for them to do --  painting rocks outside is one of my best ideas yet.  It isn't messy, very cheap and entertained them for a very long time.

 This is our family - including Izzy, Zoe, Spike and Daisy

Chicago in a DAY

Shannon and I decided to take all 7 kids to Chicago for the day.  She came to our house on Sunday.  Monday morning we were out the door at 7:30am and headed to Chicago.  Our first stop was Shedd's Aquarium.  Thank goodness that we bought our tickets on-line.  The place was already packed at 9am.  We stayed there for about 5 hours.  We were all starving, but holding out for Rainforest Cafe.  We grabbed two Taxi's to head up town.  The kids loved riding in the taxi.   After filling ourselves up... off to the shopping.  American Girl, LEGO, Hershey, (Abercrombie, Hollister and Aeropastale - for the older kids)  The kids were doing so well.  We couldn't believe that they were still wanting to see more.  It was a gorgeous day.

Next stop was the river, then Millennium Park.  The kids played at "THE BEAN" for quite some time.  I figured that we would be taking a taxi back from there, but no...  They wanted to see Lake Michigan.  We walked the lakeshore ALL the way back to Shedd's Aquarium.  I have never walked that much in one day in Chicago let alone with seven children and two of them being 5 year olds!!!!!  It was an awesome day and I only lost one camera...  I keep telling myself and Brett, "At least we didn't lose a kid"!  We arrived back home around 11:30pm...  We were all exhausted.  It was definitely a day to remember for all of us ---  Not even one major meltdown from anyone...  I had a minor one when we were trying to find our cars, get out of the parking ramp and find our way out of the city!

Shedd Aquarium was the first stop

The TWINS!!!

 Three little penguins

 4D movie was quite an experience for all of us

 We LOVE Chicago

 Shannon and I even had FUN

 Hershey store

 Starbucks - a must have for Shannon and I to drive 2 hours back home at 10pm...

 The Chicago BEAN

 The 7 most amazing TOURISTS!!!

 Lake Michigan

Cousins Camp in Michigan

My two sisters and their kids came to Kalamazoo...  We had so much fun.  It is so nice that all the kids just adore each other and get along so well.  Now that they are all getting older, we actually get a lot of "sister time" as well.  We even got out one afternoon for a little shopping trip without the kids.

We spent two days in the Detroit area.  We stayed in a hotel near my parents house and loved having the pool.  My dad was home from the hospital and feeling great.  He loved seeing the kids.  We were even able to sit outside one afternoon and just watch the kids play.  The MOMS were able to show off our great hulla hooping skills.

Measuring each other is always a must when we first meet up...

 Watch out Aunt Charlene...  Emily is catching up quickly!

 The WARNER sisters

 Make-up, dance parties, manicures, pedicures

 We made a poster to take to Oma and Opa

 At the Warner house

 The Eliuk girls were showing their STUFF!!!!

 Ava, Emily, Madison and Caitlin at the hotel pool

 The boys!!!!

 It was so nice to all be together.

 Oma's candles were a HUGE hit.  She let the girls choose their own holder.

 They have shared many birthday cakes together

 My girls LOVE their big cousin Emily...

 A few hours a Jungle Joe's

 Eyvind and Blake with the little painted turtle.  I wanted to take the turtle home with me...

 Emily and Caitlin were tuckered out at night...