July Round-Up

We're back!  After our computer decided to take an extended vacation, it is up and running...for now.  We'll be in the market for a new one soon, but while we have it, I wanted to catch up on our pictures.  So here's JULY.  

"Hape Frth of July" -Claire

Waiting with the Stevens family for the parade to begin.

Overisel Fireworks in the evening

Playing cards to pass the time

Awestruck

By far, the best (and longest!) fireworks show we've ever seen. 

Camping out at my parent's house following the fireworks.

8 Year Anniversary

One of the highlights of our summer was camping 

with our church at Tall Turf Ministries

Joe and I had to chuckle about how George took the opportunity of Henry's mid-trip nap to rub his hair.  Henry is constantly rubbing George's hair because it's "so soft", but George doesn't always appreciate it. 

First things first, a dip in the lake.

Turned around for 10 seconds, and the boy is down to his skivvies.  

Eating lunch in the lodge

Bounding through the mud puddle

Getting lost on the lake

Soaking in their tubes

Our happy camper

"Creston Campers 2015"

Love this group!

Loaded up and heading home.

10 minutes later.

Cuddles with "Uncle Pauly"

An afternoon out

Sweet Baby Sleep

This is how we roll.

Funny Faces!

Geocaching with the Youngs family.  Studying the compass.

For those who may be unfamiliar with geocaching.  

You get a location and set of coordinates, and it's basically a treasure hunt...without the treasure.  Should have been more clear about this to the kids.  I think they were expecting a pot of gold at the end.

Love this kid.

Claire captured this picture on our evening stroll.

Love these summer strolls in our p.j.'s.

May & June Round-Up

........Longest...............Blog..................Ever............

A brief visit from "Uncle" Paul.

Claire had official school picture day in the fall, but for reasons I can't figure out, they had a second picture day in the Spring.  I didn't pay much attention to this, and in fact, forgot all about it until she came home with these lovely photos.  I love that she wearing her Star Wars shirt.

We're still learning how to control George's eczema.  We found he is allergic to eggs, soy, cow's milk and wheat, so of course, keeping him away from these things is priority.

first spinach harvest

Joe and I were middle school youth group leaders at our church this past year.  The kids loved playing "Mr. Joe" in chess.

Swimming Lessons

The kids loved Mr. Berry, who has been teaching swimming lessons for over 40 years.

We haven't told the kids that they failed their swimming test.  They were so excited; I hated to burst their bubbles.

Final Week of Kindergarten

Field Day

The Banana Car

Claire and her friend Amelia

Millennium Park

Claire and Wes Koopmans

Casey and Joe feeding their boys

Summer Camps

First week of summer vacation, Claire attended Spring Hill Day Camp with two friends from church.

At the end of the week, she was given the Joy award.

The next week, she and Avery had a fun week at Art Camp.

The Mud Run

The crowd gathers to watch the annual Mud Run in Kalamazoo.

Joe's ready to get dirty.

And he's off...

Quite the entrance, I have to say.

The kids enjoyed watching the chaos. 

  

Handsome Man

Future Mud-Runner splashing away.

Father's Day

Claire was really tuned into her Daddy's heart for Father's Day.  She knows he likes to read the Bible, so she arranged to have a Bible story time.  And she knows he likes a clean house, so she cleaned the living room for him.  

a Daddy-Daughter talk

Joe had one request for his special day: eat a large bowl of ice cream with his kids.

"Camping"

Come summertime, we typically spend a weekend camping with the Koopmans and Youngs families. This year, with baby Sam's health concerns and Casey's surgery just a few days earlier, we thought it would be better to "rough it" at Casey's parent's house on Half Moon Lake.  It was perfect.

Claire lost 2 teeth shortly after arriving at the lake.  Good thing the tooth fairy anticipated this and planned ahead.

Sleeping bags on the bed: a perfect blend of camping and comfort.

Claire's favorite part of camping was the tubing.

Henry wasn't up for tubing, but loved playing by the water and in the sand.

Fresh Air + Plenty of Playing = Big Appetites

Claire and I took a spin around the lake looking for crocodiles.  No luck.

The dads enjoyed teaching their sons the game of Frisbee.

I think they got the hang of it.  

The way those three boys fought over the Frisbee reminds me of their dads.  The apples did not fall far from those trees.

a very proud Isiah

Three peas in a pod