Birthday's and Baptism

This weekend we had lots of family time with the Vugteveen's and got some stuff done around the house. Friday night we went to dinner at one of our favorites, Rainbow. Then we headed to Costco, another favorite:) Saturday I had an awesome workout to start the day, felt so good. Then we got our Mums for the front of the house, I think this is the earliest we've gotten them in a long time, they look great, picture to come later. Saturday I got some shopping done and then we headed to the Vugteveen's for a birthday party for Cambrey, Jana and Jason. Cambrey turned 4 TODAY! She is all about make up right now, it was pretty funny. Addisyn came home last night with some pretty sparkly hands, I think they don't quite know how or where to put it yet. Today we celebrated baby Brinley's baptism. It was a special day for a special little girl. Uncle Brandon and 2 of his nieces

Addisyn and Brinley
Friends and Cousins
Cambrey and Kylynn

So hard to get a nice picture of all of them, but I think this is cute

Cambrey, Kylynn, Addisyn, and Cole

easton wanted nothing to do with sitting for a picture

Barbies is what she wanted

Happy Birthday Cambrey - 4 candles on her cake this year

Aunt Kristi with Baby Brinley

look at those cheeks

My big guy having fun with a car in the kitchen

And our precious Brinley Mae

She did wonderful today for Baptism. I just had to snap a picture of

her lying on her blanket, she looked so beautiful.

Our loss, Heaven's gain

Today was probably the hardest day that I have ever had. How do you tell your 5 year old that she will not see her friend again that Jesus wants her in Heaven? Well, that is the conversation I had tonight with Kylynn and Addi about their friend Mikayla. A terrible, terrible thing! Our dear friend Mikayla went home to be with Jesus tonight. I'm really struggling to wrap my mind around this. It just doesn't make sense. Please keep James and Julie in your prayers as they say goodbye and as they go through the days and months ahead. The only thing I could do tonight was look at pictures of our spunky friend so I thought I'd share some favorites with you.

A true friend she was

fun with the girls

matching dresses for cherry festival, dancing on the bench

friends

they had so much fun together, always

Friends through and through!

goofy girls

she was a hoot at swim lessons

such adorable girls, mikayla you always shined!

Mikayla, we will miss you terribly, the girls are so sad.

That's a big one!

It's that time of the year again. The time when I enter single motherhood. Just teasing! My hubby loves to hunt and I love, yup I just said that, love to see him happy. He gets so excited and is all set to go weeks ahead of time. So he's been prepping for quite awhile for his big bear hunt. His brother just got home today, he shot a BIG ONE! 500 lbs to be exact!

Brandon and his bear
Look at that pad, J said the pad alone was 6 inches across

Check out those claws

Well, we'll see if my hubby is as lucky as his brother!

Wordless Wednesday

Let's just say the oven went into self cleaning mode again

Labor Day Weekend

We headed up the the UP for our annual Labor Day weekend with the Vugteveen Family. The kids seem to enjoy it more and more each year and it gets easier and easier each year for us. Easton was a ton of fun and I can't wait to see what he is like next year. With him just getting comfortable walking he didn't do too much outside and in the woods. He wasn't so sure about the four wheeler either, I'm sure that will change. I'm going to let the pictures tell about our weekend. I took a ton! The kiddos on the way up
getting ready to head out to the woods

Uncle Brian and the big girls
kylynn, cambrey and addi

The grandkids

Cole, Easton, Kylynn, Cambrey, Brinley and Addisyn

all nice and clean after their baths

Kylynn with Daddy on the tractor

Addisyn, Easton and Daddy doing some 4-wheeling

enjoying some smores

My little man and his cute new hat from Grandma

hanging out outside

The guys, minus daddy, Uncle Brandon, Papa, Uncle Brian, Uncle Jason and

the kiddos, Addi, Cole, Cambrey and Kylynn

off to the woods to get some work done

cooking up some tonka's

-our favorite-

The big girls and their hats

Daddy and his girls, in their makeshift rain coats
-they spent the afternoon out at daddy's deer blind-

Time for some 4-wheeler rides

Grandma and Grandpa went first

Then our family

Kylynn by Daddy's blind

-sorry the picture is crooked, I can't figure out how to turn it, frustrating-

BEAR POOP
-the bear were there day and night-

The boys out by daddy's blind

Mommy and the kiddos on our ride
-daddy had to remove a tree that had fallen over the trail-

me and my boy

The girls

brinley, cambrey, addisyn, and kylynn

The boys

cole and easton

Glad we were inside the car going over the bridge
It was only 50 degrees for those poor folks walking across

A first for this momma

Bright eyed and bushy tailed, well, not really! She tried getting up to an alarm clock but wasn't very successful. I went in and hit the snooze button and she said she would get up when it went off again, she did. Had a delicious waffle for breakfast and then it was time to get dressed and ready for school. Keep in mind this was all before 7 o'clock a.m.

the famous brick picture

waiting for the bus with some friends
kylynn - isaac - karley

My first baby getting on the bus!

I won't lie, a few tears welled up in my eyes but I held it together.

She was so excited! She did tell me she was a little nervous but she would be okay. Off she went!

She had a great day and I heard tonight while talking to Aunt Kari on the phone that she missed the class and needed to ask where they were while on the playground. I'm glad she asked and didn't cry. We'll see how day #2 goes.