Sunday, September 30, 2012

Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Cambrey's 5th Birthday Friday night with the Vugteveen's.  The kids had a great time!  Aunt Courtney had a pinata for them and they thought that was pretty cool.  Everyone got a turn and there were some fun treats in side.


Buddies - Addisyn and Cole
dividing up the candy when we were done, had to be fair
Cambrey and her present from us
Cake, blowing out candles and enjoying cake and ice cream
My girls
Sweet little Austin
Mason and Brinley playing together
Daddy and Easton 


Friday, September 28, 2012

Art Prize with the kids

Wednesday night was a beautiful night so Jason said, let's head to Art Prize.  It was a great decision and one i was happy he made.  I have been wanting to take the kids down to Art Prize the last few years but it just hasn't worked out with our schedule or weather.  We thought it would be best to head down mid week so that we wouldn't have to battle the crowds, although after seeing they let off lanterns tonight I'm a bit jealous I didn't see them in person.  It was quite busy though, I can only imagine what it will be like tomorrow and Sunday with beautiful weather.  The kids really enjoyed themselves, the girls loved taking the cards from the artists to vote for them.  I was able to upload the app and voted as I went, pretty snazzy I do say so myself.  We all enjoyed ourselves, got some great pictures, so some wonderful pieces of art and got a little bit of exercise while at it.  No complaining from the kids, bonus!
This was one of the first ones we saw.  It was interactive for the kids.
They had to find 15 animals hiding throughout this carving.  
It was all carved with a chainsaw. 
The girls loved the horses in the river, how did they get them in there mom?
The kaleidoscope was quite the hit, even Easton took a turn
The three kiddos by the polar bear
Easton thought this was pretty cool,
pry liked his freedom more. He was strapped in his stroller for 
most of the night, only way to go with a 2 year old.
Checking out the penguins with dad
Kylynn told me these were cows when we were inside, 
then we headed outside, oops, they're dogs she said
Some fish in the river, they actually swayed it was pretty cool
I loved this one, looks like a person hanging from a wire
between the buildings, very cool
A human impression make, I remember playing with one of these
with my hand when I was younger, very unique

I took tons more pictures but didn't want to overload the blog!  We had a great time and saw tons of cool, unique, and interesting pieces of art.


Wednesday, September 26, 2012

A little trip to Africa

This past weekend we traveled down to Gull Lake for another family reunion.  This time we got together with some of my dad's cousins on his mom's side of the family, the VanderMeulen side.  I have met some of these cousins but not all of them.  There was a pretty good turn out, it was a rainy Saturday.  We were hoping to be outside enjoying the lake but that wasn't the case.  We had fun anyways though.  The big attraction was my dad's cousins game room.  Or should we say a trip to Africa room.  Kylynn wasn't too thrilled about the animals, till it was time to leave.  I took a ton of pictures between my phone and my camera, here are a few to share.

Addisyn had a zebra shirt on so she thought she needed her picture taken by the zebra rug
Easton checking out the alligator
I thought this lion mount was absolutely amazing
This was quite the mount, alligator, gazelle (I think) and a cheetah

Here's a view of one end of the room
This cheetah was in their living room, beautiful
Daddy and his girls


Friday, September 14, 2012

UP Fun

Over the bridge we go again...
It's been a tradition the last 10 years that we had to the UP for Labor Day weekend.  My husband knows it is a huge sacrifice for this teacher but I do it to be with him, my children and enjoy some good family time.
On the road again... the kids did great
Love the Mackinac Bridge - we need to stop and take pics one of these times
The 4 oldest kiddos with Grandpa
They loved their trailer rides
My girls
Easton and Cole going for a ride
My bubba and I went for a ride
peanut time on the deck
more trailer rides
my beautiful blessings
All 8 grand kids
Easton, Brinley, Cambrey, Kylynn, Mason, Austin, Addisyn, and Cole
The girls got to ride their 4wheelers, Addisyn was thrilled
My two chics on their 4 wheelers

We were able to meet up with my college roomate Lisa and her family, as they live in Cooks.  It was so good to see them.  She had another baby girl in July so it was wonderful to meet her.  What a wonderful family and home she has.  It had been 2 years since we saw each other and it was like we were never apart. I sure do wish we lived closer.
Ashlyn and Addisyn 
(2 peas in a pod)
Out on the Dock at Kitch-it-Kipi
Easton and Mommy cranking the wheel
Our family
Kylynn and Emma
Me and Lisa and baby Kayla
And it wouldn't be a trip to the UP without a picture of some deer.  We saw tons of deer.  The kids love being able to see them out their windows.  They even got to go shining with their dad one night.  Another great trip to the UP in the books.  


Thursday, September 13, 2012

Another one in school

Today was another big day in the Vugteveen home.  Addisyn started preschool.  Oh my, two in school now.  I know, it seems like just yesterday she was born.  Wow, 4 1/2 years sure has flown by.  I had a hard time leaving her this morning and had that guilty feeling of not being able to drop her off at school.  We all survived.  Next year I'll have to make a big deal for her.  She was so excited to start school and has been looking forward to today for quite some time.  I think she had a wonderful day.

Last night we read a special book, Twas the Night Before Preschool

Special pancake breakfast prepared by dad
All three kiddos this morning
Addisyn Joy - my preschooler
Showing off her backpack
Addi and her buddy Tyler
Another shot in the light of her
This picture just melts my heart.  You can totally feel the love when you look at this picture.  She will be in amazing hands.  I can't wait to see what God has planned for her this year.  

Addisyn and Mrs. Boomsma
She came home with this adorable class collage, love it!
And I love the huge smile on her face, she loved preschool!