Day #3 at the Cottage...

A great day at the cottage. We started the day off with a wonderful breakfast made by Jason. Eggs, hash browns, and bacon, he sure knows how to make a great meal. We then started the outdoor activities with my dad trying to water ski. He got up on try number two, very proud of him. I then decided I needed to see if I still had it in me, I sure do, got up right away and was able to stay alive through the whole trip, almost bailing at one point but I held on. As Katie says I went down gracefully. Then Jason had to try water skiing, got up on try number two, something about his contacts made him fall the first time. Then Kari and Jason tubed, Kari flew over J, quite a scene from shore. We spent the rest of the afternoon sitting in the sun, very nice to be able to enjoy the rays while the girls slept. When they got up they played in the sand for a little while before dinner. Jason also took Kylynn waaaaaaaaaay out in the water, on the tube. She really liked that. After dinner we headed in to Ludington to walk the pier, play at the park, and get some ice cream. Got some great pictures on the pier of the family and the sunset. After walking the pier we played on the park with Kylynn. Jason, Kari, and I followed her around trying out all of the toys. We made a quick stop for ice cream, Kylynn said the one at the cottage was probably closed so we needed to go somewhere else, and the other place probably had a long line, so we opted to try a new place on the way back. She shared a choc/vanilla twist with her momma. When we got home we tucked them in bed and now we're sitting here with my parents and Kari. I'm getting to the end of my book so it's getting good, gotta get it done so I can get my other one read. Looks like tomorrow will be nice again so we'll be getting some more sun. It will be a smaller crowd tomorrow, Trevor and Katie left today, it was so nice to spend time with them, and Kari is heading home with dad tomorrow for an interview, good luck Kari, you'll do great!

swinging with Uncle Trevor
kylynn and dad trying out uncle trevor's kayak

dad water skiing

our familykylynn and mom

kari, mom, and i on the pier

kari and i on the teeter totter

Ice cream anyone?

Today started out with rain so we all took naps. Tonight we hiked through the state park and then enjoyed some ice cream, some more than others.

The memories are rushing back...

We are currently vacationing with my entire family up in Ludington at the cottages that we used to stay at for many years growing up. It is like taking a walk down memory lane. We arrived yesterday, unloaded, had some pizza, and then the women headed off for some groceries. When we returned Katie and Trevor were here, yeah! Today started out chilly but we ended up taking the boat over to the sand dunes, a beautiful day. It was a rather bumpy ride on the way back but we made it. Kylynn got her superman tonight and now she is out fishing with her dad, Uncle Trevor, and Aunt Kari, should be some interesting stories when they return. Addisyn had a successful bath in the oversized kitchen sink and is in bed. Mom, Dad, and Katie are reading quietly while I check in on my facebook and update my blog. I appologize for the lack of blogging but life has been super busy lately. I am enjoying staying connected and will keep the blog updated this week. Thanks to my sister who can't be away from her technology for a week. Guess it's not a terrible thing. This is a true vacation though. We are in a cottage and my water is endless, not like camping, I'm with my hubby all week, with my beautiful girls, and best of all, I'm with my family. Looking forward to the memories we'll make this week.

A little bit of everything...

At the Zoo - a great cool day!

Well, the girls are with Grandma and Grandpa for the week, hopefully everything goes well. They've already had their first trip to Moomers so I'm assuming they'll be fine. Jason and I are heading out to celebrate our 6th anniversary this week. Wow, six years already, doesn't seem like it's been that long. Time flies when you're having fun I guess.

The girls and I enjoyed a nice week around town here. We headed to the beach, went to the zoo and had a play date. I also, with the help of my sister, worked in my classroom. We unboxed a lot of my stuff and got the room set up. Tons of work to go but after this vacation I'll spend some more time in there. I'm really enjoying my summer with the girls, not looking forward to going back at all. I'm going to add a few photos from our week. Also, check out my sisters blog for some new family photos, we had them taken during festival.

Dinner with friends at Allegan Grill House

Kristen, Me, Jason, Brent, Brian, and LindseyMy GirlsKylynn in her new zoo hat by the star fish

Tired baby after the zoo

Summer days...

It seems as though our summer days are flying by, well, they are. We had a wonderful time up in TC for the Cherry Festival. I can't believe that is done and over with already. Kylynn truly enjoyed all of the events and festivities, so did Addi. We did family fun night, made a cherry pie, the toddler trot, the beach, parades, fireworks and probably kylynn's favorite the Arnold's Amusements. She is a ride girl, must take after her dad.

This week we are just trying to get back to a routine a little bit I guess before we leave again. We headed out to the beach on Tuesday with Julie and Makayla, the girls had a blast, beautiful day. Today Kylynn had a playdate with Mercy. I think all of the kids enjoyed themselves. Now I'm just trying to get organized for scrapbooking tomorrow night. I'm almost a year behind, it's driving me crazy. I think that I might try to get a head start and do some tonight. I want to at least get everything layed out so I don't have to spend time picking out pictures, that seems to eat up a lot of time. My goal was to be caught up when I go back to school, we'll see, probaly not going to happen. A nice thought though.

Here's some photos of our TC trip and stuff we've been up to.Kylynn feeding Addisyn some Moomers ice creamEnjoying a fire truck ride with Daddy, Aunt Kari, Lauren, her Nana, and CamdenMaking a cherry pie with momHavin fun at the beachHappy to be at the parade with momToddler trot for AddisynRiding on the Ferris Wheel with Grandpa VanDyke

Kari and I ran in the Cherry Festival 5K, I'm so proud of Kari she did great

Kylynn and Lauren, Trish too, waiting for the fireworks

Princess of Poop

Addisyn Joy is officially our princess of poop. Tonight while watching the children's parade at the cherry festival she was sitting in the stroller eating some fishy crackers. Her favorite thing to do, eat. My mom and I were both standing there and she decided to stand up. I grabbed her and then my mom said "NO!" She had pooped and it exploded all over her stroller. It was on me, in her shoe, everywhere. Thankfully we were by a river so Jason decided to go dip her in to clean her off a little. Needless to say that was the end of the parade for us. I don't know if it's Traverse City or just the fact that she poops 3-4 times a day and sometimes it just leaks. The last time we were in TC she decided to explode all over the high chair at Olive Garden. I guess I need to be prepared with gloves, bags, and tons of wipes from now on, oh and probably new shoes and clothes. These days shall pass. I will some day down the road look back on this and laugh, I can laugh now but it sucks!

Home again, not for long

We're home again after our Holland camping trip. Terrible weather this year, not fun at all. No beach for us. Well, we went out on Saturday for a few hours, I think I actualy got some sun through the haze. Not the greatest weather but the girls had fun. But were they dirty, oh filthy! Kylynn and Addisyn both loved digging in the dirt, not my kinda fun but hey, they stayed occupied while we sat and watched in our lounge chairs with sweatshirts on and wrapped in blankets.

We celebrated Kylynn's 3rd birthday while we were out there, she had so much fun. We went to Pronto Pups for her birthday dinner and then we had a birthday party for her with the whole Vugteveen family, minus Uncle Brandon and Aunt Jana, on Friday night. She had an awesome Ariel cake done by one of my former student's moms. It was great, check out the picture below.

I am now doing more laundry and packing for TC. We have a family picture and lots of fun things planned for the week, hopefully the beach is included. I had a nice tan beginning at Hungry Horse I'd like to keep it up.

Speaking of Brandon and Jana, they are engaged and planning a May or June wedding next year, congrats to them! We are so excited to have Jana a part of our family and look forward to getting to know her more.

I'll post some pictures but them I'm back to packin and foldin laundry.

Kylynn and Auntie with her new Jasmine

Birthday girl

Kylynn at Pronto Pups, she actually liked the corn dog

Our family at the top of the dune overlooking Lake Michigan

Couldn't help but laugh at our plummer butts


Madison, Kylynn, and Sydney, her friends (Laura Bode's grand-daughters)

Kylynn and her Ariel cakeAddisyn Joy at the beach

Kylynn and her sparkler

The cousins, having a good time