Loving Life

A couple weeks ago, our family had our yearly photo shoot with Barb from Taylor Thornton Photography.  Barb has been taking our family pictures for several years now, and yet again, she captured some fabulous photos of our babes.  It's always hard work coordinating outfits and getting everyone "photo ready", but in 20 years, I know we will be so thankful to have these pictures.   

 If you follow the blog, you know that this summer is full of changes and transitions for our family.  Last Friday, we closed on our home in Livonia.  We have a couple weeks before we turn the keys over to the new owners, but we'll begin to slowly move our things into Randy's parents' home.  They have so graciously allowed us to stay with them till our home is finished this fall.  So, we'll continue to say goodbye to a home that has loved us so well.  A home that raised Randy for the last 35 years of his life.  A home that welcomed me to Michigan just hours after Randy and I began our new life together.  And a home where we made and began raising our beautiful babes.  So much love inside those walls for so many years, but a new chapter is waiting to open for all of us.

The following day was all about Julie.  We celebrated her special day with a bridal shower in the afternoon and a bachelorette party in the evening and into the wee hours of the morning.  Julie and Jeff are set to tie the knot this August and Randy will be standing in their wedding.
A group shot of the girls at Motor City before we departed out.

  Tigers game, drinks at Cheli's, and fireworks in the background...such a lovely evening honoring the bride-to-be.

 And then, our Valpo vacation began the very next day.  The kids had a countdown till they arrived at my mom and dad's.  It has been pure fun since we arrived.
Playing garage sale together.

Splash pad in downtown Valpo.

Water park for the day with our cousins.

Sleeping beauty...too much fun for the little guy!

It's Wednesday, and we have so many plans for the rest of our time here.  There's nothing like coming "home" to spend time with your family and closest friends.  It does a body good, however, we sure miss Daddy and appreciate all his hard work so we are able to enjoy our mini-vacation.

Our Adventures

Last week Helaina had 3 days (M/W/F) of an all day YMCA summer camp.  This photo was taken at 9 am on Monday morning.  That morning, she jumped out of bed, changed her clothes, brushed her teeth, and combed her hair in about 5 minutes flat.  She just couldn't wait to get to camp.  However, when I picked her up at 4 pm that afternoon, she wasn't quite as excited as when she left that morning.  Call it a mother's instinct, but I had a feeling that the excitement would wear off about lunchtime and then she'd be a bit homesick.  This was the longest time she'd been away from us (friends or family) and it was an adjustment.  Wednesday and Friday were not any better as she told us her "stomach hurt" and she "didn't want to go."  We made her tough it out and by Friday afternoon, she had made a little progress.  I have yet to tell her that she's going back for 3 days in July and 3 days in August.  We'll cross that bridge when we need to!

How cute is this?!? Uncle Nathan and his shadow.  Everything that looks like a truck must be "Uncle Nathan's".  

The 3 amigos...oh how we will miss Grace.  Only a couple weeks left before the move to Randy's parents.

"Look mom! Truck book."

Could he fit another train or truck in that bed?

Oh, look at that! More trucks!

Helping mommy wash the car.

Zach and I had the opportunity to spend some alone time together last week when Helaina was at camp.  3 days of just Mommy and Zach.  I fell in love with this little stinker all over again.  The dynamic is very different with 1 kid than when you have both of them together.  When he's not throwing shoes out the window of the car or taking off his clothes and diaper and peeing in his bed or turning on the hose and showering anyone within reach, he really is the cutest thing ever!

And then there was Father's Day.  A day to celebrate both of our dads and Randy.  He is such a special person, a wonderful husband, and THE BEST Daddy.  The kids love every minute they get to spend with him.  No matter what happens during the day, he always has a smile and a hug for us.  Happy Father's Day Randy and thank you for loving us like nobody else ever could.  

 

2 weeks in pictures!

School's out for the summer!  Helaina is officially on summer break, and she's anxiously awaiting the other kids in the neighborhood to finish their last week of school.  On the last Thursday in May, her classroom had a small ceremony to wish them goodbye and celebrate their completion of the year.  She received a certificate and enjoyed popsicles with her classmates.   

Helaina wants to be a teacher when she grows up.  Her favorite food is letter soup and her favorite thing to do at school is play in the kitchen.

Mrs. Messer on the left and Mrs. Stickler on the right.  It was also the last time we'd be at the Jackson Center as she'll be at Thornton Creek next year.

For their first summer break activity, we spent the morning at the park with the splash pad.  Sure wish he didn't want to drink the recirculating dirty water!

Our church festival was last weekend and the kids spent a whole evening there.  We had falafel, hummus, and lemonade.

The kids danced the night away and Helaina brought her neighbor friend, Reese.

Helaina is 42", which means she is able to ride sooo many more rides.  Reese and Helaina were on the scrambler about 5 times.  I couldn't watch them any longer without starting to feel nauseous, but they had a great time!

This girl rode the Himalaya with her mom! Randy thought we were crazy!  Zach doesn't quite enjoy any ride unless he can sit on my lap.  Hoping to break that habit soon!

Helaina helping mom snap beans for dinner.

We prepared long and hard for a couple weeks for our neighborhood garage sale.  Perfect opportunity for us to organize and purge before our move this summer.  It was a busy couple days and yesterday the kids had a lemonade stand with hotdogs, chips, and cookies.  Today is the last day and we're happy to get things back to normal around the house.

Helaina reached another milestone earlier this week!  We had practiced for a couple days, but it didn't take long for her to get it down.  This was one of her better rides. We are so proud of her!