6 years and counting...

The end of summer has arrived...

We are busy getting things together for Helaina to start school next Tuesday.  She'll be at her new school in Northville and will be attending on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the whole day!  With the introduction of full-day Kindergarten in MI, we thought this would be a good transition and preparation for next year.  It also works well with our schedules, as Zach will be attending a Mommy/Child class on Thursday mornings.  

We managed to sneak in a weekend get-away and a few more fun activities before the schedule begins next week.  

Randy and I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary this past weekend while the kids were Indiana with my parents and family!  It was a first for them as the kids have never traveled there without us, but it was such a treat and they are already asking when they can go again! So, so very thankful for my parents and family that love our children as much as we do.  I know they will forever remember these summers and look back with such fond memories. 

The kids watched their first ever "Kouts Porkfest Parade"      

A trip to the dunes at Lake Michigan

Swimming in my parents pool with cousin Lexi

Pure craziness...

Their first trip to Bass Pro Shop with my mom and dad

This picture was taken at Turtle Cove by our house in MI.  Helaina wanted to sun tan and of course, Zach had to join her. However, he couldn't stand the sun in his eyes!

Music in the park in downtown Plymouth, such a fun family night!

Zach wearing his Great-Grandpa's hat

Making banana bread and muffins with Teta

And while the kids were in Indiana, look where Randy and I went...

we crossed the border and went into Windsor, Canada
view of Detroit, the river, and the GM Building from the Canadian side

spent the night at Caesars Hotel and Casino and were guests at the traveling game show, "The Price is Right"

such a random but totally fun evening with this awesome guy!  Couldn't be more thankful for the last 6 years and looking forward to many, many more together!

Summer Sleepovers

Since Randy and I returned from the Boogren wedding, we've stayed relatively close to home.  Sometimes unplanned, impromptu events are the best and that is what we've experienced lately.  I'm one of those people that just tries to squeeze every last ounce of fun out of these summer days, because the cold and gray winter days come too quickly!

Erin and Travis had planned a short visit in early August for the Timberlake concert, and last minute Nolan was asking to see Helaina, so Randy and I gladly had the kids for the evening while Erin and Travis spent a night together in downtown Detroit.  It had been a long time since Helaina and Nolan had seen each other, but they picked up right where they left off....bikes, toys, movies, ice cream, and a sleep over.  Zach is finally old enough that he "tries" to keep up with the big kids.  There were definitely some precious moments with the 3 of these kiddos together. 

This is what the next day looks like after a sleepover with your friend.  Even Roscoe wanted a part of nap time.

The kids and I had been itching to get out and do something different, so last Friday, we drove about an hour south to the Toledo Zoo.  It had been 3 years since I had been there with my parents and Helaina and this was Zach's first trip.  It is a fabulous place for kids and families!!!  We had great weather and the kids were really well behaved.
This picture melts my heart because it describes in detail, each of their personalities.  Helaina with her pink and purple rainbow face paint and her purse draped across her petite little shoulder while Zach chose the orange tiger face painting and held tightly to his football for the most of the day.  It was a wonderful day spent with my little buddies!    

Our neighbors from the old house were such a big help with the move, so we promised a sleepover to their girls.  On Saturday, Helaina had that sleepover with her friends, Reese and Brie.  We took them to Paradise Park where they played in the arcade, had a pizza party, jumped in the trampoline, road go-carts, and played their first game of mini-golf.
If you look closely, you'll see that Randy has himself a passenger :)!

The 3 amigos!  We sure do miss having these girls right outside our front door.  They've had a couple play dates since our move last month, and I'm sure there will be plenty more in the future.

Boogren Wedding and Randy's Birthday Weekend

Last week, I took the kids to Maybury Farm to see the animals and have a picnic lunch.  Maybury State Park is just down the street from our new home in Northville, and we are super duper pumped to begin using all the awesome things a state park offers (hiking, biking, horseback riding, etc...)

Teta and Sitty Salwa spent all day (literally that's how long it takes) to prepare stuffed cabbage rolls.  Another fabulous and traditional Arabic meal and amazingly healthy dinner prepared by my mother in-law! Helaina shows great interest in cooking and sat with Sitty rolling leaves for over an hour.  

We had been looking forward to this past weekend all summer long!  With the help of Randy's parents and my parents who split babysitting duties, we journeyed to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for the first time together (and without the kids)!  Randy's partner at the dental office and very close friend, Jeff, married his bride, Julie, in Marquette.  Thursday evening we drove 4 hours after work and spent the night in Mackinaw City.  The last time (and only time) Randy and I had been there together was 7 years ago for our engagement!  It was nice to have a couple hours in the city and enjoy the view off our balcony of Lake Huron.
Friday we spent the rest of the morning/afternoon making the trek 3 hours farther north up to Marquette.  Friday night was the rehearsal dinner, and Jeff and Julie surprised Randy with a birthday cake to celebrate his 37th birthday!  

Randy was a groomsmen in the wedding, and all of Saturday was spent celebrating Jeff and Julie and Randy's birthday!

Julie and STUNNING and the ceremony and reception were lovely.

Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Boogren :)

Mackinaw Bridge

We don't get many of these opportunities to have a few days alone together, and we cherished every single moment.  With our 6 year anniversary just a couple weeks away, it was a beautiful reminder of how much I love Randy and our marriage and the life we share together!!!  Happy Birthday to the wonderful man in our lives!