In pursuit of a family picture

We decided to take advantage of Holland’s 4th of July celebration yesterday since we are going to a friend’s party today.  I really didn’t want the kids to miss out on the big fireworks and the family time spent alone together. 

While there, we tried to take a family picture with the aid of the self timer in the camera.  We set the timer for 10 seconds & didn’t realize that it took 3 rapid shots in a row.  Now, any family picture normally takes a few tries but here is our progression.

Attempt #1

The painted turtle experience

One night in Ludington, we decided to take the kids down and build a campfire for s’mores after dinner.  Dan was reluctant to go fishing and leave me to this task alone. I think he was having flashbacks to my previous ‘camping’ failure.  After much reassurance that I could handle it, he left to go find some fish.

Now, I can do a lot of things and if need be, I’m sure I could have figured out how to make s’mores happen but

Edumacated

 

Dan, Emma, Gerrit & I are sitting in a Burger King after Emma’s state competition this past Saturday.  As we ‘encourage’ them to eat faster so we can make the hour long trek back home… this conversation unfolds:

Emma looking next to her at the window: “Ew… a bug!”

Me: “Emma, don’t be such a baby.  It’s just a bug”

Emma realizing that it’s not on the inside: “Oh, it’s outside the window“

Me: “Great… then eat“

We continue with our lunch but Dan & I stop dead in our tracks when

And you still want to marry each other?

Last Wednesday was Dan’s & my anniversary.  9 years officially married but 14years together.  It seems like a lot until I look at his parents… married 41 years.  What a tremendous accomplishment!

While driving up to Ludington, we talked about our journey.  How far we’ve grown and recognizing all the evolutions we’ve had along the way.  We’ve changed a lot in the last 14 years but we’ve managed to change together.  That’s important to us. 

Since we were in Ludington, Dan had asked his mom if we could leave the kids that night to have dinner together.  I requested that we go to the beach to watch the sunset and

Fin to

Alas, the school year is nearly done.  Today is Emma’s last day and jam packed with all kinds of fun things.  A field trip to the park, a funny guest speaker… all of these events need my presence.  While I’m always delighted at the chance to work at Em’s school or do a field trip with them, I’m a little overwhelmed right now.  The B family vacation to Ludington starts Saturday and there’s much work to be done.

It’s a little exhausting getting ready to leave.  So much preperation.  There’s not only your regular duties you need to fufull but then life likes to throw you some curve balls at the last second.  Four extra

Camping Fail

Have you ever wondered if you were camping wrong?  Well, you’re doing better than me if you don’t end up with this:

Memorial Day Weekend

It’s Memorial Weekend.  Time for camping, bonfires and hanging out with friends/family.  Kind of a trial run before summer actually begins.  At this point, particularly in Michigan, people are bugging out for summer.  We’ve managed to survive the cruelty of winter and deserve our just reward of sunshine.  And so, while ushering in the new season, I felt updates were due in our lives.

Cash  has had an amazing recovery.  He

Diva what, diva who, diva where? It’s B!

This past Saturday was the regional competition for Emma’s competitive cheer.  Her team had taken first at regional & state in the fall but the spring team had a lot of new girls.  Plus, their routine seemed incredibly complicated this time.  With both of those things factored in, we wondered if we stood a chance of making it to the state competition.  Dan & I were a little torn if we even wanted her to make it because it would mean leaving a day early from our B family vacation in June. 

Emma is the first one in the fourth line from the left.

The song that they danced to is ‘It’s All About Me’which was too cute.  They certainly were little divas out there with their tiaras and glitter.  They did a pretty good job and