Caution: Collage Barrage

Busy week. First we spent a few days with Uncle Greg while Mark was working in Detroit (and Dave and Christina, sorry I didn't get the camera out in time to document!) It was so nice of the dorm to graciously host our whole family.

Ava loved the dog, Bailey, and would reverse to sit comfortably atop him. She also helped Greg with some work. (?)

Then we left for the lake. Ava learned how to get gas in the car, and we learned she still does not sleep in the car. Not like she looks very tired or anything. We had fun at the 4th of July Parade in Glen Arbor, but Ava was worn out in her stroller on the way back and just needed to put her feet up for awhile.

Ava liked the water much more this summer than when she was 8 weeks old last year. She had lots of fun playing on the beach and sitting on life vests and looking cute.

We also had fun walking around the yard, a favorite activity. Kind of nice that this year she doesn't need to be entertained except by sticks and freedom. Mark and I also had a little fun enjoying the sunset and a couple minutes on the beach. It was paradise this weekend! Couldn't have been better weather.

See Post Below. (couldn't get the dumb things in order)

ben and ava checking out the nightcrawlers. (ava wonders if they taste better than the keys that are currently in her mouth!)

ali was SO sweet to basically take care of my child for the weekend. (and clean the kitchen, vacuum, wash the sheets and remake my bed, uhh-can i get some of that energy?!)

sometimes i get a little frustrated with ava at restaurants i guess. :)

Also, Ali posted a collage with about 352 pictures on her blog. It's over there--->

(the moser family)

Back when I had bangs....

I met some of my best friends. So thankful they were able to see past me being from Texas and thinking they were still cool and love me anyway. We had SUCH a fun weekend with our friends The Mosers and April got to be here a little bit, too.



ben and sheriff cuddling on the couch.



if anyone in west michigan is missing any sticks-it's probably because ben threw them all in the river! :)
april was our roommate for the last 2 weeks, but only saw ava twice!
love this of ben and mike...
ummmmm, hello!?!

Can't think of a title.

That gets hard sometimes. I have spent all my brain power sorting through Ava's clothes and cleaning out under our bathroom cupboards. Maybe I even inhaled too much Method Pink Grapefruit cleaner. I don't know.

Searching for all rock and grass particles for possible ingestion.

This is how Ava feels when Dad is not home on Friday night. I thought I was fun to hang out with. Guess not.

Foreshadowing?

I hope not!

Fire-man...

We had to do some minor remodeling (tear out heinous paneling and put up dry wall) in our basement bedroom to make it livable for guests. This has been a several month project leading to a large pile of wood outside our basement door which we have affectionately named "Termie Town". In order to prevent any termites or other creatures from inhabiting our pile, Mark did the logical thing, and made a firepit to burn the paneling.

I am so lucky to be married to such a manly man. :)

The weather has been so amazing here-I guess I'm still in shock coming from Texas. But this night was cold enough you wanted to be by the fire, and the grass wasn't wet. A perfect combination. My friend April enjoyed the fire with us for a little while.

Then Mark's cousin Jeff and his girlfriend Amber came to join us. If you are in the area, stop by! We still have lots of wood to burn! :)

To the Dads...

Pretty much everyone has posted all the wonderful things you can say about Father's Day and I'm late. This is not surprising if you know me. I'm a procrastinator. Although lately I've been turning over a new leaf. Nesting this early? Who knows. I'm going with it.

A few words about my husband. When I first met Mark, I just wasn't sure he was my type. (This could be because I'd had undiagnosed mono for 3 months and spent the day after he professed his like for me in the hospital.) Anyway, I thought he was cute as they come, but just a little skeptical. Then I saw him with my nephews I was living with that summer. I went from doubt, to wedding invitation design. Mark is so fabulous with kids-and I feel so fortunate to have the ones that are his.

My sweet Dad. Isn't he precious? I have the Dad who ALWAYS does what he says he will do-early-who slips me a 20 dollar bill as "our little secret" whenever I see him-who still holds my elbow if we cross a street and makes sure I wear "a wrap" if it's below 90. And most importantly, a Dad who prays more for my siblings and me then I can even imagine. I truly feel like his prayers have yielded blessings on our lives. Yea Dad!

Mark's Dad is also a man of such great faith-and his Grandfather to boot. We are blessed by the strong legacy and Christlike examples we have in all the dads in our family. Dad DeKorne I love you and am so thankful my husband has such a Godly role model in you!