If this were college, I'd be a senior.

Because I have had this sweet girl for FOUR years! But, I'm hardly a senior. In fact I often joke with people that have older kids that I feel like a freshman and they are seniors with off campus lunch and everything. At any rate-I am so thankful for this little charge the Lord has given me. She is spirited, feisty, and loving, and has truly become an absolute sweetheart in the last 6 months. I love watching her grow and change and am very glad that I'm not a senior, but just beginning this journey with her!

Normally you aren't required to make your own birthday cake, but we run a tight ship.
I have heard red dye is GREAT for kids, so obviously we made a red velvet cake.
Then suited up to go birthday swimming! (This is the same as regular swimming. Just on your birthday.)
I just love goggle pictures.

Dont judge me on the cake, ok? I don't decorate my house or my cakes well. If you could have tasted the frosting, you wouldn't have cared that I have no decorative skill.
Grandpa and the Birthday Girl!

Birthday "Party"! (I'm really thankful my kids haven't been to many parties to know that I'm really bad at that, too.) And yes, that's a picnic table in my kitchen. I just told you I'm not a good decorator.

All my cuties! (not looking their cutest, though!)

New toy playtime.
Reese just taking it all in.
And some final before bed celebrations.
Thank you Lord for this precious girl! Happy Birthday Ava!

friends came down and the fun came up

I've become a big fan of living in a destination location. We are loving having company-and last week got to welcome our dear friend, The Ferwerdas, from Grand Rapids.

It was a joyous reunion.

So joyous that we had to meet in McDonald's parking lot at 10 pm because we just couldn't wait until church the next morning to see each other. (When I say we, I mean Ben and Mark.)
The supportive wives
This picture makes me laugh.
Resourceful kids finding fun in the parking lot.
Lunch after church. We love you Five Guys!
Then we did this for the next two days. Sent the men of with all the children.
Although some of the children needed a little r&r.
They always come back.
This one is for all the people who say "I've got my hands full." Yes. I do. And I couldn't be happier about it. (No children were harmed in the making of this photo.)

Nice life!
Not pictured: the trip to PF Changs where Ava did the running man while being passed over the table and screaming, Annie and Reese sobbed the whole time, and Mark sat so far away from all the adults we couldn't hear him. Weird that we forgot to get pictures. Love our friends! So thankful for visitors. :)

"Work" weekend

We were treated to a lovely vacation in our own town a couple weeks ago thanks to Mark's company. We had a fabulous time!

Checking into our hotel....K was happy to pose :)

Complete with their kids backpacks of fun.

Each other's security blanket!
My husband singing karaoke. This is not surprising.
COTTON CANDY!!! I was totally way more excited than they were. :)
Their excitement about getting to sleep in "our bedroom" could not be contained. This isn't something we do at our house, so they were thrilled.
Cute little bags his work gave us with snacks for the weekend.

The next day we went to Disney. I have always said I didn't want to go with kids until they were 5. I agree with myself, although we did have a fun morning. (Only morning...that was as long as we lasted, and poor Reese didn't even get to come!)






As much as we wanted to spend 300 dollars for lunch, we decided to head to good old Chili's instead...not the most flattering, certainly, but this pic cracked me up.
If anyone has ever been to eat with us, this is the classic. Several glasses of finished Diet Coke and a new fresh one with lime. Yum. (Unless they serve the "p" word. Then we drink water.)
Back to the pool for the afternoon...
but worn out quickly after a busy day!
Dinner and games...

Thankfully we aren't being sued from Ava's scary placement of the skee balls.

What better way to end the night than a life lesson in whac-a-mole. (Mark would like me to note the sweaty pits are from a intense game of laser tag...not whac-a-mole)