Fun with Family

 Our Aunt Jodi and her kids along with Maryann came up to see all of us. We had a blast spending the weekend with them all. We went to the beach on several occasions, and had fun together in the water. Joseph, Maria, and Alex, as they came in for a short break and a snack.

 Alex, Daniel, Bella, and Nick.

 Back home, Alex, Jacob, and Daniel played army together in the darkest depths of the Vinecki's woods!!!

 We gave the kids rides on the ATV during the day. Julia and Joe took a ride around together before dinner.

 Nick, Jacob, and Tony.

 Alaina came into the kitchen as I made last minute preparations for dinner, in which she and I got our picture together.

 When the bugs got bad outside, we all came in and enjoyed a game of Wii.

 One evening the kids stayed outside playing in our play- house. Doesn't Bella and Alania look so cute!!!

 Julia was the mom and these two cuties were her daughters.

 Alex, Maria, and Joe as they ate some imaginary soup.

 We all went out and enjoyed s'mores together. Fun times with family.

Happy 5th Birthday Bella!!!!!!

We celebrated Bella's 5th birthday with a Flip-Flop- Beach theme. We decorated the dining room with beach towels, flowers, buckets, and bath toys.

For her cake, I made chocolate cupcakes, with a fresh strawberry jam frosting, dipped in graham cracker crumbs and topped off by a little umbrella( to make it look like a little beach). And Mom got the idea from Pintrest to use Nutty Butters as little Flip-Flop cookies.

The birthday girl with her first present.

She received a Disney princess fashion bag set that came with clip-on earrings, sunglasses, brush, little lipstick, and an assortment of other things that little girls enjoy!

We played some outdoor games using beach things, like noodles, buckets, and balls.

 Little Bella with some of the noodles.

Her big gift was a purple Disney princess bike. She has been using Tony's old Tonka bike and so we got her something more girly.

 Mom and I took Tony and Bella on a walk down a nearby neighborhood, so that it would be easy for them  to drive on the black top.

Here's the gang as we celebrated our sweet Bella's birthday! We love you Bella!!! You bring lots of joy and laughter to our house!

The 4th of July.

 For the 4th of July, our friends the Guidones invited us to their cabin in Grand Rapids. We enjoyed a beautiful day being with friends, playing in the water, and fun foods. We girl's sat together and talked during lunch, pictured here is Maria, Julia, Liana, Me, and Marisa.

 Tony and Bella enjoyed floating around on tubes using them as little boats.

 The Guidones have three boys with the same names as ours, here is their Lucas, Alex, John, their Tony, and Mark.

 We girl's took a ride on the paddle boat out to an island on the lake called Turtle Island.

 The little boys enjoyed as the older ones threw them into the water, Tony in mid-air( compliments of Mom's photography)

 Boy! Doesn't Alex look like he is stepping into the water???

 A group of us kids pushing the paddle boat out for another ride.

 Alex and Lucas.

 Dad did the honors of roasting hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch.

 Little Bella coming in to the shore.

 Kayla and Bella before the fireworks started.

 There was a beautiful pink sunset during the evening.

Happy 4th of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Father's Day.

We spent a sunny Father's Day in Gaylord with our Dad's side of the family. Our Dad likes fishing, so I made these fish as the theme for his sign.

I made this little table setting using some of his fishing lures.

We enjoyed a great lunch made by our Busie, and then spent the day playing out in Papa's woods. Everybody got a ride on the Mule, here is Makayla, Julia, Magnum, and Ruger.

 Maria was our driver as Alex and I shared the front seat along with her.

 Busie and Aunt Brenda.

 Lucas took a fun ride on Justen's motorcycle.

 Alex enjoyed riding around on the Odyssey( which Dad used to ride when he was a kid)

 We brought some play clothes along with us; Julia and Makayla were pioneer girls.

Tony helped Papa by cutting his grass, and Bella enjoyed a ride too! Happy Father's Day! Thanks Papa and Busie for your hospitality!