Fishing isn't always about what you catch (or don't catch) ;-)

After church today we went to a local park to go fishing.  We didn't catch anything, but it was a nice couple hours outdoors with the kids.

What's a family adventure without snacks?

Getting the lines ready.

Noah told me about his "robber" (bobber), and Joy
declared when she was "wheeling" it in (reeling). ;-)

More "special snacks" daddy had picked up at Meijer.

Ending the fishing attempt with some RC fun!

Family Reunion

Scotty's mom is from a large family; over the course of grandpa and grandma's 60 years of marriage there have been added kids, grandkids and great grand kids galore!  Every other year they have a family reunion.  So last weekend we did a near 1,400 mile roundtrip to join in on the festivities and reconnect with aunts, uncles and cousins.  There was a lot of drive time, but it was worth it.  Scotty's mom reminded me "the joy is in the journey" so we took every opportunity to enjoy not only the reunion but the trek to and from our destination.

First night - hotel stay
half way to the reunion

Amber's first hotel stay, and the other kids are jazzed too.

Exerting energy in the hotel pool before we hit the road again

Conserving energy.

Beautiful midwest!

Made it to the reunion...

...First event: bowling!

First thing on a new day: pictures!  Chalk and bubbles to
keep kids occupied in between family photo shoots.

G'pa and G'ma with biological grandkids, great grandkids
and 1 great-great grandkid (not even all of them)!

"Wearing" Amber :-)

Pictures are done - now let's PLAY!  (Potato/spoon relay)

Sharing snacks with 2nd cousins (or would that be
1st cousin once removed or 3rd cousins or???) ;-)

Noah chillaxing with Scotty's mom and dad.

One more bottle before we had to hit the road again.

The 2 that started it all!  We love you, grandpa and grandma!

T-i-r-e-d boy after a full day of play!  Almost to the hotel...

Watching a train from the hotel window the next morning.

Last stop before home - daddy found
a vending machine with a chocolate
ice cream sandwich - yum! *

*Micah's not pictured because he's staying at Scotty's parents for the week.  Fun, fun!

Jubilant June

Since I've used alliterations for the past few posts, I felt compelled to try another one. ;-)  It has been a super enjoyable first couple weeks of June - enjoying the warmer weather and doing "fun" stuff with the kids (almost done with homeschooling for the year - just a few more things to wrap up!  And that's not to say school isn't "fun") :-)

Day to Day

2 month checkup - fit as a fiddle and cute as can be!

Storytime.

Catching up on some beauty rest.

Scooting off her mat!  Check out the video for proof ;-)

Children's Museum

Thanks for the membership,
g'ma and g'pa Sovilla!!

 

Splash Pad

Pretty in Pink

Marvelous May

Well May just came and went now, didn't it?  It was a jam-packed month with spring finally among us, our newborn, home schooling, a FANTASTIC visit from my mom, a staff retreat in Indiana and some projects around the house.  My heart is full and thankful, and I have many a funny story or special moment that took place, but just a handful of photos will have to suffice on this here bliggity-blog.  Reminds me of when it says "Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart" (Luke 2:19).

Spring means bugs, mud and toads!!

Getting stronger during "tummy time."

Micah's last gym class for the school year.

A special treat after gym class.

Noah's first bottle feed.

A new split rail fence - looks good, guys!!

My mom in town = fabulous!!

Getting bigger everyday.

Playdate with our twin cousins.

Siblings' "tummy time."

Joy's dolls' "tummy time."

Staff retreat in Indiana - great time!

Still getting used to the fact that we're a family of 6 now, ha!

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Addendum - wanted to put up Joy's first "bottle feed" (in April) since I got both the brothers' on the blog.  I'm not a scrapbooker so this is my documentation for such things. ;-)