Fun in the Sun!

Time to catch up!

A few weeks ago, we had some family come stay at our house and camp out with their 5th wheels. We hadn't taken the girls to Michigan's Adventure in 3 years, so they were really excited to go.

Meagan riding a motorcycle with the biggest smile on her face that never leaves.

She can't wait to get her driver's permit :)

Katelyn on one of the many roller coasters she rode that day. I think this one is Zac's Zoomer. She is getting to be quite the dare devil. I got to ride the new "Thunderhawk", which I absolutely loved. You have to try it. Katelyn and Shawn were in the front seat of that one.

My cousin came with her family and brought along her husband's brother and their family. It was perfect because they had 3 girls right in the same age range as Katelyn and Meagan. Absolutely polite and they got along soooo well.

Here is a picture of Meagan with her new friend, Morgan. This was right before the rode the elephants.

This is Dumbo, right? Meagan having a blast.

Our new friend, Morgan.

By the time we got into the water park, Meagan was pooped. She started to doze off on Shawn for a little bit.

Here is a picture of Shawn with Katelyn and Meagan.

For most of the day, Katelyn was with Shawn on all the big rides, so I didn't get many pictures of her. I got more of Meagan. But luckily when we got into the water park, I was able to snap a few of Katelyn.

I don't get many pics with the girls because I am always the one with taking the pictures. It was definitely a sunny day as you can tell with the sun streak behind us.

Meagan trying to make a goofy face. She cracks me up all the time.

Another picture of me with the Katelyn and Meagan.

This picture says it all. I love these two girls more than anything in the world. And for the most part, this is how they are with each other most of the time. They pick on each other occasionally but love each other more than that. Katelyn is such an awesome big sister. Although if Meagan keeps growing, she may be taller than Katelyn really soon. LOL.

All in all, Michigan's Adventure was a very good day, with excellent weather and we had an awesome weekend spending time with family and meeting new friends.

Then the following weekend, we went over to Shawn's mom's house for dinner. It has been a long time since it was just a small family dinner over there and the kids enjoyed spending time with their Granny.

Meagan with her friend (one of my daycare kids), Sarah. They spent the weekend with us and I love this picture.

Meagan with Aunt Charity

Katelyn with daddy.

Katelyn with her two cousins, Jake and Joseph.

And I actually have more photos of this last week, but I am running out of time and will save that for another day. Just a glimpse into our busy summer

Family

I know that I should be getting some sleep, but my body just seems to let me stay up way to late. I get up extremely early but you wouldn't believe how tired I am in the morning.



I have been spending some time with my Grandpa Tyler lately. It is something I haven't done a lot of since my Grandma Sharon passed away. Grandpa and I have always had this type of relationship that no matter what, him and I are always OK. We always have laughed, talked and had a good time.

Not everyone gets to have that relationship with me. Not everyone gets to have that relationship with him.

Distance.... I don't know why when someone passes, it is hard to reach out. You do for a minute and then you feel sad. I remember walking in his house for the first time and crying. And it had been a while since Grandma passed, but that didn't stop me from thinking about her and crying. Well, anyway, Grandpa was diagnosed in the fall with cancer. Got scared, upset, mad really quick. What the heck? He was always the healthy guy who NEVER got sick. He since has gone through treatments and is still undergoing treatments but is doing much better. His energy is up. I invited him and his girlfriend, Sandy, to my birthday bash and they came.

Ever since then, we have been staying in constant contact. I have been going over there with my girls to visit, swim, hang out. And he is getting to see a different side of their personalities for a change. Him and I have talked more than we have in a long time. Something that you don't realize you miss, until it slaps you in the face.

We took the girls over there and for the first time, and after much influencing, Meagan got fully in the pool. She was throwing the ball, making quacking noises (which is now an inside joke between her and grandpa), and truly had a good time. Katelyn always loves the water. She is getting much better at swimming under the water.

Eventually, they talked Sandy and I into getting into the water, which meant no more pics because I couldn't get the camera wet, (not that I would want my bathing suit pictures on the web...trust me...it ain't pretty)

And Sandy has taken to the girls as well. We found out that Sandy lives right across the street from where Meagan takes her riding lessons every other week. Katelyn and Meagan are enjoying this newfound family time.

Shawn with Katelyn and Meagan

Meagan. I am so happy that she is getting more comfortable with being in the water.

Meagan and Katelyn with Grandpa

Playing ball.

Grandpa smiling

Not that they lack family time... my sister (Aunt Jessica) just had her big 2-6 last week. We always do a family dinner with Grandma Hamel and Dick invited so we have some photos of that day as well.

Meagan wih Aunt Jessica

The house, the house, the house is on fire!

Jessica with mom

Geoff with mom

Me with Jessica. I am usually the one taking he photos. Happy Birthday.

Jessica with Great Grandma Hamel and "Grandpa" Dick

I didn't get any pics with Grandma and Dick at my birthday, so we made up for it now.

Mom with "Little" Jessica. For those of you that don't know, Lil' Jess has been a part of our family for over 15 years. She is our "sister", spending many birthdays, holidays, and other functions with us. We wouldn't have it any other way.

The Gang! Me with mom, Jessica, and Little Jessica.

Jessica and Geoff
Even though I love family, I don't feel that I ever spend enough time with everyone or I don't get enough photos to capture moments. It seems that busy schedules can get the best of us, especially when you have kids. So my plan is to capture photos of the girls with other aunts and uncles, cousins, grandparents soon. These are memories that I don't want forgotten. Plus, my other dad is coming in town and the girls haven't seen him since Christmas last year, so we will definitely get some photos with him

Family- embrace the moment, remember the times, never forget the memories.

I'm Alive!

Here I was doing awesome at updating this blog... and then summer got the best of me. We have been so completely busy that I haven't had a chance to sit down and work at this. Even though my lack of sleep is getting the best of me, I do have some cute pics.

The Muskegon 4-H fair was a couple of weeks ago. And of course we had to take the girls. Meagan and Katelyn had a hay day seeing the animals.

And we couldn't go without jumping on the moon walk.



My all time favorite photo of that day:

We also let the girls have some friends spend the night that following weekend. Usually when one has a friend, the other one does too. It's sooooo much easier that way!

Katelyn with her friend, Skylor, in the water. Skylor does gymnastics with Katelyn.

Meagan and her friend, Marissa.

I absolutely love this picture of Marissa. It would be awesome as a black and white.

Katelyn and Skylor

And then, whether they are in the gym or at the park, they still act like monkeys.

When I do daycare, it's not just watching kids and making money. I really get attached to my little friends. Throughout the last 5 years, some have had to leave. Last week, we had two different days that we had visitors. Thomas and Kali are up from Georgia for a visit and I was able to have them spend the night and play with all their old friends. But my two were the most excited because they miss these friends very much.

Katelyn with her friend, Kali.

Meagan and her "dad" Thomas. When they were here, my gosh, these two were inseparable. After I uploaded this photo, I noticed her shirt that says "Nacho Girlfriend". Funny.

Then I can't forget a picture without the 4 of them together.

The next day, Kennedy and Reid came for a visit but I didn't get any pictures. But I will. We are having a daycare picnic in two weeks and some of our old, along with our new friends, will be going to the lake/park for a picnic and games. That will be a lot of fun and I can't wait.

I do have other photos that are dear to me over this last week, but that will be for my next blog... soon. I promise.

I also am thinking of starting another side business venture. I haven't decided yet and have begun to pray about it. So please keep me in your prayers that this may be something fun, profitable, and exciting for me to do on the side. I will keep you posted on this.

God, thank you for my family, friends, health, and happiness. I am thankful for what I have.

Just Imagine

I don't even have any pics for this part of the post.

I had this moment tonight that I sat back and just truly thanked God.

Shawn came home from work to fix the car and I still had daycare kids. Meagan's horse lesson got postponed because of a fair, so we decided to go to the lake when everyone left.

Mind you, I don't dare put a suit on anymore. But we have this quiet spot on Duck Lake that you have to go down a bunch of stairs to go to. There really isn't a large beach or anything but we can take the dogs down there and throw "dummies" for them. Very rarely is anyone else down there.

We do this several times a year but haven't made it down there yet this year. Katelyn started to lose her fear over water last year, but Meagan is still a little hesitant. She hangs out on the shore.

I am watching as my husband is letting the dogs get some much needed excerise and the girls are laughing. He is playing with all 4 of them and I am wishing like heck that I had a camera to capture this precious moment. It's one of those moments that everyone is truly happy. They are laying on dad's belly and back as he is swimming around, yelling, "Get me, Get me." And nothing but giggles. It's them hugging on him and swimming to him for guidance or safety. And I watch as he gets Meagan out to him to put her little arms around his neck. I watch as he picks Katelyn up who is giggling to throw her into the water.

And I thank God. I thank God that I can appreciate this moment when so many times I let little things get to me. I thank God for our health and happiness. I thank God that as a family there are times when I don't know if we spend enough quality time together and this moment comes.

I pray that as the girls get older, they remember these little moments. That they never forget these little things that may not be Disney vacations but just love on the beach.

I did manage to get some photos a few days before of God's wonderful creations. Here are a few.

This is one of the sky after it got done raining right before the LoneStar concert.

Here are two pictures of one of our does that has gotten really comfortable out back. She walked right up to the deck almost and Shawn grabbed a couple of pics. She always comes around during the day when he is at work.

Thank God.

Girl Time!

One of my awesome daycare parents, who is also a really great friend, Renee decided to take me out for some girl time last Friday and we went to see LoneStar at the Gerber Festival. It was truly a very good concert outside with beautiful weather.

The next day, we went to Renee's house for a pig roast. One of my former daycare parents who now lives in Georgia was there. I was so excited to see her. It was a lot of fun and we all had a good time. I then got to take 4 little girls home and make a camp in my living room. But here are some pics of our fun.

Me, Renee, and Kari

For those of you that don't know Valerie, she is my daycare assistant, my right hand, and a true friend. I don't know how I would do it without her.

Meagan with Kari

30th Bash