Quick Trip and Fun with Cousins

Greta LOVES cousin Harper and loves to give her kisses.  Poor Harps:)...

Layla and Greta both had panda shirts on the other day and Gavin and Gibs both had Mickey shirts so I thought I'd take a pic:)...

Popcorn and movie time at Auntie Em's!

Harper and Greta in their coordinating outfits:)...

Goofy kids being goofy...

Joe and I were able to go to Joe's cousin, Tim's, wedding a couple of weekends ago in Minneapolis.  We were so happy to be able to go to celebrate with Tim and Becky and to also enjoy a couple of days away from the kids.  Gibs and Layla stayed home with Gigi (which was easy since I didn't even have to pack their stuff since we live with them!) and Greta was in good hands with Auntie Kristina.  I can't believe that I forgot to even have a picture taken of Joe and I at the wedding though.  It's not very often that we get dressed up so I'm bummed I forgot a pic!  I did get one with cousin Paula though:).  We had a little time to waste in between the wedding and reception so we quick made a stop at the Mall of America.  We also stopped there right when we flew in late Friday afternoon.  We then went to an outlet mall Saturday morning before the wedding and even had time to stop quickly at Ikea on the way to the airport Sunday morning.  It was a quick trip but we fit lots in (for the time we were there) and had a great time enoying lots of adult time.

I was looking quick through my recent FB mobile uploads and saw this and thought this was a good one to show what the kids are like on a typical day.  Gibs and Gavin wanted to be pulled and Layla was great with pulling them saying "I can pull anything heavy because I'm the mom".  That is true, us moms are tough:).  Layla LOVES pretending and often is "the mom".  I am afraid she is going to be a typical oldest child as she all too naturally tells Gibs what to do. 

This was one of the other pics I took while in Minneapolis...it was so nice to enjoy lots of meals without kids.  Love them, but it's definitely easier and quieter eating without them!

A few weeks ago we went with Mike, Em, Gavin, Harper and Gavin's friend/neighbor Justin to Binder Park Wild Animal Park.  The kids of course loved it.

Greta gives kisses to certain people.  Baby Zachary was one of those lucky people (mom too, not dad:(! )...she really loves babies (real and pretend) and a couple of times recently I have said "baby" to her and she'll try to copy me which is cute.

 The girls while we were getting haircuts...Layla, Greta and Natalie...

Harps and Grets playing nicely together...

 Very typical Greta, this is how she drinks her bottles.  I may have put this on here before, I can't remember and am too lazy to check:), but this is how she drinks her bottles best.  She gets WAY too distracted if anyone tries to feed her.  She does best on her own:).  Also, she had her last helmet appointment last week!  Her head is basically about as round as it can be.  We are going to keep it on at night just for a few more weeks, but she's totally done with it during the day!  I'm hoping she still sleeps good at night without it! :)

 We went to the mall Friday night and I took a pic of Greta pulling Harper's headband off since this is so typical them.  Greta just won't leave Harper alone:).  She also won't leave her own headbands on:(.

Greta's First Camping Trip

Due to a miscommunication mix up, we ended up going camping with friends the same weekend that we left for the cottage with Joe's family.  We had a great time at each place, but we sure were tired by the end!  I was going to put them in the same post, but I'll have to get to cottage pics later!

We took our first trip of the year (and Greta's first camping trip ever) to Woodchip Campgrounds in Byron Center.  We had a Groupon, so that was nice:).  We had never been there before.

These are the three cute new additions to the group, Greta, Deacon and Lincoln...

In the baby jail:)...

Buddies...

Layla, Kali, random kid, Mason, Jonathan, Gibs and Maddy...

Layla LOVED climbing this and was pretty proud of herself.  She loves climbing things and such since taking gymnastics this summer.

While we were there, Layla and I had a "sprinkle" (like a mini shower) for my cousin Mandi's new baby Zachary.  It's so fun to be able to take Layla to these types of things. 

Mandi with cute snuggle bug Zachary.  He's such a little honey and I can't believe how tiny he seems to me!

Natalie and Layla showing off their new earrings they got as a gift from the shower.

 

With their cute and delicious cake...

Again, practicing her gymnastics...

And Gibs wanted to join in...

Greta and Deacon locked up...

Joe, Darrell and Drew with their babies...

Layla, Gibs, random kid, Jonathan and Mason...

We got a new trailer this summer which was fun to try out for the first time!

Eating a yummy camping snack (not sure what to call them--crescent rolls wrapped around a dowel and then roasted over the campfire and then filled with pudding and rolled in butter and cinnamon and sugar).

Messy kids eating their snacks on the playground...

Kipton and Ella came to visit Saturday night and loved it so much they are going to join us for our next trip!  They also loved Greta:).  Greta was drinking her bottle--that's why she's in her carseat.

 Goofballs...

 She was trying to get out of our camper door so I had to block it off with bar stools:)...

 Layla was trying to be helpful and get Maddy and Gibs to be in the pic:)...

Layla and Gibs thought it was pretty cool sleeping on bunk beds.  They were supposed to be sleeping nicely in the dark trailer, but instead, this is what I saw.  It did make me laugh.  The first few times.  :)

Hudsonville Fair

Saturday night we went to the Hudsonville Fair figuring the kids would love it.  We were right.  Many of the animals were gone already since it was the last night of the fair, but the kids didn't mind.  We ate at the Beaverdam boothe and then got enough tickets so that the kids could ride three rides and then played a couple of games.

 Layla thought the stamp she got on her hand when we entered was pretty cool:)...

 Greta didn't wear her helmet since it was so hot (and since she can have it for about an hour each day)...

 Gibs loved the tractors...

 She was a happy girl despite the heat (and the smells:D)...

 Gibs' face was so funny when the cars started up--I don't think he really knew what was coming, but he loved it!  I was surprised that he choice to get into a different car than Layla was in, but I really shouldn't be surprised since is definitely Mr. Independent!

 

 They looked like they liked the little rollercoaster when they were on it, but after it was done Layla said it was a little too fast:).  They would have gone on more rides if they could have!  (although many they aren't tall enough for--Gibs was JUST tall enough--36"--for the roller coaster and the cars)  I'm guessing that they will LOVE Disney World next year!

 The guy at the dart game got Layla to play and she actually did really well.  She cried first when the guy was trying to convince her to play, but then did and liked it.  And she was able to win an animal pretty easily thanks to that guy.

 Gibs got an animal playing the ducky game only because the girl working at it showed me where she set down an "L" (large prize) ducky. 

 I love how she sits with her feet up on her tray:)...