Art Prize with the Leonards

So excited to hang out with the Leonards!  We decided that we would try to experience Art Prize with all ten of us.  Dinner first at Peppinos and then checking out some art.  We always have such a blast, and I love seeing our kids play together.  I can't believe how fast time is going by, and the kids are growing up so fast.  I'm so thankful for our friendship and the time we can spend together.  Here's some (iPhone) pics of our night.  :)

 Our six amazing (and crazy) kids!

Grant playing a bedtime tune.

Koetsiers

Koetsiers is the best.  It is about .2 miles from my house...has an indoor play area for the kiddos in the fall...pumpkins...hayrides...bumblebee rides...and so much more.  It was so nice to be able to get together with some friends and ALL of our kids.  Such a great place to be able to let them run wild!

Sweet Graham-Bo

Camden and Ty

Charley in the corn box

Mols with some donuts

Charley on the bumblebee express

and Mols too

Away we go

Kristen and Grace

Charley and Me

Courtney and Sophia

The boys

Sarah and her boys

Mols and Lila

Charley and Sophia

Lots of kids!

Auntie Lindsay

Matt's older sister Lindsay, who lives in California, was in Michigan for a couple weeks in September.  We were so glad we got to spend a whole day with her!  The kids had a blast with Auntie Lindsay and we took her to Meijer Gardens to check out some Art Prize.  We had a very nice time catching up, and it was such a blessing to have her with us for a whole day.  

Matt and Lindsay with the kiddos.

Always great to get a family photo

The Big Horse.  

Auntie Linds with the girls

First Day of Fours ~ Molly Update

Here's Molly for her first day of fours preschool at St. Mark Lutheran.  She was very excited to be able to go three mornings a week this year.  She requested braids and picked out her outfit.  She seems to be doing really well, and I just can't believe that she isn't my little baby girl anymore.  Four has been a bit different, as well as three was, as Molly has definitely found her will.  Although still shy, she definitely will take a stand if she doesn't agree with what you want her to do.  We are working through it.  But I can tell she is a pleaser deep down and is mostly a rule follower like her mama.  She loves to dress up in princess dresses and sing and dance with Charley.  She is still napping almost every day for at least two hours.  She still will not get out of her bed at night (Hallelujah) and just learned to ride a two-wheeler about a month ago!  She is actually a great eater even though she is a skinny little thing with no butt.  She loves to color and play Go Fish with mom.  Looking forward to watching her grow and change every day!  My sweet Molly girl with so much love to give.    

So excited!

What do you mean I can't go too?

But look at this face...are you sure I can't go too?

So grown up!!

Last Hoorah

Labor Day.  The last hoorah of the summer.  We had a fun night roasting marshmallows around the fire and being silly.  I love my family.

Silver Lake

Some iPhone shots from our trip to Silver Lake over Labor Day weekend.  I have never been on a dune ride.  It was chilly and windy at the beach, so we hit the road with my parents to head up to Mac Dune Rides in Silver Lake.  Besides the hour and a half wait (its their busiest day of the year) we had a blast. It's like a sand roller coaster.  During our wait, we hiked a few dunes.