Camping Weekend with Friends

This past weekend we went camping to Ludington State Park with our friends - the Geurinks, the Heukers & the Lucas' (& Throwers came to visit us as on Saturday). We had a wonderful time - it was a beautiful campground with lots of trails and near Lake Michigan and Lake Hammlin. We had great sites - a little sun and a little shade with lots of empty "green" spaces around it so we had tons of room. The kids played together so well and were little adventurers around the campsite. It was just so cute seeing all 4 of them walking around & playing. It was also a fun chance to hang out with our friends, especially around the campfire at night b/c we got to catch up without interruption and have a lot of laughs! We spent most of our time at the campsite, but we did venture out on the trails, up a bunch of stairs to see the skyline view of Ludington, and we also played at the beach by Lake Hammlin. Saturday we attended (& Brad played guitar) our college friend, Johnny's wedding to his fiance Kishon. It happened to be in Ludington which was so cool since we had no idea when we planned the camping trip that it would there. It was a beautiful waterside ceremony and we were blessed to have been there for it. That night ,after the reception, we celebrated Ella's 1st Birthday since we were all together. Although she was super exhausted from not really napping at all the whole weekend, she did manage to hold out for a cupcake! (If she is anything like her mom, she would never miss an opportunity to eat chocolate, especially since it was her first time having it!) It was a wonderful weekend with amazing weather and great friends!Layla and Ella were so cute together!Thanks to the Geurinks & Heukers, Ella was loving these new toys to play with!Playing with Dad at the beachside parkThe girls - Lindsey, Jamie & Mere Oh boy - she is boy crazy already! (Ella & Jonathan)Girls...and boys...will be girls (if you can't tell, Alden, Ella & Layla have ponytails & Jonathan had on a headband:)

"Best Buds" - Brad & Ella, Curt & Alden on our hike along the river

Johnny, Kishon and their baby Ava (10 months) at their wedding

Alden and Ella taking a walk before the ceremony...apparently they wanted to be alone. Brad and Curt joined them later to chaperone:)
Our little family at the receptionI thought this was too cute not to include - Brad and Ella were exhausted after we got back from the wedding so they were taking a cat nap in the car Happy 1st Birthday early my love!

The group - Jill, Brad, Ella, Alden, Curt, Jamie, Joe, Elvis, Mere, Layla, Darrell, Jonathan, & Lindsey (+ Baby Heuker & Baby Geurink :)