A Night at the Beach

It has been such gorgeous weather so we couldn't resist a little impromptu evening visit to the beach this week. We just grabbed a few beach toys and left thinking Ella would just play in the sand. Go figure, as soon as we got there she got soaked so we had to take off her top...I know these pictures are a little goofy due to what she is wearing but I couldn't resist posting them. Chasing the seagulls

Brad having to finally go after her...she just follows the birds no matter how far they go and she thinks nothing of leaving us and going after them...its a bit freaky how independent she can be

Ella on the move

Playing in the hole Daddy and her dug in the sand

"If only they would let me run in!" We will never go to the beach without a bathing suit or towel again:)

I just wanted a cute closeup of Ella with her shades on and later noticed that you could see Brad and I reflected in her sunglasses - kinda cool. Last summer it was like pulling teeth to get her to wear sunglasses but this year she absolutely loves them...wanting to wear them even in the car when we go away.

Flying high on the "wings!" (as Ella calls them:)

Gotta love summer nights in MI!

12 weeks

On June 22 I turned 12 weeks pregnant so I figured I probably should start documenting my belly growth. I am absolutely surprised that I am already starting to slightly show...I know I have a pooch left from Ella but it just seems too early to have a belly! I guess the second time around it is bound to happen that way. FYI - this picture is a bit deceiving...the way I am standing makes my bump look a bit bigger but it is pretty close.

I did have a 12 week appointment last week and was so excited to be able to hear the baby's heartbeat - a strong 160. It took forever for the intern and Dr. to find it and I was trying not to freak out but thankfully in the end we got to hear it. For me the heartbeat makes it all hit home...not that I didn't think I was pregnant before that, but it is the first true evidence of life...music to my ears!

Father's Day

Father's Day was pretty laid back this year. We were up north at the cottage that weekend so we just spent the morning and afternoon there and celebrated Dad Koning and then at night we came home and spent some time with my family at my parents house.

Here is a picture of Ella helping me make a message for a card we made for Brad.

Ella helping Daddy open his bag of treats and wishing him a Happy Fathers Day!

Love you Daddy-O!

A good old fashioned game of softball with the kiddos at Mom and Dad's

Ella and me...cheering on the players;)

Some of the kiddos with Grandpa giving them plants for Fathers Day

We are so thankful for our Dad's - we love you!

Play Dates

The third week in June we had a couple of really fun play dates...

On Wednesday Ella and I went to visit my Grandpa Rotman along with my cousin Angie and her cute little 1 year old boy Andrew. Ella and Andrew were so cute together - playing with Grandpa's toys and sharing snacks. It is so hard to get past this picture because Andrew looks just like Angie when she was little and Ella looks so much like me. I hope this is the first of many playdates to see Grandpa, I think he really enjoyed seeing the little kiddos and we enjoyed spending some quality time with him.
On Friday that week Ella and I met my friend Jenn and her son Cam for a playdate at the park. Cam and Ella are only a couple of months apart and they get along really well - he is the cutest little boy! I couldn't help but snap a picture of them together...future couple??? I think so!

Our Camping Adventures

The first weekend in June we ventured out to Sandy Pines to go camping with the Geurinks and Heukers. It was so much fun to be camping again and to hang out and catch up and watch the kids play together. Jonathan, Ella, and Layla enjoying their breakfast outside

Joe and Gibson

Jonathan and Ella working on sharing the lawn mower

Layla and Ella coloring outside the camper

They decided that Jonathan was so cute that he could join them too.

Saturday morning we headed down to the beach there for some swimming and playing in the water. Unfortunately Joe had to stay back to take care of Gibson and the dogs but we had a lot of fun watching the kids in the water.

Layla...a little chilly

Ella loving romping around in the water

Brad, Ella, Jonathan, Mere, Layla, Lindsey & Darrell

Me and Ella having a snack...

And then Ella took another break to have a snack with Daddy:)

Layla and Mere - what beach babes!

What a darling family...Lindsey, Jonathan & Darrell (oops, sorry Maddy, I left you out of the pic!)

The following pics are just too sweet to pass up - the kids were sitting so cute by each other...giggling, sharing snacks, and loving on each other:)

The fam at the beach

Play Dough time!

Sadly Saturday night the rain came...and it didn't stop! The Throwers and Lucas' and Joe's brother and sister in law all came out to have supper with us and celebrate Layla's 2nd birthday and this is how they spent the evening:)

Brad kept us constantly updated on the weather forecast...yup, still raining!

Ella was experimenting with whether or not she liked standing around in the rain

Curt and Jamie holding up the guys makeshift rain tarp...it was a bit hillbilly but it worked and gave us some more room to hang out.

The men saving us from the rain:)

Darrell, Steve, Brad, Curt, Joe and Jim

Ella, Layla and Jonathan playing in the rain - the water pouring off the tarp:)

All of us gathering under the tarp for some food and fellowship:)

Julie and baby Rex - he is seriously the sweetest little guy and he has the best hair - what a doll!

Ella...totally over all the rain at this point

Alden joining in on all the water fun!

The following weekend Brad was in Chicago for work so Ella and I went to visit my parents who were camping in Pentwater. It was an awesome campground and we had tons of fun taking walks and visiting the beach there. Here is some pics of us at Lake MI.

Ella giving me "butterfly kisses" in the camper before bedtime

Thanks Mom and Dad for having us - it was fun spending quality time with you!