Special Friends

I feel like we've been back to Michigan about every month since we moved here. It hasn't quite been that much, but it's been at least every other and it is nice that we've been able to since we're a lot closer now! We made a trip back the last week in July, but this was a special trip. One of my best friends and her family were coming back to the States (they were transferred to Mexico just months after we moved to WV) and we hadn't seen each other in a year and a half. They were making a trip to Kalamzoo to see us, so I packed the kids up and stayed at Gull Lake for three days, then went to my dad's for another three days. It was SO good to see Mandy and her kids. She's one of those friends who you don't have to see or talk to everyday to pick up right where you left off! That kind of friendship is hard to come by and I'm thankful for her and her family! I can't wait until they move back to the states!

The kids and I drove up on Sunday afternoon and spent the day with my mom, Jeff and Lily. Mandy and kids weren't getting there until Monday. This whole trip we did a lot of swimming which is great because my kids love to swim! Once Mandy got there we hung out at my mom's, swam, went on boat/jet ski rides (it was Riley and Lincoln's first time on the jet ski), had dinner and played hard. Tuesday we took the kids to the park, lunch at the mall, and Jungle Joe's (jump house in Kzoo). We parted ways for a couple hours and then left the kids with my mom (Mandy got a babysitter). I met Mandy and James at the mall to shop and then had a great dinner. It was so great to catch up and I look forward to seeing them again soon!!

R and L swimming with Lily!

Jeff took Riley and Ethan to the Jet Ski!

Lincoln and Nolan on the Jet Ski!

Riley, Lydia, Ethan, Lincoln and Nolan on the boat before dinner!

My mom made Emmersyn a birthday cake and got her, her first (probably of many) pair of Uggs for this winter :)!!

Mandy and I at dinner!

Indianapolis, IN

July 3rd was my cousin, Whitney's, wedding in Indianapolis, IN. Instead of driving there that Sunday we decided to make it a mini-vacation and leave Thursday (to go to MI and drop Ty's sister, LaCross, off because she had been staying with us for that whole week) and stay until Monday. We had so much fun and her wedding/reception was beautiful! We snuck in a trip to the zoo with my Dad, step-mom, sisters, brother, and sister-in-law before the wedding. It was a hot day, but we had a great time. We also did lots of swimming and spending time with family!! My kids love staying in hotels and actually do pretty well sleeping in them which makes vacations a bit more enjoyable!

LaCross came to visit! (she had just had surgery on her foot the week before!)

Washing an elephant!

Emmersyn eating a pear--whole. It was in a bag under her feet. Somehow she kicked it up to her hands and started chowing down. I didn't notice until it was half eaten.
L with Aunt Britton and Uncle Kolby

The whole gang!

St. Louis, MO

Ty had business in St. Louis, MO in June and we were able to work it out for the rest of us to tag along. It was a very short trip, 2 days in fact. It may have been short but we were able to pack a lot into those two days. We went to the St. Louis Zoo, went swimming, out for ice cream, and shopping at the mall the first day.

The second day Ty had to work the entire day so that left the kids and I in a hotel for 10 hours without a car. I wasn't too concerned as they had a big pool and we were within walking distance from the mall. Our plan was to stay in the hotel room watching cartoons and playing until 12 when we had to check out. At noon, I was going to walk to the mall, eat lunch and shop, then come back and swim until Ty got back from his meeting at 5. Well, that plan went down the drain when we woke up to it raining ALL. DAY. LONG. We couldn't walk to the mall because it was storming and it turned out that their pool was part inside and part outside. Since it was storming and part of the pool was outdoors and it was the same body of water as the indoor pool, that was shut down all day. That left me and 3 CRABBY, tired kids in a hotel lobby for 5 and a half hours with NOTHING to do. Ty had taken all of our luggage (aka. toys) with him and we had nothing to do. Lets just say this was by far the most stressful and frustrating day probably of my entire life!! The kids were as good as can be expected but we were all bored and really tired...the first day was so much fun, but I'm not sure it was worth it. We'll see if we ever go on another business trip again!

Emmersyn enjoyed swimming so much that she fell asleep in the water!

At the St. Louis Zoo

Summersville Lake

We didn't really go anywhere this entire summer, because frankly it was too difficult for me. I couldn't move when I was HUGE/pregnant and then we had a brand new baby who I didn't want to take out too much. However, we wanted to at least make one little trip before the summer came to an end. Last weekend we decided to take a day trip and head to Summersville Lake in West Virginia. We had heard awesome things about this lake and wanted to experience it for ourselves. One of the main things it is known for is the Gauley River. The Gauley River is very well known for its white water rafting. Each year in the Spring and Fall the Lake is drained causing awesome rapids in the river. They only have white water rafting for a few weeks each season, but people come from all over the world to experience it. (Ty may be going in a few weeks, too. Wish I could, but one of us has to stay home with the kids :))

Anyways, we did not know all of this at the time of our day vacation. When we got to the Lake we realized they had already started to drain it. So the beach was empty (which was great, we had the whole thing to ourselves most of the time) and the lake level was down a couple of feet so we weren't able to just walk right into the water. We had to walk down a little "hill" to get to it, but we didn't care. The kids had a blast making sand castles, burying our feet in the sand, swimming and throwing rocks into the lake.

Who knows how long we'll live in West Virginia so I am glad we were able to see one of the many tourist attractions while we're here! It was weird going to the beach in late September, in MI it's usually mid-60 but it WV today it was 85 degrees! That is definitely one aspect of WV I could get used to!!

Speaking of the WV climate, my poor kids look like they haven't seen the light of day by the color of their skin. I lather them up so well that they won't get burned and I suppose I would rather them be pasty white than get a sun burn. However, my husband does not listen to me as well as my kids do though because when I told him (multiple times) to put sun screen on he decided "not to obey" (Riley's words--not mine:)). The poor guy burned to a crisp. I have mentioned it before but he goes from white to red then back to white. I am afraid my kids got his skin color and not mine. Maybe next time he'll listen to me :)!

Summersville Lake (only part of it--it's HUGE) I wish pictures would do it justice, but they just don't. It was absolutely stunning!!

Took this picture just for my Dad. Here's the Gauley River. Since my Dad has a few weeks off of work they may come down and visit, he wants to white water raft while he's here. However, I'm pretty sure it's probably not a very good idea just weeks after brain surgery. :)

OUCH!

Ty in D.C.

Ty got the chance, while we were in Michigan for a week, to go to Washington D.C. over the New Year's weekend with his best friend, Luke. As much as I would have loved to have gone too, I knew the kids wouldn't have been thrilled about sight-seeing, so I am glad Ty was able to go anyways and have a good time! They literally went everywhere, I couldn't believe all the sights they saw in two days. They were busy! I love that my husband has many wonderful and strong friendships. I think it is so important for him to have his "guy time" and have a break from work and family for a little while!

We're only about 5.5 hours from D.C now and since we're closer to the east now hopefully we can visit some of what the East Coast has to offer!

The Washington Monument

Capitol Building

Arlington National Cemetery

Lincoln Memorial

Articles of the Confederation

Smithsonian Castle

I told Ty I'd like this in my upgraded ring someday....The Hope Diamond :)!

Pentagon Memorian (9/11)

The White House

Introducing Mr. and Mrs. Kolby Smith

Friday morning we left Mackinaw and drove over to Alepna where Kolby's wife, Britton, is from. I was so excited to get there for the wedding, but even more excited to see my sister and brother-in-law who had flown in from Arizona for their wedding. They moved to Arizona almost a year ago and I haven't seen her since. We talk almost daily and I was so excited to see her again. She took time off from work right after Lincoln was born and she was going to fly home to see us (well to see Lincoln :)), but she was flying standby and her flight had mechanical problems so she never made it to Michigan. I was bummed! Anyways, they got in late Thursday night and drove up on Friday too. It was the first time they met Lincoln and Riley had been practicing saying Kasey's name for a while. She had it down pat by the time the weekend was over.

We got to the hotel, unpacked and soon after Kasey and Corey got there. After our "reunion" we all got ready for Kolby and Britton's rehearsal/rehearsal dinner. Ty was in the wedding so he went to the rehearsal, so it was all up to me to get myself, and both kids ready by 7 pm! Man, that was a chore! I made it, and only a couple minutes late! :) The dinner was great--great food and time spent with family.

REHERSAL DINNER PICTURES

Britton and Kolby and the rehersal dinner.

My sister, Kasey and bro-in-law, Corey feeding Lincoln.

Two of Riley's favorite people-my sisters, Jori and Lily

We came back and put Riley and Lincoln to bed and I spent time in my mom's room doing everyone's nails. Saturday rolled around and we all went swimming in the hotel pool and Jori and Lily spent most of the day playing with Riley in the "activity center" in the hotel. It's always great to have them around because Riley plays so well with them (and it gives me a little break, too).

Saturday rolled around and their wedding wasn't until 6 pm so we swam in the morning, went to lunch and hung out most of the day, then got ready for the wedding. We got to the church and talked with friends and family, got seated and then it began...

The ceremony was beautiful, it was perfectly decorated, had wonderful music, and the most adorable couple who love each other and most importantly love the Lord even more. I am so thankful that my "little" brother has found someone who truly makes him happy and who loves the Lord. They seem great for each other and compliment each other so well. I still think it is weird that my baby brother is all grown up, married and on his own, but I am so happy for him. I know he'll be a wonderful leader in their relationship. We will continue to pray for them daily, because those of you who are married you know how difficult it can be at times. I'll miss Kol stopping over all the time, but hopefully he'll keep in touch (he's not very good at that :))!

Here are a bunch of pictures from the wedding, I've got a million but I know some people who were invited that couldn't make it will be checking my blog so hopefully this will give you a good idea of how it was.

WEDDING/RECEPTION PICTURES

Kolby and Brittion reciting their vows

The ceremony

Jori, Kasey, Britton, Shelby, Riley and Lily

My sisters, McKenna, Kasey, Reagan, Riley and I

A family picture in the church!

Mom's side of the fam

G&G with two of their Great-Grandkids...

Family picture

Dad's side of the fam

Riley and uncle Kolby

Love my Grandad!