Wednesday, August 06, 2014

Can it be August already? Part 1

In June I was a little overwhelmed looking at our calandar for the month of July. I wondered how I would be feeling in August, after such a crazy month. Well, it's August! We are all exhausted... but in a good way! Our lives have been full and we are thankful for all of our friends and family in them.  
 
It was so great to meet up with Andy & Karen & company at the Madison Zoo!! Too bad we only had the afternoon to hang out! So much to talk about with so little time. 
We talk about these guys often as we share our own love story that started in college with these friends- almost 15 years ago!
What do you think of that, Rhino?
These kids are happy about it.
Not living in one stable home is sometimes hard with little ones and little papers. So, here's the beautiful pictures that were drawn as they get taken care of at the town recycle bin :). 
(24 more days until take off!)
It's all a matter of perspective... by Dass
Lil and Cade worked on this one together.
This was a fun idea from an art library book. 
As Josh spent about 5 days in Florida this month for class, Nat came over with her kids for a 4 day sleep over! We had tons and tons and tons of fun.
And we only lost misplaced a couple kids a couple times :).
This duo sings an amazing rendition of "16 Going on 17" :)
silly sy
Throughout the week our kids kept doing double takes and saying things like, "Mom! I mean... Auntie Linds..." It's hard to imagine not being a twin :)
"Welcome to our store! Would you like to buy an expensive stone?"
Water Balloon Fights!
Kite Flying
Finally! The sun is almost setting and we get a break to sit down and eat our salmon and salads!
For my birthday this year we took a day trip to Indiana to hang out at the beach with some great friends Dave & Anne!! 
It was a bummer it rained, but we had some great catch up time as the kids played in the Burger King Play Place. Hadassah and Sarah (Dave & Anne's second child) were both born in China at the same hospital within days of each other! 
This month we also had the AWESOME opportunity to visit for a WHOLE DAY with Christa, Luke and their two ADORABLE kids!!!
Sweet Hanne
Luke & Josh- it's like they were always friends!
Ian & August- good buds already
Christa made these amazing shirts (like the one Hanne is wearing) for all our kids and blessed them with such wonderful care bags. What an amazing friend! 
(Part 2 to follow...)













Tuesday, July 01, 2014

A Jumpin' June!

 Time at Bear Lake over Father's Day was one of the highlights!
 Lil and I spent some time raking up a little algae so we wouldn't come out green after a swim :)
 At the end of each day the kids were rosy cheeked and ready for bed.
 happy & helpful
looks like she knows something we don't
 Baby Reuel & Phil
 Digging the pontoon ride
 two divas
 Richard John & August Richard
 Gampy & Gus
 2 peas in a pod
 Lil pretending to be GG with her hat, glasses & book
 Grandmas just wanna have fun
 Seeing cousins playing together on the pontoon reminds me of my own childhood!
 Gretts & Lils- sweet buds
 Super Sam
 Just like the good old days
Cousins Theo & Reuel
I love my Uncle Tim!
 the scientist & the detective

 I caught (from the kitchen window) sweet cousins Cole & Luke trying to climb up onto the roof! 
 Rainy moments= movie time!
 Phil & Reu
 sweet puppy
 The Stoffel Family Tradition
 GG, Dass & Viv stretching on a beautiful morning by the lake
 august's new friend
 Why even get dressed? Time for another swim!
 not always fighting
 They do love each other!
 unwanted help :D
 Back home to Monroe & all cleaned up!
 We had a great experience at Fantastic Sam's!
Viv's new do
 Dass donated her hair like big sister Lil- I knew it'd only be a matter of time.
 Now Olivet has the longest hair in our family! 
She's the only one who needs a little hairband everyday to disguise her self-inflicted bangs :).
 Brodes all trimmed up.
 We were so glad we got up early and drove a little ways to attend our first "Breakfast on the Farm!"
 Helpers were here early scrambling those eggs!
 Each year one farm from each county is chosen to host the dairy breakfast. We enjoyed some AWESOME fresh food,
 A Country Music Band


 And lots of animals!
 the petting zoo was pretty fun
 Dass especially loved the close up animal encounters
 There were lots of little kittens in a box that daddy helped the kids hold :)
 In each of these pictures near the cows, someone is plugging their nose! Pew!
 I can't imagine this lifestyle- working in view of this landscape every morning...
 back to the kitties 
 And no, though it was requested, Hadassah didn't get to keep one for her birthday!
 Brody enjoying the cake
 Happy 6th Birthday Dass!
We LOVE u!