July 13, 2016

Quent and Joshua arrived in Detroit early this morning.  They drove to my mom's house and after they slept for a bit (they were so tired!), we went to my dad's house to spend most of the rest of the day.  It was so good to see everyone after not seeing them since almost 2 years.

Jeralyn was having fun making acorn soup in the backyard.

Josh was having fun playing with Uncle Jake.

And swinging...or sliding?

And then it stormed!  We have missed storms with thunder and lightning.  We all stood in the garage and watched the storm.  Here is my sister Katie running through the rain.

Aunt Amanda holding Joel while watching the storm.

The 4th 7.4.16

Another beautiful 4th of July in Ketchikan, Alaska:

We stopped by the food booths to get our "meat-on-a-stick" and lumpia before watching the parade.

Before the parade started, Quent took Joshua to see the old cars.  Josh loves cars, so he was pretty excited about this.  Doesn't he look like he's on a mission?

The parade started and the kids quickly learned that if they waved enough, candy would be thrown and land at their feet.

Joshua was a go-getter when it came to getting candy.  He had more candy in his bag at the end of the parade than Jeralyn.

Baby Joel was enjoying the parade too.

Getting sleepy.

It was shortly after this when I felt his body slump and I realized he was sleeping, all during the loud parade.  Silly baby!

Super Happy Baby 6.30.16

Excuse me if I've posted before (trying to figure out what hasn't been posted).  He is such a happy baby...except when he is not.

Ballerina Fairy 5.14.16

I'm taking a break from summer photos to post some spring photos.

Here's Jeralyn after her Spring Gala performance:

Olivia is why we Jeralyn is in ballet; her inspiration.

After we came home, Quent took Jeralyn outside and had a little photo session.

Park with Grandma 7.11.16

After visiting family in Dorr, we went back to the east side of Michigan and stayed at my mom and Al's house for a few days before Quent and Joshua arrived.  On one of the days, we went to a nearby school playground.  Jeralyn and Grandma played while I pushed Joel in a swing.

Great Grandma 7.10.16

It was so wonderful to see my grandmother.  We stayed a couple of days with her and it was so fun for her to meet Joel. It was hard to say goodbye.

Dorr, MI 7.9.16

 One of our first stops in Michigan was to visit my mom's family on the west side of the state.  Dorr, Michigan is a little farming town near Grand Rapids.  We had an "open house" at my grandmother's house and my family came and went all throughout the day.  It was so wonderful to see everyone.  I really made a point to try to get in a photo with everyone.  And here's proof:

My cousin Pat, with his wife Cassandra and their son Liam.

My Aunt Barb and I.

My Aunt Denise and cousin Nicki.

My Aunt LouAnn and I.

Me with my cousin Alena.

Baby Joel chilling out on a blanket in the yard.  We were thankful for a good weather day where it wasn't so hot.

My cousin Jenell, Adam, and Jenell's kiddos.

My cousin Keith.

Jeralyn playing with her second cousins.

Me wit my cousins Angela and Amanda.

Cousin Trisha, her husband Scott, and their little guy, Ryker.

Uncle Tony, Aunt Kathy (with Jeralyn), and my cousin Zac with his wife to be, Kelly.

Ryker looked so much like Eli to me.

Aunt Barb holding Joel.

Me with Uncle Ken.