Christmas Everywhere 4.11.10

My Aunt Mary and I stayed up late chatting.  I fell asleep as we were talking.  Oops!  Let's just say I didn't sleep too long, but it was well worth it because I truly enjoy spending time with Aunt Mary.  I got up later in the morning and joined Kelly and the kids for one more chance to dip into the chlorinated waters of the water park.  I went down the slide(s) twice each with Amanda, Jacob, and Katie, and then once with Kelly before heading back to the hotel room to get ready for the day.  After Aunt Mary and I had breakfast together, we joined the rest of the group waiting for the doors to open in the Christmas store called Bronner's.  It's open 360-something days of the year and it's packed with all kinds of Christmas decoration and gear.

Amanda and Isaac

Uncle David, cousin Nicholas, and Grandpa Keller

Amanda and I in front of some of the outside Christmas decor.

Isaac being cute...again!  Ha!

I think this picture is really neat.  I'm not sure what Ali was doing here, but I love the flow of emotion or whatever it is in this picture.  I'm not sure what the kids are doing in the background, but it must have been something interesting to peek their curiosity.

It was really weird seeing all of the Christmas decorations in April.  Maybe this is what Christmas is really like for those who live in warmer climates?

Mr. & Mrs. Robert Keller of (almost) 50 years!

Grandpa & Grandma with Nicholas and Ali.

...with their great-grandchildren

...with their eldest grandchild/grand-daughter

...with my brother and I

Aunt Mary and I

Isaac doing something...though I'm not sure what, but it reminds me of the fish lips Amanda and I do together.  He was doing this a few seconds before I caught him and I asked him if he would do it again so I could snap this photo.  Hilarious!

Sweet Ones 4.11.10

Shortly after we arrived at my mom and Al's house (and after getting lost--oops! "Lake, what lake?") I realized that I was losing my voice. I think extra talking, combined with a drier climate than I'm used to, and the chlorine from the water park were the culprits. It was actually quite hysterical!

Soon after we arrived we went outside and I captured these precious little ones.


Isaac with "Gamma Mary"

Samuel

Oh, isn't he adorable??? I love this picture of him!

Belated Birthday 4.11.10

My mom thought it would be fun to have a birthday "party" for Al with a cake when all of the family was there...a month after his actual birthday. He was surprised!

Matthew, who was probably making his camera bark at my camera. (They don't get along too well)

Al with a picture of the card I got him.

Outside 4.12.10

While we were waiting my grandmother to arrive, my mom and I spent some time outside. We walked around and she showed me what flowers were coming up. It was a beautiful spring day!

Pepper, who I call 'my puppy'. She's getting up there in age, but she still runs around like a silly animal. She's the only animal I know who blinks when she gets her picture taken.

This was one picture in a sequence of silly pictures my mom and I took together, but I'll save those for scrapbooking purposes.

Sticks & Flowers 4.12.10

Here are some photos I took while I was outside...resting my voice. Ha!

Friends & Family 4.12.10

This was the second day of my visit at my mom and Al's house. My voice still wasn't doing so great. I thought I sounded like Rachel Ray, but with less of a voice. It was frustrating because I wanted to visit, but I could hardly talk. So every once in awhile I would whisper and then someone would talk for me. I sipped a lot of tea and tried to rest my voice as much as possible. I also slept with a humidifier nearby. I think my body was having a hard time being in drier climate.

My grandmother (almost 81 at this time) drove to North Branch from Dorr, Michigan (near Grand Rapids). She pulled in the same time Matthew, Jessica and the boys did, as well as my friend Rebekah and her children, Titus and Leah. There were lots of hugs!


Jessica, Rebekah, and me

Mom, Matthew (holding Samuel), Grandma Miklusicak, Jessica, Isaac, and me.

Titus playing with an action figure.

Family Fun 4.13.10

This was the last day full day my grandmother was going to be at my mom's house.  So all of us got together there and enjoyed a few hours together.  It was a beautiful day outside so we spent time outside playing with Isaac and Samuel, and of course taking pictures.

(Top photos courtesy of Jessica)

(Photo courtesy Mary Z)

I was being dramatic here; Isaac wasn't *that* hard to pull.  At one point while I was pulling him around in the wagon I asked him to sing a song about riding in a wagon.  He paused, looked up at the sky, tapped his chin (he was thinking) and then was like, "I'm riding in a wagon, I'm riding in a wagon..."  And he repeated that over and over again in song.  It was so sweet!  Every once in awhile I'd ask him to sing songs about different things.  He just melts my heart!

(Photo courtesy Mary Z)

(Photo courtesy of Matthew or Jessica)

(Photo courtesy Mary Z)

I love this picture!  I love the delightful looks on everyone's faces!

Jenny the horse 4.15.10

My mom has a horse named Jenny. I think it's really neat that my mom has a barn and property to keep Jenny at home instead of boarding her. While I was at their house I had the privilege of helping "scoop" manure. When I was 17 I had a job cleaning stalls. I have to admit I kind of like the job. I think I'm a farm girl at heart.

Photo courtesy of Mary Z.

Photo courtesy of Mary Z.

Hopefully my mom won't be too upset for me sharing this photo. I just think she looks so pretty!