Sisters 4.7.10

I just love these sweet sisters of mine!  xoxoxo

I had to use the remote to take these pictures, so we were experimenting.

Photo Shoot 4.7.10

I enjoyed taking these photos of Amanda and Katie. They dressed up for the event. Both girls are photogenic.

Oh Brother! 4.9.10

Matthew, Jessica, Isaac, and Samuel arrived at Dad and Kelly's in the early afternoon. We had fun visiting with them! The boys seemed quite happy to be out of the van after traveling from North Carolina. Here are a few pictures my dad took of Matthew and I.

50 years!! 4.9.10

After my grandparents found out I would be coming to Michigan in April, they decided to have an early celebration for their 50th anniversary (which was June 18th), with hopes that my brother, his wife, and their boys could come too.  It worked out that we all could make it, so the celebration started out with a Friday evening meal at a Japanese steakhouse.  It was a really neat experience and it was so great to see everyone and reconnect.  And the food was AMAZING!  This was the kind of restaurant where they cook the food in front of you.  That was a first time experience for me, unless Mongolian BBQ counts.  The kids enjoyed watching the cooks because they did fun tricks.  I enjoyed watching the expressions on their faces.

Afterwards we found a place in the mall where the Japanese steakhouse was to take family pictures.  The first two are my grandparents with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

My grandparents and their 3 children: Uncle David, Grandma, Grandpa, Dad, Aunt Mary

Their children with their spouses.

Matthew and Jessica had an idea to have the different generations of men in a photo.  I thought it was a great idea!

Zehnder's Splash Village 4.10.10

My grandparents chose to celebrate their 50th anniversary with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at Frankenmuth's Zehnder's Splash Village water park.  It will be something all of us, from youngest to oldest will always have captured in our memory.  We had a fun time splashing around or watching others splash around!

Jacob after coming off one of the slides.  He was the first one I went down the slides with.  I admit I was a bit nervous, but it was SUPER fun and Jacob was a riot!

Kelly and Katie coming off the slide.

Matthew (holding Samuel), Jessica, and Isaac

Amanda enjoying a soft pretzel.  We all were getting a little hungry and stopped splashing around to have a little snack.

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!