I know it has been a while AGAIN!

I really don't have the excuse of being really busy!  I am just forgetful when it comes to this blog! 

The kids have been busy playing with all of their toys lately!  The older they get the more Mason seems to bug his sister and the more yelling she does at him.  I am really ready for this cold weather to go away so we can play outside more often!

 

A little Tea Party at the baby doll table!

We headed to the Children Museum in Grand Rapids a couple of weeks ago with my sister and step sister and all the kiddo's (minus Riley)  It was really a good time. I had never been there before with them and they loved it!

 

(sorry for the picture of you making a ridicules face Nora)

Then that same week we headed to the roller rink for the first time with the kids.  Mason did suprisingly well for the first time.  He thought the whole experience was pretty cool.  Emily tried her best but just struggled.  Overall they had a ton of fun though.

 

 

We have been staying busy having fun and I have been horrible taking pictures so these are all I really have at this time.  I keep saying that I will get better about taking pictures so maybe this time it will happen!

Hopefully, I will be back on here with an update again soon!  Maybe before their birthdays in March!

Christmas time!

We had such an amazing Christmas this year!  For the first time since I have been a mother, I made sure to have things taken care of ahead of time so that I could relax, which in turn means everyone could relax!!! :)  We started our holiday on Monday and continued through Sunday.   Really busy but amazing time with the family!  This is the best time of year to me!  I truely enjoy the time spent with everyone we love!   Thank you to all that love our children so much and made our christmas another to be remembered!  

This is Christmas Eve in their new PJ's before they head to bed!

Feeding the Reindeer!!!!

 Christmas morning!

Santa gave Mason what he asked for "a yellow crane!"

Sorry it is turned.  Emily got a Saw and a Barbie from Santa (along with 14 other barbies and she loves them ALL)

Christmas at my Mom's house!

Emily and my Mom

Christmas at Nora and Matt's house

Christmas with my Grandpa and Pam

Christmas with my Dad and Phyllis

Emily with her new bike at Tim's parents house

Mason at Tim's Parents

Uncle Mike and Emily!

Sorry for the mass amount of pictures!  This is only a few!   Thank you again to our family for everything you do and the love you share!  Now looking forward to a New Year!

My Swat officer and Flower!

So every year we go to Nora's house for Halloween.  Her neighborhood is ten times better than ours when it comes to trick or treating!  It is a lot of fun to share the time Riley and Carter also.   So Mason was a SWAT officer and Nora's puppy was his inmate. 

 

 

Emily was my sweet little flower.  She really didn't know what to think of the whole trick or treating thing until we got to the first house.  She realized that she would get candy at each house!!!  Then she was all about it!

Riley and Carter looked so cute also!

 

Here is the whole group!  Mason felt the need to help Carter with his boat, it was really cute!

Annual Fall Post

Like we have done for the last 3 or 4 years, here are the pictures from Crane's.  I don't know why but it doesn't feel like fall until I have visited the orchard.  It was a nice day and we all got a ton of apples.  Nora won on the amount with 49 pounds.  I think I ended up with 27 pounds or something.  I am looking forward to some homemade apple pie!  MMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Mason was in the parade!

My little man was in the Pumkinfest Parade on Saturday in Zeeland.  His preschool class all got to ride on the float.   I wasn't sure how he was going to do because he has been struggling with a little anxiety about new things.   At first he was clinging on to my leg when we got to the float but then he saw his buddy!  He was all about it after that.  I don't know if he even realized that I wasn't there anymore.  I am so proud of him when he does something new!  

 

This is Mason (obviously!) then his buddy Connor and Carter! 

 

 

 Emily really enjoyed watching the parade and eating all of the candy!  

School has begun!

I can't believe my little boy is in preschool.  I also can't believe that I let him go!   He did awesome though.  He is not talking about the day much but I can tell he is excited to go back so it shows me he liked it!  His teachers are awesome and can't wait for him to spend time with them!

 

Emily really thought she would be able to go to school also!

  

  

Mason and Carter may cause a little trouble together in class!  Hopefully the teacher is strong!

 

I have to let go at some point don't I!

 

  

  

 

I am so proud of my little boy!  I can't believe how ok he is being independent like this!  

Oh my it has been way to long again!

I once again have failed to keep up with the family blog! I can't guarentee that I will do any better in the near future either. Just a quick update on the family.

Mason has learned how to ride his bike without training wheels. This week he learned how to start on his own....he doesn't need his mommy or daddy anymore for that. Next thing he won't need me to help him with anything else either.
He also is starting preschool Sept 15. He is excited to go! I know he will have a blast!


Emily is being a complete goofball and a slight stinker lately. She is starting to chat so much morning and talking with complete sentences. I have to remind myself that she is only 2 all of the time. But don't tell her that because she thinks she is 5! Got to love the terrible twos!!!

As you can see here she loves to go camping and understands the word "relaxin' by the fire"

As for me, I have been getting extremely busy with the photography and love it! In the next 5 weeks I have 3 weddings and a ton of shoots! I can't get enough of all of this either. I just really need to figure out the balance of everything because this is going to be the busiest stretch I have had! I can't wait though. I head to Manistee for a wedding Friday!

As for Tim, he is working a ton between both jobs and overtime! He is getting ready for his first annual "pigs on the water" campout in a week and a half. He is incharge of organizing these events for the union. So it is a weekend camping trip in Grant, with tubing and canoeing and maybe a little relaxing by the fire! We are looking forward to a weekend away, the two of us! That is our 5 year anniversary that weekend also!

So that is what is going on and hopefully I will remember to update again before summer is over :)