Camping Weekend

This past weekend Ella and I went camping with the girls! The weather was absolutely perfect! Our campsite was huge with lots of shade which was nice, and it got cool at night to sleep. The only disturbance was the annoying hawk at 6am!

Ella played with her friend Carly.

They seemed to enjoy playing inside the gigantic tent for the most part. And also spent a lot of time playing at the beach. We took a nature hike which Ella said we were "walking through the jungle looking for crocodiles". Carly brought her bug house and they had a few house guests over the weekend.

The girls were also able to pet a snake. Neither one seemed scared at all

It was great to get away for the weekend, spend time with friends, and watch Ella enjoy herself as well. It went too fast.

4th of July!

4th of July!

Ella was able to spend some time with her father and his family at the cottage. She seemed to have a good time and spend time in the water! Good thing she has swimming lessons.

Peter and I celebrated our country's freedom by going to Canada! The weather was perfect all weekend! The light blue sky with scattered white clouds, the various green trees, and the deep blue water. Amazing!

This weekend was also filled with wildlife. We encountered a grouse in the road on the way in, as well as a bear crossing the road. At camp we saw an animal print, our pet squirrels, Chip and Dale, along with a snake in the grass. They accompanied the enormous mosquitos and worlds largest biting flies. Out on the water we saw a King Fisher bird, 5 loons, and an eagle. On the dock were the worlds largest spiders, a very cute frog, and a jumping minnow that jumped out of the water and onto Peters feet on the dock. Funniest thing I've seen!

Chip's head peaking around the left side of the feeder.

Peter peaking around the right side of the tree. (Dale is on the left side of the tree)

We also got to try out our new kayaks!

And I caught dinner with the help of the most excellent boat captain! Ok, I actually did catch it all on my own. He just held the net. But a wonderful net-holder he was!

My little big girl!

Ella had a busy few weeks with dance camp and swim class. Today she had her last dance class and I was very impressed with what she's learned and how she interacted with her classmates and teacher! What can I say, I'm just a proud mother :)

She ended her swim class very well too. She enjoyed her teacher and the other kids in her group. She also jumps off the edge of the pool to her swim teacher with absolutely no fear!

I can't believe how quickly my little girl is growing up!

Ella's swim class

Ella had her first swim class. She was very excited and enjoys the water very much. Parents aren't allowed to stay and watch by the pool until the last class, so it has been a learning experience for me as well. Ella seems very excited to go each time and always has a story when she's done.

Music & stuff

Thank you to all those who serve, past and present, for our freedom!

Music still inspires me. Today's song is "You and I" by Michael Buble. Brings tears to my eyes. To say that I am blessed to have Peter in my life is an understatement. It is only by God's amazing grace that I have been given such a blessing.

And the same goes for my sweet Ella as well!! Her innocent, unconditional love is something I am thankful for everyday!

May 2011

May was no shortage of activities!
Peter went to camp the beginning of May to open up for the summer. He was greeted with a layer of ice on the lake!

Ella ended up with her second round of hives. We still are unsure the cause of these things, but she is a trooper. She rarely mentions her "itchies", even when she is covered head to toe!

Peter's house sold very quickly, and we were able to clean it out and close without problems! That is a huge blessing!

Peter and I also ran the Fifth Third 10K! We did very little training amidst all our other stuff going on, so our time will be easily beaten next time :) I appreciate Peter running with me the whole way. He was a great support to keep me going!

Despite Ella's hives, we were able to stop downtown to see the tulips and watch a parade during TulipTime.

The yellow "tuwips" as Ella calls them, were named Big Smile. So this is her big smile!

April Fun!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend. On Saturday we invited lots of friends over and Ella made pink and blue rice krispie nests with jelly bean eggs for a treat. The kids did a egg hunt and made bunnies with paper plates and cotton balls. Ella was able to color Easter eggs the night before as well.

Peter and I dyed Easter eggs as well, adult style. I found a website to use vegetable dye's, so we colored eggs with cumin, spinach, red onion skins, yellow onion skins, orange peels, red cabbage, beets, golden delicious apple skins, and cranberry juice.

It was a very interesting experience. The colors turned out different than expected. I believe the red cabbage turned out blue, and the yellow onion skins are orange.

We were able to go to the "wedding church" as Ella calls it, on Easter morning. That would be Peter's church in Grand Rapids where we got married, so Ella calls it the wedding church.