Wedding weekend--Julie and Greg June 26, 2010

Saturday morning Kelli and I flew out for the second wedding of the weekend. We left Grand Rapids at 615 am after spending an amazing night celebrating with the Kennedy's. We arrived in Boston to celebrate with Julie and Greg. Neither of us have been to Boston before, and would have loved to make a trip out of this wedding....but couldn't miss Heather's wedding on Friday. We were just thankful that we were able to celebrate with two of our really good friends!

Julie and Greg tied the knot at the Harvard Club of Boston. The place was amazing, filled with so much character. I tried to capture the beauty of the ballroom where the reception took place, but the pictures don't do it justice. There has to be somesort of secret society that has met inside these walls, you could just feel the history in it all!

Amy and my baby bump...just about 28 weeks.

Amy, Lindsay, and I

3 blonde bitches, hot as ever

AXO girls!

10 of us made the trip to Boston to celebrate with an amazing couple! The other girls had spent a night or two in Boston already, but we all met up for lunch, and then went our seperate ways prior to the ceremony. Kelli and I were able to go on a walking tour of Boston that afternoon, with Chevy and Garcia. It was nice to have our own personal tour guide, and we were able to see a lot.

I slept more last night after getting back then Friday and Saturday night combined. It feels good to be rested, and have so many memories from just one weekend! I love feeling like it's only been a couple weeks when I talk with all my college girls, rather then a couple months or more. I love you guys!

Congrats Julie and Greg!

Heather and Isaac--Friday June 25, 2010

Grand Rapids Christian High (I have long been since inducted)

Kelli, Nicky, myself, Bethany, and Rachel

The Kennedy's

Jim and I (27 weeks)

What a beautiful wedding. The weather was perfect for an outdoor ceremony at Quail Ridge. We had a great time at the reception just catching up, filing in the photo booth, and maybe even playing a little golf (depending on who you were!). Heather looked absolutely beautiful, after a very eventful day (what semi driver would rear-end a bride on her wedding day!). May God bless you lives together!

SUMMER TIME!

Theses are some of our favorite everyday summer things to do! Happy first day of summer!
Playing in the backyard


sleeping in

Anytime is a good time to be a princess

Sticky smores

A perfect reward after a beach day at Gun Lake

Eating popscicles right after getting up


Picnics with cousins

Picnics with neighbors

Picnics...inside and out

Planting things in the spring...and now watching them grow!

My silly planters

While the boys are away....

Last weekend they Koops boys had "their" weekend, THE golf trip to Arcadia. We made the most of being single moms while they were gone. Friday night we all met up at mom and dad Koops', we ate, played, hung out, and watched a movie. It was perfect and relaxing. It's such a blessing to have a family that you look forward to the next time you can hang out, and just love being with them!

I think we have maxed out space in grandma's tub. Lucy and Kady were pretending to be ho-ho's, and Joseph couldn't have been happier to be locked in the shower!

Saturday turned out to be beautiful, we hit Tunnel park in Holland for a day at the beach!

Miss Mya (mya pataya as Lucy says, my my per Kady)

Joseph

Lucy loves digging in the sand

Grandma helping everyone make a sand castle...the water was still a wee bit chilly

and a quick trip to Captain Sundae to finish off a great day!


So proud of getting his very own cone!


and we finished off the night with dinner at the Dattels

The deck

The very beginning of the project began in the winter of 2006. Our backyard started as trees and brush just a few feet from our back door. We cleared 6 huge trees and all the brush, and the summer Lucy was born we put in our stone patio and fireplace. We have gradually worked toward completion of this project, and year after year it has gotten better! and so in May some more work began.....

before

and after

The crew of builders and helpers (a very special thank you to Jeremy for bringing all your expertise and skill) THANK YOU

May 15 Jim had a crew of family over to help build a much needed deck off the lower half of the back. They worked pretty much from dawn till dusk (I was told--I fortunately had a great time away for the weekend--kid free) and the end product is amazing. In the last 3 weeks Jim and I figure we have spent more time out there than in the last 6 years combined! This and the swingset have now brought our back yard project to a close!