Swimming, Museum, Cousins, and more Swimming!

It has been awhile so I thought I would group all of our activities in one post! Madelynn and Emma began swimming team in June. This was Emma's first time on the team and Madelynn's second. I love this sport because it is GREAT exercise and because of living in Michigan with the many lakes, all kids need to know how to swim, well! My mother put us on swim teams year around when we were very young. I did not really enjoy it at first, but I am glad it is something I can continue to do today! Both, Maddie and Emma learned so much as the summer progressed! By the end of the season, they both had their heads in the water and turning to the side to breath when they swim front crawl! They both really improved their times in backstroke as well.  They still have much to learn but they are looking forward to Winter team now.  

We headed to the children's museum on a rainy Saturday morning.  We brought Isabelle's little friend from church and the cousins joined us as well.  They all had a good time, but their favorite part was the construction zone.  There were ramps, and digging tools, pretend gravel and hard hats.  

Another favorite activity we enjoy on hot summer days is heading to the beach!  It makes them so tired after being in the crashing waves all day and running around in the sand...

My sisters watching all the kids!

We figured out how to let Lillian have the most amount of freedom and still stay afloat if she were to go in over her head! 

My nephew Evan, giving me a goofy face.

Sweet niece Lauryn, sound asleep in a wagon.

Terry has an Aunt Aggie that lets us enjoy her pool.  Her and her husband never are able to use it anymore so they urge people to come use it so the chemicals are stirred around in the pool. They have a diving board that the three older ones love!

Grandma Joan and Isabelle

Logan, Lillian, Emma, Kailyn, and Chloe.

Yesterday we headed up north to visit my Uncle, Aunt and their 6 children, ranging in ages from 9 to 19.  We had not seen them in a few years and some of the cousins, we had not seen in about 7 years.  It was great to visit with them.  The girls had a good time with the boy cousins and some of their friends.  Their highlight was a pillow fight right before we left to come home. 

Emma and Isabelle watching my cousins making a raft??  Parker, Emily, Lindsay, Kelcey and Dawson. 

Taylor who is heading into the marines this fall!

We are headed back to their cottage as the water and wind were a little cold.

That same night, we had a night planned with just the girls from our small group at church.  We had a good time talking about life and snacking on appetizers and desserts!  I am so thankful for all the great friendships we have developed through our church family.  It is so precious to me the love that binds through the body of Christ.  We are all on the same mission in this life and we have great companions to encourage us on our way!  Thanks you guys!  

Kristin, Lori, Tami, Me, Nikki, Kelly, Jenny, and Jen.

Another beach day today!  Terry and I with the girls headed to the beach again.  My sister Courtney joined us along with her kids.  The waves were huge today and the kids had a blast!  It is so nice living so close to the big lake.  We were only there for a couple hours which was good timing as there was a line to get in and the park was getting crowded.

My crazy husband smashing into the waves.

Made me a little nervous, he was having so much fun, I was wondering if he was watching all the children closely who were out there with him!

Lillian was hilarious....there was this little pool dug out next to the lake.  She would repeatedly jump up and land on her bottom to try to make a big splash in the water.

Don't bring any orange food to the beach.  We had cheese goldfish and the birds swarmed us as soon as we brought out the bag.  The kids know not to feed the birds as it makes for some angry beachgoers who are sitting next to you!  The birds found every little orange crumb that the kids dropped in the sand.