Family fun up north

We enjoyed lots of fun with family making cookies with the cousins (this is the beginning it DID get messier!)
some of them eat more then they make but its fun! and sugar is good for you right?
We were also blessed to go up North to cabins with the K family and enjoyed an indoor water park one day and some of us tried skiing the next day.
"Bernie" did great!
"Tutu" I don't think she even fell down once! amazing!!!!
"Eugene" he did great too, pretty tired out but had lots of fun! the chair lifts were great -- especially the time mom and I were getting off and I made her fall!

More pictures soon! (really! )

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We were blessed to be with some family for Christmas. And for all the family we didn't get to see ~ merry Christmas to YOU!

We enjoyed a pizza party with the Q side after Christmas (which I failed to capture any photos of ... gets harder when they get older!) and Christmas Eve on the Kuipers side was busy with lots of cousin time!
Here are some photos of that:

Cousin pictures, its hard to get a smile on a bakers dozen :)

Daryn (my youngest brother) and Kira with Emmry

Mike and Jill (my younger sister), Brinley, Molly and SadieJames (my brother) and Carrie, Raleigh, Syndey and Greyson
+ 2 in heaven (check out their blog)

And our family, Steve and Amy with children

My Dad and Mom ~ thanks so much for welcoming in a family of 8 to overrun your house for 10 days!!! We are so thankful for your love and support, going up north with the whole family was a special treat too THANKS so much!
More posts to come of friends and fun over the holidays!
This Christmas we are thankful for the gift that brought us ALL into God's family!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!!!

a visit from the newest cousin

We were so blessed to get to spend the weekend with Uncle D, Aunt Kira and Emmry, (3 months) the newest K cousins, over the weekend. we ALL really enjoyed getting to know Emmy more!

We had only seen her a few times soon after she was born, when we were up over the summer. Of course we enjoyed time with Daryn and Kira too :)
Also hanging out in the great outdoors with Uncle D -- I think some hunting lessons were going on! I heard some duck calls a few times. The kids were slightly disappointed that Kimber (the dog) wasn't able to come for the weekend too -- next time they come I think Kira may bring him to stay :) sorry didn't catch any pictures of them outside ~ busy with the babies!
We enjoyed playing games of Ticket to Ride (thanks Gr and Gr for that gift!)Hopefully we didn't overwhelm them with our crazy lifestyle of a family of 8!!!
We had 5 soccer games, plays, and of course normal kids chaos around the house :)
The boys finally got up the courage to hold her before they left.
Even the crying didn't deture Eugene -- he is used to a few tears!
We were just as sad as Emmy here, when they left! We are so blessed to have wonderful family willing to come all this way just to spend a little time with US! THANKS D and Kira (AND Emmry!) for making the drive WE LOVE YOU!
The Q fam

Blessed to have cousins

We are so excited to welcome another cousin on the K side!!!
(even though its another girl the boys were still pretty excited:))

My youngest brother Daryn and his sweet wife Kira had their first child, a beautiful baby girl Emmry Ann ~ we couldn't resist getting up to meet her, so between conventions we snuck a "little" side trip in (whats a few more hours in the car?!)

Sweet little blessing!

she'll have lots of cousin fun in years to come I am sure!

We are thankful to God for each life He gives. And we treasured the moments we were able to share with her ~ we'll have to get back soon as I am sure she won't remember meeting us!

Felt like just yesterday....

Both Steve and I grew up at a campground called Sandy Pines. We were blessed to be able to spend Memorial Day weekend there with family and friends! So good to spend time with old friends and just relax for a while! The kids enjoyed the water and Steve took the little boys out in the row boat which they enjoyed. Jumping off the dock is hours of fun :) especially when the water is so warm.And always fun playing games with Grandma! Chuck had spent most the week there working with both Grandpas, getting his golf cart license and hanging out with friends! WOW is he getting old! Its been a long time since the water has been this warm on Memorial day weekend -- really felt like the middle of summer instead of just the beginning! What fun to have a few days to really relax, we enjoyed a few really nice sunny warm days (which we made good use of the beach and water park!) and a few rainy days which made for good game and movie days :)

All the K cousins what a crew! looking forward to another on in the mix next month when my brother and his wife have their first! YEAH! That means another trip to MI to meet him or her soon! Tutu with a piggy back (Sydney) and piggy front (Molly) Eugene and Grey enjoy playing BOY stuff!

Ria is the bottom of the sandwich with Raleigh, Brinley and Sadie on top! Even though the weather wasn't great we did get to the water park with cousins for a bit, some of them did a round of mini golf then we hung out in the trailer (all 20 of us!) COZY! Thank goodness Grandma keeps good snacks and lots of games! and sports on tv keep all the big boys (and dads) happy!!!

We were glad the Cuthbertsons and Snoeyinks could join us for an afternoon Tuesday which turned out to be a GREAT beach day and that meant a stop at the ice cream shop. Sad I forgot my camera :( sorry no pictures of the yummy delicious ice cream! (Karen if you got any send them over!)
A stop at the Regans before we left was a real treat for all of us! The boys enjoyed a grass fight exploring the barn and just being with friends, the rest enjoyed being with friends, the smell in the barn (just kidding!) helping with chores... well they were willing anyway! And we enjoyed some adult fellowship!

So that was our side trip we squeezed in before heading to Chicago area convention, a few more hours in the car -- they all blend together!

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,

and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." 2 Cor 13:14

Baby Pictures

Babies are so cute, just thought I would share some of our recent sightings with you. the orange boys

Looks like Gr. and Gr. have a bunch of sweet "presents" this year!

The pink girls

proud papas and their little ones :-)





Ooooh, so cute :-)

FUN with the rest of the cousins

Not only did we love getting to met the NEW cousin but we had tons of fun in two days playing with all the other ones!!!!

Just takes a little while to reconnect and they were off!SMILE -- there isn't a lap for everyone anymore!

surrounded by the GREAT LAKES ...MI is a great state!
wish it was always this sunny :)

a few of the amazing butterflies we watched

Look at all those beautiful butterflies....

two girls as butterflies and the boy as a cute caterpillar

We enjoyed a day out with some of the cousins to see a BIG horse!

Fun just with FIVE year olds :)
so neat to see the cousins playing well together

a visit to some botanical gardens was a beautiful reminder that spring is coming!

It was a beautiful sunny day so there were lots of butterflies to watch too
as well as lots of fun things to do in the children's tree fort outside!

Look at all those cute kids!
(who pose VERY well I might add!)

Doing a great job keeping Gr and Grs house from being quiet or boring!!!!

Here we got to watch an Easter play with "Jesus" dying on the cross, (with a crown of thorn - aka headband -on) being wrapped in cloth (sleeping bag) and rolled into the grave. Then he arose (crawled out of the sleeping bag) and the "ladies" came back to look for him but he was gone!!! It is precious to see the children acting out bible stories :)

Gr K got to be read to from the reading "book" that Gr Q helped Z make!

goofy girls -- they look a little scary here but they are just being silly -- really!