vacation.

where to start? hmm...first of all, it was great! we went to michigan and illinois to visit family and show off madalyn. we had so much fun, ranging from cottage life to thunderstorms, zoo visiting, beaches...it was great!
we started off in michigan at the cottage. we took the red eye flight from seattle on the 4th and arrived on the 5th. both kids did awesome but boy were we tired!! brandon worked remotely for a few days at the cottage while the kids and i enjoyed hanging with grandma, baapa, uncle kyle, aunt erica and landon. it was a blast! (warning...lots of pictures ahead!!)

 digging...serious work

 fun in the little pool and sand!

 little bottoms ;)

 great grandma and great grandpa deur

"hold it"

 

 cold bath water...sure, i love it!

 "i heard it was going to be sunny"

 motorcycle!!

after some days at the cottage we headed to garth and mary's. we had a blast catching up with friends and family. and celebrating parker's birthday (a little early)!

 c.u.p.c.a.k.e.

 "can we stop taking pictures so i can eat this?!?"

 nope...a few more!

 "smile"

 mama "let me take your picture"

parker " let me pose like dad"

 cashed out on the way to nana and papa's

rest stop! almost to nana and papa's!!

part two...coming up!

pure michigan and pure illinois?

first of all, is there a catchy illinois commercial?

i don't think so...it might need one ;)

wow...end of august! crazy! this month has been a blur of family, youth group, friends, flights, car rides, pontoon rides, water, sun, food...

ahhh it was good!

we started off by heading to chicago for a mission trip with the hsyg.

i recommend reading all about here.

some posts are written by the youth...way better than i could have done!

parker spent time with grandma and grandpa schuster.

(i really hope parker comes up with some cute names for the grandparents because writing out and saying grandma and grandpa schuster...deur each time...its too long. just saying....)

post mission trip/fun time with the grandparents, we traveled to michigan to celebrate the marriage

of jillian and drew.

what an amazing wedding.

makes me want to do it all over again.

then the whole deur clan went up to the cottage.

i already posted some pictures from that earlier.

landon and parker...

they are going to be best buds

and get into a lot of mischief

i just know it and can't wait.

brandon then had to fly back and support the family.

what a guy!

he worked and painted the upstairs bedrooms!

pictures to come!

parker and i spent some more time in michigan before heading back to illinois.

mace and parker swimming

grandpa and parker catching water 

fountains are awesome!

post church walk...ahhh!

we had a busy visiting week!

we saw the thills, great-grandma, cousins,

ashley and toby (and family), another wedding...

crazy and fun!

 dinner out with grandpa and grandma

 molly, emma and maddie

 toby and p...only three days apart in age

 beautiful bride!

we finally returned home on sunday evening

and boy does it feel good to be home!

vacation.

we've been busy...relaxing, eating, swimming, spending time with family. it's been good!

parker spent a week with grandma and grandpa schuster while brandon and i were on a mission trip with the hsyg. then the three of us headed to mi for some cottage time with the deurs.

 paddle board!

 cousin fun

 lunch and boating

 fire by uncle kyle

 life jacket...

 for the seadoo ride!!

 and of course swimming!

 and a paddle board ride!

more pictures and fun to come!!

michigan. part three.

almost done!

are you sad?

don't worry...i have some posts non-michigan related for this week too.

lucky you ;)

ok, thursday!

normal morning routine.

decided the beach was a good choice for the afternoon.

i haven't mentioned the weather much...but let me just say it was perfect!

warm but no too warm.

sunny. blue skies. awesome.

so the beach.

brandon, parker and i headed out...oh let me mention it took us almost 2 hours to get ready and walk out the door!

mary was going to met us there (taking a break from vacation bible school fun)

 ah yes...this is the life

 sand!

 dad! my shorts are too big!!

 this is awesome!

 shade for p, sun for grandma

 brandon kayaked

 parker loved being tossed into the water

 let me get my hat!

 

 worn out

 mom, dad, i need a nap!

 once parker napped and we got cleaned up.

garth, brandon, parker and i headed down to saugatuck for dinner.

we ate at Phils...so good!

the three boys :)

after dinner, garth and mary hung out with p so we could go out for a bit!

three dates in 10 days! monkies! we were spoiled!

we went to downtown holland to a new spot...our brew

such a neat place...and good!

also we may or may not have stopped for ice cream at kilwins

there's no picture so i don't think it happened ;)

friday was pretty low key.

parker woke up with a bad cold so plans were cancelled so we wouldnt get people sick.

we headed over to jenny's for one last chance to play with cousins.

molly and macen are too cute and too funny.

parker loved hanging out with them!

just like we loved hanging out with jenny!

friday evening we went out for one last family dinner at the piper.

yum! 

doesn't p look sooo grown up?

saturday morning, after a rough night with the sickie, garth and mary took parker for a long car ride so we could nap. parker napped in the car and we napped in bed.

brandon then started to make an awesome lunch.

chicken and asparagus! tasty!

we packed and relaxed.

then it was time to head to the airport.

we were sad to leave but thrilled that it wouldn't be too long before we were back.

 we had a long trip home but parker, even though he was sick, is quite the charmer in the airport.

smiling and chatting with anyone who happened to walk by.

we arrived home around 12...went to bed.

so good to be home!