Our Staycation @ The Boat House

We were able to enjoy an awesome week last week on our stay-cation at The Boat House due to the kindness of great friends. It was a spir-of-the-moment vacation...finding out we had the green light on the whole deal at around 10 am Monday morning and moving in by 5 pm the same day. The kids were so excited to 'live with' Adi, Louis & Aunt Mary for the week. Even though there were lots of people staycationing with us during the evenings, Mary, her kids, myself and my kids were the only ones who actually moved in and stayed over night. The mornings were very relaxed. Mary & I enjoyed coffee on the porch and Mary made waffles for breakfast a few of the mornings. We would let the kids just hang out a play for a bit then we would pack up a lunch and head to the pool, the barn and on our rainy day, Christ Memorial Church's play place. Due to Charley's inability to sleep well at the night at the boat house, I thought it wise to take him home to his own bed for nap time in the afternoon, the beauty of 'staycation'. :) It was not so bad though, mommy got her naps in too. We would head back as soon as the boys were up then start dinner for the masses. When daddy showed up after work the kids would get to play out in the yard or in the sandbox while dinner was being prepared. After dinner they would do the same while the adults supervised. We did s'mores before bed and most nights they got to stay up later than normal. They were happy & tired by the time they went to sleep...well, except for Charley, as I mentioned earlier. He decided to fight it with all he had. The first night he was up until 12 midnight then I brought him in my room where he slept the rest of the night but still woke up at 7 am. The second night he was up until 12 as well. Bryan stayed until 11:30 ish and ended up taking him home with him when he left. Then Wed. night he was up until 10:30 and finally the last night he fell asleep at 9:15. What a little stinker. Grant & Payton however slept great. Two out of three isn't bad. 

We just had a great time! We hope to be able to 'staycation' again in the future.

Grant enjoying our first night.

Dinner with the Garvelink's

Louis, Charley, Adi & Payton checking out the view

Yup, I could get used to this.

There may have been more sand on the deck than in the sandbox by the end.

Happy, happy hubs.

All the buses across the lake because of Mitt Romney's visit to Holland

What mom? I don't have sand on me!

Louis & Jami

Aunt Mimi, are you roasting s'mores on the grill??

Enjoying marshmellowy goodness.

Beautiful afternoon view.

Our digs for the week.

 

Naughty face.

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View of the Marina & Piper from the deck.

Kellan & his beautiful mama.

G Money just chillin'.

Goofin' around with the boys.

Being silly.

Last night fire.

Girl's night girls by the fire.

The Following pictures are of the inside. I know there are a few people who want to know what the place looks like so here they are...don't mind all the 'stuff'. I took these on our last night...should have taken them right when we moved in when everything was nice and clean.

A Morning at the Hengst Farm

The Hengst family graciously opened up there farm to us and our kiddos this morning. Payton and Charley are so in love with 'ponies' so given the chance to see them up close and even ride them...WHOA! It was a big deal! Payton wanted to ride every horse there and would have stayed all day if I let her. 

 Oh boy...What a ladies man!

 Brushing Missy

 Heaven on Earth for this girly

 Adi Lamar on Rosy

 Adi Garvelink on Missy

 Charley waiting his turn

 Emma

 He loved it...I was surprised he did so well.

 Louis

 She had to ride Rosy too!

 Riding together.

 Sadie keeping her eye on her pony Rosy. She didn't love sharing her. :)

 Checking out all the other horses.

 Even got to feed Missy some carrots.

 Buddies

All the kids.

Sadie (2 yrs), Kellan (2 yrs.), Charley (22 mo.), Louis (2 yrs), Adi (4 yrs), Payton (3.5 yrs.), Emma (2.5 yrs.), Adalyn (2.5 yrs.)

Thank you so much Hengst fam & Ashley Lamar! We had a blast and will be talking about this for a long time I have a feeling. :)

Street Performers

Last Thursday we experienced our first Holland Street Performer Series. The kids and I picked up some Micky D's and headed to the fountain downtown where we got to watch the first of the many street performers. Daddy met us down there and we got to have a 'night on the town' with the whole family. The kids had fun seeing all the different 'acts' that were going on. It is safe to say it was our first experience but definitely not our last.

 Payton got her hand 'painted' (really it was permanent marker).

5 Months - Grant Michael

I realized last night that I have yet to do this post and thought I really need to get on that so here it is. 

Sweet Grant-
You are exactly that...Sweet! You are very mellow and laid back. Your giggles and smiles make my heart just melt. I can not get enough. It is now summer so you are basically 'attached' to me most of the time and by that I mean Moby Wrapped to me. Lucky for me, you still love it. You love being outside watching Payton and Charley play. I can tell by your kicking feet and squeals you can't wait to be running right along side them. But for now Mommy enjoys having you close. :) 

 

Sleep -  You are sleeping really well these days. You've got nap time and night time down! You wake up in the morning around 7:30/8 then go down for a morning nap (in your big boy crib) at 9:30ish and sleep until 10:45/11. I don't let you sleep much past that because otherwise you wont nap well in the afternoon. I put you down again when Charley goes down between 1 and 1:30. You usually sleep for a good 2, 2.5 hours...just depends on the day. Then in the evening you will have a little catnap around 6 or so then it's off to bed for the night at 8. You are still sleeping in the pack n' play in our room but tonight is going to be your first night rooming with Charley. We pray it goes good! 

 

Eating - It is obvious that you eat well. :) (by the way, Mommy LOVES the chub!!) You are eating 4 times a day right now. You eat when you wake up in the morning which is usually around 8. This feeding is strickly breast milk which I assume is around 8 to 10 ounces. Then for your 12 pm, 4 pm and 8 pm feedings you get breast fed then get another 4 ounces on top of that. In total it is around 8 oz each feeding. So you don't really eat more than most babies your age so why you are so chubby is beyond me. Mommy must just have really great milk. :) 

 

Diaper Size - We moved you into 3's after 3 MAJOR blowouts in three days. Things have gone much better with them. We donated the others to Elsa Dahm.

 

Clothes  - You are in 6, 6 to 9 and 9 months. It's crazy to me that 9 month outfits fit you already. I was able to get Charley's 9 month stuff out and was shocked to see a lot of it was summer stuff. Yippy. God must have made you bigger for that exact reason. He knows how 'Dutch' Daddy is. ;)

 

Activities - Loving the saucer! You are also learning how to sit by yourself!! You are doing such a good job too. I don't know if I would say you are 'sitting' already but you are very close. It doesn't help that Charley thinks its the funniest thing to push you over when you are sitting on your own. Sorry about that little buddy! It's his way of showing his love...???

I am teary just thinking about the fact you are here in our lives and how in love with you I am. I could not feel more blessed!! God is so very, very good.

Love you more than words Little Man, 

Mommy