Our Trip Up North

Those of you that have known me awhile know that our family's lake house on Burt Lake in northern Michigan is one of my most favorite places in the world. When I was younger our family would spend two weeks "up north" each summer where some of my most cherished childhood memories were made. Abby and I got to spend last week up north with family and had a wonderful time. We missed Matthew of course and were happy to come home to him after being away for a week.

Some of the best things about being up north:
1. Weather - We got to spend almost all day everyday outside in 75 -80 degree weather.
2. Listening to the water lap against the lake shore - is there a more peaceful sound? I can't think of one.
3. Relaxation - As Becki said best this past week, when you come up north all of your worries just go away and you can completely relax.
4. The grass and flowers - The grass is so soft and the flowers are absolutely beautiful.
5. Boat rides on a huge, gorgeous lake.
6. Traveling to a place where everything just gets more beautiful year after year - all the same families have owned the same cottages for generations and they really do get more beautiful each year but at the same time stay so familiar.
7. Getting to spend time in a very uncommercialized part of the country...
I don't think this list does it justice but it really is a special place to our family.

Me (yes, I look more pregnant than 4 months!), Abby, Auntie Becki, Abram, Mom and Hannah (Uncle B's wonderful girlfriend) making Hannah's delicious cinnamon rolls.

Uncle B and Hannah with the kids by the pier at Harbor Springs (and adorable little northern Michigan town).

Ben and Me - we took a picture just like this in this same place when I was 16 and Ben was 9!

Our little Baylor Bears in their double stroller - looking back at this picture I don't think they were that happy at the moment.

Abram and Abby playing in the pool.

Cousin Tommy had the great idea of letting the kids play on this keyboard - they spent hours making music.

Hannah, Uncle B and Abby on a jet ski ride - it was just a little cool that morning!

Cousin Lisa and Auntie Becki on the boat.

Abby and Captain Pop.

Family Time

Matthew went fishing in Arkansas last weekend with his dad and brother while Hootsie, Aunt Karen and Cousin Cason came to visit us in San Antonio. Abby did all her cute tricks for the family and we were thankful to have the time to catch up with each other. We sure did miss Matthew though and Abby was thrilled when we got to pick him up from the airport on Sunday night - I was so thankful to have my man home, too!

Cason, Karen and Abby enjoying the popcorn pool

Abby with Karen and Cason

Matthew and Abby unloading Matthew's recent tool purchase from the truck. Abby hasn't really left her Daddy's side this week since he returned from his fishing trip.

Abby and Daddy coloring...did I mention she was happy to have him home?

Naomi & Abby's Prenatal Check-up

I have to pass on this cute Abby story to you all...
Today I had my 14-week check-up and Abby came along - she loves coming to the doctor with me. At every visit the nurse asks me to pee in a cup (standard procedure) and today Abby came into the bathroom with me. After I got my sample, Abby insisted that she too needed to give a sample. She gave it a try but (thankfully) didn't really need to go to the bathroom. What in the world would I have done with her sample?!? Abby and I got to hear the baby's heartbeat and it sounded great - Praise God! Next month we'll have a sonogram and find out if we are having a little boy or girl.

Temple High 10 Year Reunion!

This past weekend we traveled home to T-town for my 10 year high school reunion. It was a fun weekend with friends and family. Saturday afternoon the precious girls (well, I guess I should refer to us as women since three of us have daughters now!) I grew up with and their families came to swim and have lunch at my parents' house. It was a special time together - it brings so much joy to my heart to watch Abby develop friendships with my best friends' children. I think the grandparents also enjoyed getting to see each other and all the grandkids. Saturday night was the reunion and I can honestly say it was wonderful. It was relaxing and we really got to talk with old friends and catch up. I am thankful that Matthew knows quite a few people I went to high school with and he is also friends with all my best friends' husbands and boyfriends - so he actually had fun at my reunion, too. Matthew's 10 year high school reunion is the end of October in Dallas - I'm pretty sure it will be much fancier than mine:)
Enjoy the pics from the weekend!

Chloe (Kelly's little girl) playing with Abram

Abram, Hudson, Chloe, Abby and Annie

The kids playing with each other

Old pals Matthew and Bruce (Chloe's dad and Kelly's husband) Bruce and Kelly went with Matthew and me on our first "real" date.

Julie, Heather, Amanda, Rachel and Me at Ra's before the reunion (Kelly volunteered to work the sign-in table at the reunion so she and Bruce couldn't join us at Ra's.)

Sam (Julie's husband), Mark, (Rachel's husband), Matthew, and Gary (Heather's boyfriend)

Julie, Amanda, Heather, Me, Rachel

Me and my handsome man

More Popcorn!

Our friend Katie had the great suggestion of us putting our "popcorn" into our blow-up pool. Thanks for the great idea, Katie! Here are some recent pictures.

Abram and Abby in the pool

Cutie Abram
Abby and Daddy

Cool Abby

Next up...pictures from my 10 year high school reunion weekend.

Exciting News!

Matthew, Abby and I are so excited to share the news that our family will be growing in February! I am about 13 weeks pregnant with our second child and we couldn't be happier. We are so thankful to God for this gift! So many of you have been praying for us along the way and we want you all to know how grateful we are to you. Thank you, sweet friends and family!

We just returned home from a weekend in Temple for my 10 year high school reunion - it was a great weekend filled with good times with both friends and family. Last week we had Auntie, Abram and Hootsie stay with us for a fun few days. I have lots of pictures and I promise I will post them soon...right now I am off to bed!

The past two weeks...

We have had a busy last couple of weeks. Julie (one of my best friends in the world) came to visit with her kids, Abby and I went to Temple for a couple days while Matthew was out of town for work and now we have Hootsie (my mom), Abram and Auntie with us for a few days. Here are some recent pictures. Enjoy!

Best buddies Annie and Abby - reunited!

Hudson, Annie and Abby playing in "popcorn" in our living room. Matthew just ordered a new guitar and the package arrived full of Styrofoam popcorn. One nice thing about having a big rental house without much furniture is having room for things like this:)

Julie reading "Fancy Nancy" to Annie and Abby.

p.s. If you have daughters, definitely check out Fancy Nancy children's books.

Annie and Abby

Abby's preschool had "Crazy Hair Day" last week - here is our girl with her crazy hair!

Hootsie bought Baby Patti (Abby's favorite baby doll) some much needed accessories.