August 28 - 30, 2009
Yankee Springs Recreation Area (Gun Lake)

We only got one opportunity this year to actually camp with both of my brothers and their families, due to the fact that both of them had young infants and found that a lot of camping just wasn't in the cards for them this year. We planned this one weekend together, and unfortunately it was wet and cold, and wetter and colder. We had a great time anyway, and our kids really had a great time getting to spend time with their cousins camping. We are looking forward to getting to spend a little more time camping together next year.

July 25, 2009 Jack A Dekkinga, MD PC Family Company Picnic
We had the opportunity to attend my company picnic as a family as one of my co-workers cottage near Croton Dam. The kids had so much fun. The cottage was way up on top of a large hill with many steps so they set-up a small kiddie pool for the kids to play in up near the cottage. There is no beach at all, at the bottom of the stairs, there is a deck and water - no place to play. Once we did go down to the water they had a riot. They had the Sea Doo going, the boat, tubing, skiing, and kayaking. The kids were able to try to the Sea Doo with Paul and then I went with them for a boat ride. After our boat ride, we headed into the shore to pick up a tube for the kids and I left Sam with Paul on-shore. Minutes after we left to go back out to the lake Sam fell off the deck into the water. It was shallow, but he got all wet and wanted new clothes.

On this trip out in the boat the kids wanted to try tubing, I really thought they would not like going fast, but they LOVED it. As a matter of fact, they went more than once. They still talk about the experience.

They found lots of fun things to play with while supper was prepared. All the kids decided that the great big hammock was their pirate ship and played together on it for a long time. We ended up eating quite late, so soon after dinner we headed home - exhausted but had experienced a great day!

July 16-19, 2009 Ionia State Park

We had another great weekend of camping, of course, even when there is bad weather - the weekend usually turns out great in one way or the other. This weekend we had anticipated for quite some time - as we were able to reserve Paul's favorite campsite of the campground.

One of the things we enjoy about using Michigan's State Parks is that many of them offer Young Explorer activities. We able to participate in several of these activities during the time we were there. We went down to the beach house and planted some seeds in decomposable toilet paper rolls. We were the only ones attending that particular session - so after planting our seeds the Young Explorer Ranger got out the rubber stamps and markers and the kids all made pictures to decorate the wall of the Activity Center.

We also attended an Astronomy Session at night. It was a cloudy night, so they were not able to view any stars so she had some other activities planned. She did a quiz time, in which Nicholas got many answers correct that the Young Explorer Ranger didn't even know and Gabrielle received a prize for listing all of the planets in order. They created flip books for the phases of the moon as well as turning Oreo Cookies into a Moon Phases demonstration.

On Saturday afternoon, we attended another Young Explorer session only to find the Ranger had a special guest. Wow, did we luck out on that one. Someone camping in the campground as a guest happened to see that she was doing a class on "Life in the Lake" and volunteered to help her with the class - she had taught that subject in the school system for 20 or 30 years. She was really good and full of knowledge. She had the kids all in the water with their nets collecting and learning to identify so much life. We caught Water Striders, DragonFly Nymphs in various stages and other nymph forms that I can't recall. Gabrielle and a few others found some baby snails, and every one had a great time.

We went hiking and collected wild flowers, and also walked through the Equestrian section of the campground. Grandma had met someone during registration that was camping there and told her to bring the kids up to see the horses and so we did.

It was cloudy every day, but then by late evening the clouds cleared off for beautiful sunsets over the lake and a sky full of stars. It was a great weekend and we can't wait to return to Ionia again next year (if not before).

July 15, 2009 A Run In with a Door

Thankfully, this happened after her birthday. I wasn't in the room - but Allison somehow managed to connect her face with the side of the door in her bedroom. I just heard her start crying (which isn't all that unusual - because any little disagreement or fight leads to Allison screaming bloody murder). However, by the time she made her way downstairs I was very surprised to find a big scratch on her face and her cheek already quite swollen. We immediately started icing it hoping to get the swelling down.

The swelling was still there several days later and she ended up with a black and blue cheek and a matching black and blue eye which lasted about a week.

July 14, 2009 Allison Turns 4!

I can't believe that Allison is 4 already. She is going to start preschool this year and is so excited. We anticipate she will do well based upon how well she adjusted to her first experience at Vacation Bible School this year. I can't believe how old she is getting.

Allison loves to pretend, and does very well playing with others as well as playing by herself. She can play with her dolls, stuffed animals, etc for long periods of time all alone. In fact, when we are camping she often requests to just go in the trailer and play with her toys up in her bunk. She loves to wear dresses, pick out "pretties" to wear in her hair. Like the other kids she loves to draw and also loves to read books.

Allison's birthday this year was spread out over several days. Her party with extended family was on Saturday - it was a great day so we invited them to come early so the kids could enjoy the pool. She also received a brand new bike from her aunts, uncles, and cousins - so there was some fun bike riding too. They all got the opportunity to play outside, and loved it when Uncle Cory and Papa started taking turns spinning the kids around in circles.

On Sunday, we took a day trip. Knowing we would be in the car for quite some time - we gave her another one of her gifts - a new leapster, which she loves.

Her birthday was Tuesday, and she had already opened most of her gifts. After a birthday meal at McDonald's we returned home and she opened her last gift - which was doll clothes for her "kids".

On Wednesday, I took her shopping with the birthday money she had received from Paul's Uncle Bob and her gift card from Geoffrey the Giraffe of Toys R Us and she picked a new baby doll and a baby bathtub - complete with shampoo, soap and a rubber ducky.

July 12, 2009 A Day Trip

If you haven't realized already - our family can't seem to stay put in the summer. We were not camping this particular weekend so we took off for another day trip. We had been wanting to check out the campground at Van Buren State Park so we decided to head down to the South Haven area.

We stopped at Saugatuck State Park for lunch. There is not a campground there but there are hiking trails and beach access.

We decided to take the trail to check out the beach. However, we did not realize how long the hike to the beach actually was. We were definately not prepared and would not have liked to carry all of our beach gear that far - there were lots of people doing so though.

After we checked out Van Buren State Park (which is a campground we would like to visit in the future) we headed back our direction in search of access to the Kal Haven Bike Trail. We found a great access point where the trail is paved and was quite beautiful. There was the beautiful covered bridge on the portion that we were able to ride. Because Nicholas and Gabrielle were both riding their own bikes, we probably only covered about 2 miles out and then back again but it was very nice riding and we would love to head back there some time.

July 9, 2009 Enjoying the Pool

I posted before of our setting up the new pool - but realized I hadn't taken any pictures of the kids actually playing in the pool after it's completion. They are having a lot of fun in the pool - and are getting quite comfortable in the water.

July 9, 2009
A Visit with Baby Aiden

Shawn and Erin welcomed baby Aiden into their family and ours on July 4th. Erin predicted this date for quite some time - and I'll be jiggered if she wasn't right. She got her 4th of July baby as she had hoped.

We were camping when he was born, so upon our return and allowing a few days for them to settle in at home - we made a trek over to their house for the kids to meet their new cousin.

Nicholas had picked out a special gift for new big brother Owen.

Super cute!

Gabrielle holding Aiden

Allison taking her turn. Allison LOVES babies!

Sam can't be left out.

Sam fell asleep in the car on the way home. I took him out of the truck and brought him into the house and layed him in the chair. Apparently, he decided to get up - but pooped out mid stand!

August 13-16, 2009
Cran Hill Ranch

A trip to Cran Hill Ranch seems to have become a yearly tradition. We have so much fun there with all of their activities. They have an activity package for the kids that includes a tye-dye shirt, a pony ride, 2 ice cream cones and unlimited boat rentals. They love to swim and there are 2 different playgrounds and lots of open spaces to run around. I have a feeling Cran Hill will be on the camping agenda for many years to come.

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July 1 - 6, 2009
Pioneer County Park

Another great LONG weekend of camping. Because Pioneer Park doesn't take reservations, we knew we would have to be there early to get a site for the holiday weekend. Grandma and Grandpa decided to go up the weekend before and Aunt Nancy had a lot with her tent. So, on Sunday afternoon we brought the trailer up to the campground, taking over Aunt Nancy's site. We left the trailer there and I was able to head back up with the kids on Wednesday and Paul joined us Thursday night after work.

It wasn't really warm, but we kept busy playing games and met some really nice people next door with triplets. The kids next door were eager to share popsicles, tattoos and other things with our kids through the weekend.

We spent very little time at the beach due to the temperature, but did spend an evening down there for their traditional swim in their clothes. We also headed to Duck Lake for an afternoon as the inlet there allowed for warmer water.

Paul and I also took the kids up to the White River Lighthouse and museum. We had an interesting time looking at all of the ship memorabilia and climbing to the top of the lighthouse tower. Another wonderful weekend.

August 10, 2009
Swimming Fun

As mentioned in an earlier post - the swimming pool we bought when Nicholas was 18 months old finally gave up the ghost the summer. With the kids getting older - we opted to replace it with a slightly larger pool to give them more room. The purchase was worth every penny. The kids got so much more comfortable in the water this year. Gabrielle even taught herself how to swim underwater and is practicing the doggy paddle.

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Pentwater 2009 July 31 - August 4, 2009

I may be behind on my blog but I hope to get to everything eventually. There was so many things going on this summer and with working from home there just isn't a lot of time to work on the things I enjoy. Now that cold weather is here I am going to spend the winter remembering our past adventures and looking forward to future ones.

We had so much fun in Pentwater again this year - and this time we actually made it there with out tow vehicle in tact, unlike last year where it ended up alongside the road never to be driven by us again. The kids had lots of fun at the campground: playing in the sand, swinging, fishing, hiking, and floating & kayaking in the river.

We spent some time in downtown Pentwater and took a walk down the pier by the beach. We also took a day trip down to Silver Lake to watch the excitement on the dunes and visit Little Sable Point Lighthouse. We also took a day trip up to Ludington where we took a bike ride to Big Sable Point Lighthouse and climbed to the top. We did a little hiking too before heading back to the campground.

While in Pentwater we also met an interesting family at the campground. There were 2 little blonde girls who were looking for some playmates. Turns out that they are from the Netherlands. Their father recently sold his business there and they decided to spend a year traveling America (both North, South and Central). They had quite the set up with a Land Rover type vehicle that included a tent set up that involved using the top of the vehicle for bunks and then dropped to the ground. I am sorry I didn't get any pictures. They will be travelling and living in this vehicle/tent for an entire year and had quite the itinerary. This was only a week or two into their trip and the one girls didn't speak much english at all - the other did quite well. It was interesting to talk to this family and talk about it with the kids.