Free Day At the Zoo

We're members at the Grand Rapids Children's Museum and during the summer, they team up with other area museums and zoos for free entry. August was free entry to the John Ball Park Zoo! However, we remembered on the last day at 4pm (zoo closes at 6pm)! We quickly ran to the zoo to enjoy the freeness of it!

Eliana in August

6th or 7th Annual Swordswomen Retreat

12 years ago four 18 year olds all went in "blind" to HOPE College's roommate assignments.

12 years later four 30 year olds all met up in Pennsylvania for their 6th or 7th Annual Swordswomen Retreat!!!

Yes, there is a story behind the name...but I'll save that for another day!

Sarah and I were roommates and Andrea and Cheli were roommates our first year at HOPE and we lived next door to each other. It was instant friendship! The next three years we stayed together and after graduation have made it a priority to connect at least once a year! I love my shroomies and am forever grateful to them for how they helped shape who I am today!

One of the best parts about our reunions is that our hubbies and kiddos come along! Between the four of us we now have 6 Swordlettes (girls) and 1 Swordsboy (poor guy)!!!

The Swordswomen: Cheli, Sarah, Megs, and Aners

The Scogin Crew (minus Matt who was off to Brazil on business)

Lucy, Sarah, and Sophie

Home: New York City, NY

The Kidless Crew

Cheli and Jay

Home: Chicago, IL

The Huisman Crew

Geneva, Andrea, Brooke, Derek and Micah

Home: Dundas, Ontario, Canada

The Freudigmann Crew

Alan, Megan, Eliana and Kirra

Home: Grand Rapids, MI

Random August Shots

Strite Family Reunion, August 5, 6, and 7

My mom and dad hosted my mom's side of the family reunion this year!

It was a great weekend full of fun and food!!!!

Kirra wanted to help in the kitchen one day, so I set her up to wash her play kitchen dishes! She had a blast getting wet!

Free Concert Tuesdays at Meijer Gardens...Ladies night out!

I get together with some girls I went to HOPE with (Kristen Borst, Shelby Noxon, Jen Traxler-Petersen, and Liz Schofield-Sharda) a few times a month. We decided to meet at the free concert to enjoy some food and fellowship together! I left Kirra at home with Alan, but Eliana came along to hang with the big girls!

Confessions of a Mama x 2

I hate pacifiers! I did everything in my power when we had Kirra to NOT have one even in the house. I have always been a hater. Just being honest. HOWEVER, once Eliana was born Alan and my mom kept telling me that we should try the pacifier because she was using ME as one. I didn't want to admit it and then I got embarrassed that I was about to give in. But when I did...IT WAS GLORIOUS! She didn't want to eat every hour any longer. She was quite content just to suck away on the little green silicone thingy! I'm over it now. No more embarrassment. No more trying to justify why she needs one. Just realizing that sometimes I need to get over my own pride! :) She's happier and I'm happier because of it!

A little Papa time!

Two Months Old

I am in awe how quickly 2 months goes by with 2 kiddos!!!

Eliana has morphed into such a fun, fairly chill little girl! She is more fussy than Kirra was at this stage, but it's still quite manageable! She has become quite social with her coos, smiles, and tracking. Eliana loves to be on the move and really only fusses when she is tired or hungry. Can't ask for more at this point! Sleeping is coming along...we've been on the go so much that she hasn't gotten a rhythm that works yet, so I'm not getting much sleep. Kirra continues to be such a great big sis...I'll write a separate post on things I've learned thus far being a stay-at-home mommy of two!

I love this kid!

I love this kid too!

Eliana's 2 month birthday spent at the beach!

Cousin Antonio...my cousin's son!

Marcos, my cousin, and his daughter!

Sister time, Blueberry Picking and Free Concert Tuesdays

Meijer Gardens has free concert Tuesdays where local bands have been invited to play! We met up with the Byrne's and Kristen Borst on the first Tuesday for a little picnic fun!

Blueberry picking...yummy!!!

Eliana, by week 9 was smiling HEAPS!!!

Eliana Turns 8 Weeks!

When Kirra was 6 months old she LOVED sucking on Nana's chin...Eliana found Nana's chin at just 8 weeks! :)

Aunty Tina returned from Guatemala and Australia and came to see us!!!