I can't tell you how much I enjoyed taking Scott and the kids to my grandparents farm. They live on a farm in Northern Michigan that has been in the family for over a 100 years. The house my grandmother was born in is still standing in their yard. When my grandfather retired they built a house on the land. It has so much history I couldn't begin to tell it all. But due to distance we have not been able to make the trip until now. I am so glad we did. 

The girls loved Great Grandpa's butterfly garden.

A picture of one side of the farm

This is the house my grandma grew up in...this is the view of it from my grandparents driveway.

A shot of the barn and silo across the road where my Great Aunt Millie and Great Uncle Harold's house still stands. My dad's cousin Ron (one of Harold and Millie's children) and his family have a house next door. There was a cider mill that stood next to this barn. It was taken down and is being reassembled by a local farm history group. I think this is just so picturesque. An America's Heartland postcard kind of picture :)

I love this...my dad, my grandpa, my hubby, and my little man heading out to the barn to see the tractors!

I am bummed this didn't turn out better but I still love it ;) My dad with our kiddos on the restored 1947 Tractor

(I apologize for the photo quality not sure what I did with my camera settings during this...yikes!)

I LOVE this picture! My grandparents and our 3 kiddos out in front of the old silo. A framer for sure! :)

I loved this trip...I love these photos. I love the stories they tell and the memories they will leave with my children. I am so glad they had this experience and I love that they are still talking about those tractors :)

John 15:13: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

And we danced...

That's right we partied....Okoboji style!! ;)  Growing up my dads side of the family spent a week every summer at Fillenwarth Beach in Northern Iowa on Lake Okoboji. I have so many fond memories of all those summers :) It was really fun for me to see my girls getting a chance to really hang out and have fun with all my aunts, uncles and cousins...that being said...

The girls had a blast dancing with Uncle Kelly!!!

Seriously...they were dancing Queens :)

The LOVED hanging with their Auntie Steph!!

I think this picture is so special!! I love it! Uncle Kevin and Vicki are Steph's God Parents and Steph is Whitney Grace's God Mother. Uncle Kev has a picture on his desk of Steph, Vicki, and himself and now they have the updated generation :)

I loved watching my Grandfather dance with his daughter the bride.

I loved dancing and spending the night hanging with my groom ;)

My favorite couple!! :) I am a little partial to them, what can I say? ;) I mean they are pretty adorable, right?

Whitney dancing away with Cousin Caiti :)

Mal dancing with Cousin Nicole :)

Okay...another super cute couple :) Maybe they are tied with my parents for cutest couple ever! Love this picture of them being recognized for the 55th Wedding Anniversary! 

A picture of my sister Steph and I with all of our cousins, we just need to photo shop my sweet sis Amy in!! She had to sit this trip out because its almost time for an exciting addition!! :)

I am so thankful our girls kids got to have time with my dad's family. It's great to get together and I hope we get the chance to party "Okoboji" style again very soon!!

Rom 15:13: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, the reason for our family reunion was my dad's youngest sisters wedding. For her rehearsal dinner she invited all of the out of town family. She had shirts made...pink for the girls black for the boys. You can see us below in all our matchy matchy glory ;) A good time was had by all!

Love this...except not sure what happened to Whitney?

What made this occasion really special is that it was my grandparents 55th Wedding Anniversary...55 years! They are an example to all young married couples! So glad I was there to see them be honored!!

And B discovered a new trick thanks to his Mimi...rides on the luggage cart ;)

After we left Chicago we traveled on to Northern Michigan where my grandparents live. We gathered for a family reunion for a wedding. We started our first night with pizza and bowling...the kids were pretty excited when we walked in because there was also putt-putt. They built a putt-putt course over half the lanes...the kids were loving it :) My bowling loving hubby was in shock of the misuse of the good lanes ;) hahah!

Moving on to bowling...the girls were rocking the lanes ;)

Oops a stuck ball...

No worries...bowling alley worker to Whit's rescue...

Mal's turn....

Oops...it hopped lanes and gave her Great Uncle Kelly a gutter ball...he threatened to sue...he is a lawyer after all ;) good thing my bowling lovin' hubby knew how to reset his score! bahahah :)

Fun times had by all...family reunions never disappoint in the fun and laughter department ;)

Matt 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

I love summer! I love all parts of summer...but my very favorite is vacation. It doesn't even matter what we do...I just love that we are all together. Scott being off work, no one having school, activities or commitments. Just to wake up together everyday and go on whatever adventure we feel is waiting for us. This summer our first vacation adventure was to Chicago...

We started by catching the water taxi at the Navy Peir...

I loved using the water taxi...it was great to walk every where and then take a nice relaxing boat ride and climb off right where you wanted to be :) We rode to the Navy Peir, Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Sears Tower, and Michigan Avenue. I am telling you it is SO the way to travel downtown Chicago!! 2 thumbs up ;)

Psalms 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Our first adventure as we climbed off the water taxi was at Shedd Aquarium...seriously, AmAzInG!! I didn't get nearly as many pictures as I would have liked to because they didn't allow flash photography and most exhibits were lacking natural light ;) I guess that is okay since it is for the good of the sea life ;)

The girls enjoyed the touch pools! Whit wasn't a fan of the large starfish but she liked everything else ;)

We LOVED the penguin exhibits!! Bentley could have spent the whole day there :) There were slides and penguin costumes for the kids to dress up and play in. 

Bentley LOVED watching the penguins swim by! "FISHYYYYY!"

I love watching Whitney with her little brother...so sweet! She kept checking on him..."Bentley do you see the penguins? Do you like them buddy?" melt. my. heart!!

We LOVE the penguins!!! :)

Whitney was SO excited to go to the special Jelly Fish exhibit...it did not let her down! It was amazing...I really enjoyed all the jelly fish and Whit couldn't get enough of watching them...especially the different colored ones that looked like shooting arrows!! :)

Bentley had such a big time he decided to take a little nap... "all done" ;)

The 4-D Dora and Diego Adventure show was SUPER cute! It even had bubbles, water, and vibrating seats!! Totally cool! :)

We all agree we give Shedd Aquarium a 5 star review!! SO MUCH FUN! You could easily spend 2 days there and maybe still not see everything!! :)

Philippians 1:3-5  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.