Saturday, November 26, 2011

It's the Most Wonderful TIme of the Year....

Our girls look forward to this time of the year!! It's time for mail...lots of mail. We love seeing pictures of our friends and family, near or far. Who doesn't love a Christmas card that highlights favorite pictures from the past year?


I LOVE Tinyprints!!! Our love affair started last Christmas. I used Tinyprints to make our 2010 Christmas cards...and they turned out amazing!!! :) I am SO excited to start the process for 2011...although I have to admit, it takes me forever to choose the “ONE” because there are so many great holiday cards to choose from!!

When I heard about all there great promotions...it made the process even more exciting!!! :) What’s more exciting than CUTE & ON SALE??? :)

Take a peek at a few of my favorite templates. BTW: Tinyprints makes it so easy to create the perfect card!! Give it a try today!!


I like the color's in this multi-picture card:

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This card showcases just one picture!

I love the rainbow colors...but I might not be able to narrow all my pics down

to just one!! :)

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I'm not sure if these are new this year or not...But I love the idea!!!

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Choices...Choices!!! For all of you who know me well...this isn't going to be an easy task :)

I hope you check out all the cuteness that makes up Tinyprints. I'm sure you'll fall in love with at least one, two or ten of their Holiday cards! :) Good Luck!!



Sunday, October 23, 2011

{Pumpkin Patch Day}

Today we gathered at a little local pumpkin patch in Mattawan.
Wasn't the weather incredible this weekend? Not sure how many more short sleeve days we have left! :)
BTW...How cute is my little 7 month old nephew?? :)



Saturday, October 22, 2011

{Sattler Fall Party}

Tonight was the annual Sattler Fall Party!!
Thanks Kenny & Crystal for another wonderful night!

Couldn't have asked for better weather! :)

Fire and doughnuts!! Mmmm!


Friday, October 21, 2011

{Pentwater}

Pentwater is one of our favorite family traditions.
I know these pictures are a few months late, but I thought they were worth sharing! :)






Wednesday, October 19, 2011

{It's About Time..}


Well, I'm pretty sure the last time I posted anything on our blog it was almost 100 degrees outside!! Tonight it is windy, rainy, and about 40 degrees outside. The perfect weather for hot cider, Modern Family on the DVR, and updating the blog!! :)
Our life has finally fallen into our school routine. It feels good to have a few minutes to sit down and do something that has been on my "to-do" list for the past 2 months!!
Enjoy!!!

The girls are playing soccer again this year. They are on the same team this year...which we LOVE!!! Kilian girl domination! :) Phil has been running practices for the team on Tuesday nights, and even coached one game this fall...which they won!! He's got a perfect record! :)
My favorite pic is the one on the bottom left. I love watching the girls play hard, and really "get after it!"
Near the end of September we took a quick trip to Milwaukee to visit family.
Thank you Uncle Rod & Aunt Cyndi for taking us to the Brewers Game!!! We had a blast being part of the Brew Crew for an evening!! We were really hoping for a Tigers/Brewers match up in the World Series... Oh well!!! Maybe next year!! :)
Our school had a Fall Frenzy Night. The whole school enjoyed face painting, bouncy houses, yummy food, and a varsity soccer game! It was such a fun night to create community within our school. The big hit of the night was the dunk tank!! Mrs. Bishop (the P.E. teacher) sat in the tank first. 3 balls for $1...Emma couldn't resist!! :)
We were AMAZED with her aim...Look at the yellow ball on the second picture. BULLS EYE!!!!
She was SO excited to dunk Mrs. Bishop, and I was SO excited I decided last minute to pull out the camera!!!
1st, 2nd & 3rd grade came together for an afternoon at Gull Meadow Farms.
Lot's of laughter, apples, jumping, and of course, doughnuts!!!
We love the tradition and fun of the Centreville Fair. We have gone every year that I can remember. I have such good memories of this fair with my Grandparents and Parents. It is fun to watch my girls making those same memories with their Nana & Bampa!! :) We think Cohen enjoyed his first trip to the fair too!! The girls can not wait until he can ride the rides with them!!
Happy 8th Birthday Emma-Lu! Pretty sure I'm not going to let you have anymore birthdays!!! 8 is really old...and I miss my baby. But... you are an amazing girl. Your heart is so big, and you bring such joy to everyone you meet. We are so proud of you baby girl...keep letting your light shine!!
Emma wanted a Little Miss Sunshine theme for this years party. I loved this idea. In fact at the beginning of the summer we found plates and napkins galore online. I told her we'd order it all in August and put it away for Sept. 16th. I went to order it all and found it to be sold out and discontinued!!! WHAT??? I felt horrible!! So we did the best we could, and I think it all turned out ok! :)
Well it's that time of year again!! Both of my girlies are in school all day..everyday!!
I'm teaching Kindergarten again this year. I teach Mon. Wed. and Thurs. SO that means I have Tuesday's and Friday's all to myself. We love Heritage, it is the perfect fit for our girls. I feel so blessed to be able to send them there, and even more blessed to be able to hug them in the middle of the afternoon after they come in from 2nd recess! :)

Friday, July 8, 2011

{The Weekend}

Over the 4th of July weekend we had some very special visitors. Phil's Aunt and Uncle (the ones we went to visit last summer in New Jersey) came over to spend the holiday weekend with us!! Phil's sister Carrie and family also made the trip...which meant LOTS of cousin time!!! Yea!!! :)
We started our time together off right, with an early breakfast at the best place on earth....Rykse's!!! Our guests enjoyed cinnamon rolls the size of their face...YUM!!!
Then we spent the afternoon doing a tool project at Home Depot, and swimming in Wes & Em's pool.
Uncle Chuck and Mads with the coaster set they made together!
Later that evening we had to fit in our annual cousin photo shoot.


After the sun went down (finally!!!) we hosted a backyard movie night. We watched Night at the Museum, and enjoyed popcorn & movie candy!!
Sunday we hit the beach @ St. Joe. It was packed!!! Probably the busiest I've ever seen a beach!! Phil had to park almost 2 miles away...I didn't have the heart to send him back for the camera I forgot to grab! :( So no pics...but we had a great day.

Monday we met up for the Schoolcraft parade. We were able to introduce C & E to many of our friends and family members.





We're not sure who enjoyed Uncle Chucks sparklers more, the adults or the kiddos??
After the city fireworks, we were entertained with Uncle C's (very illegal in the state of MI) fireworks. :) They were awesome!!!! Thanks for bringing them along Chuck!!!


We stayed (and kept our kids up) way to late playing with the camera and sparklers!!! But we have amazing pictures to show for it!! :)

Tuesday we took C & E to Shipshewana. Again, I didn't take my camera along. But everyone enjoyed rise & roll doughnuts, the flea market, Yoders cheese/meats, E&S, amish pretzels...just to name a few!! :) Can you tell we were busy???
Thanks again C & E for making the long trip to MI. We loved having you here, and showing you all the fun things we like to do!!! Can't wait to see you again.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

{The Deal}

Emma and Phil made a deal at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. He told her if she received 100% on ALL her spelling tests she could choose to do anything she wanted together as a family!!! Maddie was her #1 fan/supporter/coach through out the year....obviously! :)
She studied hard each week. And she DID IT!!!!
We celebrated a few weeks ago at Chuck E Cheese (of ALL places????).
Not only did we have a great time together, but Mads also lost her wobbly front tooth!!! :)

*Yes...that is where we found the tooth!!! :)
We thought she swallowed it until we found it hiding on her pizza!!!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Kindergarten Graduation

Sorry these are a little out of order...But here are a few pics from Maddie's big day.

Can you tell she still doesn't feel good.
We went home after this and she took a 3 1/2 hour nap!!!!
Mads and Mrs. Rus


Sunday, June 12, 2011

Another Soccer Season...DONE!!!

Maddie and Coach Jim (and his daughter Megan)
Maddie-cakes taking it down the field...for a goal!!!!

Emma-Lu had a great season...and a cool trophy to prove it!!!
Lovin' the dirt...