Summertime is Funnertime #4

Our summertime is flying by.  Only two more weeks and we'll be taking Holly back to Dordt.  I am not ready for the sunshine, lazy mornings, and iced mochas to go away.
Our neighbor has a nice sandy spot down by the creek.  Katie loves to go down there to play and one evening she convinced her big sister to go build castles with her.

It's become a tradition for the coffee ladies to go camping over the fourth of July weekend.  This year, since the 4th was a Wednesday, we got started early.  It's always a fun time of playing games, walks to the beach, bike rides, campfire confessions, kids versus parents kickball, and lots and lots of laughing.  Since Sam was gone, Katie brought along Brooklynn this year.
Floating in the ocean.

They insisted on putting the tent up themselves.

A pretty sunset down at the beach.

John and Sam missed out on camping because they took a quick trip to Wisconsin.

They surprised Grandpa and Grandma!

Sam got to spend lots of time with cousins.

He really liked baby Anneke.

Aunt Sue spoiled him with Chicken in a Biskit, canned cheese, and Culvers custard...three of his favorite things.

I'm pretty sure he could spend the whole summer there!

Summertime is Funnertime #3

For Holly's birthday (back in February) we had got her ticket to Les Miserables in Seattle.  Of course John and I got tickets too because we just knew she would want to see her favorite musical with her favorite parents.

Of course we had to get the best seats we could for the least amount of money so we opted to sit separately.  Since it was her birthday present, we gave Holly the bestest seat.

John was right behind me.

I cried through a good portion of the show.  It was SO GOOD.  The music, the set, everything was amazing.
We went to Cheesecake Factory afterwards and since it was Father's Day and Holly's birthday celebration, they got to pick dessert.

On June 18, my boy turned 15!   He chose the Mexican restaurant in town for his birthday supper, mostly because he knew the World Cup (soccer) would be on the t.v. there.  We came home and opened presents.

Lucky for him Katie was at a friend's house so he only had to tolerate affection from one sister.

That weekend, he had nine of his buddies over to play Airsoft and spend the night.  Yes, I had nine middle school boys overnight.  Yes, I am crazy.  

Actually, it went really well.  I barely saw them and none of them even set foot in the house. This was the only picture I got and a couple of them are missing.  They shot each other all day, I served them supper in the shop, they sat around a bonfire and had smores, slept in tents down by the creek (apparently only two of them actually slept), and I served them breakfast in the shop the next morning.  Sam said it was his best birthday ever and the only thing he would have done differently is to sleep a little.  He was feeling pretty poorly the next day...but that also could have been all the candy and Mountain Dew he consumed.

Gramma's Cottage has been pretty vacant this summer but we did have a couple of weekend guests.  Holly's Dordt roommates parents, sister, and nephew (got all that?) were in town for a wedding and stayed by us.  Pretty much the nicest people in the world...next time Holly said they needed to bring Jalyn along!

The Brue family from Iowa also stopped by while they were on vacation.  Ethan and Donna were friends when we were in Des Moines and now their daughter Kinza and Holly are friends at Dordt.

And finally, I got a sidewalk.  Yeah for no more wooden planks leading to my doors!

There will eventually be grass on the lawn side and plants on the house side.

Summertime is Funnertime #2

One of Holly's best friends from high school got married in June.  Holly gave the toast at the reception.  I'm pretty sure it was the best toast I've ever heard but I might be a little bit biased.

Holly and Jenah.

These four girls have been friends since the 4th grade.

Why does it feel like I was just taking pictures like this one yesterday?

I LOVE this picture the photographer captured of them praying together before the ceremony.  Thanks photographer for letting me steal it for my blog!

A couple exciting things happening around here.  

Hobby Lobby FINALLY made it to Bellingham.  I want this flamingo.

Lynden got it's very own FroYo place!

And there's a new merry-go-round at the park down the road from our house.

Katie and I got walking there a lot.  This summer she has pretending to be my tour guide. Some of her information she gets from the provided trail maps but most of it she just makes up.  

Holly and Lucy have been getting reacquainted this summer.  Let's just say that Holly loves Lucy but Lucy doesn't always love Holly.

I'll wrap up this installment of Summertime is Funnertime with this handsome boy sporting his little cousin's glasses.

Summertime is Funnertime #1

Welcome to the first post in my "Summertime is Funnertime" series.  This basically means that I've gotten way behind in my blogging again so I just make up a fancy series name and pretend that I meant to do this all along.  Sam and I were weeding together the other day and he told me that funner (as in "anything is funner than weeding") should be a word.  I totally agree.
These next few pictures will probably interest nobody but my dad but we worked really hard putting these beds in and I know he likes to see the plant progress so here you go.

Wow.  I took those pics the beginning of June and it's amazing how much more they've filled in since then.  You could see them for yourself dad if you came out here but I guess you'd rather just spend the whole summer with your other daughter...I'm not bitter or anything.
Sam graduated from 8th grade on June 6.  It's not a super big deal at LC since they basically just change buildings but they still have a nice, casual "ceremony" for families.
Here he is getting his diploma.

He has a big class, there is like 80-some of them.

We celebrated at home with chips and queso and an exciting game of Life.

He got a new muscle shirt for a gift.!  Sam loves unique muscle shirts - this one has shark tacos on it!

Right after school got out Katie headed off to GEMS camp.

The weekend started out pretty wet and yucky but it cleared up enough for them to have lots of fun...so I'm told...I was to not attend GEMS camp this year by a certain 10-year-old who is growing up way too fast.
My friend Jill sent me these pictures.

Due to my rejection issues I felt the need to order this delicious chocolate volcano cake after a supper out with my remaining family members (who were happy they didn't need to share this with an extra person).

Holly wasted no time and with her newly obtained RN degree she started working at Lynden Family Medicine.  The PA who works with John needed a nurse for the summer so look who got the job!  Her and John ride their bikes to work and most days eat lunch together.  It's pretty sweet.  

And, as always, we keep plugging away at projects around the Hiemstra Hide-a-way.  John got one window well finished up and prepped for a sidewalk.

I think that's enough fun for one day.  Happy Thursday!