Our vacation in Michigan!

Surprisingly, this is our only family photo. Aunt Kathy took it and I stole it off their facebook page.




These photos are are in no particular order. I am just happen to get them uploaded. In this photo the girls are hanging out under the new play mat we got in MI. I think this has been a real asset for us as parents. Many hours of fascination for Dakota and Daraby too.





Andrew's good childhood buddy, Chuck, and his wife, Michelle, and their new baby, Zoe, came to the beach for a day. A day of sailing, tubing, swimming and being in the sun. The Van Duinen side of the family came that day as well. I had a great time of catching up on everyone's lives. It was a wonderful day until I crawled in bed and realized I was more that burnt. I was fried beat red. The next day I realized I was super sore from tubing. Oh the joys and pains of summer.




This is us laid out on that beach that day. It was very hot out and the haze shows how humid it was. The water was 74 degrees so there really wasn't a cool off by going in the water.



This is Chuck and Michelle's baby, Zoe! Daraby had two babies to love on that day.



Andrew and the girls cuddling at the cottage.


Great Grandpa and Grandma Boersma holding Dakota. Their cottage is only a little bit down the beach from Andrew's parent's place. We walked down there for a few meals, a bonfire and a family get together. We were so happy for the family to see the girls and play with them.




Susan taking Daraby for a wagon ride. Dara loves to ride in the wagon and swing outside.

Daraby loves to watch Joel play guitar and drums. Sometimes she tries to play too.

This year we had no problems with Daraby and the beach. Last year she wanted nothing to do with the sand and water. This year after some persausion she took to the water and shoveling sand.

Daraby also made several friends. She even made a good buddy, Taylor, that kept her busy, which is difficult to do. Taylor is three years old and is as active as Daraby. She is the daughter of our good friends Scott and Alicia. They also have a one year old boy, Jackson. It is neat to see our kids together and hang out as friends. We were able to go to their home for supper one night and they were able to come to the beach for a swim, sunset, smores and a bonfire. We are so glad for their friendship and input in our lives. They have always been a few months ahead of us in life experience. They got married a few months ahead of us and had Taylor a year ahead of us having Daraby. Thankfully I've been able to ask questions about pregnancy and parenting and they can give advice because their experiences are fresh in their mind.

Andrew's sister, Susan, is newly engaged to Michael and they are planning a June wedding next year. On the Fourth of July we went out with Susan and Michael to watch the fireworks go off over Silver Lake and eat yummy ice cream from Whippy Dip. It was a beautiful night and a night of dreams for the future.

Oh matchy match. Daraby and her doll have matching dresses and I love it. Daraby is holding my childhood doll, Happy Baby. Daraby was dressed up for Sunday morning Chapel at Grace Adventures. Andrew and I worked together at Grace as camp counselors for the summer after our freshman year in college. It is always fun to return to Grace to see how things are progressing and how the staff is doing.

I like, "long walks on the beeeeach!" Andrew, Daraby and I like to walk the beach down to the channel. On this occasion we stopped to play in the water and sit on a floating log. Daraby was always soaking wet everytime we got home from walking the beach.

These two pictures above captivate Daraby's looks so well. I just had to post them. She is so much fun and full of energy-all the time. She is very particular about things and having everything just so. When digging on the beach it is no random dig but a series of digs and piles. I make sure not to mess up her order otherwise she is terribly upset.

I love this photo of Mom Boersma with Dakota. Dakota is an easy smiler and will often laugh, coo and giggle. She has some contemplative looks as well. She reminds me so much of Andrew and his personality.

This is my favorite photo of Daraby and "Papa!" Daraby doesn't just say someone's name. She yells it. "Papa!"

Four generational photo of the Boersma side. It was a trial to get this photo. Daraby is going through a stage where she doesn't care much for the camera if she knows it is taking her photo. Many of the photos farther above were taken without her knowing it and the zoom on the camera fully extended.