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.

New toddler bed made by my Dad, Andrew and Me!

This is the bed my Dad, Andrew and I made. I found a bed similar to it online and showed Andrew what it looked like. From there my Dad and Andrew got some wood, mattress measurements and designed the frame. After that I got some batting, some fabric, an iron, a sewing machine and POOF! A new bed was born! I am very proud and it even looks good. If you are in the market for a sturdy toddler frame let us know! I'm sure we could work out a deal to match you up. 

 Daraby loves her new room and bed. I have a little bit of work to do in order to finish the room but I'm more than tickled about the final result. I worked on the curtains and such so more pictures are forthcoming!

Pictures taken by DaronShort.com

We had a fun time in Nebraska over Memorial Day Weekend. These are just a few of the pictures from that time. Daron Short our brother-in-law is one of the best photographers in my opinion and he took these photos. If you or someone you know needs a photographer in the CO area check out his website http://www.daronshort.com/

Although I don't have time to fill you in on life I hope that you will enjoy the photos. Until we talk again- All our best! AnDDD

Graduation and Growing Girls!

Our life has been crazy busy. Every night, it seems like, we've had some event- track meets, chapel, concerts, spring play, senior tea, bridal shower, etc... It is the rush before the end. The seniors graduate tomorrow and everyone will be moving off campus if they haven't already. It has been sad for me to see them pack up their cars with their dorm room stuff. It will be a quiet summer with the kids gone. On one hand it will be refreshing to recharge for another year but I will miss the kids that I've come to know.
Meanwhile our girls are growing and changing daily. Daraby is still full of life and go. She rarely stays still for more than a minute. She is talking all the time and her vocabulary is full. She even speaks sentances. "Abby go out." "I have poopy." "Dakota is cryin', cryin', cryin'." "I go outside." "We go walk." Many times Daraby is upset because I don't understand what she is trying to tell me. I'm catching on more and more. Besides talking Daraby's two favorite activities are being outside playing and reading books. I guess she has a bit of her dad and her mom in her. I love my books and Andrew loves being outdoors.
Dakota is growing like a weed. She is 24 inches long and over 13 pounds. Another long and lean girl. Her clothes have to be just right to fit her. She is much longer than Dara at that age so some of the cute clothes Dara wore won't fit her. I get the sads when I have to pack up clothes that no longer fit. It means she is growing up and this may be the last time we have a baby. I am not a keeper of things but I don't know if I can get rid of the baby clothes for a long time. Perhaps that is why I snuggle with Dakota so much. I don't want her to grow up. She is a cuddler anyway so she takes full advantage. We say she is addicting. Daraby wasn't a cuddler and still isn't most days. I can't believe how different the girls are from each other. Dakota is mello while Daraby is high strung. I enjoy both of their personalities.
Dakota is starting to gaze at people and watch them for a long time. She will sit in her vibrating chair in the kitchen and just watch me work. She is constantly cooing and ahhing. It melts my heart when she smiles which reveals a small dimple in her right cheek.
As for us- the couple in the this family. We are doing well. Andrew has been super busy all day and most nights so I am excited to see more of him this summer. A couple weekends a month we like to travel and for the most part the girls do really well. We also take advantage of babysitters and go out together. We like our alone time so we can connect and parent together. Tonight he is taking me out for a shake. No big deal for most people but to me it is. I get his attention all to myself and he gets mine. Yipee!
Enjoy the photos and keep us updated on your lives as well.

Dakota has really good eye contact and often gazes for a long time at people or items.


Daraby loves Papa Ray's cell phone. The phone must flip open for her to like it. We are afraid she may call 911 by accident some day.


My niece Dawn is home from National Guard training. It is nice to see her after she was gone 6 plus months.


My friend Toni, my mom, my sister and me. We went to visit my sister over Mother's Day weekend.



PaPa Ray and Daraby hanging out after the spring concert at our home.

Dara likes to come down the slide but most of the time she prefers to come down on her belly backwards.

Daraby is starting to really enjoy playgrounds. I like the little kids safe jungle gyms.

Our new stroller from my parents! Amazing, it goes right down the gravel and sandy roads no big deal. I've been able to get out and walk 2 miles everyday with the girls and my friend, Jalynn, and her kids.

Dakota has huge eyes that change from a smokey color to purplish blue.

I have a holding addiction with Dakota. She is a cuddler! As long as she is held she is pretty happy.

The girls hanging out together. Daraby likes to look and talk to Dakota and Dakota gives her big smiles and coos.

We have a lot things planned for the next couple of months-a trip to Nebraska and then a trip to Michigan in late June. We pray for a refreshing and safe summer as we scale back from the busy school season. Thanks for following along!

2 months in, 3 weeks out

We had our Junior/Senior Banquet last weekend in Pierre, so we dressed up for the occassion. It was a great night of pictures, eating, and was capped off with a fishing trip until 1 am with some coworkers from Sunshine!


Daraby greets me at the door everyday for lunch. We all head over to the school cafeteria for lunch with the big kids! We have a dress up day every Wednesday which has prompted me to expand my wardrobe.

Dakota is growing up before our eyes. She's got wonderful smile with a little dimple on her cheek that she's been showing off lately.

Over the weekend our girls got some time with the cousins.

Dani is a proud big cousin and serves as our "interpreter" for when we can't understand Daraby.

Two months in signifies Dakota's two months of life with us outside of the womb. Three weeks out refers to the 3.5 weeks left of school this year. So many things have happened since we rolled in that cold, blustery month of January. In some sense it feels as though we've been here for a lot longer than that but then there are days which seem like it was just yesterday we were chasing buffalo in the sandhills.

Parenting two children has it's challenges and we are dealing with a screaming girl at 10:45pm as I write this. However, all the heartache melts away when both of them cuddle up in our laps and long to be held. We have to laugh at Daraby's attempts to mimic Darcy by "nursing" her baby.

We are looking forward to seeing family and friends over the summer. We hope to be in Nebraska over Memorial Day weekend, and then in Michigan for two weeks over the fourth of July. Let us know if you want to be invaded by the Boersma clan! Thanks for tuning in and we hope to see some of you soon!