The Journey to Florida!

The day is finally here!  Today we left Kalamazoo, MI and traveled to Jacksonville, FL for Tim and Kaye's wedding.  We had to get up crazy early in the morning (3:30?) to make our 6:00 flight out of Grand Rapids.  The kids did surprisingly well . . . probably better than their Mom did!

 Backpacks on and ready to go!

 Daddy and Hope on the plane.

 Samuel was so excited about flying on an airplane.  Can you tell?

The girls both crashed on the second flight (we connected through Baltimore) and slept for about 2 hours.  Samuel was so thrilled to be on an airplane that he couldn't fall asleep.  Our landing in Orlando was pretty rough and by that point Samuel was exhausted.  I think he started feeling a little sick because he cried through most of the landing process.  Poor guy was just so tired.

The "train" at the Orlando airport perked him up a bit.  He was pretty excited about sitting in the front of the tram!  Daryl and Dad went and got the rental cars while Anna, Mom, and I waited with the kids by the baggage claim.  

Samuel finally crashed in the car on the way to Jacksonville.  Yes, we rented a car!  It was so much cheaper than a mini-van.  The carseats are tight, but they all fit.  Now to find out how much the kids will fight. . . 

Samuel slept for almost the whole 2 hours of driving!  We even stopped at McDonald's to grab lunch and he never woke up.  He did wake up just in time to see a Gator in a retention pond by the side of the highway.  Tim and Kaye called to give us a head's up that there was a gator sunning himself on the side of the pond.  So cool!  Samuel was absolutely thrilled that he saw a gator!!

 Welcome to Jacksonville!  We landed right during Tropical Storm Debby.  The amount of rain was absolutely insane!  We first checked out the place Daryl and I would be staying with the kids (MeMom's beach house) and then we headed over to where everyone else would be staying (Kaye's parent's beach house).

 Not really what I was hoping Jacksonville would look like when we arrived!  My Mom and I headed for the grocery store right away but you should have seen us trying to get to the car without getting soaking wet!  Thank goodness for Anna Marie's umbrella and rain coat!  We obviously did not go to Florida prepared for a tropical storm - we only packed swimsuits and sunscreen! ;)

 Hope and Aliyah hanging out with their Aunt Anna's!!

 Hoping the wind and rain will be done by tomorrow!!  I do NOT want to spend my whole week in Florida inside!  The rain was so bad that a lot of roads were closed to flooding.  Kaye ended up staying at the beach house to sleep because the roads back to her condo were closed.  Daddy V (Kaye's step-dad) stayed at his office extra late because he couldn't get home either.

What a day!  We went to bed praying (and praying!) that the sun will be out tomorrow!

Sisters and Computers :)

Random June Pictures

A few random pictures that don't fit in any other post . . . :)

I caught Samuel and Aliyah making faces in the mirror.

Then Hope had to try it too :)

I made a calendar so the kids knew when we'd be leaving for Florida and when Uncle Tim and Aunt Kaye's wedding would be.  Samuel loved crossing off the days!

Feet buried in the sand!

Yup.  I have the best job in the world.  Spending my days with these 3 kids?  Best job ever.

Sandy Pines with our friends.

Aliyah (and Callie!) are ready for the pool!

Father's Day (2012}

Father's Day {2012}

Happy Father's Day to the best Daddy ever!  

Samuel, Hope, and Aliyah adore their Daddy and absolutely love him to pieces.  

Daryl is such a selfless and giving daddy and he always makes sure, no matter how tired he is at the end of a work day, to get down on the floor and spend time with his kids.  He loves being a Daddy and all you have to do is watch him in action to believe it!

Samuel, Hope, and Aliyah are so blessed to have the Daddy that they have!  And I am so so blessed that he is my husband.  We love you Daryl!

Anna and I with Dad.  We love you Dad and we are so thankful for you!  Happy Father's Day!

My Dad with his Dad . . . can't you tell?! :)

A Saturday Evening Boat Ride

There isn't much that can top a Saturday evening boat ride on Pickeral Lake!

Samuel and Daddy

A dragonfly landed on Grandpa's nose.  Hope was watching very intently.

Aliyah and Mommy

Big smiles!!

Hope found a dragonfly and tried to put it on her nose - just like Grandpa!

Hope had a turn driving the boat.  She was all smiles and totally not watching where she was going or paying attention to what she was doing.  Carefree and loving life - that is Hope's personality!

Samuel was all business when it was his turn to drive the boat.  Can you tell how hard he is concentrating?  My cautious little perfectionist that takes responsibility very seriously - that's Samuel's personality!

Samuel was helping Great-Grandpa park the boat in this picture.  Samuel's favorite part of the day was driving the boat - this was a highlight for him even though in the pictures he looks all business. He drove us around for a long time.  I was starting to get a little dizzy because he kept taking us in circles and zig-zags.  What fun is driving straight when you are 3 years old?! ;)

I'm not sure who had more fun with this - Great Grandpa or Samuel.  They were both soaking up this special time together. :)

Belated Birthday Gift

Hope got a belated birthday present from the family that cared for her when she first arrived in the United States.  She was thrilled!

 Aliyah had a difficult time when she realized that it wasn't for her!

But then Hope was kind enough to share with her little sister.

Thank you, Heather and Glen, for thinking of Hope on her birthday and for loving her so dearly!