Happy Mother's Day, Part 3!

So it seems like once a year I hijack the blog and write a post for Mother's day.  I kinda like this little tradition!

For those of you who follow our blog, you will notice quickly that I am not half the writer that Kel is, but I will do my best.  Since we have had close to 70,000 hits on this blog, (seriously people, 70,000?!!!) I'm guessing that there are a few people out there who have the sense of the type of person that Kel is from what she writes in her posts, but I want you all to know what she means to me.....

.......but really, it is hard to find the words!  She means everything to me, and to Taylor and Camryn.  She is our rock, and really, there is no way to really describe all that she does for us. Every night around 8, I can see that she is running out of steam, and I cant blame her. From 5 AM till that time, she is giving 110% effort on being a Mom, Wife, and Kindergarten Teacher. 

This has been a challenging year that we will not soon forget.  Adding a second Little Lady to our family plus Kel going back teaching full time, has been tough at times, but through it all, we have been able to focus on what is really important, that we are all together, safe, and healthy, and that we need to cherish every day that God has given us!

So Babe, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being the person that you are, and for all that you do.  I am in awe of you! And I love you very much!  Happy Mother's Day

And Kel would not want me to write this post without wishing a Happy Mother's Day to My Mom Mary, and to her Mom Karen.....Thank you ladies for all that you have done for us over the years, and for giving us great examples of what strong Christian Parents should be!  We love you!


- Ryan (R-Y, Dadda)

Walking...picking up interest again :)

Camryn will be 13 months on Monday. We have been waiting a LONG time (it seems) for her to take off walking! She has been walking behind her walking toys for MONTHS. And a couple weeks ago she took 8 steps on her own! But since then, crawling has continued to be her preferred form of travel.

But this afternoon we started getting somewhere again... check out the latest "steps" :)

Tulip Time tradition :o)

The families are growing!! Sarah, a close friend from college, and I try to get together each year with the kiddos to take some pictures at Tulip Time! We missed last year...Camryn was only a few weeks old, and Gavin was due to arrive the next month, and the timing just didn't work out - so this was our first year with all FOUR kids together!

Taylor, Camryn, Gavin, Brady

Two little crazy girls, and two little rowdy boys. :)

This was Brady and Taylor at their first Tulip Time...so cute....

They are so big now!!

It took a LOT of snapshots to try to get them all looking at the same time AND smiling... and we didn't get it. :o) But we got close!

One attempt at a family picture, too

But amongst all the picture taking, there was a LOT of running going on - Taylor and Brady just couldn't stay still. :)

The tulips were gorgeous this year, and the weather has been great, too!

Gotta love these, two kids!

Whitecaps and Tulips

Tired. That is how both our little ladies look (and we feel!) tonight. This weekend was full of stuff - good stuff!
Proof of a lady who is tuckered out - Taylor actually feel asleep while sitting next me on the couch late this afternoon. :)

To back up a bit..Friday night and Saturday afternoon we had some visits from my side of the family.

Then Saturday evening we got ready to take Taylor to a Whitecaps game!

Uncle Chris and Aunt Liz came to hang out with Camryn for a while when we left, and we were texted this picture during the game - Camryn was enjoying watching the Kentucky Derby with them! :)

My mom came later to hang out with Cam and get her to bed.

We had a good time at the game - we went with Ty and Kristen - which was extra fun for Taylor!

She didn't watch hardly any of the game, and we took a break at the playground for a bit, too, but had a good time, and we made it to the 8th inning!

When we got back to Holland, we could see the fireworks for Tulip Time all the way back to our house! A cool way to end the night.

Sunday was all about being outside and Tulip time!

Getting up and ready for the day, sweet little girls :)

For the afternoon, we headed to Windmill Island and ate lunch and checked out the tulips

We walked, instead of drove, down the "island", and Camryn was MUCH happier on someone's shoulders for most of the walk

 Of course, Taylor wanted to walk, too - so the stroller got pushed without anyone riding in it for a while :)

Happy as a clam with her lambie :)

After walking back to town, we hit up 8th street a bit and made a stop at Peachwave (cheaper than the carnival food, and SO good!!!) before heading home!
Someone's toppings got a little melty (Taylor is not a big fan of ice cream, so she just gets a few toppings in a cup ;o)), and she somehow got the melted chocolate all over her face! You can see the top of Camryn's head as she was peeking at Taylor - she couldn't stop staring at her big sister, wondering what was all over her face! :)

A busy weekend, but a GOOD weekend! 22 days left of teaching, then summer break is here, and every day will be like a weekend! :o)