Higgings Lake, Michigan

So I've noticed a trend with my blogging...for some reason I wait about two weeks to post the pictures I've taken. I'll try to get better, but for now... TWO WEEKENDS ago, Adam, Leslie, and Ryleigh Galema went up to Higgins Lake in Michigan with us. Benny's Dad and wife, Leta have a house on the lake that we were blessed to enjoy.

Here's a couple of pics from the shore at sunset:




The view from the back porch:


Adam and Leslie relaxing on the beach Saturday morning:


Busting out my Kanakuk counselor skills on the kayak. (I felt like I was breaking a rule by not wearing my "C.O" hat...all you Kanakukers know what I'm talkin' about!)


Benny coming in from a fun ride on the jet ski:


Saturday night, Larry and Leta took us out to dinner at "Fred's Fine Dining and Bowling." That's right... fine dining AND bowling! One half of the building had a restaurant with yummy food, then the other half was a bowling alley! We definitely took advantage of both! Leslie and I forgot to bring socks with us to the lake, so we purchased the most beautiful ones we could find across the street at the Dollar General:


A little close up: (Leslie definitely tight rolled her pants)


After dinner and bowling, we made a campfire down by the lake for s'mores!
Leslie and Adam, by the campfire:


Benny and me:


Adam and Benny roasting our 'mallows for our s'mores:


Leslie being all "out-doorsey" with her citronella candle:


Playful Benny with his silly Dad:


Larry, Benny and Adam.


Larry and Benny, acting a little more normal:


Me and Les:


And of course, our precious baby Ryleigh. She was SO good on the trip!


We were so sad we had to leave Sunday afternoon, but can't wait to go back again! It was so relaxing and such a great time with Adam, Leslie, Larry and Leta!

Kennedy Family Vacation 2009

July 24-30 we were in Seagrove Beach, Florida with the Kennedy Family. (Tim and Random Kennedy have 4 kids who were in our youth group in Ruston. This is the third beach vacation that we've been blessed to go on with them, and they're so fun and easy to be around.) Another couple from Ruston(Shaundra and Quarvay) stayed in the house with us as well, one of the boy's friends and his mom were staying in another condo down the road, and their daughter had brought a friend.

We left on Thursday, July 23rd and got into Florida on Friday afternoon. Since the Kennedys weren't arriving until Saturday, we stayed the night in Panama City. We had dinner at a yummy seafood place with outdoor seating on the beach and relaxed all morning on Saturday in the hotel.

On the beach at sunset in Panama City:


Saturday afternoon, we drove over to Seagrove Beach and found the house the Kennedys had rented for the week. It was adorable!


Sunday morning: our first full day on the beach. Benny and I love laying out for several hours every day, relaxing, reading, talking and getting in the water every now and then. This was our perfect little set up for the week with the family:


A pic of the whole group after dinner one evening:
Vonceil Cooper, Micah, Josiah, Caleb, Clark Cooper, Bailey Wright, Charis, Shaundra, Quarvay, Random, me and Benny.


Shaundra, Quarvay, Random, me and Benny:


Just a mile down the road from our house is the ADORABLE community of Seaside. When we weren't on the beach or relaxing in the house, we were in Seaside. They have adorable coffee shops, Gelato stands, a bookstore, and beautiful art galleries.


The movie "The Truman Show" was filmed in Seaside. This is a pic from the filming of the Truman Show. If you've seen the movie, you can picture this perfect, quiet little town.


The little coffee shop we spent some time at a few evenings while Benny was studing for the MAT (an entrance exam for GRAD SCHOOL. He took the test the Monday we got back. He got a high enough score to get in, and he only studied a week for it... that little smartie pants! He's going to be getting a Masters of Arts in Ministry from John Brown University. We got 1/3 of it done from our classes at the Kanakuk Institute, and most of the rest of it will be completed online. We decided that this will be a great next step for pursuing a career as a head college soccer coach.)


Outside the coffee shop after an evening of studying.


Each night, a different person/couple took a turn cooking dinner for everyone. Here's Benny and I in the kitchen on our night:


Out on the beach in the evening, getting some great pictures.
Tim and Benny:


Random and me:


Charis, Bailey and me:


The Kennedy Family: Micah, Caleb, Josiah, Random, Tim and Charis. We LOVE THEM and miss seeing them so much!


Caleb and Benny:


Benny and me out at the beach on our last day there:


We had an unbelievable time soaking up the rays and relaxing, but we always enjoy our precious time with this incredible family most of all!

926 BBQ

Last Monday night, we had a 926 BBQ! (If you recall, 926 College Dr. was the address of the house Benny lived at in college with 7 awesome guys.) The Hanlons were in town from Florida, so the Galemas and the Daughertys all came over to our house for a fun little reunion (although we were really sad that the Farmers, Whyes, Schulers and Lustig couldn't be there!)

Benny with Mabry Hanlon



Aden Daugherty and Mabry Hanlon playing in the AMAZING t-shirt quilt my aunt Brenda just finished for Benny and me.



Mabry holding Ryleigh Galema.


We took advantage of our new close location to AU's campus by walking over to "the Valley." Benny, with Aden on his shoulders and Jared tugging on his shorts walking through the soccer fields. (Benny is in his second of two weeks of soccer camps right now, and I was so thankful he was able to sneak away from camp for a few hours to hang out with us!)


The Valley is in the middle of the campus, has beautiful trees and a winding walkway. It also has this really fun fountain that the kids loved! Below are Cassity Galema, Mabry Hanlon, Benny, Aden Daugherty and Jared Galema.


Briley Hanlon, Mabry's precious new baby sister!


Owen Daugherty...what a great smile! He was smiling at his daddy!


Here are the kids "hiding" from Benny during a game of hide-and-seek.


Jared being silly for the camera.


Aden and Mabry trying to stick their feet in the fountain.


The 926 Kids (minus Avery Schuler and Ella Joy Farmer): Owen, Cassity, Ryleigh, Jared, Aden, Mabry and Briley! What a fun group!


The Ladies: LA, Ryleigh, Jess, Cassity, me and Leslie.


Back at the house, Benny and Travis manning the grill.


Aden and Cassity enjoying their yummy food.


The fellas decided to squeeze around the small table in the living room to eat their dinner. (Adam, Benny, Andy and Travis)


After dinner Jared, Mabry and Aden were playing a really cute game with Travis: Trav would peek through the blinds at them while they were out on the sun porch, they would laugh, run inside and look at him in the living room, laugh, and then come back out to the porch and do it again. The kids could have played this game for hours!



Briley and Benny.


The fellas, right before everyone headed out.


And the ladies...


We sure do love our 926 reunions...but they're even better when everyone is there!! Next summer?!?!