Heikoop Cottage 2016

It's Cottage time again!

This year we went to Camp Fisherman - about three hours away. 

Each family had their own cabin, all in a cul-de-sac format, and though it was a shared place with the Camp's trailer park and a few other cottages, we mostly had it to ourselves for the week.  

Our little home. 

Even though we all missed having a group kitchen and place to relax and lounge in together, having our own space to be a separate family, and not have to worry about noise, or waking anyone else up in the night, was really nice. The cabins were rustic -not especially clean - but there was plenty of awesome hot water, and good drinking water which I was very thankful for. 

Love this shot - these two just reading together - like they do at home. 

On the Sunday morning - most of us were together for some songs, and to watch a message. 

Two stripers

Ben got use of this golf cart to haul stuff around - and we definitely used it to haul the kids...

Miss adorable frizzy Nessa. 

Looking at mama

Golf cart mirror

My man and my babe. :) 

My beautiful eldest. So strange to think I have a seven year old. 

I'm not old enough for that... 

Playing volleyball one morning. 

The beach was so great for the kids. Shallow - lots of sand for castles and playing. 

Trying to catch the cobwebs in the life preserver. 

Swimming with Leanne 

Eating the sand

Miranda was able to join is for a few days - she is such a good aunt -playing with the kids. :) 

Ben started this "crazy ride" thing - which the kids LOVED. 

One night after dinner, James and Rob started this game - which led to so much laughter as it went on and on and on... til Rob was almost sick. We got a lot of fun out of it just watching.

Sarah and Jonathan were with us for a bit too. :) 

Watching her read is such a delight. :) 

Love this of Roobs - checking for pirates. 

Coming off the slide. 

Chatting while we watched the kids play. 

Mr. Joel... poor kid got so many bug bites. 

And then they tried standing up... :) 

Avelyn sleeping so sweetly. 

Dad and Mom came up to visit for a day. 

Oma and Colin

Katy had made a "kite" and was trying it out. 

Putting worms on his hook - proud of these kids that deal with worms and fish pretty maturely. 

Hudson would just fish all the time if he could and Erik joined him a lot. 

Erik's fish. 

The little princess being taken from the beach back to the house. ;) 

Erik put a bunch of practicing time in at on the basketball "court". 

All the cousins would come over and watch "Curious George" once in a while. 

My little errand girl. She'd run over to the other side of the grass to get stuff for me from one of the other cottages. :) 

Bonfire night. 

Sticky marshmallow face

Joel trying to make a basket. 

Did a few pictures of Will and Amanda and Rob and Miranda - just to play with my new lens..they sweetly obliged. 

Seriously - adorable. 

Little Miss Pouty 

They had this golf cart that they guy had made into looking like a mini pick up. :) 

Kids playing baseball. 

Playing 500 up. 

Cousin hug

My oldest and youngest. 

Don't you love that she's holding a butter knife... :) 

Making t-shirt totes with Katy and Elita

Look at her kerchief. :) 

And then it was back home - and getting ready for school!!! Good memories. 

Five Months

Little girl - making you smile is not hard for mommy. 

It's more like, you making me smile!

Leanne at Five months

-Sat up since 4.5 months old

-Has two teeth that are incredibly sharp

-Seems to know her own name

Katy jumped in for a quick shot

The last time these dresses were used - it was Katelyn and Laura... :) Now it's Laura and Leanne - (and Katy just outgrew a bigger one that I had found at a thrift store)

Heart-melters. 

VBS 2016

Our annual VBS began! It was done in a different format this year to make it simpler and more kid focused. We did workshops - like baking, two levels of art, soccer, a lawn game class (making a cornhole throwing thingy out of wood) rocket ship launching, bucket drumming, guitars, and a gym games time for the kids. It turned out well, and the kids enjoyed it. 

I "taught" the art class for 8-12 year olds - assisted by Kirsten. 

Imagine that - a girl who can barely draw stick figures... haha - but we made it simple and the girls (cause I had 5 girls) enjoyed it. They were all really nice and sharing girls. 

Shane speaking. 

Krissy and Micah - their baking class was a huge success - and a lot of kids really wanted to do that one. 

Our display table at the last night - showing off our art - decorated frames, painted canvas, painted mugs, and t-shirt tote bags. 

On the last night, we had a slide show for the parents to show what we all did during the week - along singing the songs that Rachel and Shantel taught, and then hearing from the guitarist, bucket drummers, seeing the art/projects outside, and tasting the baked goods from the bakery class. During the presentation Shane spoke again. 

Then a quick - dusk time - photo shoot of our very own Chapel Captain America's. :) 

During clean up time - Laura was playing with the bucket drums. 

Family Grand River Cruise

For Mom and Dad Heikoop's birthday, anniversary and Fathers/Mother's day gifts - all of the children/spouses went on our local river dinner cruise. We had a great meal, and went up and down the river for a few hours. No kiddo's, other than Leanne and Avelyn. 

It was incredibly hot, so James was cooling off little Leanne. 

Getting a group shot on a smallish space. :) 

And yes, that's William "throwing" my baby overboard. :) 

The three very beautiful pregnant ladies. 

Mom and Dad

And of course, because all the family must love it when I take out my camera -the faces begin - whether's its intentional or not. 

Having one of the last brotherly conversations before Mark and Jennelle leave for the states..

Just playing around in the dark...

Coming to dock - this is of another cruise boat already there. 

Swim Time

Diane has a very sharing older neighbor that has let her family and her friends/family use it this summer. So, we've joined her a couple times to cool down during this very hot hot hot summer. 

Amy and Laura have really gotten to love the water - and jump right in - even off a diving board. Makes me so happy. 

You see the blue faces? That's a blue cast from the pool.... :) 

Hudson doing a flip. 

And this random -but sweet- picture of Erik's eyelashes - I got a macro lens - and have been having a great amount of fun with it. :)