THE SUN IS OUT AND ITS TIME TO PLAY!!!

 My favorite time of year has as arrived and its been a busy few weeks. I love the smell of rain, cut grass , flip flop tan lines and a cold beer! 

We took our first camping trip over Memorial weekend and it was a blast. It rained....it snowed...the wind blew but we loved it regardless of the weather. 

Joes Valley is one of my favorite places to be. I have some of the best memories there and blessed to be able to make more.

One of my favorite trails up Potters Ponds. It started to snow but the kids were troopers. 

We took the little kids fishing at Grassy Lake, another all time favorite spot. Dean is a pro at rigging a Batman and Barbie fishing pole.

Kaylee waited......and waited and waited. Truth was......we had no bait! Caleb and his buddy Austin had it in the Ranger somewhere on the other side of the mountain. We couldnt let the little ones down so Dean cast out with a dried up worm left on their hook from the day before. Totally worth it!!!

Ryker kept pulling up weeds from the bottom of the lake and called them Molusk's. He was perfectly content.  

Again, I am left wondering who is the kid? Batman pole and all!!!

 Rain or shine, wind or snow....The kids made the best of it. 

When we werent bundled up in the great outdoors we were in the camper watching movies. coloring, playing games and eating popcorn. Caleb and Austin were fantastic help keeping the little ones entertained. What they dont want you to know is they are coloring princess's....but I am evil.....so I am telling. They color a pretty amazing Snow White. 

Caleb and Ranger

Love my Mama!!! We had so much fun and she got to put up her fancy new tent. 

Although the weather was horrible we had a great time together and hope to make it again this summer. 

Here is my favorite part......

I love that my boyfriend fixes things. The boat has new batteries, new tires on the trailer, he is repairing he side rails and she is in the shop now having a new cover made. I cannot wait.......I cannot WAIT to get on the boat with the kids this summer!  My goal is to get Dean wake boarding so he falls in love with the water. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!  

Tidbits.....

Kayleann Graduated from Kindergarten! 

The boys playing ball on a hot day..I love watching them hang out. Morgan is headed into his Senior year and Caleb into High School.....Caleb pulled all A's and one B, excellent work! 

Day at the Zoo

Every day is an adventure!!!! 

Peace......Love.....Cheers......

Bren

Back to life....back to reality........

Coming home and settling back in has taken just as much effort as packing to leave and the endless adventures while we were gone. We came home to a house full of love...wait...I cannot tell a lie...we came home to mayhem and madness!!! The children and I am sure more than a handful of friends ate everything in the house that had not already gone rotten in the fridge......I could go on and on and on..................and on. However, the big picture.....there is no place like home! To hug my boys was the best feeling ever! I knew I missed them, but I didnt know just how much I had missed them until I got one of their fabulous hugs. They amaze me! I would love to post pictures of them but most of the time they are not around and when they are....Its not for long. We were able to pick the little ones up early on Wednesday and its been non stop fun ever since. I swear when I saw them they had grown an inch. Amazing kids.....all of them.

Nothing better than playing with Daddy

Tickle time is their favorite!!!

Even when there is an accidental kick to the cheek from little brother. 

I often wonder....who is the kid? 

No really....who is the kid! Dean fixed the lawn mower this weekend and did something to it that made it fast and sounds like it could fly....he was in heaven! 

Ryker 

Flying kites with Daddy in the back yard. Love the Moon in the back ground. 

Nanny's garden. Kayleann and Gus were out there all day helping her. We did a lot of work in the front yard as well. Hope to show some some fabulous results soon. 

Happy summer is here and itching to get the boat out! 

Peace....love....cheers....Bren

Paris

I dont know if there are words to describe the past 36 hours. Paris....Paris.....Paris!!! From the Eiffel Tower to a memorial for Princess Diana....Notre Dame Cathedral and more....and more and more.......Here is a small morsel of what I just experienced. 

Eiffel Tower from the our hotel 

Tower at night from the balcony of our room. 

Dean and I in front of Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Mass service Notre Dame

Notre Dame

Francie and I in front of Notre Dame. We seriously dont know what we would have done with out her! It been a dream of mine since childhood to spend time with Francie in Paris. Ahhhh......thanks Francie for being so good to us. 

This is the corner where Princess Diana was killed. It was a bridge across from our Hotel room. They built a beautiful monument with a golden flame resembling that of the Statue of Liberty. 

The round about!!!!! This is a round about with NO LINES!!!!!!!!!!! and room for about 7 lanes of traffic and 10 or so exits.....its insane...and so scary. Dean was brave, very brave.

Dean's round about horror face!!!!

Chantilly Castle in France. The French country side is beautiful

Paris was a great experience but its good to be back in Eindhoven where there isnt as much of a language barrier and its so so much cleaner. We are exhausted!!!! 

Peace....Love.....Cheers

Eindhoven Holland

Eindhoven is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and beautiful!!! I love walking around the center with a hot Latte in hand. The flow is so different here, everything is so relaxed and laid back. I was shocked when I went out to go shopping around 6 PM and everything but restaurants (most of them) were shut down for the day. Every hour the bells from the church ring per the hour, once every half hour and go nuts at noon. 

Sint Catharinkakerk

Inside the Cathedral was incredible, amazing stain glass windows, prayer benches and statues.

Sint Joriskerk

Another cathedral in Eindhoven. We werent able to go into this one but the grounds were breath taking.

 

Tomorrow Dean is taking me to dinner in Amsterdam then we are off to Paris!!!!!