More Fun with Cousins

We managed to have another cousin exchange. This time Anika went to IN and the boys came here.  Brandon had a sand soccer tournament with his new team. It was a beautiful day to be at the beach - so everyone played in the sand and a few got wet.

We still have beach day every Tuesday here, so I hauled them all to the beach day for that week.  There was only one other family there and there kids were younger, so I read a book while the five of them played. It was glorious!

Once again, fun was had by all.

Carla's Soccer Team

I was in an exercise class at the Y a few months after we moved here and one of the women asked me if I played soccer. I said I knew how, but had never officially played besides junior high and college intramurals. Turns out, that's more experience than many of the women on the team.  This is my soccer team. I often say we are known as the really nice team and that one girl. I'm that one girl. I am just too aggressive and competitive to be on such a nice team but they keep me around - who knows why. Anyway, going out for ladies night afterwards is always a good time. Sadly, our best player moved to Montana a few days after this picture was taken.  We play around 10 games outside during the summer and 18 games inside during the winter! Thus the broken foot last winter!  Good times!

Family Reunion

Every two years the Verbrugge cousins get together and party. Ok, most people call it a family reunion, but we seriously have an awful lot of fun.  We gather at the Amigo Centre in Sturgis, MI. Here is a peek at our long weekend.

Cherry pit spitting contest winners - 3 categories ladies, kids, mens - side note, the ladies and mens have been won by the same two people FOREVER!

Golf competition - lowest score, longest putt, longest drive - a whole bunch of us went golfing at a REALLY nice course

The best ice cream shop ever - I don't know if you can tell, but the huge bowl Jessica is holding is the smallest amount you can get - and its less than $2 - and they have over 20 flavors to choose from -AMAZING - its Hudsonville ice cream - I had the Milky Way - oh my good!

We canoe, we do an Amazing Race, archery, walks in the woods, crafts, games, you name it. They have a small koi pond with frogs which is serious good catching fun for little kids. Brandon went fishing in the big lake and caught a few sunnies. The above picture is Challenge Woods. You hike out to an island and it is full of team building activities - good times!  This challenge they are trying to walk on 4x4's as a group.

WINGS

Jessica as the lost 'crab' looking for water. They learned about facing the audience, helped with stage positioning, learned a dance, and helped build the set.

Widening

Interests through

New experiences for

Gifted

Students

Seriously LONG acronym.

Anyway, it boils down to cool summer school for kids held at the local community college. It runs two separate weeks with a morning session and an afternoon session so there is the option for four sessions.  Brandon and Jessica took three sessions and Maria took two.  Brandon did underwater robotics, flight - force and fun, and CSI expert; Jessica took math games, science exploration, and theater exploration; Maria took an art class and a class about taking care of dogs.

They LOVE WINGS. The teachers keep things very exciting, lots to do, and even some homework. Jessica's math one had her playing logic games - just warms this math momma's heart! And, it means that I go to work without the guilt that my kids are at home watching TV all day! Whew!

Lake Geneva Bible Camp

When Matt and I got married, we said we would go away together every 5 years. Our 15th anniversary was the year we moved to Michigan, so that didn't quite happen.  This February, as I was registering the kids for various summer activities, I realized if we played our cards right, we could have a stay cation without kids. It happened thanks to the help of many people!

Anika and Brandon headed off to Lake Geneva Bible Camp in Holland, MI. Jessica and Maria went back to MN via friends that were in Milwaukee. So, with a few hours of driving and some gracious hosts, we accomplished a week at home alone. We didn't do anything special, but it was quiet and we got to use up some of the gift cards and go out to eat! And, of course, I went to the beach to watch a sunset. I hope to catch many more this fall. I love watching the sunset over the lake. Everyone had a wonderful week!

Brandon will tell you the best part was all camp games and the food. Anika like the challenge tower - she got the second best time on the climb in her cabin.  They had water activities, games, speakers and music. I love that my kids get to hang out with other Christians, be influenced for good and have a great time doing it!

4th of July

I make them dress up and take a picture every year. Not sure how much longer they are going to cooperate, but we'll see!

We hung out at home and got some things completed around here. Later in the afternoon we went to some friends and then to fireworks with them. We hang out on the grass, eat slushies and puppy chow and caramel corn and wait for it to get dark!

Fun with cousins

Every summer we try to exchange cousins with the E families that live in IL and IN. This summer we accomplished it!

Elyse and Elizabeth came to our house for a weekend while Brandon went to IL for the weekend. All had a great time!

We picked cherries

our cherry haul - with Aunt Kathy

We went to the beach

We picked strawberries

The three girls are all going to be in 8th grade this fall and get along quite well. They volunteered at the YMCA and helped out with a race we were hosting also.  Good service hours for school! Good times and good memories were made!