2015 VanderJagt Family Vacation!

We survived family vacation once again!  Now to find time to make up the lack of sleep :)  Each year, the VanderJagt clan (I can call it that...I'll share numbers in a minute) rents a cottage and spend the 1st full week of August together.  This is probably the 6th year we've done this.  We learned a lot about what we need/want for next years trip.

This the cottage; 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.  I wish I had been able to get a group picture, but numbers will have to do.  (Remember to close your mouth after reading these). 

12 adults (10 most of the time)

10 kids - ages 11, 7, 5, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 7 mo, 4 mo

3 dogs, 1 puppy

1 cat

Yes, you read that right, 4 - 2 year olds!

Lena and Kenzie

Keeping Kayla entertained at the beach

Meal time prayers

Country Dairy ice cream!

Most of the kids ended up with colds/croup by the end of the week...NOT fun!  Thankful we had a little Mickey Mouse club to watch.  

Regardless of being short a few bedrooms and personal space we had a great time and lots of firsts.  Kenzie decided she was going to start potty training during the week, she is still going strong and down to diapers only for her nap and night time!!!  Good work Kenzie!  Kayla enjoyed her 1st vacation and the beach,

her first big girl bath with her sisters,

hanging out with great-grandma VJ and grandpa Bill,

Lewis Market and Petting Zoo (even though she slept most of the time)

and finally cut a tooth the last day of the trip, 

We had great weather and warm water temps at Lake Michigan and Stony Lake Creek

SPF police!  Pretty sure I have polka dots from Khloe's SPF 50 applications

Maddie swam until she'd pass out

Taking a break to let mom swim

Dune jumping

Country Dairy...heed this warning: the tour is a walking tour!  Not recommended for 2 adults and 6 children.  When I bought my ticket and told the lady 1 adult and 3 2year olds, you think she could have questioned my sanity.  Thankfully we had ice cream first...

TT Jennie, Lena and baby Ruby

So maybe we aren't the selfie type :)

In love!!!

Lewis Farm Market and Petting Zoo...highly recommended!  Especially Wed. when it's BOGO free

Khloe and the goats...

...learning to spit at alpacas (just kidding)...

Kenzie and the deer became best friends...

Kyler and Kenzie (her first cousin crush :)

Cousin train!  We filled every car except 1

This girl couldn't get enough of the train!

All in all we had a great week...exhausting yes...but the memories are priceless!

Happy Birthday Khloe and Kenzie!

The twins are officially 2!!!  If you ask them they can tell you, 'I two!'  and it's understandable.

I weigh about 27 lbs.  I love my dog, 'Maa-ee' and all things balls!

I weigh about 33 lbs.  I love my sisters, running,
taking things home from anyone else's house and being sneaky.

We are working on calling Maddie and getting her to drop it

This is what happens when one wakes up early from napping...and daddy's not home to steal all the batter!

Now this is the story all about how my life got switched turn upside down,
just take a little minute and sit right there i'll tell you how I become the queen of  a town
call VJays.  In SE Grand Rapids, born and raised, on a mattress is where I spend most of my days,
jumping and booming and acting all cool and downing some bottles and breaking the rules.
When a couples of sisters, who were up to no good, started making trouble in my neighborhood...
(to be continued next post...)

Fine, I'll leave the pony in for this picture only...then I'm taking it out!

Our new playroom!  Happy birthday to everyone here :)  Toys have been relocated from the hallway, kitchen, sun porch, dining room and living room to ONE gated room!

They LOVE playing in the kitchen!

Uncle Gabe, I lost my clubs and all my balls!!!

Happy Sunday!

Tea for two...1..blast off!

Kenzie, would you care for some tea? 

Look, you can even use a slotted spoon to drink it.

Here, I'll just pour you some and then you can decide

Hee, hee, hee, she actually thinks she can drink with a slotted spoon!

Big hair...big air!!

I'm a cutie and I know it!

See mom, if you move the table close enough you can stick the landing!

Teaching her to be a stud finder already :)

First beach trip...

We headed out to Grand Haven tonight to start our holiday weekend.  The weather was perfect!  70F, no wind on the beach, we parked at the state park and the water was 42.  Nope, not a typo...42 degrees!  We had a great time, the kids were all champs and it was so much fun spending our first beach trip as a family of 5...and of course, since I have a camera card, picture overload.

Cheese!

Yes, my sisters are crazy.  But have you met me mom?  You'd understand.

"Would you look at that...

I found my foot!"

Hi Nana!

And I thought my foot was cool!  If I can just move this towel far enough,
I can reach the stuff mom's trying to keep me out of.  It must be good. 

"I yuv dada"

Momma...I ai-bee (airplane)

You can't have one without the other!

My very own sand dune...and I climbed it all by myself.

our first selfie!

Guess what I got today???

My camera card!!!  Time for updates :)  Kayla had her 6 month check up Tuesday.  She tipped the scale at 18lbs 8oz, she is up 4+lbs in 2 months.  She'll eat anything, except green beans, sits up and loves playing with toys and being by her sisters and she sleeps on her tummy.

Khloe (23mo) Kayla (6mo) Kenzie (23mo)

Pure love...aka. 'Hug your sister'

Ready or not Nicki, here I come!

Loving Nana's 74F pool

 Can't wait to try out the new card and bombard my board again :)