Photo Shoot

Now mind you I am no professional but I think I did a pretty bang up job with these pictures. I can't believe that my firstborn is turning 5 next week! I took Maddy and the kids to the park today and had an impromptu photo shoot for her 5 year portrait. I thought you all might like to take a look at my handiwork.

Mullet Lake

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wow! Whoever said vacations were easy has not taken a trip with us. I drove 4 hours by myself with 4 kids. Luckily they slept most of the way but I arrived at the cottage with a terrible migraine and couldn't even unpack my own truck! On our third day Mallory decided to take a dip off the deck and split her lip wide open. We rushed her to the local hospital only to have them send us 45 minutes away to the hospital in Petoskey so a plastic surgeon could sew her lip. Let's just say the stitches were not well received. She bit the doctor at one point and the nurse holding her head still complimented me on what a strong daughter I have. Besides that little mishap we did a lot of swimming, playing on the beach, and the kids discovered fishing with Grandpa. Each one had their turn (except Mallory although I'm sure she wouldn't have hesitated). We took one day to hike in Taquamenon Falls. It was great to see the kids reaction to the waterfall. Although it wasn't as spectacular due to lack of rain it was very low.

Got Sand?

We had it in the truck, in the cottage, and even in our bathing suits. We have had the privelage of staying at Silver Lake and enjoying this wonderful weather. The kids especially loved the lake and running and splashing Mom and Dad. We are so fortunate to be able to stay up there. It's become something of an obsession with the kids.


The kids thought it was so cool to hang out on the top of Test Hill. You can see quite a ways up there. From left to right, Mallory, Maddy, Logyn, Loryn, Jerad and Jenna Berkenpas.


Here they are, the whole bunch of 'em.


They created their own "pool".


This was Mallory's way of swimming, dunking her head in the shore so it was full of sand.

When It Rains, It Pours

Well as if my week could not have gotten any better, I ended up in the ER with Loryn on Friday, just 1 day after we came home with Mallory. Here's why: I stopped by church on my way home from getting groceries to talk with Pastor Tom and my kids felt the need to explore every aspect of the church office. Well, one of them was behind a swinging door and for some reason they decided to shut the door on Loryn's thunmb which was oddly enough placed in the hinges. At first I thought it was no harm, no foul. She kept crying for a band-aid and I thought it was unnecessary (I know I'm incredibly cruel). Trudy, our secretary, said she would get her a band-aid if it would make Loryn feel better. So we wandered over to the kitchen and discovered that Loryn was literally holding her thumb together. My tears officially started then and I couldn't seem to make them stop. I had done so good with my emotions but this seemed to just top the cake. Trudy took one look at her finger and said that it would need stitches. Amazingly, a pediatrician was in the church setting up for her wedding that night and she took a look at it. She said it would need stitches and called ahead to the ER to tell them we were headed in. Three hours and 4 stitches later we finally came home from the hospital. My friends all joke that I should write a book about my life. Anyone know a good agent? I could really use the money from a book deal!