Summer Visit

August 21 - September 1, 2017

This summer, we got to have Aunt Roni come visit, before she had to get back to Utah to start her fall semester at BYU. She was very excited to be accepted into their accounting program and was looking forward to starting it that semester.

That last time she came, it was winter, so we were excited to show her what Holland can be like during the summer, particularly the lake. While she was here we did some shopping and some craft projects. Roni, of course, played a lot of zombie games and video games with them.

One night when the sister missionaries were over for dinner, she made her Swedish Kladdkaka. They loved it. Kladdkaka means mud cake. It's almost like a molten chocolate cake, and so heavenly and addicting!

Friday evening, we drove up to JCPenny to get our family portraits done. We arranged so that Roni would be getting her pictures done too.

During the weekend, Mark and Kris were able to stop by and visit a bit. So, Ryan got some work done on the shed with the help. Roni also pitched in a bit, in between jogs and her other exercising.

One Sunday, we had Ryan's friend, Chris, over for hot dogs and s'mores. Roni also wanted to make her Kladdkaka again; we didn't complain.

 On Monday, Ryan had to leave for a work trip to Mexico. During that time Roni was very kind and mowed our entire front and back lawn; which isn't an easy feat. I also gave her a hair trim and we went to the beach twice. At the beach, Roni spent the majority of the time out in the water. Luckily for her it was a great week for swimming, water temperature wise. The second day we went the waves were bigger. She, and the kids, loved it. Roni spent even less time on the shore that day. Emmaline loved having me hold her out in the water as we got pushed by the waves. Jared and Karl played in the sand a lot and made a baby turtle nest for themselves, but they also liked getting out and being pushed by the waves.

On Tuesday, Jared's school was open for an open house. We all went together and got to see Jared's kindergarten classroom and meet his teacher. He got to sit at a desk and play with some of the toys. Before we left, he wanted to take a picture with his teacher.

On Wednesday, we got out and went to our local park. I was glad Roni was there to play with the kids and walk Alfie a little. My pregnancy was starting to lower my energy again at this point. We also went over to a second-hand store we like over here, called Ditto. Roni was looking for a pair of shorts, she found a pair she liked, but she also found some money in the pockets of the one pairs she tried on. She showed it to one of the employees, who told her to keep. So that paid for her shorts with some extra. :-)

Roni painting a pig for our art wall in the basement.

On Thursday we had our second beach day, and then Ryan came home from Mexico in the late evening. Meanwhile the kids and I showed Roni how we do our pilates and Roni showed us how she does her boxing. The boys really enjoyed doing that, and Emmaline was just adorable trying to do whatever we were doing.

Friday was our last day with Roni, so we took her out canoeing at Pigeon Creek. Roni paddled in the front and Ryan in the back, while I managed Emmaline in the middle. Jared and Karl we pretty chill sitting in the middle too, eating snacks and trying to see all the turtles Ryan was spotting. We then took her to lunch at Cluver's, one of our favorite new burger and frozen custard places here in Holland.



We had to say good-bye to Roni and send her off at the airport that afternoon. We had a such a fun visit with her! She's such a source of joy and laughter whenever she comes! We're so glad to have her. :-)