Wedding

The first week in April we headed out with the whole Boogerd crew to Mexico to watch Bryce and Rachel join together in matrimony. About almost a year ago Bryce and Rachel approached their two families to see if we would all be willing to go to Mexico to watch them get married. We were very excited and said YES! Then reality sunk in after a bit and we started thinking we were all crazy. How was this ever going to work? How was everyone going to afford this? Will this actually happen?   Sure enough....Rachel started her investigation process and got everything lined up.  She sent us emails with costs, times, air ticket prices, dates, and ect....  All we had to do was say yes, provide a credit card number and Rachel had us all booked to go to the Moon Palace in Cancun.......CRAZY!!!!!  It seemed like forever away when we booked it but it came fast and soon enough we were ALL on the plane together flying to a beautiful beach.  This was the first time most of Toby's family had ever been out of the USA.  We were all excited but a little nervous to see how traveling with this many people would go.  Needless to say it was smooth sailing. Robert was calm and collected, Lori never threw up on the plane, we meant Josie's finance in Huston, no one lost their luggage, everyone remembered their passports, and no one ever got stopped to be searched. Everything was going in the right direction.

Finally, we made it to our bus to be taken to our Resort. The bus was air conditioned and the sun was shinning, life was good!!!!!  We got to our resort, checked in, the bell boy took our luggage to our room and from then on we never lifted a finger again.  Only to eat and drink of coarse :).  We meant in the lobby to head to supper all together with the Seitstra's and the food was great!  We had salad, grilled meat (what ever we wanted) and of course dessert.  We all made it safe and it was the beginning to a great week.

Each evening the Boogerd's went out for supper together and then attended the free entertainment for the evening. We would go to the lounge singer, disco, saw a magic show, karaoke, fire waving girls, and just hung out and enjoyed each others comapany.

Thursday was the wedding day.  In the morning the girls all had brunch together and then went and watched Rachel get ready!  She was a beautiful bride.  While they took pictures we all went back to our room to get showered up and ready for the wedding at 4pm.  The wedding was beautiful on the beach. The bride and groom were shinning in the sun!  It was a little bit windy but we all could hear everything perfect.  The boys sang a song while Rachel walked down the isle to Bryce and it was beautiful.  The preacher had a nice message and then we all touched Bryce and Rachel and prayed around them in a circle. This was very nice and very meaningful. Then we had a cocktail party and headed off to the reception at the Italian Restaurant. It was great fun and fellowship.

Toby and I had a wonderful week enjoying relaxation and just being us!  Toby let me have all our free resort points at the SPA and really spoiled me. I received a pedicure, manicure and 80 minute massage all for free! Let me tell you life was really great this week. Lori and Robert even said they could do this again!  All us girls never lifted a finger once to put a dish away, wash a dish, clean up food, cook or anything. It was pure relaxation.  We did miss our kids a lot, but it was also great to fellowship with us adults once too.  All in All everything went well and we are so happy to add Rachel to our family.  It was a long time coming and this just made it OFFICIAL :).  Welcome to the Boogerd Crew!!!!!!

Wedding in Mexico Pics!

On the bus to the resort!

                                                           

                                                                       
                                                                     To the resort!

                                               
                                                    The view from our room! Amazing!

                                                         

                                                              Josie and Lori!

                                                         

                                                                  Robbi and Jason

                                                               
                                                                Toby and Jaci!

                                                                       

                                                                      The girls!

                                                     

                                                                 Walking by the ocean!

                                               

                                                                Soaking up some sun!

                       

                    Our pool side! we occupied this spot everyday with the Boogerd crew! SO FUN!

                                                       

                                                                   The Brothers

                                                             

                                                       Girls before the wedding

                                                                 

                                                                   Robert and Lori

                                               

                                                  The wedding on the beach! So beautiful

                                                       

                                                                          US!

                                           
                                       The HAPPY couple.... Bryce and Rachel Boogerd

Pictures

My crazy Mom and Dad! 

Trey and Aubyn running around in their swimming suits! They do this at least once a week.  Trey likes to pretend he is a boxer. I think this is Grandpa Pete's blood line coming through.

Aubyn using the spray bottle to "do her hair/drinking it!"

Playing outside with Dad!

Aubyn climbing onto the counters and looking at my calendar. She does this all the time. She loves to look at pictures of her family and tell me who everyone is!

                                              Trying to get a picture of the cousins...LOL

                                                 Christmas is always good!!!

                                           
                                         Grandpa George and Aubyn hanging out together

                                 
                                If mom won't let us put our suits on we will wear them as hats!!!

       
   Building a "house" in Aubyn's room and relaxing in their lawn chairs.  In their swim suits of course!

                                 
                                 Hoekstra Cousins.  Trey,Tate,Aubyn,Samantha,Levi & Makayla

                                           
                                          Grandma and Grandpa Boogerd with Grandkids!

                                     
                                     Boogerd Cousins.  Dyson,Breslyn,Makenna,Trey & Aubyn

                                       
                                       Playing in the Sand box. We do lots of this at our house.

                                                           
                                                                Marshmallow gun.

                                               
                                                              Snuggling with Dad!

Trey turns 5!!!  Captain America

Just around the corner

Just around the corner is CHRISTMAS! Can you believe it?! But first we must talk about what is really just around the corner.....Thanksgiving! Next week is Thanksgiving and all of us will be doing our regular traditions. Going to church, then off to a big dinner, and then maybe even off to another Turkey supper to enjoy with more family. Then the next week enjoying, Turkey soup, turkey on a bun, pulled turkey on a bun, and some kind of Turkey casserole. :) But at least we didn't have to pluck the bird and butcher it the way my Grandpa George showed us how to do when I was a kid...YUK! We told him that the bird was really good, but really we threw it to the dogs....we just couldn't face to eat something we had seen run around without a head and watch it's claws move by pulling the right tendons and ligaments in the leg. Wow, it's amazing the things you learn as a kid. Love those real life learning lessons, Thanks Grandpa George.
Well,today I am hear to blog about the little and big things I am thankful for in my life. Where does a person begin?
Of course my family:
Toby...Everyday I thank the Lord for a wonderful husband. For the job he has, for the honest man he is, for the hard worker he is, for the tender heart he has, for the love he has for God and his family, for just the man he is. Toby has really been enjoying his new job that he started in July at Siouxland Fab. in Rock Valley. He is challenged everyday and enjoys the people he works with. He also continues to pick up some side jobs which he enjoys doing also. He also stays busy with fun projects around the house whether it be making a music/picture video, finding some new cool app., creating some cool new app (efishjournal.com check it out), surfing the net, playing with his kids, teaching trey how the internet works with a picture and diagram of outer space and satellite, throwing Aubyn to the ceiling and making her laugh hysterically, playing store with the kids, of course wresting and boxing with Trey, aggravating me some how :), cooking, reading, or just relaxing. Toby is a wonderful man, husband, and the world's greatest Dad!
Kids....OF course Trey and Aubyn are on top of the list also. Aubyn is 18 months now and continues to get more funny everyday. She is now talking a ton and repeating everything we say.
She loves laughing, having fun, and being a center of joy in a room. He newest thing is When I ask her a question she says, "I dunno know." Then I give her the answer to the question and she says, "YAH." It's so cute. She continues to love to play babies and cook in her little kitchen. She gets her babies stroller, diaper bag, bottle, blanket and carries her around patting her back or pushing her in her stroller. Lydia is her baby's name. She also enjoys helping me dust. Every time I get out the dust rag she says "I too." Trey says we should write a little critters book about Aubyn and instead of the title being "ME TOO" Aubyn's would be "I TOO!" LOL. I laughed and agreed with Trey, b/c we probably here her say "I TOO" about hundred times a day. She is also starting to hide to make a dirty pants and then finding me and says "stinky" holding her diaper. I then ask her if we should go change it and she yells "YAH" and runs to her room.

Big Girl Bed

Well, time for another little entry.... Aubyn is sleeping in a big girl bed!!!! Last night Aubyn slept in her big girl bed for the first time. We asked her, "should we go set up your big girl bed?" She ran around in circles (literally) and cheered," yeah yeah yeah" waving her arms in the air. I would say she was really excited :). So off we went to go set up her NEW bed in her room :). That night when it was time to go to bed she was so excited. Our normal routine is p.j's on, brush teeth, read 2 books in Trey's bed, sing a Psalter number, say our prayers and lay by the kids for a while. When it was time to go to her own bed to lay down she jumped right out and ran to her room. She was SO EXCITED. Getting to bed took a little longer than usual. Aubyn had to touch the walls, touch the wood of her bed, lay on her pillow, put her legs in/out of her blankets and touch my face ect.... Finally Toby came to lay by her and he did for a little while and then said it was time for him to go. She didn't even cry!!! She sang to herself for a while and drifted off to sleep. She slept all night and never fell out, even without a railing on it! In the morning she woke up with her head facing the opposite direction but she did a great job. She was so proud of herself. " I sleep in big bed momma!" Aubyn is going to turn 2 next month and is such a joy to have in our lives. She has a bright smile and the cutest wave around. She should be a parade float model, because her wave is just so sweet. She loves to jump (and actually getting some air now), paint, play in the sand box, read books, watch Dorda (Dora) and Boots, run, play babies with her puse (purse), paint her fingers with nail polish, snuggle, and SING. As I am writing this she is singing "now I know my abc's next time sing with me."(so precious) She catches onto songs so quickly. She watches your mouth very intently while teaching her a new song, because she does not want to miss a word. She knows most of Trey's Sunday school songs and can carry a tune better than Trey :) Although Trey has quite a voice too, join us at one of our programs to see first hand! Aubyn also is into bossing Trey around, telling him what to do, and even beating him up sometimes.:( Good thing her brother loves her dearly and always forgives her. He has such a kind and gentle spirit, and his sister should really appreciate that b/c she probably has deserved some bops back in her life. Aubyn also is talking in complete sentences most of the time, which she has been doing for while now. Although she is NOT potty trained she knows very well what she is supposta do. I learned from my first child to just let this be and time while take its coarse. Oh....all the stuff you learn from your first child. :) (poor child, or poor mother how ever you want to look at that!) The weather has been so nice here to that we have been playing outside a lot. Aubyn loves to ride is her cozy coupe and pack her babies in with her and drive around. She is going to make a good mother some day :). She also loves playing in the sand box and swinging on the swing. "moommy pus" Mommy push... It's also fun to look at pictures with Aubyn. I find her many times standing on my counter looking at my calendar that has family pictures on each month. She loves telling you who everyone is. The best is when you ask her who this is? (pointing to Aubyn) and she says "ME." Aubyn also loves running around the house with her jewelry. She puts bracelets on both legs and a necklace around her neck, it is fun to watch girls be girls. She also loves shoes. She has big opinions everyday which shoes she is going to wear for the day. The other day she won her battle and wore her aqua socks to town. (Some battles are not worth fighting :) ) My first child would have never won this battle. LOL! Well it has been a while since I updated this and since Aubyn is changing so fast I thought I better write about her big event last night. God continues to bless us everyday. My children's smiles remind me of God's love for his children everyday. I always pray we bring as much joy to our God through our actions as watching my children grow everyday brings me joy!