Lazy Sunday Afternoon....

We had Dad over this noon and we all enjoyed some brats that Scott cooked on the grill. Even though the weather has been a bit chilly and overcast today it was sunny and nice during lunch so we decided to eat outdoors.....

Wedding Pictures Ready for Viewing + Go Tigers!

Well, I have to say, the boys in orange and blue have really been "stepping up to the plate" (get it?) lately! It's fun to watch the Tigers again. You know me, (and Brenda) - we never stop watching, but it's a lot more fun this way. With a little cooperation from the Cubs this weekend, we could be just three games back by the end of the weekend! Scott and I will be going to a game on July 12. Can't wait!

I plan on booking the cottage for our family trip this week - so far, it looks like most of us will at least be able to make it for a couple of days, with some of us staying for all 4 nights. The dates will be October 1-5 (Wed-Sun - leaving on Sunday, that is), so four nights. I'll try to add some links to my blog soon of places that I think are fun to visit while we're up there. Those of us who choose to go earlier may want to visit a few of them! If you want to visit the website of the cottage, it's below:

http://farmhousecottage.tripod.com/

Rachel and Dave have received disks of their professionally-done wedding pictures (and they are gorgeous)! They are available to view online at http://www.kellysweet.com/, "client proofs", "rachel and david", login: racheldavid, password: 053108. Just remember, don't waste your money by ordering via the website as Dave and Rachel own all the pictures and have jpg's of them that you can print out. They are all beautiful, but I think my favorites are the "portrait" pictures - there are some absolutely darling ones of the two of them with Macey in that batch, a couple of the bride and her maid of honor, otherwise known as the two most beautiful young women on the planet, in my book (oh, mom!) and some gorgeous ones of Rachel and Dave at Dimnent. (Also, when you click on the website, if you click "Gallery" a slide show runs that has 4-5 pictures - all are on the first couple of pages - from their wedding that are stunning!) Can you tell that I'm pleased with the pictures?

Couldn't Resist Adding Another Post - Two in One Day - Wow!

I have a fun picture to share with you. When the kids were home over the weekend, we celebrated "It's All About Scott Day" on Sunday (their idea) as a way to celebrate both Father's Day and Scott's birthday (they'll be in Chicago on his actual birthday, July 1). So, they found several really funny cards, and I've scanned this one because it's such a riot. Inside it says "We don't dress up for just anybody on their birthday! - and here's the best part - it's signed "Happy Birthday from the Nykerk Clan." Too funny.

I'm also attaching Scott's painting of Wrigley Field. If you look closely, you'll spot Dave, Rachel, Katie and Ally! (I think if you click on it, you can make it bigger.)

I'm Excited!

You know, when I first got to thinking about renting a cottage for the extended family, I was thinking for next year, but when I mentioned it to Carol, she said, "Well how about we do that for Dad's 90th birthday?" I thought, well, why not? So, I started looking for places, and came across the "Farmhouse Cottage" near Frankfort. Now that we've decided it would be a fun idea, I've emailed everyone in the family to get their responses. We're hoping to go October 1-5. I hope everyone else is as excited as Carol and I are about it.

Scott and I go up to the Frankfort/Beulah/Benzonia area at least once every summer because he sells his art in a place fairly near there, in Elk Rapids (Mullaly's Gallery) and also one in Sutton's Bay (Treeline Gallery). That part of the state is fantastic - beautiful, rolling hills, lots of orchards and vineyards, and this cottage is actually near a small village called Arcadia - right near Lake Michigan, on Herring Lake. Even the drive up there is gorgeous. The cottage is on a country road, and sits on 2.5 acres, with a boat dock, and lots of things for the kids to do (pool table, swingset, kayaks, etc.). See a couple of pictures, below. Be there or be square!

Scott had an art fair this past Saturday, too (in addition to attending the wedding reception). He was a busy boy! He had painted an original of Wrigley Field for Dave & Rachel, and then made prints to sell. It turned out to be a big hit at the art fair - I think he sold six of them altogether. The best part of the painting, in my opinion, is that Dave, Rachel, Katie and Ally are all in it. Makes for a great conversation starter when people are inquiring about the print.

Thought I'd also post a pic of me and my brothers and sister at the last Nykerk clan reunion held at Dave Nykerk's cottage. Not a bad looking group, if I do say so myself. Like Gomer Pyle used to say "lots of luck to you and yours."

Well, Fresh Coats came up just a bit short tonight (lost by around 8-10 points), but a very good game and fun to watch. Bren, grandpa and I were there to cheer them on. Jeff, too, because he plays in a different division and wasn't playing tonight. Jim and Rachel were with her dad and family because it was his birthday. I get such a kick out of dad. I thought he might want to sit on the bottom bleacher so as not to have to maneuver moving up a few rows, what with his cane and all, but he was ahead of me and made it up several rows before I could say "boo." No grass grows under his feet, especially when he means business, and wants to watch his grandsons play from a good vantage point. Was delighted to hear from Bren that Macey did so much better today, and I was surprised to get my bakeware back already, as the troops had eaten the casserole and jello I made, had washed up those pans and delivered them likety-split before I could blink twice. Talk about not letting any grass grow under your feet. Well, I'm sure Brenda will have much more about Macey in her blog this evening, so will close with a picture of the delightful Ms. Hollenkamp as she watched the game tonight (with the handsome Jeff in the background). Also a pic of their grandpa enjoying the action. (By the way, nice going again today, Tigers!)

I almost forgot something very important! Rachel heard from the wedding photographer today that their pictures are ready! So, stay tuned for how to access - they will be getting all the pictures on disk, but we're not sure yet if they will also be posted on the Kelly Sweet webpage. We'll let you know - I can't WAIT to see them!

The days seem to be flying by lately - always something going on. Last evening I made a casserole and jello for Brenda to bring to Jen and Jason today. Also sent along a little stuffed plush toy ("Boots") for Mace, who I understand is being a very big girl! Hopefully everyone will be able to go camping this weekend - that might be a nice diversion for her.

Rachel, Dave and Katie will all be home this weekend! We'll be attending Katie Hall's wedding (deja vu, as it will also be held at Dimnent Chapel, with the reception at Alpen Rose). Scott has an art fair, too, on Saturday (in G.R.) so he won't be at the wedding, just the reception. The Hall's had a scare this week, because Dave was hospitalized with a staph infection (in his knee) and had to have emergency surgery to remove it (the staph, not his knee)! His immune system seems to suffer from his diabetes, and something's not quite right with his new kidney, either (the doctor says the problem is not rejection, so that's a very good thing). Anyway, he comes home from the hospital today - their rehearsal is tomorrow, and he will be there to walk his daughter down the aisle - maybe with the help of a cane and Lynne at his side, but he will be there nonetheless, and that's the main thing.

Ally will be happy to see her other loved ones this weekend (they will all be "pee-worthy", I'm sure). I am happy to say that I, myself, have also become pee-worthy - Ally is very glad to see me at the end of the workday and jumps up to give me a kiss. We have had such fun having her - she has quite the personality, that one. So, it's home to Chicago, but she is of course happiest of all with Dave & Rachel (& Katie too, of course).

Our Poor LIttle Macey...

Brenda just called to say that Macey broke her leg tonight! Poor little darling, I feel so bad for her, and Jen and Jason too! For further details on what happened, check Brenda Lee's blog on the right.

Now, what can we do to help? Carol and I thought sending little cards and small gifts (coloring book, stickers, etc.) for the first few days (so that Macey gets something in the mail each day) would be a good idea. Jen and Jason need to keep her occupied, because she must stay on the couch completely for awhile - so hard to do with a 2-1/2 year old! We also talked about making a few simple meals for Jen to have on hand - it will be nearly impossible to cook while trying to keep such a close watch on both little ones. Maybe we girls can coordinate something along those lines, too.....who has other thoughts?

This Is Fun!

I've been having fun setting up my blog to look just the way I want it (that's what lunch hours are for, right)? I'm pretty proud of myself because today I found out how to link Brenda and Jenny's blogs to my page, too. Oh, yeah, baby!

I'm happy to report that the honeymooners have safely returned home from their wonderful trip to Spain, while Katie Kat has also returned to Chicago from her business/fun trip to Orlando (I still need to hear more about both trips)! Rachel has posted about 40 pictures to Shutterfly.com at the following link:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EaMmrZyzYsWEQ&emid=sharview&linkid=link2

Scott and I had a nice, quiet weekend. Enjoyed the family breakfast at "Remember When Cafe" and also seeing B/K and J/J/M/K at church yesterday morning. Dad was right in his element holding little Kelsey and Macey, as usual, charmed everyone she met. The Tigers cooperated and won all their games over the weekend, so that was nice, too. We are enjoying having little Ally at our house and she had fun being outdoors for a lot of the weekend. We also went to the farmer's market on Saturday, and bought lots of fresh produce. I think we'll go strawberry picking one evening this week. Don't need to make jam this year, but fresh strawberries from Michigan are unbeatable during June, and I always like to have several quarts on hand for eating. The kids will be home this weekend for Katie Hall's wedding, so we'll pick extra for them. Can't wait to see them!

Well, I've Taken the Plunge!.....

Hello loved ones! I am joining the space age and have decided to start a blog page. This idea was inspired by my wonderful nieces, Brenda and Jenny, who both have one. It has been such fun to keep up with the day-to-day happenings that they post on their blogs, and the pictures they add REALLY make it fun! My girls, Rachel and Katie, are already laughing, I know, and thinking to themselves, "Oh, Mom" - but I know they will think it's fun to keep up with each other this way, too. And my sister, Carol, loves the idea, because living in Portland, she loves to see what's happening in the family and this is a good way to do it. We're encouraging her to start her own page! Well, the challenge now will be to keep up with the blogging, so we'll see how it goes.

I can't leave this first post without adding some pictures from a very exciting day for our family that happened on May 31st - Rachel and Dave GOT MARRIED! What a wonderful wedding it was - and the reception and afterparty, too! The whole family seemed to enjoy it, and I thought a few pictures would be in order.....