we're back!!!!!!!!!!!

we just had the best vacation ever in michigan! it was so relaxing and amazing. we stayed with ben's parents (oma and opa) in delton and had a great time. it was like out of an old novel. they have a huge amount of land for the kids to run around in. they also got to catch lightning bugs (they'd never even seen any), pick wild blackberries, light fireworks, etc. it was just fun. oma and opa even have a tall swing attached to a tree and the kids loved flying high on that. we also went to a water park in battle creek and the park in GR and had a birthday party for jacob and ronan. ben and i also got a night out with my brother and sister in law in grand rapids. oma and opa watched the kids! only our second night away since kids! it was FABULOUS! we all laughed so hard and acted like 12 year olds. i loved every minute! another night ben and i got to go see eclipse on opening night. so i was pooped the next day but worth it! the last day we were there we got to spend with my side of the family. all of us at millenium park and at lunch. i love being with family. and it's so fun to watch all the kids play together! oh and did i mention i got to meet two brand new babies?! a niece - lily marie lillis (chris and jen's baby) and a nephew - joel benjamin annen (jay and cheryl's baby). it was a good good trip. but oh, did jade scream on all the flights. so traveling wasn't so fun, but the trip was worth it! now we head home to house stuff! tons and tons of paper work and money out the door. its going to be a long month! we close on aug. 13

here's a few pics