Makes My Monday! Family Fun and Precious Moments

This past Saturday, the whole crew went to Dutch Wonderland: my family, my mom and step-dad, my sister and her family, and my brother and his friend (and her son). We don't all get together for group trips too often and I love spending time with my family.

Paige, Katie, Adam, and Ethan (and yes, Katie is taller than the boys who are 11 months older than her!)

Timmy was excited to start his day, even if his crocheted hat was making his head sweat buckets and had to be taken off soon after we snapped some pictures. I, for one, don't understand the concept of sweater material for summer clothing, but it was too darn cute to not put him in.

After eating lunch and being a happy boy in his stroller for quite some time, we tortured him by letting him stretch out and crawl around in WATER....ahhhh! I'm beginning to learn that tired Timmy and water do not mix well.

Katie had no such trouble, though.

After lots of rides and the waterpark area we dried off to enjoy a diving show.

After a relaxing boat ride, my mom led us to one of her favorite spots: the swan that she used to climb in for a family photo with all of her brothers and sisters when she was a little girl.

The whole crew minus Matt (who broke away from us...we were too cool for him) and my step-dad (who was taking the picture).

Mom and Jim with the grandkids

Then something really sweet and special happened...one of those moments that you want to wrap up and always remember. We went over to the Indian Wishing Log to make wishes. Katie took her turn and concentrated really hard to think of her wish...

and then, she animatedly and so sweetly told us her wish...

She wished that everyone would be her friend and that (this part gets tricky because I couldn't really understand what she was saying and asked her to repeat herself a few times and I think she may have changed what she said)" A - all of her friends would have family, B-all of her friends would be her family, C-something to that effect. Either way, it was so adorable to hear her tell us such a heartfelt wish.

We finished up the day with a yummy, yummy family style Amish meal at the Plain and Fancy Farm. The entire day and especially Katie's wish Makes My Monday.


PS - Once again, I was late in celebrating Timmy's monthly milestone, so it just got done but backdated to Friday. If you missed it, you can find it here.