Back to School

 We all had some good laughs as Greg "schooled" Paul in the classic "hot hands" game.

 After so much travelling, it was great to get to see a beautiful full arc rainbow in our own neighborhood.

 Micah was a good sport who competed in a squirrel game at our county fair.

On Micah's first day of first grade,

 we all were excited to take him to school. Usually, Anthony walks him there and I walk to pick him up with Paul and Sam.

Here's proof that Sam enjoys riding on mom's or dad's back in the Ergo; which is important, since he spends so much time there.

 So this is what you call a football game?

 Paul has had a great first few months of school!

 When he's not at school, we have play-dates with Canon.

 Sam has emptied out this can of googly eyes too many times, but this time he even sat in the craft drawer.

Sam can make chores fun with games like reading in the laundry basket while waiting for Paul to give him a push.

 One beautiful September weekend, some of my girlfriends from our church home group (Tabitha, Kara, Laura, Janelle and Amy) and I went backpacking.

 acorn collections

 our mountains

 my friends

 gourmet food

 snuggly cozy

 morning tea

 pretty views

 apple picking

After a wonderful weekend of talking with my friends, it was still great to get back to my beloved boys.

Daria's Family

 In honor of Daria's arrival this month, I will finally post the photos of the amazing time that we had with her big brothers and parents.

Daria's big brothers and Samuel's big brothers had so much fun together at the Lollipops concert hearing the Umbrellaphant.

 I love seeing how God uses the VGs to bring the best out of our family.

 Paul thought it was pretty amazing that the letters in his name were in this sculpture.

Sam thought it was great to be able to play near his brothers and water.

Imagine, how much more fun this will be when my playmate (Daria) is out here playing with me!

 Susie managed all 6 (including Daria in-utero) on the beautiful beach while the dads and I set up the campsite on the bluff above them.

Samuel is waiting for his friend Daria again.

 Yummy camping food with great friends. I think that if I could choose any friends for our boys, Lucas, Asher (and Daria) would be it!

 Does camping get much better than watching the sunset over Lake Michigan in pajamas right before bed

 with your dad and some of your best friends?

 Remember when this big boy was my baby? Now he can swim.

Here is my baby, copying his dad's facial expressions and hand motions.

Speaking of facial expressions, check these out! 

Congratulations on becoming a big brother, Asher!

Lake Success

Successful family time = this scene of 5 Tongens floating was the most common sight of the lake week!

Grandma Bev and her brother Ralph helped Micah and his brother Paul become successful swimmers.

 Successful skiing

Successful tubing

Successful relaxation

Successful cannonball

 Successful posing for the photo shoot

 Sam was successful in getting most of his teeth this summer while we were travelling, but the mosquitoes successfully bit his face while we were home for a few days.

The other success during the few days we were home between our western trip and the lake was that Anthony made it fun for Sam to have his first hair cut.

It wouldn't be a successful post about the lake without a pretty photo of my cousin Jessica! (Don't miss Sam's cute little toes.)

Every successful morning begins with exercises, 

 a canoe ride,

or two,

and cuddle time with Aunt Faye. 

Afternoons bring Euchre games, 

boat rides,

goggle-boy sightings,

iphone scrabble,

 amazing photography by Karen,

 fun with Taylor,

and more Euchre.

 Evenings show off Grandma Bev's botanical success.

We successfully included Micah and Paul in our after dark dinners this year.

 The biggest success: time with my awesome (you could even say "successful") family