Detroit Zoo

Last week my friend Jill from college called me to catch up and we ended up making a play date for this week at the Zoo.  I was so excited to see her twin boys Luca  & Dominic in person!  We have had other dates set up that just haven't worked out.

It was a perfect day at the zoo, a little crowded because it was Senior Day and Senior Citizens got in free, but still very nice.  It was 60 degrees outside and sunny, sometimes we didn't even need out coats (especially me with the personal heater in my belly).  I felt good walking around the zoo, but I sure was tired tonight after Emily and I also went for a walk after dinner.  

Dominic, Emily & Luca

Emily in the tunnel 

Wow, the ducks got close to us!

Running the Bases

When we got to Bible Study last night, there was a baseball game at our church.  The kids were really excited and Emily wanted to play baseball too!

After Bible Study the field was empty so we let the kids run the bases.  Boy did they have fun, they were squealing and running so cute.  Unfortunately I didn't get the best pictures, but you can still get the idea of how much fun they were having.

Here is Blake & Emily rounding third base and heading home.

Little Megan rounding third base.

Blake and Emily running to third base.

Emily coming into home plate.

Treasure Chest

My mom had this treasure chest of dress up clothes at her house, and last week she sent it home with Emily and Jim.  Emily has been loving it, and she is getting the hang of walking in high heels.  It looks so weird, and grown up, but funny too!  I keep telling her to wear the gold slippers but of course she wants the high heels!

Planting in the Garden

I am so excited that we have a few things planted in our garden, lettuce, spinach, peas and kale!  I have been craving fresh lettuce lately, and what you buy in the store just isn't cutting it!

Jim and Emily planted in our garden earlier this week.  I thought it was so cute with Emily in her new (used) garden boats from a friend.  She really wanted to help, but it takes a lot of patience when you are giving instructions and planting with a almost 3 year old!  Plus it was windy and trying to keep those little lettuce seeds from blowing a way was real challenge, even for me!  So we might have a little lettuce sprinkled throughout our garden.

You can't really tell in these pictures, but our garden is L shaped this year and goes off to the left in the back.  So what you see here is only part of the garden.  Whew, we are going to be busy.

Painting is Messy!

I thought today while I was making a meal for a friend who just had a baby, Emily could paint quietly.  We had never painted at home, and it turned out a little messier than I anticipated.

It started out well, Emily was having a great time painting by herself.

When I turned to look at Emily I realized she had the paint on not only paper, but on herself too!

I should have taken a picture at the end, but as you can see, her legs got some paint on them too!

Emily had a great time painting, we probably should do these types of things more often.  But it did not end up saving me any time, after she was done I had to give her a bath to get the blue off!  Now all she wants to do is paint some more!

Hand Bells & Lunch

My cousin Diane (and her two boys Kevin & Kyle) and I play hand bells at our church.  Last Sunday my parents and friend Angela came to watch us play hand bells in our 11am praise service.

After church we went to Travis Pointe for lunch together.  Emily wasn't into eating her lunch, but she sure had fun socializing with Angela and my parents.

Here is a cute picture of my friend Angela (I used to work with her) and Emily.

My parents and Emily being silly.

Get Together with Friends

Last Friday we had a little get together for our friend Anne who just had a baby and is moving to PA.  What a bummer, Anne and I went to High School together, she has a daughter Sydney who is about 6 months older than Emily and now she just had her second.  So our kids are close in age.  

Doesn't Anne look amazing for having a 4 week old baby, and Luke is pretty adorable too!

Here is Emily looking at Selma's stickers on her shirt.

My friend Jenn adjusted Emily and I when she was at our house.  Emily was a great patient.

That Cow Licked Me!

Sunday afternoon I was exhausted after the Women's Retreat, but it was such a nice day out that Emily and I decided to go for a walk.

We walked to my mom's cousin's house Barb Wolfgang who lives between 1 and 1.5 miles from us.  Emily got to ride in the stroller, and being 8 months pregnant, I decided to leave the dog Lucy at home too.  

It was a great workout for me, and the weather was perfect too.

Here is a picture of Emily walking up to the cows.

This was before the cow licked her.

This is after the cow licked her, she was not sure sure about that!

Here are the cute little lambs they got for the fair.

We also so the baby pigs and the 4 goats.  Emily was a little scared of the animals so I didn't get many pictures.  Typically she loves them and hugs and kisses them, but we haven't been around animals since last summer.  I am sure she will warm up quickly at the fair this summer!

Spending some time with Aunt Sarah

My sister came into town for a Christian Women's Retreat which was Friday afternoon - Sunday noon.  When we got back on Sunday Aunt Sarah got to spend a little bit more time with Emily.

When we got home Emily was in her new princess dress daddy bought her (he has got her a new baby too)!

Emily convinced Aunt Sarah to read her a couple of books while she was here.

The visit with Aunt Sarah was way too short, hopefully we get to see her this summer after the baby comes!

Early Birthday Present from Aunt Sarah

Emily was pretty excited when my sister Sarah said she brought a early Birthday present!

Emily has been talking about how her Birthday is coming up and she knows it's "May 20th!"

Emily was very excited about her My Aunt Loves Me outfit!

In fact she put it on right away!  It looks perfect!

Lunch with Aunt Sarah & family

Last weekend my sister Sarah came into town from New Orleans.  We hadn't seen her since last August, so it had been a long time!  We went to the Hungry Wolf in Manchester for lunch with my cousin and Grandma.  Emily was so cute she kept calling the restaurant "The Big Bad Wolf!"

Here is Sarah & Emily

Emily checking out Aunt Sarah's locket

My cousin Amy, Grandma (89) &  sister Sarah

Another picture of Emily with Aunt Sarah

Emily went and talked to Sarah and Great Grandma

Peace Play Group

Last week Emily was so excited to go to play group at Peace.  We hadn't been a in a long time and she was hugging and kissing on her friend Blake.  

Here is a picture of Blake sitting on Emily's lap.

Snack & story time with the group.  Emily doesn't like it when I walk away, even to get the camera, so she was looking to see where I was going. 

Emily made this beautiful artwork, here she is working on it.  

Fun with Friends Easter Eve

Our friends Dave & Nora Klee were in town for Easter, so we had a small get together at our house Sunday evening.  

We had some snacks and the kids had a blast playing outside, an egg hunt, kites and then we did some fun dancing inside too.

Here is a picture of Me (May 21), Heather (April 13), and Nora (April 30), we are all due around the same time.

Harrison & Emily were flying kites, see the kite at the top of the picture.  Emily's kite flew away because she let go, so she was going in the weeds to get it.

The hokey pokey

Ring around the Rosie

Hugging Harrison goodbye

Harrison & Emily were so sweet together, too bad they don't live a little closer, especially seeing our babies will be so close in age too!

Easter Fun after church

Who's that bunny? Emily wearing glasses at the DeVoogd house

She had to try on the bunny ears too!

Emily and Claire getting ready for the egg hunt

Playing football with daddy - check out her throw!

Hey good kick too! Kevin was teaching Emily how to play.

Dad had to try the hola hoop for Emily. She insisted!

Emily with the football.

Silly times with daddy and Claire!

Time for the egg hung.

Emily had a blast looking for eggs.

Claire was a great helper!

What a fun Easter celebration after church!