Summer Series: Part 1

So I've fallen way behind on documenting this adventure called life that John and I are on, and a lot has happened! I'm going to have to start a series on all of the highlights of our summer because there have been plenty!! First and foremost, we are no longer residents of North Carolina- we've moved back to Michigan!! Push came to shove a little bit and we realized that there's never really a "good" time to move, so we packed up and headed back to Michigan- homeless and unemployed! Definitely a huge leap of faith! It was a bittersweet time for me because I absolutely loved the company that I was working for in Greensboro (Creative Snacks Co.) and the people I got to work with everyday! On my last day there, I walked in to 6x3 foot signs taped all over the walls with things everyone said they would miss about me.

All of that was topped off by a gluten free/Dairy free lunch that they catered in for everyone- is that thoughtful or what?! I told you I worked for an AWESOME company!! It was hard saying good bye to  everyone and I definitely miss them!

John had to work a week longer than I did down there, so Dylan flew down to help us pack up and then we took off two days earlier than John to make the drive back to Michigan. Since we didn't have a place to live in Michigan, we used a Pod so it was nice that nobody had to drive a U-Haul back!

We had to pick Dylan up in Charlotte, so first things first on the way back to Greensboro, we had to make a stop for slurpees! 

Dylan came down with the intent to help me move, but him and John got caught up in a few more important things, such as the Batman movie that came out that weekend, or the Bachelorette Finale which was also that week.... so as you can see from the next few pictures, I had some really good packing helpers! :)

We discovered that moving things into the Pod was actually their forte during this move- not so much the packing part of it. :) But it definitely was fun having Dylan down there even though he put up with a lot of me processing how to pack things out loud- we turned up some country music and had a few jam sessions!

It was also fun that Dylan got to meet some of our friends what we had made while we were in Greensboro, in addition to trying some of our favorite restaurants such as the Mellow Mushroom, Five Guys and Chick-Fil-A! It was a first for Dylan visiting all of those places!

The night before we left, Dylan and John sat commenting on how they had done an awesome job moving- and that they had done most of the work- they spent a fair bit of time trying to convince me the move couldn't have happened without the two of them! :) I love that John and Dylan get a long so well- it's always so fun for me to watch them interact and hear them laughing together from the next room!

It took us just about all day to make the drive from NC to MI but I am so glad that Dylan decided to make the drive with me- I suppose I may owe him when he finally moves to college! We also somehow talked Phil into making the drive back with John two days later, so we got to give Phil his first taste of Michigan, which may have to be part two of my series!!

John's Flying Lesson!

The week before we left Greensboro, Sam & Janice Baker were gracious enough to take John and I flying- and letting John pilot the plane! It was a beautiful day for it and we both had so much fun! We took off from the Greensboro airport and it was the first small plane that I had ever flown in (how cool that my first flight was piloted by my husband!!). Sam sat up front with John and guided him on what to do while Janice and I enjoyed the ride in the back of the plane.

Halfway into the ride, Sam turned around and asked Janice & I if it would be ok to do one trick- we agreed, not quite knowing what we were getting ourselves into! He had me hold my arm straight out in front of me, palm up with my phone sitting in my hand. I was instructed not to move my arm at all. Then we felt the plane angle upward and then turn down sharply, and as that happened, my phone began to levitate right above my hand! 

So fun to see Greensboro from a birds eye view!

Sam was such a great teacher!!

We are so thankful for the friendship that we've had with these two while we lived in Greensboro and that they made time to give us this great experience!

Michigan Visit Part 2- The Malburgs!!

One of the things that will be nice about being back in Grand Rapids is that both of our families are there and we won't feel like we have to divide up our limited time between the two of them! We love the craziness going on at the Jonkers, but it is nice to have some quiet time at my parent's house too!! :)

Again, so thankful that he enjoys spending time with my family as much as I do!!!

One of the fun things that we enjoy doing with my family (and a few of my mom's cousins, aunts and uncles) is go to the Broadway Bar downtown! It's a small little hole in the wall, but it's always a fun group that goes! Unfortunately, it was closed the night we tried to go, so we found another hole in the wall burger joint- but it's more about the people anyway! Then, these lovely ladies let John and I join in on their weekly viewing of 'The Bachelorette'. Steph and my great aunt Mary (on the far right) had recently  bought a few bottles of wine from Ben (the Bachelor from last season), so it was only fitting that we had a glass that night! Steph tweeted this picture at Ben and thought it was pretty cool when he tweeted her back!! John and I were talking about how crazy it is that we have the ability to contact celebrities so easily now! 

John headed back to Greensboro early, but I get to spend a little bit of time with my family in Pentwater for their annual family vacation with my uncle's family!

As you can see, it's a little more low key than the Jonker cottage- John and I are lucky enough to get the best of both worlds!

This, however, was the first year (since my brother Dylan!) that there had been any babies! Jim & Jolanda have this sweet little girl, Sophie and James & Missy have a cute little guy Jaxson! It was definitely a different dynamic, and next year there will be three because Jeff & Annie are expecting! :) I couldn't help but notice how different the adults are when it's the first two grandchildren and not the fourteenth! 

Dyl, Steph and I got a little bit of beach time too!! It was hot enough this year- last year my blood had thinned out so much from the intense heat in North Carolina that it felt cold at the beach in Michigan!

Loved getting some time with James and Missy!

Steph & Jill

Me and my dad!

Another thing I LOVE about Pentwater is they have a little ice cream shop that has dairy free soft serve chocolate ice cream! I haven't found anywhere else that has it, so we made sure to take a walk through downtown Pentwater each night! :)

And of course, it wouldn't be a Malburg Pentwater vacation if we didn't get a big group shot! Last year Dylan was able to crop John in, so if he can pull that off this I'll make sure to get that one up! :)

and a silly one.....

Then, Dylan had wanted to try out some photography with sparklers after it got dark. He got everyone on board and we were all participating to indulge him, but the pictures turned out really cool! So, then of course, we kept thinking of other fun things we could spell or shapes to make!!  It continuously surprises me how he comes up with these ideas!!

As sad as John and I are to be leaving Greensboro, we are really excited to be back with all of these people we love so much!!!

Michigan Visit Part 1- The Jonkers!

The last weekend in June, John and I decided that we would be leaving our home and jobs here in Greensboro to move back to Grand Rapids. It's extremely bittersweet, but right after we made the decision, we spent a week in Michigan with our families that really affirmed us that we are in fact making the right decision! And after checking out all of these photos I'm sure you'll see what draws us there! :)

It was a crazy week, but we loved the chaos of fourteen kids under the same roof!! We missed all of their little personalities! They are getting to the point now where they will be able to start skiing and tubing, so we started the week off with some fun on the lake!

I LOVE this picture of the Shattos!! Monreau loves the tube more than any little girl I've ever met- she's fearless and I think it's impossible for her to stop smiling while she's out there! The whole ride everyone else on the tube looked a little hesitant and Monreau kept throwing us the thumbs up to go faster! :)

On the fourth of July, Jayne orchestrated the 1st Annual Jonker Relay Races. We were broken up into four teams- each team name was the state that one of the Jonker families live in. There were four relays that everyone participated in (except Nanny- she was the exceptional scorekeeper!).

We started with your basic baton pass off- each member of your team had to sprint to the other end of the yard and back with a baton and pass off to the next team member. The four three year olds started each relay and was the most fun heat to watch!!

For the next relay, there was a full bucket of water on one end and an empty bowl on the other- each person took turns filling up a plastic cup and running to the other end of the yard to dump it into the empty bowl. It was a delicate balance between being speedy and trying not to spill the water!! After that there was a water balloon toss and a swim relay in the pool that everyone participated in! It was such a activity for everyone!!

Patrice and I showing off our 1st place gold medals!! :)

Instead of taking the boat to watch fireworks on the lake, these guys purchased fireworks and we had our own fireworks show right on our beach!! It was pretty cool, but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous- especially when it would mis-fire and explode on the beach instead of in the sky!!

I love having all of the kids around, but it was a lot of fun to hang out with all of John's siblings and spouses after the kids were in bed!! I'm so thankful to genuinely say that I enjoy spending time with them!!

A fun afternoon activity we did several times was drive the pontoon boat out to Lake Michigan and jump off the top! John and I took the jet ski out to meet everyone out there one day and then joined in on the fun!!

Even Nanny got into the lake! It's so fun that all of the kids are confident enough (with their life jackets) to jump off the side of the boat to come swimming!!

We don't get as much one on one time as we would like with Jared, Belen & their kids, so I always love when I capture a moment like this!! We love them!!

Poppy's new toy!! Although I'm not sure who enjoyed it more- Poppy or John! :)

Two pretty ladies!!

John even let me indulge one day and took me water skiing!! I hadn't been in a few years, but somehow managed to still drop one!

I love him!!

Queen Jayne, being the super fun mom that she is, organized a mission for all of the kids one day. Apparently a pirate had captured all of the gold coins in the land and they had been dispersed throughout the yard. Each child was on a mission to find 15 gold coins and return them to Queen Jayne for a reward..... which happened to be a slurpee! Just what we all needed on that extremely hot day!

Jan and Jerry were celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year, so we all went out for an adult dinner to celebrate them! It's a total gift to have been married that long and have six such great kids and fourteen grandchildren!

Dylan came out to visit one day and we taught him how to drive a Jet Ski!! It was so fun to see how excited he got when he was driving!! I love that he still thinks it's semi-cool to hang out with his oldest sister!! ;) I love the time I get with him!!

My mom and dad came out one night for dinner and a boat ride- it's so fun that my parents and John's parents get along so well and enjoy spending time together! That is such a gift for John and me!!

My mom joined me at the pool for the afternoon while these two guys went and golfed 18 holes with Matt, Darren and Jerry. It's also such a gift to me that John enjoys spending time with my family just as much as they enjoy having him around! 

A Lake Michigan sunset- there's something about seeing the sun set over the Lake that I don't think I fully appreciated until we lived in North Carolina and didn't have a lake to go to! We had an awesome time with the Jonkers while we were in Michigan and it will be so great to be back in Grand Rapids to see them more often!!!