Summer 2014 Stoffel/Golackson/Gremore Pics Before Saying Goodbye

GG and Gampy

This lovely duo headed up our photo session...ahhhh-choo! (more on that later...)

...next one is with GG, Gampy and kids, with mom and dad's favorite order from left to right. Just wanted to see if anyone is reading the comments or just looking at the pictures :) he he!

This one wins the most random award..uhh...grab a kid that you see and jump in, make sure the spouses join too!

And everybody!

....Take 2....

....Take 3...

1...2...3...4...yep, 12!

Sweet faces! This all seemed like such a blur. Last time we did this, we had suckers and toys and food and more candy hoping that something would help the kiddos look at the camera all at once. This time, we just sort of showed up, posed and left. Huh. 

Did I mention we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner afterwards? Everyone said cheese to that!

Sy & Vivi in the back crack me up...pondering mischief...

The Gremore Gals & Guys.

This is where the explanation comes in for the sneeze. The camera person had a duck on her head and would tell the kids to blow the duck off, or she would sneeze it off and then ideally the kids would laugh. This shot was a split second too fast...one big guy is still trying to get that duck off the ladies head!

That's better! Team Golackson.

The Stoffel Trio.

Almost finished...one more!!

I think we all liked this one the best! Not to mention...time to eat!

Dear July and August, where did you go?

Forgotten bottles of silly string are now in full force!

Some of my favorite summer memories are from our trip to Monroe to visit Linds and the kiddos. We stayed for five days and soaked up every minute of time together. I wanted to get candid shots of what we normally saw each day as the cousins interacted. Above are Leila and Obs in the far bedroom putting something in a bucket =)

Brody was often in his high chair waiting for the next meal or snack or anything to get him through to the next meal or snack.

The three stooges getting some ipad time. Since it is a special week, everyone can watch!

And of course, the artists working hard on creating their first book....

if we weren't sure where the boys were, we'd just look outside...yep!

Someone stole my camera! Proof is in the picture =)

I am not sure if my brother reads this blog. One night, we were skyping with him and I couldn't resist capturing this moment on camera. His incredibly thoughtful wife had a gorilla gram sent to him at work and this is what he got.

Cade won the baseball game that we got to see and his coach treated the team to snow cones- yumm!

Fast-forward to August, where we all met at a park near Phil and Danielle's house. Popsicles for all!

One of many Theo and Reuel shots. I can't get over their faces. I think they know something we don't...

Here is our happy boy at 3 months old...

And here he is at 4 months old...over 17 lbs of pure happiness (except for last night when teething made us all unhappy campers)

"Make a silly face if you want a piece of gum!" Bribery at it's best.

Cousin Owen is in the middle. He and his beautiful mommy came to visit from California to meet all of his cousins here. All the boys...say GO PACK GO!

Leila's favorite topics: princes and princesses

Olivets favorite topics: books and bubbles

They keep each other well-grounded.

Here we go! Off to play!

Gretta and mom's date night, first mini golf, then 49 cent cones at Mc Ds...

"What can we get into today??"

Theo's pretty comfy on Great Grandma's lap!

We started school the first week in August this year. Here are the boys putting their flags together after reading about them. Silas is almost five and just starting to enjoy these little projects. Sammy would probably still prefer running around outside waving a flag, but he was a good sport in making a paper one.

This picture cracks me up. It is one of the only ones I have from the Brown County Fair. This is how Leila spent the whole time walking through the barns of animals. She is her mother's daughter =)

James and Theo are a day a part. Quite the duo!

James sister Ally with Gretta for Ally's 6th birthday. What a princess!

Silas before his much-needed haircut (sniff sniff...I love it long!)...

And after. If only he would sit still for longer than a mili-second...oh well, we get the idea!

Looking sharp Sam! Totally forgot to take a before picture. See the picture of our flag-making for an idea :P

While Auntie Linds and Uncle Josh and cousins were flying in an airplane back to China, Theo and I had an uneventful trip to Urgent Care confirming that he didn't actually have an ear infection, or a bladder infection, or strep. He was just a really fussy teething baby with a fever. Jeesh! 

Praying for a speedy and uneventful trip overseas for the Golacksons!

Two (fast) months later....

This was last month. Oh how you have grown! (Don't mind Leila in the same dress as below!! Oops :)

I so wish I would have taken this "2 months old" shot before his shots! Theo was so happy all morning, and I didn't think to snap the pic until the afternoon. Glad he is looking at least :) Month one, everyone was eager to be in this picture (below). They are already not so sure anymore by month two. 10 more to go of these monthly pics...I might need some reinforcements...(a piece of gum? tootsie roll? at least pretend you like being in this picture!!)

Playing in the sand at GG and Gampys....we LOVE summer!

Gretta and Sam were strawberry picking with Grandma Lo, so we decided to take the other three, packed lunches and all, to Barkhausen for a good hike. Silas did an amazing job keeping up and not complaining (a constant work in progress for all of us!). Theo slept in the moby wrap, and Leila...well...

...had a bit more of a difficult time finding joy :) Our little drama queen made a few mountains out of molehills, but oh how we love her still!

Little Theo dreaming away...

I just had to get a picture of this one for Gretta to see someday. "yes, you did have an american girl doll and you coordinated hair and outfits with her almost every day". Proof. :)

I think Tim would say this looked better than it tasted :) Our first homemade bbq chicken pizza. I haven't posted any food pics in a while, so here you go :)

The kids participated in the bellin kids run this year (Gretta found out that running isn't quite her thing, but hey, we can't have it all!!). We had so much fun with Grandma, and cousins Noah and Liza...definitely would love to do it again!

Theo and Cousin James, one day apart!! 

...and lastly for now....Leila Shortcake at Strawberry Fest in Waupaca :)