Every 4th of July weekend we head to Wilfert Farms to pick as many strawberries as we can fit in our refrigerator and freezer.

Did you hear that my dream is to one day own a tree farm? Going to the tree farm every year is easily our favorite family activity of the year. I was talking to a cousin last week and we both agreed the experience we had as children playing in the frozen creek, riding the hayride out to the fields, playing hide n’ seek between trees around the property (the secret to winning is building a team and having walkie talkies guys), excited to come across Grandma who had a bag full of fresh baked cookies (peanut butter with a hershey’s chocolate in the center or buckeye’s are my favorite, just in case you’re in the baking mood, wink) and gold fish crackers in individual bags for all 18 grandkids.

Summer has a funny way of passing by at a rapid pace, if you don’t run away for the weekend as often as possible it fleets and then it’s cool again. This year it took a bit longer to warm up, which is completely fine with us.

Sunken gardens, peonies, statues, a gazing pool, & much more around this tranquil estate. I snapped a few photos of our nephews and Cole playing throughout the gardens, a few of Troy’s Mother who the kids call Gigi with two of her Grandson’s, and a few of my Sister-In-Law Amy with her sweet family of four.

Yesterday we spent the Day together, Cole & I. We woke up slow and enjoyed our breakfast together. We flew planes & kites at the park. He picked dandelions for me and made sure I opened his gifts to me.

This year we spent Thanksgiving at my Dad’s in his new home, a beautifully historic 1860 folk farmhouse in a small town on Lake Michigan. I already have plans to turn it into a bed & breakfast, it’s okay, I already told him I’m taking over. He seems fine with it.

Another HALLOWEEN in the books. Cole has been in love with Nintendo and all the Mario characters for the last year and has been so excited to have the chance to dress up as his favorite pizza loving plumber since last Halloween. I don’t know any other kid that has his costume ideas for the whole family the entire year before, lol.

The last few years we’ve been creating the space in our lives for our own family sessions. We believe in celebrating each stage of our lives and turning them into tangible heirlooms to treasure forever. I am so happy to know in 30 years, Cole may be sitting around the table with his kids showing them how stinking adorable he was at 5….

We have been wanting to build a playground since we’ve moved in three years ago and this summer we finally did just that. Eight random days, my Dad and I took to building Cole’s Cabin one math problem at a time. Since I can’t commit to actual designs, I like to have a concept in mind and then eye ball it, somehow I’m always more accurate than actual math, lolol.

Who goes on a picnic to the beach during Winter, Am I right?! The answer is us. Yes, we are indeed strange people. No doubt! Point Beach in Two Rivers is one of our favorite spots to visit on the weekends throughout the year. This park is covered in tall pines, boardwalks, sand dunes, beaches, […]

Halloween with the Helgeson’s. This year we dressed up as Cole’s favorite characters from The Miraculous Ladybug.