Summer Memories

While we've already posted our most recent, fun-filled trip to Nashville, we neglected to include many memories from earlier this summer.

We began the summer by running away from Canton to Northern MI where we spent over two weeks with just us, other Rudd family members, and the Livermore gang. Such an amazing time!  We visited the cabin, Traverse City, Sutton's Bay, and of course, Muskegon.

We were also able to celebrate cousin Shea's wedding in Fresno on July 4th. Great fun and memories were created...especially after the first generation of Leindeckers retired for the evening.

There have also been overnights with the Biss kids, multiple other playdates with friends, VBS at First Friends (?!), Boy Scout camp (!?!), and lots of lazy morning cuddling.

Craig, Deb, Shea, and company transform the old church/warehouse/barn/scary-dark-place into a beautiful home for the wedding.  (Fresno Bible Church began in this very building...with much less tule...)

Keith gets down with his bad self while Jaelyn dances with Marcus.   Either Addison is developing a new move or he has something in his eye.

17 years and counting since our Fresno nuptials.

Kristy and Cathy pose for the camera.  Fun conversations and laughter reign throughout the evening!

Greg and Shea cut their cake.  (Always my favorite part of any wedding celebration!)

In Muskegon with the annual summer cousin picture.  There are always various degrees of success with this endeavor.  Emma and Liam are to be super-imposed into this picture at a later date.

Will takes off for the water slide.

Addison grills with Grandpa.

Emily and Jaelyn cook breakfast pancakes on their own for both families while Lynn vainly tries too keep up with the racer Linda Livermore on the backroads of Suttons Bay.

The Livermore family smiles after a much-needed ice cream.

A magical walk with the Livermores at Christmas Cove.  The kids played and discovered Petosky stones while the adults talked deeply and analytically about life, faith, and books.

Jaelyn finds her favorite habitat at Century Farm where we stayed with the Livermores.

Still the Livermore family.

One of the cabins at the Century Farm.  This was a wonderfully quiet and perfect get-away for our families.  There was hiking, fishing, frog-catching, and much more.  The kids had their own cabin for some Lord-of-the-Flies type of adventures, while the adults stayed in another cabin and talked long into the night.

Addison reads on a rock at the cabin.

Jaelyn's feelings toward being at the cabin and free from societal constraints.

This year Addison learned how to build his own fire while at the cabin.

One of the many family walks down the cabin road.  This was after we ran from a flock of mosquitos but before the influx of tics.

Jaelyn and Addison enter the absolutely frigid waters of Lake Huron.

I think Heaven might look a little bit like this for some people I know and love...