Kindergarten Camping Trip

 Brad took Cora on an overnight backpacking/camping trip near Ludington, MI. There is some wilderness areas there and he found a place where they could walk about a mile to a campsite that was just a few minutes away from the Lake Michigan shore!

Their campsite was overlooking the beach (through the trees).

They had the beach all to themselves and said they didn't even see footprints in the sand from anyone else!

 This girl loves the water!

Getting ready to hike back and head home with some wonderful memories!

All I want for Christmas is...

Cora's two front teeth!
She has been losing her baby teeth like crazy this summer! In August she lost her 5th and 6th teeth: both of her top two front teeth. They fell out about a week apart from each other. She has a pretty unique smile now!

 This is a picture we took a day or so before the first one came out. It was very loose so we knew it would be soon. 

 This is after she lost the first top tooth. Silly Peter!

And here you can see she has an even bigger gap in the front - both teeth are missing! It makes eating corn on the cob, apples and other yummy food pretty challenging!

July 2012 = Crazy Wonderful

July was awesome and crazy! It is such a blessing that Brad was able to do his Cross-Cultural summer internship here in GR this year. He's been able to preach a few times at our church and work for the maintenance crew for the seminary also. Most importantly we've been able to enjoy a lot of time together as a family and ease into life as a family of 5.

July was wonderful because we got to spend time with my brother and his family who came from OR, Mom and Dad Bierma who came from CO and Brad's brother and his family who came from AK! July was also an incredibly warm, dry month so it was only natural to spend a lot of time going to the beach or a pool to cool off which we were able to do quite often. I have been wary of taking cameras near sand or water so we don't have a picture of Addie's first time at the beach and she didn't go in a pool except for her toes! 

Here are a few pictures to highlight July:

June 2012

Early in June we moved to a larger, 3 bedroom apartment. We are now just across the street from the seminary. After Addie was born, Brad took Cora and Peter for a one-night camping trip to Walton Lake, a campground owned by Calvin College. He also took them fishing a number of times to a few different places. Cora has become quite the fisherwoman! She is very patient and focused while waiting for the fish to bite...and they sure do!

Keeping the "bully flies" away!

Cora loves holding her baby sister!

We really do fit all three kids in their carseats in the back of the Toyota Camry. It's a squeeze but the benefit to being close together is that it's easy to help pass toys or snacks to the kids. Cora even helps with Addie by giving her the pacifier, wiping up spit-up, singing to her to calm her down and occassionally even giving her a bottle!

Addie's first visit to Great-Grandma and -Grandpa's place. She is about two weeks old in this picture.

Dear Addalynn Grace

Addalynn Grace Bierma 

Fresh to this world on June 12, 2012 at 1:34 pm. 

Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming, MI

She came to us one week overdue, but after the doctor broke my water in the hospital labor was pretty quick, only about 5 hours. 

All went well and she was born at 9 lbs 9 oz and 22 inches long.

Her big sister and big brother are very proud of her!

Addie is full of smiles and is now she also is full of joyful noises! 

She is very interested in talking to whomever will give her attention.

One month old

Two months old - sorry for the rotation! 

3 months old! She actually doesn't look much bigger but she is now at least 24 inches long and 14 lbs.