Conger Reunion

We went to the Conger reunion this past Saturday.


Mom & I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the North Fairfield museum which was full of historical artifacts from the area.


... including mu grandmother's high school photo!

OBX time

We went to the Outer Banks, North Carolina for our 9th and final time last week.  Edward and Maria couldn't go again and since it is getting more difficult for the older kids to go, we decided to maybe try something else next year.  The group was looking especially photogenic this year and we got some good ones!

Fun times.

Love Thursday

Our family celebrates Edward's graduation!!!

Love Thursday

Up in the mountains with the fam, what could be better?

One of the 1000 Things You're Supposed to Do Before You Die

We did it!  At least it was right off of the highway so we didn't go far out of our way...

Rocky Mountain National Park

One of the highlights of our trip to Colorado was driving and hiking around Rocky Mountain National Park.

We found great settings for photo opps and even spots with another traveler willing to take our family pic.

We Made It!

We arrived back home Saturday from a very eventful trip to Colorado. I was so glad to be home after a long trip squished in the car, BUT I am sad our maybe last vacation is over. We managed to see 7 more of the 1000 things you're supposed to see before you die on this trip - we had already seen several in Colorado on other trips, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

On the way out, we stopped in DesMoines to see our friends, the Karadsheh's. We had a carrot cake there from Trader Joe's that I shall never forget. Oh, and of course, it was AWESOME to see them!

The next day, we stopped in Nebraska to see some trail ruts from the Oregon Trail. The ruts are still in the ground from the wagon trains. A small walk along them was enough, I am glad we have cars now.

Flash Back Friday 215

1998, the Original Smilde trip to Colorado. Tomorrow we are leaving to pick up Maria in CO! Hopefully coming back in a week with lots of photos!

Northern Michigan Adventure

This past weekend, we visited John's sister & brother-in-law at their cottage up north. We celebrated their 29th anniversary with them with a 2 hour kayak trip on the Platte River. Bridget took the above pic as we pulled in after sunset and I also managed to get one of her after the sun set. unfortunately, I didn't take any others this weekend. Such beautiful country!

Flash Back Friday 212

Great Grandpa & Grandma Conger with Aunt Tommye, Oma Boyer & Uncle Jack at the beach, 1930's

Epic OBX!

Sorry to be using the overused term "epic", but that's what I might call this photo ...

John, Bridget & I enjoyed a fun, relaxing time with the family this past week at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Very fun. We captured our little family pic, too...

Edward had a little bout with poison Ivy while we were gone, but was able to visit the doctor and get some prednisone to take care of it. We were glad to see him in one piece when we got home.

Remember

Thinking about the people who served our country today...

Calvin Roomies

Aaah!!!! Maria asked me to do a photoshoot Monday evening of her and her friend/Calvin roomie Abby. John had the brilliant idea to do it at the old Calvin campus on Franklin street.

I took a couple hundred. Wow, amazing fun! The above mosaic shows a few of them!

Here they are looking like good Calvin girls in front of the OLD Hekman library.

Search On

I was just so excited thinking about Edward & Maria coming home from Calvin last week that I made this little video.

Happy Mother's Day!

After church Sunday, we went to Olga's Kitchen over by Calvin College. It has been my favorite restaurant since I was at Calvin. As always, it was awesome to have all the family together! John took this photo for Mother's day.

Edward's 21st

This is what happens when the tripod goes crooked. We all slanted our heads and Maria acted as a counter balance. We did get it right the second time.

Happy Birthday Edward!

Love Thursday

Sharon made me a heart shaped red velvet cake for my birthday!

Then, my neighbor brought me over this work of art!

Later, we met Edward & Maria for a very impromptu supper at a restaurant near Calvin!

It was a good, good day with a lot of other great things in between!

And welcome into the world little cousin Annelies!!! We get to share a birthday forever.

The Smilde Family Baseball Team

Smilde's from Michigan and Venezuela/Athens,GA

Yes, we are posing together like a baseball team.

Edward's Annual Dune Climb Challenge

This past weekend, we went up to Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan where John's sister's family has a cottage. We went to the steep, steep 450 foot dune of the Pierce Stocking drive of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and Edward set out to break his record from the previous year - 7:39 was his time to beat!

Edward and cousin Brian run down the dune.

The rest of us go over to the overlook to watch them far below.

They look like ants down in Lake Michigan.

The scenery is amazing!

And Edward made it in 7 minutes, 15 seconds this year!

The sunset was more like a bright glow on the water and by the time it got down there, it was behind the clouds. Still so beautiful!

Soaking in a Blue Blue Day

Bridget brought her friend Jessica up to Torch Lake and they had fun with all of the cousins! Four of Mike & Sharie's 5 kids were there and they played games for hours.

Mike had some really cool glasses which steered us all over Torch Lake.

John loved it!

We ended the long Saturday at Dockside Grill.