Reunion with the Ratzlaffs!

Yep, we were pretty excited to see the Ratzlaff family drive around that corner!!  After living in Jordan for the past 2 years, it had been 2 1/2 years since we had seen their family!  They had yet to meet our littlest girls and all of the big kids between our two families had done so much growing in that time.

My sister, Brandee, and her family arriving!

McKenna's first time in Uncle Trav's arms... and she liked it!  She found her way there many
more times in the days we had together!

The big kids warmed up to one another immediately and there was fun to be had!

Lots of fun!!!

And lots of sports with so many sports-loving kiddos!

Kylee, McKenna and Hailey

One of my favorite captured moments - Trav had a way of playing with the little girls and they just couldn't get enough!  Hide-n-seek, swings, chalk, bubbles - he was up for anything and they loved it!

Carys is very sensitive to sound... and Trav's arms were a place of comfort.

Kylee loved Bee's manicure!!  

And the little girls decided they needed one too!

some evening twister in the backyard

movie night!

back yard cousin campout!

Hailey - 6, Colson and Kaden - 8,  Logan - 9, Kylee - 10, Connor  -11,
Carys - 3, McKenna - 2

Off to the 4th of July parade

The "big" cousins
(12 cousins on the Berglund side - these are the oldest 1/2 dozen)

day at the pool

day at the beach

trying out some old dance moves together

Oh, how we relished our time together.  I adore my sis, her hubby and all their kids.  We couldn't get enough of our time together and neither could our kiddos.  Tears were shed at their departure, but we will have time together once again at Christmas - we can't wait!!  

baby love

 We had a wonderful opportunity to love on a precious little one last month and it was so good for us in so many ways.  We're going through some tough stages with our toddlers... with two 2 year olds and a 3 year old there are a lot of tantrums, a lot of jealousy and a lot of competition.  Some of the personalities/behaviors have a way of rubbing others the wrong way... and I often wonder when peace will be restored and love will be found once again between certain siblings.  It has been hard and exhaustive at times for this mama.  BUT, thank God for babies...

Babies have a way of drawing sweetness, love, adoration and care out of each and every child in my home.  It was soothing to my soul to see every one of my 6 kiddos tend gently and carefully to the sweet baby girl.  She had a way of uniting my 3 toddlers, and allowing my big 3 to love a little one without being rejected or screamed at.

It was a great feeling to see so much love pour out of the kiddos as we were of one mind loving on this sweet little baby.  It also helped that she is a GREAT baby who easily fit into the family.  Thank you so very much, Buntrock family, for trusting us with your littlest love.  We can't wait until the next time!