ohio trip

We drove to Columbus, Ohio, for a long weekend to celebrate our Great Mamaw's birthday. (This is our Daddy's Mamaw.) We had so much fun seeing her, the rest of the extended family, swimming, and going to the zoo. Happy Birthday, Mamaw!!

Daddy with Great Mamaw. He is the oldest grandchild.

Our family with Great Mamaw...we just love her!

Most of the gang...Me...Brady...2 years old!

My "Sissy," Averie...4 years old!

During our long weekend trip, we got to go to the Columbus Zoo for the day. It was Averie's 2nd time going...my very first time. We had SO much fun!! Here I am...grooming one of the goats!

Big Fun = Big smiles

"Sissy" and I combing one goat together!

"Sissy's" turn...

...she loved it, too!

All the kiddies before going to the polar bear exhibit. These are 5 of the 6 great grandchildren of Great Mamaw (newborn, Carson, was sleeping in his carseat...and yes, "Sissy" is the oldest and only girl)...and there are 3 more great grandchildren on the way.

I loved the polar bear...I wanted to jump in with him. So cool!

We also got to ride on the merry-go-round...

A quick family picture...I was getting pretty tired, but not ready to stop. At this point, we had been at the zoo, having a blast, for 5 hours!!

We got to play on this HUGE playground...it was so much fun...

...and pet some animals. This lizard was so cool!

Then, after we finished seeing most of the animals, we got to go ride some of the rides.

This was my first time...so fun!!

These teacups were super fun..."Sissy" got us spinning around and around very fast...

We were both laughing...

Then, it was time for our favorite ride of all...a miniature drop zone. "Sissy," McKinly, and I loved it so much that we got to ride it 7 times!! It would take us about 30 feet high and then "drop" us at random intervals. The first "drop" made my face look like this...but after that, we were all screams and laughs. Mommy and Aunt Blip Blip took so many pictures because we were so funny...enjoy them all!!

What a fun day at the zoo. We were there for about 9 hours and had a blast...but, we were so tired! Then, one night, Daddy & Poppy got to go to a Cincinnati Reds baseball game. They were both so excited. While they were at the game, Daddy caught a game ball. He gave it to me. So, here I am with Daddy...with a game ball...wearing Daddy's Reds hat!

What a great trip. We loved celebrating Great Mamaw and spending time family.

myrtle beach fun

Our annual Van Wingerden Family Myrtle Beach vacation was so much fun. We loved to swim in the ocean, play in the sand, and be with our cousins. But, we sure did miss having Opa here this year...sure isn't the same without him.

Enjoy the pics of us swimming, playing, eating, digging, hunting, laughing, and more!

Hunting for sea shells...one of "Sissy's" favorite things to do at the beach!
Walking on the beach with my Oma...

I "upgraded " shovels this year. Remember my beloved yellow shovel? Well, now I enjoyed playing with my big cousins' big shovels!

I loved taking them with all over the beach.

Sand fun...

Every day, Oma would buy us lemon quenches on the beach. Some days, we would eat our own...and other days, we would share them. Here is "Sissy" sharing one with Jackson. YUMMY!

Who's ready for some paddle ball?

Daddy "taught" me how to play!

"Sissy" & me

More sand fun...notice my tongue? :) I am really concentrating!

Pat, pat before I dump out the sand...tongue still out! :)

While we were down there, some of our VW extended family joined us...Great Uncle Jim, Great Aunt Rose, and their kids. We had a shaving cream fight one early afternoon. Of course, you won't see me or "Sissy" in the picture since we were scared of the shaving cream. But, everyone else had a great time!

One morning...ready to hit the beach!

I loved pushing my dump truck all over the beach...

One cute beach babe!

Wading in the water...

...and loving it!!

Here comes the waves...

"Sissy" loved being with her cousin, Sam. They enjoyed a little snack on the beach.

Sand Fun

Time to go in the water with Daddy...

We had a lot of fun jumping in the waves.

My Daddy and me

"Sissy" loving the beach

My "Sissy" and me...one of Mommy's favorite pics from the beach.

Daddy with his little girl

Sitting on the beach...chattin' with one of my favorite people...my Aunt "Linley" (Aunt Lindsey)

All the VW Grandchildren...(l-r: back row: Sam, Grant, Noah, Eric, Paul, Andrew...front row: Zach, Kaitlyn, Averie, Me, Carter, Jackson, Brayden, & Stephanie)

The 3 VW Granddaughters...Stephanie, Averie, & Kaitlyn

And me...the youngest VW grandchild...right now :)

My sweet "Sissy"

Oma got to room with us...well, we each had our own room (even if my room was Daddy & Mommy's closet!)...and every night, we sat with her and "played" with her ipad. We would send people emails and also look at all of her pictures. We would always ask to see pictures of Opa...and some of our other family.

Me & My Oma

Another fun day at the beach...

More digging in the sand...

...more smiles with Mommy...

...more yummy snacks at the beach...

...more fun with our cousins...

...and more fun with our Oma.

Just my big "Sissy" and me

And...a quick picture before playing some more!

Sharing a lemon quench with my cousin, Stephanie...YUMMY!

At our hotel was a big water park. So, one day, we spent the day at the water park and swimming pools. Here is "Sissy" going down the big waterslide.

My Daddy & me...enjoying the water park together.

(Mommy thinks our smiles are just alike in this picture...)

Cousin, Kaitlyn, and "Sissy" going down the slide together...

...then, I went down with Mommy. I loved it. I went down with Mommy or Daddy A LOT of times!

The water park gang...Carter, Stephanie, Kaitlyn, Me, & Averie

Daddy with his Averie

After we enjoyed the water park and some lunch, we headed to the pool. Here I am doing one of my jumps from the side of the pool. Every time I jump in, I yell "boogaball," which is translated "cannonball."

We were all acting like we were dogs, so we decided to try to drink from the side of the pool. Don't worry...Daddy & Mommy stopped us!

In the pool with our Daddy, our hero!

Back on the beach...enjoying the ocean!!

Playing on the beach with Daddy

One last one of me...on the beach...having a blast!

And...one last one of Averie...having a blast at the beach!

Myrtle Beach 2010