Family Fun

Recently, we had our family pictures taken by Mommy's friend, Amy Carr, in our Opa & Oma's backyard. We had a fun time and enjoyed seeing all the great shots she captured...and we really liked playing in the leaves. Enjoy the pics of us...my (Averie's) 4 year pics, Brady's 16 month pics (even though Mommy usually doesn't get any taken at this age...), and our family. We are so very thankful to God for His richest blessings to our family!

Just me...

...being "sassy"...
Just Brady...

Our Family

Daddy with his Brady Boy

Mommy with her "precious kiddies" (as she calls us!)

Mommy & me

Playing in the leaves...

The Karaffa Family ~ 2009

it's a playgroup christmas par-tay!

So, our playgroup started with me (Averie) and 2 of my friends, Thomas & Brock. Since the start of it in January 2006, we have gotten to be quite a large group. We try to get together a few times a month at various locations (park, pool, Chick-Fil-A, etc.), but around major holidays, we try to have a big party. So, for Christmas, we invited everyone to our house for our annual playgroup Christmas party. Almost everyone got to be there...and we had 17 children and 9 Mommies. It was a really fun, crazy morning! But, we had a great time! Enjoy the hilarious group picture...some not looking, some screaming, and some smiling!

We draw names for our gift exchange, and we had fun opening our gifts...

I got a Polly Pocket from my friend, Tucker...

And, Brady...

...got a lego truck from his buddy, Marcus. Sure was a fun morning!

just sittin' by the christmas tree...my "sissy" and me!

It's early December, and we are super excited about Christmas. Here are a few pictures that Mommy took of us by our tree.

(Oh, and we love the tree, especially me (Brady). I love to look really closely at it...then grab a candy cane, break it in half, lick it and say "mmm" all before Mommy catches me!)

Averie ~ 4 years old & Me ~ 17 months old

This is my more serious face...

Just Averie...

...& her silly face that she loves to make!

And, just me, Brady Boy...

(oh, here, I am smiling at "Sissy")

This is my really big cheese!

...and me laughing at my silly Mommy!

And, when Mommy tells me to say "cheese," I always think that it means to put my chin way up in the air when I say it. That is why my chin is up in a lot of pictures!!

Merry Christmas from us to you!

for the love of books...

We sure love reading books...both of us. But, while Averie was at preschool, I enjoyed reading some books while Mommy was putting away the laundry. I liked being able to read without interruptions from my big sister! :) So, here are some pictures that Mommy took of me, Brady Boy...reading my books...just because I love them!

Of course, a quick smile for my Mommy!

(I am saying "cheese" in this picture!)

I found a cow in one of the books, so I kept pointing at it, saying, "Moo."

Just taking a little rest before reading some more books!

Look...the cow again!

Reading is so much fun!

here comes the bride...and all the fun of the big wedding weekend...

Congratulations to our Uncle Thomas & Aunt Lindsey! They got married on Novebmer 28, and what a wonderful time it was. (Well, that is what our parents told us!) Between Thanksgiving, family in town from Holland, midnight shopping for Mommy, working for Daddy, and the wedding, we had a busy weekend. But, it was great! We (Brady & I) got to see Uncle Thomas & Aunt Lindsey after the wedding...for our family pictures. I (Averie) kept telling Mommy how pretty Aunt Lindsey looked. Then, when I walked up for our family picture, I said, "Aunt Lindsey, you look so beautiful." Uncle Thomas agreed! :) Enjoy the pics of our weekend.

The Van Wingerden Family

(Opa, Oma, their 6 children with spouses, and their 14 grandchildren)

The Original Van Wingerdens (with Aunt Lindsey)

(Opa, Oma, Uncle Art, Uncle Abe, Aunt Helen, Uncle Michael, Mommy, & Uncle Thomas)

The Brothers & Sisters (with Aunt Lindsey)

Our Family...Daddy, Mommy, me, & Brady

Opa & Oma with all 14 of their grandchildren

(The oldest is Eric (16) and the youngest is Brady (17 mths).)

Left to Right: Sam, Brady, Oma, Jackson, Eric, Paul, Carter, Stephanie, Opa, me, Zach, Grant, Noah, Kaitlyn (flower girl), Andrew, & Brayden (ring bearer)

After the pictures, we went home while Daddy & Mommy went to the dinner reception. They said it was a wonderful night of dancing and celebration.

Mommy's cousin & her 3 daughters stayed with us for the weekend of the wedding. It was fun having "house guests," and we had a great time playing together. We already miss them! Here we are...Averie, Joanna, Brady, Linda, & Elise.

The girls with Mommy & me (Averie)

And...just a fun close-up of us girls.

We also had Mommy's uncle, aunt, cousin, his wife, and their son, Max, also come in for Uncle Thomas' wedding. They were able to stay for 3 weeks. While they were here, we had them over to our house for dessert and fun. We also had a great time with them. Brady & Max became great buddies...they are only a few months apart! Here we are with Alexander (Mommy's cousin), Bianca (his wife), and Max.

And...of course always time for a picture of my Opa and his little buddy...ME!

Us with Oom Bram (Uncle Bram) and Tante Els (Aunt Els).

And...why not use this time to take a quick family picture...
The group...Opa, Tante Els, Oom Bram, Oma, Bianca, Brady, Mommy, Daddy, Me, Alexander, & Max
Brady with his buddy, Max.

What a wonderfully, busy weekend we had celebrating Uncle Thomas & Aunt Lindsey's wedding. We had a lot of fun spending time with so many family members...and a big congrats to our Uncle Thomas & Aunt Lindsey!