aukeman family reunion in WI...

Fall 2008

Summer 2013

Steve's Grandpa Aukeman loved his family dearly and prayed for all of us daily.  We have had a number of times when all of us have been able to be together when he was alive, but Steve's mom and aunts and uncles knew that after he passed away in 2011, we would have to be a little more deliberate in our planning to still get the family together every so often.  So they started right in and planned a family reunion for July 2013 in WI, halfway between MN and MI. 

27 out of 29 of us were able to come, and what a wonderful weekend we had together.  They rented a farmhouse at Windever Farm near Plymouth, WI, that was large enough to sleep almost all of us!  And it had a big enough kitchen and diningroom/gazebo for us to all be able to cook and eat together (each of us signed up for a meal).  We planned a few activities for each day and also enjoyed a lot of time relaxing and visiting together.

Carsten, Uncle Daryl, Owen and cousin Kevin

 We all arrived on Thursday afternoon/evening and enjoyed brats on the grill and an evening of exploring the farm we were staying at.  Including a short walk to the nearby pond.

As always happens on trips, the kids don't sleep well at all on the first night, and Thursday night was no exception.  Topped off by Henry waking up at 6 and refusing to go back to sleep.  The ONLY bright side to this was a beautiful morning sunrise view and a nice chat with Uncle Daryl (who is always up early).

(cousin Caroline and her boys Caleb and Owen)

 Our first activity on Friday morning was a short drive to Sheboygan, WI, to visit the Bookworm Gardens.  This was a delightful garden filled with beautiful trees and plants, and areas representing 60 different classic children's books.  What a fun place to go for everyone!  It was so fun to see the kids react to all the different books that they knew.

And of COURSE there are books to read too (all in plastic protected pages).  The kids wasted no time in asking Aahma to read them one...

Here is Pooh's house from Winnie the Pooh!  A cute little tiny place that the kids tried to fit as many as they could in.  Willem, Carsten and Henry are in there behind Owen and Logan!

Here is the log cabin from Little House in the Big Woods.  This was Grace and Greta's favorite spot!

Carsten and Willem driving the covered wagon!

OK, I take that previous statement back.  The fairy house area was Grace and Greta's favorite spot.  I think they would have stayed here all day if Jeff and Steve wouldn't have moved them along. =)

Willem on the cow outside of Charlotte Web's farm.  I didn't grab a picture, but they had a metal web inside with "SOME PIG!" in it - so cute!

They even had a Magic School Bus!

"all aboard for an adventure!"

cousin love

After a while at the Bookworm Gardens, we all drove across town to a beach on Lake MI.  We started the afternoon with a picnic in the park...

...and then headed for the beach!

The water was a bit cold yet (and full of little dead fish!), but that didn't stop the kids!

They did spend most of their time building sand castles and dams and rivers though.

Henry had a lot of fun in the sand!

The farmhouse had a great backyard patio with a fire pit, so s'more's were a nightly treat. 

"One more Momma?!!

Aunt Jalaine and cousin Kevin playing ladder ball

We also got out some lawn games and frisbees.

Since Friday was such a big day and everyone went along to the gardens and the beach, we purposely didn't plan a lot on Saturday so it could be a much more laid back day.  Most everyone had a relaxing morning either sleeping in, reading and playing and exploring the farm and area a bit more.  By afternoon the kids were ready to do something again though, so a big group went to the little water park in Plymouth.  But Henry was fussy and ready for some chill time, so he and I went with Christy and Kaatje to check out the street fair that was also going on in Plymouth.  Lots of fun little art booths...

...and homemade ice cream!!!  I think that was Henry's favorite part. =)

Saturday night we ordered pizza in, played some games...

got breakfast ready for the next day...

and of course had some more s'more's!

Grace tried a cookie s'more, yum!

Willem and Henry were experts at relaxing by this time!

Everyone took off after breakfast on Sunday morning.  We had a great weekend all together, and you know it must have been a good family reunion when everyone left saying we need to do this again!