Lauren's summer

As summer is coming to an end i wanted to sum up Lauren's summer for my cousin who is in the Army! 

To start the summer off I had gotten engaged so that means Lauren will have new cousins to play with! She LOVES them! She always tells me that she wants to play with Aubrey, Cade and Leif! I couldn't be more excited that she already has so much fun with them! I can't wait to see how the future will go! 

Lauren has had a fantastic summer, she has made so many new little friends! We have had so many play dates at the park I don't think I could count them on my fingers! 

Lauren got to see fireworks with Bryce, attend Bryce's first birthday and welcome Bryce's baby brother Austin to the world. 

She went to the Hudsonville fair TWO times! The first time was with Bryan's parents and his sister Katie and her family! The second time was with nana, papa, kat and code. 

My Best Friend

So this girl right here is my best friend! Its strange we met  in high school on the equestrian team her senior year and my freshmen year. 

We lost contact witH each other for about five years and re connected after we both had had a child.

Once we started talking again we decided that we were going to start a little business together called haiylo boutique.

We made lots and lots of headbands together! We are there for each other when we one another, always has advise and want our girls to grow up together. Oh and i got her hooked on Matilda Jane clothing and we are addicts together! 

Wedding Plans in the Making

So far Bryan and I have agreed on the day, location of the ceremony and reception.
We will be getting married September 4, 2015. The ceremony will be held at Maranatha Christian Reformed Church. Our reception will be held at the Holland fish and game club. The theme we are going for is lace and burlap with babies breath and roses. I have been going crazy on pinterest and have so many ideas!

here are a few of the the ideas we may use

Dining room table

Bryan and I are starting to gather things for our soon to be home! I was lucky enough to have been given an dining room table, only problem is its in rough shape. So what better than to sand it down and refinish it! Thanks to Bryan's dad who lent us his sander to make our job easier! 

Sanding......

 All done sanding.....

First coat of varnish

We still have a couple more coats of varnish to do and then we are going to tackle the chairs next! Wish us luck!  

Tough decisions

A few months ago I was renting a house on the north side of Holland, my landlord came to me and said i had 30 days to move out so his son (who was getting married could live in the house). As a mother I was freaking out, I wanted to make sure i found the best place possible for my daughter to stay. We looked at several different apartments and a few houses to rent. I was not satisfied with anything that was available to me at that time. My parents were kind enough to let me move back home with my cat, dog and child. I was very blessed that they agreed to let me move in to save up money to have more options. We all sat down and discussed me possible purchasing my first home. I was totally freaked out by that! As a single mother i was not sure that was a commitment I was ready for yet. I agreed to head to the credit union to see if i could get approved for a loan. I had it in my head that there was NO way i would get approved, I was terrified of the outcome of the meeting at the credit union. While I was there I learned that I got approved and that I can do whatever I set my mind to do! The mortgage lady referred me to a great Realtor. We stared looking at houses, the more I looked at the more I was becoming disappointed. I was picturing that "perfect" house in my head. A 2 story house with cute landscaping and a big kitchen. Reality I was not going to get EVERYTHING I was hoping for in my first house. Then a miracle happened! I was offered a 3 bed room two and a half bath cute house in a great neighborhood! Only a month and a half unti I will be a home owner!!!!

I got Engaged!!!

On July 22, 2014 I got engaged!!
if you would like to see our wedding website
 http://www.theknot.com/wedding/Philippus-and-Smith/view/5496417534437633/44075065

How we got engaged

On Tuesday we went to my grandmothers house for dinner, on our way there he had mentioned that he had a fun night planned for himself, Lauren and I. He also sad that we need to try to leaver earlier than we normally do. I thought nothing of getting engaged that night so I went with it. After dinner was done grams needed help moving a shelf that my grandpa had made. It took the boys (my dad, Bryan and Cody) awhile to get the motivation to move the thing. Bryan was getting all antsy and was ready to leave asap. They fianlly got the shelf moved and we left shortly after. On our way to where evrer Bryan was taking us I said what are we just going back to my parents? Bryan said no we are going to park for a little bit so Lauren can play. We arrive at southside christian (Lauren's favorite place to play). We played for a good twenty minutes before Lauren decided she was too cool to hang with us, she had to go ride clifford. Bryan had told me to sit down on this blue thing and hen he said turn around.....I started freaking out, I saw him down on one knee. I was thinking in my head is this really happening right now? No it cant be. He then proceeded to ask "Kelsie Monique Smith, will you marry me?" At this point I was literally speechless I could not say anything. I tried to say yes but it just wouldn't come out of my mouth!  The excitement was not over yet. He said to me get Lo and get in the truck there is one other place i have to take you. so I get Lauren and head to the truck. Once we were all buckled in and ready to go i start questioning Bryan about where he is taking us. I finally get it out of him that he is taking us to hudsonville to see his sister Emily. I was freaking out, I havn't met her yet and had no idea what she would say about what just happened. By the time we get to Emily's house its almost 10 o'clock pm. We walk in her house and go to the basement and say hi.Then Bryan get all giggly and says that we are engaged and he wanted Emily to be the first to know.  She was so excited for Bryan and I!

Lauren Olivia

My Daughters name is Lauren Olivia. She was born October 21st, 2011. She is almost three years old and I could not imagine my life With out her. She has honestly been the best thing that has happened to me.