FAMILY VACATION

Every year in August we make the trip up to Detroit Lakes, MN for the annual Vincelli Golf Vacation. Most of the Vincelli's gather each year and with the next generation of new little kiddos, next year there will be about 30 of us! The men play in a week long golf tournament, the "Pine to Palm" at Detroit Lakes Country Club. Needless to say, if you have any Vincelli blood, you are a golfer. But I've learned there's actually really no choice in the matter. Even if your last name is Vincelli and have no blood relation (like me) you still need to golf or at least seem interested in it. :) In fact, one of my first gifts from Nick's dad was a set of golf clubs he collected for me from various sets. That's when I knew it was serious...

Nick's family has been going for over 35 years. It's tradition and I would imagine Elijah and Will will be playing in the tournament in 15 short years when they turn 16. Short years...ha, yeah right! And like I said, there's no choice, they'll just be golfers. But I must mention there will be no pressure from me!

This trip usually falls right on my birthday, which has it's pros and cons. It's great because I'm on vacation, but that also means Nick's usually off golfing. This year I invited my sister, Corrie, to come with for a few days to help out with the babies.

We met the most adorable twin girls who were vacationing at the Lodge the same week we were. Charlotte and Juliette are 10 years old and live in New York. They are such beautiful, sweet, and fun girls. Elijah and Will had such a fun time playing with them. They were so polite and helpful. It was like we had our own little babysitters to help keep the boys happy and occupied! We have since kept in touch and both sets of twins are now penpals. It is the cutest thing ever!

Here are a couple of the girl twins with the boy twins!





Here are a few photos to sum our trip up! Enjoy!

(Of course we realized after that we never took a family photo of all the Vincelli family together. We also didn't really get many photos at all of the Vincelli clan. Not sure how that could happen for being there 7 days, but I guess it did! )


We stopped for a quick picnic on the drive to Detroit Lakes...


Elijah had fun on the swings...


And Will did too!


Lovin' those little hotel room cribs!


Peek-a-boo!


Watching daddy golf!


Playing with second cousins, Tessa and Nolan


We take so many photos of the babies, we forgot to take photos of just Nick and I together! But look we actually took one! So in love...


On a walk by the lake...



Snack time outside...


Mommy & Elijah...


Stroller Ride


Auntie Corrie with the boys...


Elijah sleeping...


Poor Will was stuck sleeping in the bathroom!


Eli and Will's first time at Zorbaz. Awesome pizza!


We love our walks!


Playing with cousin, Owen and second cousin, Nolan


Tickle Party


Relaxing outside


Daddy & Will on the beach


Daddy & Elijah swimming in the pool


Will & Auntie Corrie in the pool


Handsome Will


Seriously, I deserve the BEST CADDY AWARD for carrying Nick's clubs and his kids.
(Okay so this photo may or may not have been staged!)


My little family


The Three Musketeers: cousins Will, Eli, and Max


Having a glass of wine relaxing by the lake on our last night!


What? Another photo of Amy & Nick. That makes 2 for this trip! Amazing! (The boys were peacefully sleeping!)

PHOTO SHOOT

A distant relative, Julie, took these adorable photos of the boys. Julie is AWESOME! She is so patient and creative. Words just cannot express my thankfulness for the amazing photos she took. My heart is overjoyed with the precious moments she captured of my precious little miracles! I'm so in love with these photos and can't wait to have her take more in the future. Thank you, Julie!!

Poor Will was so scared and cried and cried, but Julie still managed to get some cute shots. But Eli just hammed it up and smiled.

A few of my favorites...







Amy & Elijah

Amy & Will




Will Clarence (10 months old in this photo.)


Nick & Will


Nick & Elijah


Elijah Kinsley (10 months old in this photo)

PRAYING

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

I'm praying for my sister, Erin, who is due in one week with her first baby girl.

I'm praying for my friend who is newly pregnant for the fifth time (with 2 children on earth and 2 angel babies in heaven) and is not announcing her pregnancy for she is fearful of yet another miscarriage.

I'm praying for my friend, Melanie, who was scheduled to do her first cycle of IVF this month, but had to postpone it due to not having enough follicles.

I'm praying for my friend, Heidi, who is mourning the loss of her 2 precious twin babies, Charlie & Savannah, born at 22 weeks gestation.

I'm praying for all those women struggling with infertility who so desperately want to become mothers.

I'm praying for the women who are thinking of having an abortion. I'm praying that they see the precious gift of life in each and every little baby and carry their baby to term.


Dear God,
Please be with all of these women as they are all in different "stages" of wanting to be a mother. Hold them close, giving them comfort and hope for the future. Give them the peace and faith that you have a perfect plan for their lives and their family.
In Jesus' name. Amen.

MY 31st BIRTHDAY

You read that right, I turned 31 today. I know, I can barely believe it myself. I try not to think about the number of how old I am. I just give thanks for another year and celebrate life's precious gifts!

It was my first birthday as a mommy. And a special one it was! We had a nice day together on vacation in Detroit Lakes, MN. It was a beautiful day in at the Lodge. We took the boys in the lake and played on the beach. It was their first time in a lake and on sand. Elijah was really into the sand and probably ate a good teaspoon or so! And Will was throwing it all around.

Even though I took 5 minutes as I passed a mirror to pull out about 20 gray hairs, (Yuck!) I'm not going to let it bother me. Such is life. Ahh, a beautiful thing. And I suppose I can always start dyeing my hair. :)

Family photo on the hotel room bed with self timer on the dresser. Not too shabby! :)


Playing on the sand for the first time. Elijah enjoyed eating it (that guy was so fast and sneaky at getting it into his mouth before we could stop him!) and Will was throwing it around!


Will's first time in the lake!


Elijah's first time in the lake!