Jack finally got his trampoline with the money he raised at his Bake Sale earlier in the summer!

We've been busy this summer, as usual. We've been up to the Lake House and enjoyed seeing my parents and other family members. The weather has been wonderful as well.

It takes a long time to upload photos on this blog, so I can't upload our whole summer...but it has been great! School starts in a little over a week. The boys are sad that summer is ending, but I think they will enjoy having a schedule again as well.

It was so great to see friends and family this summer season. We look forward to Labor Day (the last hoorah) and a new Tamlyn baby, any day now!

April update

Greetings, friends and family. I have a lot to update. It's been almost 4 weeks. Since then we've celebrated my birthday (I have no pictures from that event...shocker) and we've gone to Florida to celebrate my mom's birthday and take a little vaca. (I do have pictures from that) We are currently on Spring Break. I love the laid back routine of break. (Christmas, Spring and Summer) I love having the boys at home...

Time flies when you're having fun!

Is that true? Does time fly when you're having fun? Or does it just fly? Every time I think about updating my blog, I think I would rather be vegitating on the couch. But here we go.

Jack's birthday was February 15th. 8 yrs old. We spent the weekend in Traverse City with Craig's family. One night and one day at Great Wolf Lodge (the boys love it..and so do Jack and Heath)so we sometime go for birthdays. We used a gift card we had gotten for Christmas and stayed on a weeknight....














We also stayed over at Chris and Renee's. The boys always have such a great time at their aunt and uncle's.
Valentine's day was in there too, but I didn't document it. Craig and I bought the boys some of their favorite fruit chews and fruit drinks (100% fruit of course) and Craig bought me flowers and candy....good man!

Then it was my birthday...it went on for days....which I love...I'm one of the few who think the day you were born is still a big deal after the age of 21.......I drove to Chicago and spent the weekend with Joyel. It was so fun...no schedule, lots of food....shopping....laughing...we did a lot of laughing.

I bought the boys a Lego set from the Lego store...this is the John Hancock Center (for those of you who aren't geographically inclined...which I'm not) I got to see my Aunt Cindy as well. She took Joyel and I too lunch at Maggiano's...if you haven't been there...GO! (and order the mushroom ravioli! Yum!...I just drooled a little) Thank you again, Aunt Cindy. I love you!

Jim and Sue came down while I was gone and entertained the boys in my stead. The house was clean; the laundry done...the dishes done...ship shape! Thank you, again, Jim and Sue! I love you!


Now it's March. No long drawn out winter for us...it was 55 today. Ahhh, spring is right around the corner. I have spring fever bad....dusting, painting...all sorts of shananagins! We are heading to Florida in less than two weeks for my mom's 49th birthday...we 're so excited! I'll take lots of pictures and post them when we get back!

January....(and a little bit of February)

Greetings and salutations, friends and family! It has been weeks since I posted anything new. (sorry) I was waiting for some pictures from my sister-in-law, Renee, but she has not sent them.....ehem...Renee...send the GWL pics! hahaha

Ok, so not much is new. The boys spend (or at least try to spend) most of their time playing video games. ( Wii or ninentdo DS) Curse the video games! Heath has officially changed into a Mario character. He draws pictures related to the different worlds he's beaten....or not. He often takes little people, or dinosaurs, army guys, whatever he can find, and plays "Mario"! (deep sigh)
Jack also likes to play, but he's not quite as dramatic as Heath (I'm sure that's not a shocker) We have been playing "The Ladybug Game"....a lot! The boys got it for Christmas, but I don't remember from who. Nana and Papa maybe? Well, whomever, thank you so much! The boys love it!

Also, we have been reading books about people from the past...Abigail Adams, Daniel Boone, Elizabeth Blackwell, The Wright Brothers...it has been so great. Curious George is also a family favorite. Because we haven't had much snow this winter, so far, the boys have not been able to enjoy it as much as usual...and it has been bitterly cold, so when I do send them out, it's not long before they are knocking at the door with pink cheeks!

Last week Jack was honored at school (they call it 'fishing') for their monthly moral focus...courage! His teacher honored him and a classmate for displaying courage i.e. making good decisions etc. We were so proud. I went to "muffins for Moms" two weeks ago to celebrate the letter "M" in Heath's class. Fun and Yummy! And Craig went to "Donuts for Dads" last week sponsored by the PTO. Valentine's Day parties are this week and I'm in charge of bringing sugar cookies to Jack's class. We are doing his class valentines today. Fun!

We stay busy going to the YMCA, playing games and playing with friends in the neighborhood and Craig takes the boys every Saturday to get donuts (while mom sleeps in : ) ). I'm in a bible study (Beth Morre's Esther...love it!) and I'm currently mentoring a little girl from an under-priveleged school in GR once a week. Craig, is still working and is doing a little project on the side for a neighbor. He is also in a men's book study "Case for Christ" once a week (6 am!) and plays basketball once a week as well. So, as you can see we're all busy. God is good! We are looking forward to heading south this March (ssshhh, the boys don't know yet...) for a little warm weather and R&R and Jack's birthday is next week!!!! He's going to be 8! (how can that be?)

Stay warm, my friends!

Holidays

Greetings from chilly Grand Rapids. Not a lot of snow, but very cold here. The boys have so much enjoyed sledding this winter. The bigger they get, the more fun it is! Craig and I got the boys an old "flexible flyer" style sled for Christmas, that really flies in the snow. They have loved it!

Our Christmas was here and gone before I knew it. We like to keep our Christmas's as non-hectic as possible, and I believe we achieved that. Focusing on the true meaning of Christmas is always a challenge, but I believe we held true to our beliefs while navigating the comercialism that is now Christmas. We went north a little early to be with my parents, as they are now in Florida for 4 months, to spend a little extra time with them before they left. It was fun and relaxing. The boys built a gingerbread house, which was not structurally sound, I'm embarrassed to say...as the wife of a structural engineer ; ) But if was fun to build....













We got to see my Grandma Clarke who came to Lake House periodically. We played cribbage, which I recently taught Jack to play as well. I always love seeing her when I go north!

We went to Jim and Sue's for Christmas Eve dinner and got to see Craig's brothers, Chris and Jimmy and their wives.....it's always fun to get together and do our annual secret santa gift exchange...We had not seen Sue since Labor Day, so we were pleased to see her. We spent Christmas weekend with them and it was very nice. We played Blokus......sooo fun!









We are plugging along here.....Heath lost his first tooth this morning....he was giddy with excitement! (his new look is tooo cute)

We love to have visitors, so come see us! Love you all!

Christmas season

First of all, I love the Christmas season. I don't particularly love the crowds or the materialism of the season (yes, I had the longest Christmas list of my whole family...what of it? ; ) ) But I do love the music, the snow, the lights, the celebration of the birth of my savior. I know that's cliche' but there is something I really cherish about sitting next to a window, watching the snow fall, listening to Christmas music and reading or doing my Bible study...with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate...with peppermint schnapps (I guess that's Jesus' favorite too) It's quiet and peaceful. When I day dream, I'm doing that very thing....Also, I'm a gift giver. Of course some of you may be saying..."Oh really? What'd you get me this year?"....my funds limit me of course.

This year we headed off in a neighbor's truck to get our tree, a scotch fur, $18..a total steal....and decorated it the next night. The "put all the ornaments in one spot" trick never gets old does it?

Craig and I have enjoyed making our Christmas gift list and shopping for others. Jack also made a 40 item list that I'm sorry I didn't scan and show you....too funny...I think a train was on there...not a toy train...a real train.

They both have one more week of school then they're out for 2 weeks. They both love to play in the snow so they'll look forward to that, plus going "up north" for Christmas. We are looking forward to seeing everyone!!!! Merry Christmas!

Thanksgiving early....Happy birthday, Chris

Happy Monday! This past weekend it was 70 degrees here in West Michigan! Ahhh, sun. I got a nice dose of vitamin D. It was beautiful. We also celebrated Thanksgiving early with Craig's family, minus his Mom (we're praying for you Sue...we love you and miss you) and brother Jimmy and his family (see you guys at Christmas!)

It was also Chris' 32nd birthday. We celebrated with cake, a play written by Jack...Renee was so moved by the production, she cried.....and then off to Craig's Cruisers for some go-karting! Here are some pictures. Enjoy!