Testing video

We bought ourselves a new camera with our Christmas money. It has a video feature as well - so I am testing to see how easily I can put video on the blog!

New Year and Aidan's Birthday

After hosting Chris and Becca's birthday on New Year's Eve day - we had our small group over for a New Year's Eve Party - I use the term party loosely as I was not a grand hostess! We still had a good time. Our friends brought over their Wii and that kept the kids (and a few adults) busy for most of the evening! David and Steven both got to stay up til midnight for the first time and they were very excited!

Here's the gang having fun!

Here is Becca with her "special friend" Hunter - they had a pre-midnight kiss!

We spent New Year's day at Anna's house. Theo, Jess & Gabriela left the next week to live in Germany for a few years!

This is "little" Gabriela - she is such a sweetie! We are going to miss her terribly!

Last weekend we celebrated Aidan's birthday!

Here he is enjoying his Thomas cake

Opening presents is ALWAYS fun!

Grandma Sheila made matching outfits for Becca and Claire - here they are!

Here's the best "posed" picture we got for the evening!

Two of the best gifts ever!

Chris and Becca's Birthday

Christmas 2008 slideshow

Christmas pics

Here is our formal picture the kids!

Thanksgiving trip to Florida!

We packed up the van buckled in the kids and headed south! We made it down there in 17 hours - we left at 4pm and pulled in the driveway at 9am. Then we unleashed the kids on the grandparents and took a nap!
We stayed with my dad (Pop) and his wife (Grammy Jane) for a full week! We had a great time and throughly exhausted the grandparents in the process!
Here are some pics from the week!

Yes, they are on the roof of Pop's house. Chris was helping hang the Christmas lights and they wanted to see what it was like up there!

The kids helped decorate Pop and Grammy Jane's Christmas tree

Here is all of us at our Thanksgiving meal. It was SOO yummy! We had a special day!

Yes, we actually played shuffleboard - the boys really got into it!

We opened Christmas presents with Pop and Grammy Jane on Thanksgiving Day.

The boys playing games - they really got into Uno and Yahtzee

The traditional picture of the kids with Pop and Grammy Jane - does Jane look a little tired? She was!
We were not really looking forward to driving home - it's always more exciting on the way! There was supposed to be bad weather possible all the way through, but fortunately we had smooth sailing (except for the traffic around Atlanta!). We left at 2:30pm - the kids got out of the van twice to go to the bathroom - Chris and I had one extra bathroom stop - they all slept about nine hours and we were home at 9:00am! I highly recommend this mode of travel - the more they are asleep the easier it is!
It was a great vacation! Thanks Dad & Jane for everything!

Life Church Groundbreaking Ceremony

I know, I know - I am way behind! We had vacation and then some computer issues, and before you know it a month has gone by!
Here are some pics from the Life Church Groundbreaking Ceremony. Our church has purchased a building! We closed in September and the parking lot work is almost done and the interior renovations are underway! We are hoping to be in the building by March! Chris has done a TON of work with both the purchase and with organizing the construction - we are so excited to see it all begin to become a reality. You can see more about it HERE - including a 3-D tour of the initial plans!


The Leadership Team and Pastors

Chris with the ceremonial shovel

Chris and the kids

Fall Highlights - Part 2

Whew! We survived what has now become the "Halloween Season". Chris and I figured out that we put the boys in their costumes for 6 events in the past few weeks!
Here we are a few nights ago, carving pumpkins. This was the first year David put his hands in the "goo" - of course Becca had no hesitation whatsoever!


Yesterday was a BIG day. The boys had a 1/2 day of school which included Halloween parties and a costume parade. Luckily it was unseasonably warm and the boys were able to play outside for the afternoon. By 5:00 they were completely wired and thought the fun would never start. We get A LOT of kids at our house, in fact, people drive into our sub to trick-or-treat. I wouldn't be surprised to see buses start pulling in here in the next few years. We started a tradition last year of giving out pizza slices and cider along with our candy. It's fun because people hang out and chat and it's a chance to connect with our neighbors (and the rest of the town that comes to our sub). The kids LOVE it and they have just as much fun passing out candy as they do going around to collect it!

October Highlights

As usual it seems we have packed a lot of activities into the past month. Although it has been cold the past few days we had some BEAUTIFUL fall days. I think I appreciate our Michigan fall more each year. Every year I am blown away at the beauty of the colors!
In mid-October we FINALLY got to meet our precious new niece, Gabriella Pilar. She is adorable!




A few moms from our church went together to the Orchard with our little ones - here are some pictures from that!




I think we did a few more things, but Becca is waking up from her nap - so I may have to do October Part 2!

Playing in the rain, grapes & kissing cousins

I guess it's already been a month since my last update! I don't know where the time goes! It's amazing that a day can go so slowly, yet the months seem to just fly by!
The second weekend in September it rained ALL weekend! The kids were getting major cabin fever. On Sunday evening I suggested we go to McDonalds for dinner to get some energy out (of the kids that is). Although it was raining it was really warm out. Chris suggested that the kids get in their swimsuits and go out and play in the rain. He threw in making pancakes and they voted for the rain over McDonalds!
Here they are - they stomped in puddles, rode their bikes in the rain (David needed goggles) and Chris put out a tarp to make our own slip and slide!




Last Saturday the kids and I went to Grammy's for the afternoon for day one of making grape jelly. We picked the grapes, washed them and sorted them. Then we crushed and cooked them and strained out the juice. Grammy canned the juice and the boys will make the jelly later this winter!


Aidan & Claire were there as well and we got some kissin' cousins pictures.

Steve-O no mo!

For months now Becca has called Steven, Steve-O. I think she thought she was saying Steven, but it just came out differently. I sometimes call him Steve-O and he always corrects me. It's okay for Becca but not for anyone else.
Today, Becca said Steven - clear as day. I had noticed it a couple times and then Steven noticed it too. He was so excited that he doesn't have to be Steve-O anymore. Papa calls him Stev-a-rino -which again - he only likes it if Papa calls him that. Considering Steven wants to be a "Sportman" when he grows up, his dad and I keep telling him he better pick a nickname!

First Day of School 2008!

Today was a 1/2 day, but it was a start!
Chris walked David to school at the start of the day.
Here is David, the second grader, this morning -


Here he is the first day of first grade


And Kindergarten


Steven had a 1/2 of a half day. It is more of an orientation and the parent stays for the whole time (just over an hour).
Here is our proud Kindergarten boy!



Here he is last year for 4 year old pre-school


And two years ago for 3 year old pre-school


Here they are together - their first time at the same school!

Park Pictures

We went to the park this morning and I got some really cute pictures of Becca!
Just had to share!



Grandpa Mike was right next to her in the last one!

My 3 fish!

Here are the antics of my 3 in the pool last night!

Here is Becca - this is the most she has done the diving board this summer - she also started without the arm floaties last night!

Look at that natural form!

He's been back-diving for 3 summers now!

Steven mid-flip!

David -early on in the flip!