Joy!

Brianna (at the top of her lungs): "Joy to the world the Lord is come ...... and Heaven and Manger Scene, and Heaven and Manger Scene, and Hea----ven and Hea---ven and MANGER SCENE!"

Thanksgiving...finally

Each Thanksgiving we go bowling with the Koetje Family. As they get older, the kids get more and more into the game.

Here is the almost full group shot. From top left Rylee, Bri, Kaylee, Nate and Maddie.Bri getting ready to make a big move

Nate lining up

In the position

Great shot! We were very excited anytime the ball actually made it to the end of the lane.

Funny Boy

I was sitting here working and everyone else was asleep (or so I thought). Curled up in the recliner with my laptop and paperwork I suddenly found that I had been joined by a small blonde sweetie in footie pajamas.

Without a word he went over to the book basket and picked up his "Touch and Feel Farm" book, opened the front closet and pulled out a blanket, climbed onto the couch and curled up to go back to sleep.

After a short while he disappeared just as quickly as he appeared.

"Swim" the Fish

Tonight was Grandville Christian's Family Fun Night. Bri has been counting down the days all week. We went early and had supper in the gym. The kids were all smiles from the moment we got out of the car.

It was very interesting to be back at a family fun night more than 17 years after my last one... Some things have changed, some have very much stayed the same.

The highlight of the night was the fish pond. Silly me, I thought the fish pond was where they would stick poles over the side of a "pond" and get a prize.... What I soon discovered was that the fish pond is a game where you toss ping pong balls into a field of cups and if you land one you get a goldfish. Of course, I realized the prize only after Bri had lit up like a million-watt light bulb.

You see, for a few months now she has been begging for a pet. A dog, a gerbil, a bird...anything. The kid just wants a pet. Last week at Meijer I had to pry her off of the aquarium display as she was convinced that a fish was the perfect pet.

So, when she saw that the opportunity for a pet was within her grasp she became intensely focused. While she was in line I watched child after child throw and not win a fish. Whew. We're probably safe. These kids are 8 and over, Bri is only 4..there's no way were going home with a fish.

When Bri's turn arrived she cautiously stepped up to the line with her first ping-pong ball held firmly in her fist. The determination on her face was amazing. Carefully she aimed and "pop" landed that ball right in the cup. Oh, but we were not done yet. She still had two more balls. "pop" "pop".

We picked out the most orange (and non-floater) fish from that table and off we went to tell daddy and Nate the good news. Nate was thrilled, Daddy...not as much.

Bri nearly had tears in her eyes as she bounced up and down and told us how she was going to tell all the kids at school about her new pet.

So, as we walked to the car Jeff and I debated over the best way to handle this new addition to our family. Surely we could not let him continue to live in a styrofoam cup..or could we...no. definitely not.

He was also probably going to need a bit of fish food in the morning. Oh crap, will he live till morning? How are we going to explain this if it doesn't.

Excited about her new pet, Brianna called Grandpa Don from the backseat of the car- because he is a fish expert and she knew he would share her excitement. Meanwhile, we drove to Pet Supplies Plus in order to gather the things we would need.

So, $38.00 later we had a home for Swim and all the supplies that should be necessary to keep him thriving. As we put the 1.5 gallon aquarium, cotton candy colored gravel, filter and other paraphernalia together, Bri exclaimed "I was going to wish for a fish for my birthday and now I don't have to because I already have my wish".

So, here I sit, blogging about a fish who I am watching very carefully.. I have made Jeff come into the room 3 times already because I think he is swimming "funny". Jeff has assured me that he is not and that I need to "stop obsessing over the fish".

Here's to you Swim. May you have a long, healthy fish life!

Halloween II

Brianna fell in LOVE with this costume.. so Ariel she was (the little mermaid). Don't even ask me how hard it was to make her hair "beautiful".Nate was a monkey. What a monkey he was!
Grandpa Jim couldn't resist giving him a banana.

Here's the whole trick-or-treating crew. Bri, Maddie, Kam {The Sleeping Pumpkin} and Nate

Happy mom with a mermaid and a monkey. Nothing could be better.

Halloween-Part I

Pumpkins!

I'm not a big fan of Halloween. In fact, I don't even like scary movies. Don't even get me started on the "meaning" of it. However, I love to carve pumpkins and celebrate the fall with my kids. Here are this year's creations:

First Day of School -2009

This is Bri's first day of School. She is in Pre-K at Grandville Christian School. It's hard to believe that I am at the place in my life where I have elementary-school aged kids. What's even crazier is that both Jeff and I attended Grandville Christian.

This photo may seem silly, but it is very important. My mom would take this photo of me each year on this very same front porch...did I mention how strange it is that I'm the mom now?

Of course, Nate needed to get in on the photo action as well.

At the entry way--During orientation (a few days prior)There she goes..my big girl heading down the hallway to her first day. (with Eli Mulder).