Wanderings

Dad's B-day party - with the piano recitalists.

Sunset on vacation. Wow.

Father's Day at home - kids made him a poster

Beachin' it on vacation

That Father Son Campout was a blast! Seth fell asleep before the bus left the campground. :)

Curls and more curls. So cute.

We celebrated Ken's birthday in June with an overnight at the Shack in Jugville. Beautiful, quiet, peaceful = perfect!

He's a charmer...

The church goin' dudes...Seth selected the hat to wear with his Sundy' best.

Wanderings of the mind, in random order:

• Is anyone else (especially you with children) amazed at how fast your kitchen/dining room floor needs to be swept? The broom and I spend time together often and every time I am truly amazed how much 'stuff' I sweep up. So glad I don't have carpet in my wood floor areas!
• Walfield Park (Alpine/8 Mile) is such a great place. Go there if you haven't. We spent time today having a picnic in the spacious pavilion - which overlooks the nice playground - then romped around the play area. They have creative play equipment and lots of trees around, which creates a pleasant breeze. There's also a nature trail, but we didn't tackle that today. I think my friend Carolyn used to walk her dog on the nature trail area.
• Women from KCBC - we have nine people signed up for the IKEA trip on August 15 - we need to fill the bus a lot more than that! I've never been there, but have heard it's a 'destination all it's own!' Hoping I can go on the 15th for a Mom's Day Away. Sign up if you're interested. :)
• The 'big boys' (i.e. Ken, Nathan, Seth) had a ball at the Father/Son Campout last Thurs - Sat. They camped near Silver Lake and had a ball...when they got home they were dirty, tuckered, and glowing about their trip. Seth said, "I told Daddy that this was the BEST trip I've ever been on!" Nathan liked the wiffleball and sand dunes. They both liked hangin' out with Dad and other kids. How cool that Ken is so involved with the kids and they love it! There were 40 Dads and sons total. Thanks, Doug, for coordinating all the food - that's a BIG job for all those big eaters! Nathan especially liked the bacon and sausage. (something he doesn't get a ton of at home :)
• And while the boys were away, the Girls Played! Oh, and Aaron, too - he came along happily for the ride. I asked Robyn what was something she wanted to make with Mom and she chose Peanut Butter Kiss cookies. We had a tea party (once Aaron was in BED - he and tea parties do NOT go together!) We headed to Muskegon on Friday afternoon and did the noble and tiring task of getting their pictures taken (individually) at JC Penneys. The photos turned out great; the time it takes is always long and laborious. I wanted an update for the big frames in our stairwell. Check 'em out if you're over sometime! After that we met Grandpa Richards for dinner, a playground in Spring Lake, the Imagination Station in Grand Haven, and the musical fountain! Wow - a full and fun evening. It was enjoyable watching Grandpa interact with Aaron and Robyn - he always gets involved playing and having fun with the kids when we're with him, which they and we all love. Thanks, Granpda, for a fun night! By Sat afternoon we were ready to be a complete family again.
• Aaron enjoys handing his plate to you from his high chair when he's finished eating - OR wants more food. He gave big smiles to the photographer at the studio - for about 6 shots, then was DONE. Robyn smiled sweetly the entire time and asked me the next day if she could go get her pictures taken again. Amy, can you help me out here?
• Robyn is looking forward to getting her glasses soon. We had a screening done recently at a kids' event we were at, and the results indicated we should get her checked out. Sure enough, the glasses will really help her - not only in vision, but in helping both eyes work together well. I am SO glad I went on my intuition and got her checked that night - the dr expressed that they will help her a great deal. And in first grade, lots of things are happening academically that I wouldn't want her to struggle to see things. She asked me the next day if her glasses had come in yet!
• VBS is here!!! Our church is trying it in the evenings this year, after always hosting it in the mornings. The Vanderwest kids have been looking forward to VBS all summer. Day one went smoothly, lots of kids came, and all enjoyed Bible Study Outback, G’Day Café, Recreation Rock, Craft Crossings, the Opera House, and their fearless leaders: Crocodile Kendee, Wallaby Weeks, Billabong Bandicoot (aka Pastor Josh), & Kickin’ Koala Bair (Brian Bair – standin’ in for Pastor Derek)!! I'm helping with registration, the kitchen crew, and whatever the director (Crocodile Kendee) needs.
• Having our first Michigan corn on the cob tonight! Yum! Going to pick blueberries Thursday morning with the kids. The Fisher girls are coming over on Friday, which we always enjoy.
• The kids are currently playing their about 26th game of Uno Attack in the last week. Thank you to whichever family member gave this to us for Christmas!
• There's something about 'old' or long-time friends that is so special. My dear friend from growing up, Kristen (or "Buddy," as my brothers called her), now lives in Indianapolis with her husband and step-daughter. They came for a visit to MI and came over for dinner last week. It was so good to chat and catch up....the phrase "A friend is somehow who knows all about you and loves you anyway" comes to mind with my 'long-time' friends...and there's something soothing about them knowing your history and you knowing theirs, etc. We agreed we needed to catch up more often! She is sweet and kind and now helping her mom who has Alzheimer's - very hard, especially as Kristen is just 35 and an only child.
• We found wild blackberries and raspberries in our woods! Yum! The kids enjoy finding ripe berries. I checked to make sure there was no poison ivy in that area...ugh! Ken has had it 3 times this summer....yuck. Poor guy. Last time steriods took care of it, because his eye was swelling shut. :( We (that's the collective "we") are trying to eradicate it from our woods, but it is TENACIOUS stuff and "evil," as Ken says. Ugh.
• We had a fun birthday party for my Dad and all pitched in to purchase a cell phone for him! Six days later, after he read both manuals, he was ready to turn the phone on and make and receive calls. Woo Hoo! It was exciting the first time I couldn't reach him at home and called him on his phone and he answered! I think he'll like it - or at least his kids and friends will....
• Tonight we are having Michigan corn-on-the-cob for the first time tonight! Aren't all the fresh Michigan fruits and vegetables wonderful?! We are blessed! In the summers, my Mom often made veggies and fruits meals - all different types of recipes, and always tasty.
• It is now 4:30 and I need to have the crew to church by 5:30. Thanks for reading this meandering post

RV

Sum-Sum-Summertime

It's been a while! We are enjoying a fun and relaxed summer. Having no schedule is sooooo nice, compared to the school year up & at 'em, out the door, evening activities, more meetings for Ken, etc., etc. We (i.e. the four children) are still up early (by 7 am), but it's relaxing when they can play, eat a leisurely breakfast, then do their "get ready for the new day" things. I am enjoying their ages very much this summer - at 4, 6, and 8 they are eager beavers and can get themselves ready to go somewhere (including buckling in van!) without much help needed. :) Aaron troops along and there's always a sibling to keep him happy. He is quite smiley and most everyone comments about his 'surfer' hair - super blonde, curls all around side and back, wavy hair on top...we can't bear to cut those curls, for fear they will never return! I'm getting pictures with his lovely locks taken at Penney's this week. He LOVES the outdoors - has to be watched like a hawk - our driveway which angles right down to the road is dangerous for busy 16 month olds. We figured out he could open both the screen and glass doors on our deck slider, go backwards down the stairs, and head for the sandbox, garage, etc. Glass door is always locked now for safety. Pray he stays safe - he's so fast!

Highlights from the summer:
*Swimming lessons for N, R, and S - they all progressed well - in fact, so well that I'm going to have them do another 2 week session starting next week. Kent City may not have much, but we do have a great pool! :)
*A trip up north - to Grand Lake (near Alpena) with friends - so beautiful and relaxing! A perfect lake for kids.....shallow water, tons of sand tons, lots of friends, fun with fun people.
*From there to Mackinaw City - camped for 5 days at a fun and beautiful campground. I am amazed how much the kids enjoy camping! It seems like they could camp for half the summer!
*Campfires, fireworks with friends, long summer evenings - it sure stayed light for a long time during June!
*The Belmont's! Ken's sister Valerie and family made the trek from PA and we spend as much time as we can with them the week they're here. Beach, cabin, food, hangin' out, talking - thank you to Mom & Dad Vanderwest for opening their home to the large groups. On the Vanderwest side, our kids are closest in age to the Belmont cousins, and they love playing, playing, and playing with them!
*Reading with Robyn and Seth most days.
*Ping-pong games with Nathan. Ken's bday gift was a ping-pong table, and N and I like to play. He is getting the hang of it!
*Doing the KC Elementary, Barnes & Noble, Schuler Books, and Kent District Library reading programs! :) Can you tell Ken & I promote and enjoy reading?! Good thing we can use the same books for numerous programs! The kids love putting their stickers on, writing down book titles, their favorite parts, etc.
*The Weeks' down the street - Robyn & Jasmine are buddies, as are Nathan & Joe & Gio.
*Did I mention not being on a schedule? How nice to play Uno and other games when we want, have them help around the house, see them all interacting together (usually happily) - blocks, Lincoln Logs, farm, K'nex, etc. Seth especially likes having N & R home.

We are blessed. Summer is a great time for reflecting on God and what's important in life.