Birthdays Part I

Well, it's been a long while, but I was inspired tonight by reading Sadie's blog....so, here's a 'new' update...

We celebrated Robyn's 8th birthday today with a snow day and festivities throughout the day. Really, it was simple things during the day that she enjoyed...making 'dirt cake' with Mom, playing cars with her brothers, playing the Wii, making pizza dough, reading a book, snow fort with brothers, etc. It was special to have the whole day all together. It was also special to just focus on her. This year we've declared it 'birthday week' for whoever's birthday it is....that has made it nice this week. With four kids, it's good to have time to devote to just one. We are going to Naked Plates soon - she, Seth, and I...to pick out and paint a piece of pottery and then they glaze it. We went there at Christmas when Katelyn was in MI and N, R, K, and I loved it. Robyn drinks out of her cup almost every day. :)

We are thankful to have a sweet girl. There have been times recently where an attitude pops up in her or glimpses of 'teenage'ness (not a word) show, and that makes me frustrated and sad. I am praying for her to keep a sweet spirit. She really is a kind, gentle, happy girl. We have realized how much she enjoys having things to look forward to (the apple doesn't fall to far...) She is doing so well reading and is having a few friends over on Saturday to go sledding and have cake together. The older the kids get, the more I realize how important prayer is!! It has been great teaching in the same school she attends this year - we say goodbye at the start of the day and she is in my room at the end of the day! (the days I'm at school) She heads right to the snack closet - for being petite, she has food on the mind a lot! Tonight we enjoyed homemade pizza, breadsticks from BC in Sparta, tossed salad (K, R, R) / oranges (N, S, A), and dirt cake. We are celebrating her birthday and Mrs. Biggs' birthday in music class tomorrow at school. I think we will write a little poem as a class to chant to Mrs. Biggs before she comes in. Did you know chanting is an important part of music / preparing to sing?

We also get to watch our nieces Allyson and Taylor play basketball tomorrow night vs. Algoma Christian (just up the road). I am proud of how well they are doing and am looking forward to watching them! Nathan asked recently, "How come we always watch girls play basketball and not the boys?" Well, KC girls are currently undefeated....and our nieces play.....and well, we'll have to catch a boys game sometime. :)

Anyone still reading this? Writing is therapeutic...blogging seems more personal than FB? Maybe? Enjoy the freshness and beauty of the snow!

The End of Summer...Sigh

It's been a good run. Three plus months of enjoying the days, flexible schedules, playing here, working there (those household chores just keep a comin'!), doing this and that...well, it all ends now. At least that's what it feels like. We've sure enjoyed our summer, and while it will be good for all to get back in a routine, I will miss our carefree days.

Here is a sample of Ken's past week: Tuesday - work till 4:40, grab Nathan, head to soccer practice at 4:45 (Ken is the coach of N's team), come home at 6:20, scarf some food, head to meeting from 6:30-8:30 pm. Ugh! Thursday his schedule basically repeated. They won't all be like that, and I'm not complaining; on this particular Labor Day we are grateful for good jobs. Perhaps all who have a job are? Anyway, I'm praying for a smooth transition for all. Professional development days/teacher meetings last week were good, but long -it's my only 'full time' week of the school year and reminds me how THANKFUL I am for my part-time position!! Our new HS principal is so competent, experienced, on the ball, and a good motivator - yay!

I'm teaching in the mornings this year. Seth will be doing some preschool with his friend Kristyn at Kristy's home and is excited about that. Aaron is fascinated by their one year old, Oliviya, and hopefully won't sit on her. Kristy is a blessing to our family - so sweet and patient. Any preschool suggestions or ideas are welcomed, as we're still figuring that out.

Usually a week or two in, and we've all settled into our routine. N & R are overall happy to go to school, though Robyn says she would just like to be home with me. Isn't that sweet?

We had a nice trip on the Lake Express - it's a huge boat!! I took video of Ken driving our van onto the ferry. Perhaps if I attempted to post online, I could. That seems like a lot of work. The cabin was spacious and we sat with a table in the middle of four seats on each side. A nice retired lady was also in our section of eight seats....thankfully all were well behaved and she seemed to like kids! A group of chiropractors from the West MI area sat across from us and I couldn't help but listening to the interesting conversations they were having. I wondered if they gave free adjustments on the boat ride? No, I didn't ask!! Milwaukee had great sites and the children's museum was a hit. What a great place! Our outdoor hotel pool was pristine and 84 degrees - perfect! That was another highlight. I headed to Reiman Visitor Ctr with Aaron one evening and got detoured 5 - yes 5 - times by construction. The 'ole GPS (we call her Maggie) doesn't know about construction....so by the time I got there (taking 45 min instead of 15) I only had 20 minutes in the place. But their outlet store had many good finds - my favorite was a new Slow Cooker cookbook. It will be fun to try new recipes in our Crockpot. Oh, and I forgot the kids' total favorite: the Jelly Belly Factory! The original and biggest one is in CA, but this one seemed big to us. It's between Chicago and Milwaukee, right off the expressway, and the right price: free! They took us on a Jelly Belly tram all around the factory warehouse - shelves stocked floor to high ceiling with tons of boxes of candy. We saw via video the process in action. Of course there were free samples at the end - a bag with one of 49 different kinds. Their store had more samples and some candy at good prices. My favorite: very cherry. Interestingly, that is the most popular variety of Jelly Belly. Ken's favorite: malted milk balls!

Just as we were getting ready to get something to eat and then head back to the dock, I received a cell call. The recorded message explained that it is of highest priority to the Lake Express that their passengers are comfortable. The current lake conditions would be very UNcomfortable for passengers (i.e. high waves, stormy conditions), so they were cancelling our boat. SO, around that big lake we headed. We were glad it was on the way home it was cancelled; after our busyness and excitement during our three days, ALL FOUR kids slept the first 2.5-3 hours of the trip. But can anyone explain why Chicago has traffic jams at 6:30 Sat. evening? 45 min of slowdown...then home at 11:30. A good family getaway. Half our boat fare was refunded, too.

After this past week (four days) of crazyness, we headed up to my brother's cabin. The guys and two oldest kids from each family headed on an adventure: canoeing (Ken said they canoed two hours and waded around in the water 1 hour), camped overnight, canoed another hour Sat AM, and Bronya picked them up around noon. The were filthy and happy!! Bronya & I thought shopping sounded more fun. While they were gone, we drove to Pentwater, a beautiful tourist town on a peaceful lake with sailboats all around. It was lovely! We checked out the cute shops and finished with ice cream. We decided that was our idea of roughing it. ;)

Well, if you've read this far, you deserve a prize! I'll try to update about how the first week goes. To God Be the Glory this school year for our kids and teachers!

A New Adventure!

After many nights in a row of obligations (VBS, meetings, HFG, etc.), we had nothing going for the rest of the day after church! Whew. Our VBS was in the evening, and it was great, but I didn't anticipate how tiring it would be - for all of us. The Sunday nap today felt great for all. All slept except Seth, who decided to make a fort with his sheets and comforter during quiet time. :) Ken suggested yesterday that we go on a family bike ride on a bike trail!

We recently acquired (due to generous friends whose kids are older) a bike trailer! It fits two children nicely. Aaron always rides, then we rotate between Seth & Robyn. We headed to the (paved) Musketawa Trail & parked just off Gooding (13 Mile). What a BEAUTIFUL ride! And how NICE not to be concerned with motorized vehicles...just fast bike riders zipping around our not-so-fast family. Ken said it was like we were the circus parade - Nathan on a bike, Robyn or Seth on a bike, one adult with Jessie on a leash, the other adult with adult bike and large bike trailer behind...let's just say we don't look professional. The spandex sportin' cyclists look suave compared to our brood...but we had more smiles! Unfortunately, Seth looks down while riding(guess it helps him to push the pedals around), so he veered into the woods a few times.

We rode the trail 3 miles into Ravenna and then rode side streets to a perfect destination: The Ice Cream Station. Check it out if you've never seen it - a remodeled gas station that has tasty ice cream at reasonable prices. At this point mom and dad deemed it best for the children and one parent to head across the street to a playground while one parent rode back to the truck. Ken doesn't get to play at the playgrounds as much as me, so we opted to have me ride back to the truck...I put that 'ole Le Tour Schwinn 10 speed in high gear (bought it for myself when I was 15) and was back in no time.

What a great evening! We all loved it and want to return soon. I imagine it's beautiful in the fall. The kids want to go back - Robyn asked if we could return tomorrow! Anyone want to join the parade next time?

Fun in the Sun? Well, the Pool.

We love Aunt Kay!
Ken the Klever One
Here's your blogger...

We have a pool pass for our high school pool and I took the kids tonight. What fun!! Nathan got out about eight noodles and was laying on them like a raft. Robyn got a kickboard and swam all over the pool. Seth felt he needed three noodles at all times, except when he had 6 and made a raft like Nathan. They have a ball swimming, playing chase, lounging, jumping, etc. The swim lessons there have been great for our kids. The teachers are knowledgeable and kind, there's a great teacher/student ratio, and they are good little swimmers now! There's also a school program that N & R have had - once a week for six weeks. Not long, but anything is good for the kids. I watched them having fun while sitting poolside. That's weak, I know. Aaron and Ken had some bonding time at home.

Nathan had his first soccer game last week and did well. It's fun to see the improvement from season to season in coordination, understanding of game, drive, etc. Ken is coaching again, and it's especially fun that the Weeks' boys are part of the team as well. Pastor Chris is the assistant coach and Joe and Gio are in the lineup. Nathan enjoys it, but not when it's cold and rainy outside. He's like his Momma - I enjoy competition, but rain and cold are a lousy combination. I think my brothers called me a pansy while growing up.

Ken and Nathan are headed to Nathan's first MLB game! There is a Home Plate event on Saturday, May 2. The KCBC charter bus is headed to the Tigers' game. The neat part is the pregame program, where players from both teams give their testimonies. I hope Nathan hears that to realize that no matter what the occupation, a person can be sold out for Christ. The day will be extra special because both Grandpas and cousin Stephen are going. Mom +3 will figure out something fun to do. I think I'll take S & R to the pool for open swim that Saturday.

Are you tired of hearing about our decrepit economy? I love reading the newspaper, but am tired of all the dismal news regarding the economy. I understand it's bad, but it seems like it's all they know what to write/talk about. Combine that with crimes and that seems to cover half the newspaper.

We are part of a parent group called "Champions for Children" that is encouraging Kent City School residents to vote yes in our school millage renewal on Tuesday, May 5. We are trying to spread the word that it is a renewal, NOT a tax increase. It is so important these two renewals pass to protect our children's education. I think most people support the local school, but the voter turnouts are so low that a few votes can make a big difference. So, please vote yes if you are in the district to protect our community and our children! We need your vote! :)

Good night to all. Happy 68 degree Friday! Yay!! :)

Another bedtime prayer

Bedtime prayer tonight: "Thank you God for the good day and for the Walsh's as they tell people about God and for us to be safe, and let me, let me, let me be around for a long time because Mommy likes me."

-from my Seth

He has asked about death some lately, and I have assured him that God is in heaven, but that we love him very much and want him to be with us for a long time.

We've been the house of sickness lately...poor Nathan didn't go to school all last week. He had a fever that kept returning and a full cough. It was pleasant playing games, reading, and snuggling with him. Then Robyn came home from school and basically slept from 4 pm Monday until Tuesday at 8:30 am. She had a temp, too. So, she stayed home on Tuesday and Wednesday. I knew she was feeling better on Wednesday when she and Seth had a few spats. If you're able to argue and spat, you must be feeling better! Thankfully, now everything is healthy again.

Just five days of school left until spring break! Teachers and students are READY for a break! We're going to spend some time doing some family things together. Oh, and de-cluttering, organizing, and cleaning, too. Unfortunately, Aaron seems to enjoy following me and undoing whatever I have just done. The kids now know that all bathroom and bedroom doors are to be closed at all times....they're just too interesting for Aaron! I've told people his two favorite places in the house are the kitchen garbage can and any bathroom. He's being redirected often these days. :)

It's 10:14 pm, past my bedtime, and I can't think of much to say, so I will say nothing else.

In the tradition of Paul Harvey,


Good Day!

Melacholy...

Maybe it's the dreary, gray day...
Maybe it's the rain...
Maybe it's the time of year...
Maybe it's the end of the week...
Maybe it's the "day in and day out" of it all...
but whatever it is, I feel "blah."

Does anyone else ever feel worn out by the time the kids are in bed (when you have time for yourself, but are too tired to do anything)? Does anyone else ever sit down at the dinner table to eat, after preparing the meal, and are so weary they just want to put their head in their hands?

Please don't take this wrong.
1. I am incredibly grateful for the life God has given me. I should dwell more on that!
2. My husband is so giving. He gives and gives some more. I wish he had more time to do what he wanted, not what others needed.
3. Our 4 kids are soooooo precious and such a gift. How fortunate that I can be the one to feed, clothe, hug, love, teach, snuggle, read to, enjoy, and be their one and only Mama!

But sometimes I get So. Weary.
I've told my high school students that being a Mom is the best, most rewarding job I've ever had and will ever have. I follow that up with being a Mom is the most challenging job I've ever had and will ever have. And that's followed by explaining how grateful I am to have a loving, supportive husband....that's the best route to go!
I am not a night person. My energy is in the mornings, or at least during daylight hours. I used to chuckle at my Mom for her 10:00 pm "Cinderella Time," as I called it. I would ask her if she would turn into a pumpkin....and of course, I'm exactly the same. :) I have lofty ambitions for what to do when the kids are in bed. The two hours or so of time seems so long. But, then reality. I usually make it to the couch, read the paper, fiddle around on the computer, etc., and tonight it felt ambitious to write this.

*Sigh.*

Could I force myself to do more? Yes. At times, I do. But other times, I think it's fine to just sit after a busy day - physically and emotionally - and relax/decompress.

Ken just came home - he's been teaching each Thursday evening for a while. Combine that with his Tuesday night meetings and Wed night responsibilities, and by Thursday night, I'm pooped. Aaron is walking up a storm. SO CUTE!!! And so busy! And why is his favorite place the bathrooms? And then the dishwasher? And then, and then, and then....And why does he love to dump everything - except his toys?! And how does he learn without me saying "No" time and time and time again? Ken says, "He is something! He has the gift for finding the worst possible way to make a mess. There's books? Tear them off the shelves. I want ALL of the towels out of the drawer, ALL of the pans out of the cupboard. Unlike a tornado, which is random disaster, he is quite purposeful in his mess-making! And the strange thing is, he doesn't take ALL of his toys out of his toy bin." Good thing he's got such good grins. He's adorable.

Aaron's busyness, in conjunction with our three other darlin's needs, make my rice sock (received from the hospital after having a baby) get warmed often and placed on my shoulders in the evenings. After all the responsibilities of the day, sometimes a cozy blanket, a rice sock, and some down time are just the ticket for a Mom. Would you agree?

Precious

Isn't he precious? It has been such a joy to watch each member of our family shower his/her love on Aaron. (yes, sometimes a bit too much, but I suppose that's to be expected). Each of the kids has their own ways of sharing friendship with him - and it's very sweet to watch. He interacts so much these days - grabbing for all toys (and anything else within reach), giggling at his siblings, following us with his baby blues all around the room, loving being played with, giving big smiles to all. I've enjoyed the cooler days and putting various overalls on him....there's something so cute about little boys in overalls! He's experiencing his first cold this week - and no teeth yet, but everything immediately goes to his mouth to be sucked on. He likes to reach out for Mama and always gives a grin to Daddy when he comes home from work. I think he's going to be a mover and a shaker...on the go - rolling or moving backwards or somehow able to get from one end to the other. Why is it that with the first child or two we were eager to have them crawl and get to the next developmental stage and with my fourth I think, "Oh! Let's just sit right here and play with toys! No need to move anywhere else!" :)

He is a precious blessing. What a joyful, splendid addition he has been to our home!

And yes, I will try to blog more consistently. Thanks for sticking with me in my absence. And thanks to Amy for the great pics. I am falling in love with that setting on her camera where the person is clear and the background is a touch blurry. She's such a good photographer!

Ahhh, Good Times....

...were had a few weeks ago in Mackinaw City. After a busy first two weeks of school and all, these pictures remind me of our relaxing, fun week together - away from it all. The Mill Creek Campground was great - shaded sites, ours was a quick walk to the lake and across from the playground, bath house, and heated pool! We all could have stayed longer! We were more experienced campers this time - and the weather was beautiful, so no mud to worry about - and it was truly relaxing and soothing to the soul. We hung around the campground some, enjoyed the beach, the pool, the mini-golf course, the incredible views of water and MI's #1 bridge. We also trekked around a bit - to Fort Michilimackinac in M. City one day (definitely recommend this) and into the UP another - to Tahquamenon's Upper and Lower Falls and the Oswald Bear Ranch.

Highlights included:

• Aaron and I enjoying a gorgeous afternoon in the shade (while Ken & the 3 older kids swam), gazing at Lake Huron and reading a book. This was our view:

• Enjoying S'mores with the Watson family while watching the sun set over the bridge.
The kids being so happy just to be with us, doing simple things!


• Aaron smiling at everyone.


• Getting our picture taken with a real bear cub at the bear ranch. (Yes, Dad, it was safe.)


• Taking the Sunday evening Vespers Cruise and going under THE bridge at sunset. Gorgeous!
• Curling up in the pop-up camper on the cool evenings.


• Ken & Nathan buying a kite from the original Mackinaw Kite Company and flying it on the shore of Lake Huron.
• Watching the kids collect rocks, sand, etc., on the shore.
• Attending the craft fair at the Paradise Festival in Paradise, MI.


• Seeing a doe with 3 fawns walk across the Tahquamenon River just upstream while we were at the Upper Falls!


• Being away from the responsibilities of life, except for enjoying and building into our sweet family.

p.s. Can you guess how many hours we were there before we ran into people from KCBC? Two! Each day over the 5 days we were gone we ran into Kent City folks - either from church or school. :) It's always fun to run into people you know in a place far from home.

I know there's many pictures on this entry; I hope that's not too frustrating for you dial-up folks. I leave you with one of my favorites:

Rollin' and Campin'!

He's on the move! A couple of days ago the five of us watched eagerly as Aaron, with a great amount of effort, rolled from back to tummy! We all cheered for him and it was so cute to see him look up with a surprised look at first and then a big grin! I often call our boy "Happiness and Joy" - he is precious and his big smiles light a room.

Well! We made it through the camping excursion! Someone told me later I was brave for going. After a day Rhonda realized that camping = dirt, and that's the way it is! The last time we camped was in a tent when Nathan was one, and I had not remembered how much dirt there was!

And my question for you: Is it really camping when you can use your wireless internet from inside the pop-up camper? We could connect to the ranger station from our site on our laptop. We really didn't use it much - I promise! :) My brother, who enjoys rustic campgrounds with his young children (i.e. porta potties, no showers) called me a "Pampered Princess." I call him crazy.

I will share with you the email exchange my good friend, Melanie (mother of five) had:
Melanie: (written as I was preparing to go) "Did you know I went camping last spring and vowed not to do it again until Jacob is five years old? Think of it as working towards many wonderful happy memories for your children."

Rhonda: (written after we'd been camping for half a day) "Ken said this morning, “You let me know when it’s the part of camping that you like, ok?” We’re at the campground – I had FORGOTTEN how much mud/dirt there is – ewww! But I’m not going to stress out about it…I decided that I didn’t want my kids to remember camping as “mom stressed about the dirt."

And now a current update from me: "We had a great time and all enjoyed ourselves very much - from fun Jellystone activities for the kids to the awesome dune rides to reading a book to just being together." Will I go camping again? Happily - but I don't think tents and our family would get along. The pop-up was great, and I think we're going to head out again in August.

Highlights:
Robyn saying the day we got back, "Can we go camping again sometime?"
Seth's prayer the first day: "Thank you, God, for this happy day. I like camping!"
Tie-dying t-shirts with the kids. I'll have to get a picture of them for you.
The kiddie pool and big pool at the campground! All 3 do well on their own in the water - Nathan with no noodle, Robyn with one noodle, Seth with two noodles.
Finding a cove where Silver Lake meets Lake Michigan. The tidal basin had shallow water that we all played in.
NO Schedule! (well, except for being aware of what time it was so the kids could hit the various kids' activities!)
Watching Nathan ride all over on his bike (two wheels only)
Reading aloud Kate DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux each day to the kids.
From Ken - sitting and reading The Hobbit
Eating sticky s'mores by the campfire - mmm!
The gorgeous mixture of azure sky, sugar sand dunes, Lake MI views, and going up, down, and all around the sand dunes with our fun driver, "Weazy," on the Dune Rides.
Driving through beautiful Pentwater, with its picturesque boats and calm waters, on the way home.
Eating a tasty meal at Bob Evans on the way home. I sure like their food - especially after eating campground food for a week!

Will post pics soon.

Summer Snapshots -

Aaron - almost 4 months - such big blue eyes he has!
We sure like each other!

Snoozin' in my Hawaiian garb...
A typical Aaron look - he loves to grin!
Backyard camping
I got CHOCOLATE for my birthday!
Opening a birthday present

More pics to come after our week of camping!

How long does it take the Vanderwests...

...to pack for 4-5 days of camping? Quite a while!! We're getting organized to head up to Silver Lake Monday-Friday. I remember my mom-in-law (mother of six) saying, "Camping - all the work of home with none of the conveniences!" :) She has a valid point! But, we're really looking forward to some time away - just hangin' out with each other. The kids are very excited - have been counting the number of 'sleeps' for a couple of weeks now. We had a great 4th up north at the cabin - we were with our parents and the Panaggios are back in town from Peru (kids ages 14-21) - our kids adore their older cousins. It was great to be with some other family from out of state, too - such nice people! (uncles, aunts, etc.)

Back to packing - Yogi Bear here we come! If you think of anything we must remember, let me know!

Note to Self...

When your three year old says, "My throat hurts," remember that to him the throat is in the vicinity of the stomach and you'd better grab a bucket-fast!!!

OR - you may just have to clean yourself, your son, all clothes from both of you, your couch cushion, and your kitchen floor VERY THOROUGHLY.

That was our Thursday morning.

Thankfully, the kitchen floor needed mopping and it had been on my to-do list for a few days. Thank you, Ray, for disinfecting and cleaning that cushion. The kitchen floor has never been so clean. Without going into detail, let's just say that the smell of that stuff almost makes me do it myself.....

Poor Seth. He usually is bouncing with energy, and he was pretty lethargic that day.

Oh - other variations from a three-year-old may include: "My tummy is high," "My tummy is hot," "My tummy is rumbly," and other variations on that theme. Once stomach is settled, introduce other foods very slowly, or you may have a recurrence (we know this from experience, too)

When my kids are sick, it always reminds me of how grateful I must be that they are healthy; that there are children who suffer from illnesses or diseases. A friend just told me about a 16 MONTH old who she saw who has no hair - she talked with the mom and the little guy has cancer and is undergoing treatment. Wow - no complaining. We are blessed - you, too?

They're Over!

Garage Sales 2008...DONE! Yes, that is 'sales' plural at our old house - had one at the end of May scheduled for Thurs and Fri. Thursday went great (i.e. sold lots of stuff, made lots of money), and then we woke Friday to a deluge (i.e. torrential rains). The stuff was quickly packed in boxes and tables shoved into the garage. SO, we didn't want to leave it there forever, so Saturday had a one day only sale with our friends Ben and Kristy. With young children, having a sale with a friend or two is the way to do it. Sat. was also a success...lots of stuff gone, lots of deals made! The best feeling was when Kristy's huge (22 cubic feet) chest freezer sold. We also sold some other big items and Ken had hauled some miscellaneous items from the old church over.


Two sales in one season is a bit much for me...I'm calling it quits for garage sales this year.

Of course, only in the SELLING category! :) It's becoming a tradition for the kids and I to head to a sale or two or four most Thursday mornings...maybe I'll see you at one?!

Celebrations!

Father's Day & Ken's Birthday were on the same day this year! It was a weekend of celebrations...wedding Friday night, Lifewalk for Alpha Family Center Sat AM (we love walking in this each year - they raised almost $20K for this valuable ministry in our area), then we enjoyed having Dad & Mom Vanderwest over on Saturday night for dinner...Ken's request was steak kabobs - mmmm! I marinade them for many hours in a honey/soy sauce/garlic/spices mixture, add the veggies, and YUM! The dessert was not for Ken, but for his Dad - strawberry shortcake with lots of whipped cream.

On Sunday afternoon Ken opted to stay home with Seth & Aaron to nap with them. N, R, and I headed to an open house for Gideon. In addition to Bertha's wonderful food, Gideon gave a classical guitar recital outdoors. It was a charming setting - him up on the deck, chairs set up under a massive shade tree, flower beds, their black cat swaying in and out of the people, etc. They had a sound system to hear his beautiful musical well. He is SO very talented - it was soothing to the soul to listen! After that we went home and all took naps. Later we said goodbye to our friends the Gregg's at an open house for them at church. A bittersweet time - happy for them, sad to see them go. Carolyn is an awesome singer and we have had lots of sweet music memories together over the years - church praise band, offertorys, weddings, funerals, etc. They are special people and we will miss them as they 'Go Light Their World' in Nevada. We then zipped home and the Southwell's (our good friends who are living in our 'old' house for the year while they are on furlough) came over for GHIRADELLI brownies and ice cream. This was Ken's choice of dessert! :) Whew...a busy but good weekend.

This week ad next the kids (3 oldest) are taking swimming lessons at the high school pool. They are eager to go and Mom is glad they can all go at the same time! Monday night was a celebration with the Richards' side. A little basketball, soccer, banter, delicious charcoal-grilled burgers, cute nieces and nephews, chatting, etc...a fun time for all. We are eager for June 25 to come - when Bronya (sister-in-law) will give birth to our newest nephew!

Happy Father's Day to:

The Father of My Four Children - You are fun, involved, patient, godly, and admired by all of us. You are the Dad I dreamed of for our children and are my best friend.

My Dad - You motivate us to do things well, have a relationship with Christ, are full of life and fun, and we all love being with you. How grateful to have YOU as our Dad and Grandpa!

My Dad by marriage - Thank you for being so friendly (do you know half of Muskegon?), laidback, teaching us by your example, working hard for your family, enjoying life, and most of all for raising a wonderful son and father and loving all of us!

Thank you, God, for being My Heavenly Father and giving me these three wonderful men in my life!

Isn't it good to have Hallmark Holidays? They give us reasons to give cards and tributes to those who are so important to us.

Tulip Timin'!

We have made it an annual tradition to head to Holland for the Tulip Time festivities. Being from a Dutch & CRC-based high school, our band marched in the parade each year. I must say I did not enjoy marching in it much at all. The parade route was long (2.5+ miles) and the weather varied from being 80+ degrees (plus polyester uniform) one year to 50 and rainy the next. I think there was one year when it was very pleasant weather. The highlight for me was when they gave you a can of Squirt at the end of the route. NOW, as the audience of the same parade, it's a awesome 'Muziekparade' experience! How perspective changes! Tons of bands (the highlight for me) and lots of fun. We headed over twice this year - once with our PrimeTimers (50+ year olds) from KCBC, and once with the Fishers. Enjoy the pics! And if you haven't been to Tulip Time and you're from West MI, did you know that Reader's Digest billed it as one of the top 5 family festivals in the country?! There were charter buses from everywhere there. And those tulips - wow - they stretch for miles (6+ miles of "Tulip Lanes") and are simply gorgeous.

40+ PrimeTimers Enjoying the Day
"We Love a parade!"
My Dapper Dutchman! (notice the hat!)

Our Thoughtful Girl
Our four VANDERwests - We don't look Dutch, do we?
Those tulips sure are 'purty!' She's got the JOY! (and she IS a joy!)

Happy Mother's Day!

Found these quotes as I was studying for the talk I gave. It was special to see so many grandmas (most of whom are also great-grandmas!) and realize their faithfulness to God and their families for many decades. Robyn and Seth sang some of their favorite songs with me, we read "Five Little Monkeys Wash the Car," where they chime in on the "I Know, says one little monkey!" part, the ladies sang songs while I accompanied on the keyboard, and then I spoke about the power of encouragement and prayer that moms and grandmas have. The new church made for a nice luncheon spot and the women seemed to enjoy themselves.

• "Grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old." ~Mary H. Waldrip
• "What a bargain grandchildren are! I give them my loose change, and they give me a million dollars' worth of pleasure." ~Gene Perret
• "I always give my grandkids a couple of quarters when they go home. It's a bargain." ~Gene Perret
• "Becoming a grandmother is wonderful. One moment you're just a mother. The next you are all-wise and prehistoric." ~Pam Brown
• "Grandmothers are good at sitting on the floor to play, but they can be terribly difficult to get upright again."
• "Grandma always made you feel she had been waiting to see just you all day and now the day was complete." ~Marcy DeMaree
• A grandmother is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend."
• "Most of all the other beautiful things in life come by twos and threes, by dozens and hundreds. Plenty of roses, stars, sunsets, rainbows, brothers, and sisters, aunts and cousins, but only one mother in the whole world."-- Kate Douglas Wiggin
• "A mom laughs our laughter, shares our tears, returns our love, fears our fears."

And the two I love the most:

• "Mom's the first one you go to…when the best things happen…when the worst things happen…or when you just need to know someone loves you."
• "I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life."-- Abraham Lincoln

Happy Mother's Day to all my readers who are Moms! Thanks for your hard work for your families. May your children rise up to call you blessed! Did you read in the paper (GR Press) that if a stay-at-home mom's salary was determined, it would be $117,000+ per year?! How much I love those hugs, kisses, and "I love you, Mommy" - they're priceless! We look forward to dedicating Aaron in church on Sunday and having Dad & Char over for dinner. Dad & Mom V. would like to come, but it's best if he stays close to his easy chair as he recuperates from his surgery.

Spring is in the air . . . I feel like dancin'!

Well, not really, but I stepped out on the deck this afternoon and soaked up the rays . . . wow, what a feeling after a relentless winter! We are enjoying checking out the various aspects of our yard. Having purchased our home in the winter, we couldn't see the features of the yard/woods too well. Nathan and Katelyn felt the need to waltz around barefeet this afternoon!


Please pray for Ken's Dad, Ken Vanderwest, Sr. He is scheduled for bypass surgery this Friday, April 18 - this was re-scheduled from Thursday, April 17, due to an emergency surgery for another patient. We are quite hopeful the surgery will help him have more energy and a better quality of life, but bypass surgery is a long haul. His surgery will begin in early AM and last 5-6 hours. The recuperation time is ?? For my Dad, his quadruple bypass surgery 8 years ago was a tough time. Thankfully, he is doing well (overall) now. When someone you love very much is on the gurney, heart surgery doesn't feel 'routine.' Please pray he doesn't have any complications with the surgery. Thanks very much - I'll let you know how things go.

What a Love!

He sure is sweet and quite content. His brothers and sister love him so much. His Mom and Dad think he's so very precious. God has graciously given us a gift in Aaron. We are blessed!!

p.s. . . . and his Mom is grateful, very grateful, that he has slept through the night the past few nights!!!!! (Do I dare say/write that 'out loud?!')

Random Thoughts

I teach my students that it is important to craft their writing in a coherent, organized way. However, today I divert from my own teaching and share random thoughts. Most likely due to interrupted sleep, here goes:

• I adore holding our sweet boy and gazing at his toes, big blue eyes, and fuzzy hair. I like how he holds onto my fingers. It calms my soul to snuggle with him. He is precious.
• Nearly everyone who has seen him from church says the same type of thing: "Wow - does he look like his siblings/no one will accuse you of taking a child from the hospital/etc.!" As I look at him, it is "deja vu" to holding the others...genetics are amazing.
• Happy Birthday to my brother Paul! We all like him. Paul is talented (music and handyman, specifically), puts on no pretenses-is always himself, is a giving, generous person, and makes us smile!!!
• Two doctor's visits (one for me, one for Aaron) today plus quick stops to Wal-Mart and Sam's Club tuckered this Momma out. My energy level is not 'normal' yet. The good news - Aaron was 9 3/4 lbs today and Dr said he is "just great" in every way!
• Thankfully, my Wal-Mart experience was the best I've had there in a while. (i.e. the checkout wasn't painfully slow and long). I really do NOT enjoy Wal-Mart, due to the aforementioned checkout process. It seems like every time I'm there it takes at least twice as long as Meijers or Target, my preferred stores. Today I was in and out. I do enjoy the Muskegon store much more than Alpine.
• I have been reminded how making a meal for others is a true ministry. We have eaten healthier and better because of friends helping us. I can't describe how helpful it's been!
• Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, "Rejoice!"
• Is "thumping" from above (upstairs) a bad sign when you've put the children to bed for the night? I'm not sensing a lot of sleep happening at this point.

Let's Have a Contest!

OK, blog readers - a contest for you. I've had a contest at school with each of my three classes, where they guess the gender, birthdate, height, and length of our baby. After he/she is born, I'll stop by and introduce the baby and award a prize to the winner in each class. SO, let's do the same here.

In the comment section, make your guess! Include just gender and birthdate - oh, and your name, too. I will send a prize to the closest guesser . . . perhaps of the chocolate variety. Although if Sara Fisher wins, I think I could rummage around in the cupboard and find some coffee to send her way. By the way, official due date is February 26, and remember it's a leap year, so there's 29 days in February (one of my students guessed 2-31-08 - Hmmm.)

My maternity leave sub "shadowed" me yesterday and I am pleased to leave my students in good hands with her. I have been concerned and praying about that for a while - I have wonderful students and want them with a competent person. Our day went well and I have confidence in her. Thank you, God, for answered prayer! I plan to teach through Friday, February 29, unless baby or much discomfort comes first. She is "on hold" - will be there when I need her from this point on. Lynn is a mom with three school-age children who would like to re-enter the teaching field. I think some of my male high school students were hoping for a cute, young, female teacher, because the only thing they wanted to know was "How old is she?" When I told them she was older than me and married with three children, they seemed rather disappointed. :)

Let the guessing begin!