Summertime

We have been able to spend some good family time together this summer. Joe's schedule is a little more flexible now so most weekends we have free- what a concept huh? anyway one night we decided to head to Rockford to relive some good memories, we went to the Corner Bar for dinner and had ice cream at Rocky's. We also took a walk by the damn and took some pictures so here goes (these are really for you Honey and Grandpa)

Oh yeah, and the boys were almost attacked by the killer Canadian Geese, seriously we had to run!

As you can tell, Noah is so excited that I want to take yet another picture, and Levi saw a cute girl :)

Levi really and I mean really enjoyed his ice cream!

We also had the joy of taking the boys bowling and mini golfing one Saturday, believe it or not we had nothing planned that day, so it turned out to be a really fun day. This was the first time for Levi so it was very overwelming, but good. I love being a parent and being able to help your children learn how to do something new. Before that day Levi had no idea how to bowl or golf, what fun!

Noah informed us that he has been bowling 5 times before this so he does not need any help. I think he beat Joe too!

To make the day even more exciting, when we went golfing they were playing Joe's favorite kind of music in the whole world - Christmas music, why you ask? it was Chirstmas is July don't yah know? Levi didn't like golfing so much, he got very frustrated,but he liked running on all the greens.

Joe really took this seriously!

We had a chance to go Blueberry and Raspberry picking with some friends for the first time as well, I noticed that this summer is a lot of new things for the kids, and some for me too!

We had friends over for a grill out too, the kids had a blast with their friends, and the adults too:) That night was a perfect summer night, good friends, good food, and super hero popsicles.

We also had the opportunity to go the Fredrick Meijer Gardens with some very dear friends, we had a great day and look forward to many more. Thank's guys again!

Last but not least Gretchen and I took the boys camping for 3 nights at Son Life camp. It was a great time but I now understand the importance of a camper instead of a tent with children :) I can't wait to do it again though it was a fun time. Don't worry the Michigan State chair was given to Gretchen as a joke, we did not switch sides!

I love this picture of Noah, they were both fish all weekend, and Noah perfected his bike riding skills, he now can ride his two wheeler perfect and even on the gravel roads too.

I would like to inform you that Gretchen and I made this fire on our own, who needs boys right?
We have had a wonderful summer so far and with only three weeks left I am reminded of how quickly things are going to get really busy again. Noah will be in first grade, and gone all day and Levi is going to a speech group twice a week for two hours at a time. Noah is also playing soccer which starts the week of school and Joe job is going so well that he is getting new clients weekly. I am not meaning to complain in the least bit, I have just enjoyed my summer with my family so much. It will be hard to get back in the swing of things,( and set the alarm clock everyday :) but it is a new school year with so much to learn. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and remember these lazy days when you driving around town all day every day :)

Oh yeah and by the way Joe has not smoked in 6 weeks! He is doing so well and I am so proud of him for doing this. Joe you rock!

Diamonds On The Souls of Her Shoes

Well we are back from C-bus as we like to call it, and we had a great time with Honey and Grandpa. We had "good times" hanging out at the pool and nights on the back patio.

Levi was very daring this summer and jumped right in, that scared the crap out of him, but after he realized that he could walk in at the steps and not go under, we could not get him out. Noah was also a great swimmer and even swam without his swimmies, which he was very proud of.

Here are some more pictures of the pool and the famous Honey,who by the way has a great new pair of Chaco's flip flops that she loves and do not look like skis :)

Levi did need some discipline over the week :)

At the last minute on the 4th of July (which had been a not so nice weather day) I, with the help of my oldest son got everyone to go to the fireworks. As a wise boy once said (with no help) "wouldn't you rather go spend time with your family at the fireworks that stay here and watch them on the TV" Thank's Noah !

This is what Levi thought of the Fireworks - need I say more?

This is Joe in his "little bit edgy" phase. No really, I am soooooooooooooooooo proud of him, he quit smoking on saturday June 30 and is doing so well.

and last but not least here is a picture of Grandpa, which Honey informed us was actually a good pic :)

Joe even got to go bar hoping with Kelly and his friend Brian one night, he felt like a real man he told me. He also found a new favorite beer - Boddingtons, as they tried a wide array of beers through out the week.

This is how tired the boys were by the end of the week, Noah asked to go to bed at 6:30 and Levi went at 8, this is how I found them at 8:30

In other news, the tree is gone, I know no one else is excited about this but we are so you get a picture of the wide open space in our front yard now!

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th! That's all for now folks.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

To all of you who have been praying, Thank you.

For those of you who do not know my dad had a heart attack last Wendesday, he is ok they put two stents in, and he is ready to get back to painting the bathroom :)

There is nothing like getting that phone call to send your heart racing. We praise God for sparing his life and continue to pray that we will never take a single second for granted again. It was very emotional driving thru my tears to the hospital alone (Joe was on his way in from meeting with a client in grand haven) and not knowing if this was the time that the Lord had chosen to take him home. It is hard to understand in those moments that it is not up to us, God is in control. Noah is very and I mean very attached to my dad or Opa and we prayed all the way from our house to where I dropped them off, he asked me if he could die and it was very hard to tell him that yes, Opa could die. I'm sorry I am getting so worked up, it just hit me very hard that it takes something like this to realize the day to day things you take for granted. I LOVE YOU MOM AND DAD!

In lighter news we finally got flowers for the front of our house. My parents and I went to Motmans Greenhouse last week and they are having a huge sale so we were able to get stuff for really cheap. It will be fun to watch all of this grow up and out every year, and yeah we are not the house everyone drives past and looks at in a bad way anymore :)

Also we were informed that the huge tree next door is coming down next week. YEAH! yes this is the tree that is causing out root problem in the sewer line and, it is always a worry in big storms. We are leaving on Saturday to go see Honey and Grandpa so here is the last pictures of the tree before it is gone :) Hope everyone has a great 4th of July and I will post when we get back from a wonderful relaxing week at the pool !

See Joe's car there in the corner? now you realize how big it is.

Bumblebee

So I just have to share with you all one of Levi's little quirks. Among other things Levi's body does not like bug bites, (kindof like his honey) this picture is of his ear that some bug decided to attack yesterday. Joe did take him to the doctor today to make sure that is what it was, and yes it is and there is nothing we can do except as a mom feel so bad for my son, and Benadryl for the itching.

We also had the chance to hang out with Honey and Grandpa a week ago. They got a chance to witness Noah's last T-ball game of the season, and walk to our favorite ice cream store. We Love you Honey and Grandpa, and we will see you in 12 days :)

That's all for now, until next time !

Deep and Wide

This is a lot sooner than I thought it would be, like I think it has been an hour. Anyway I am having a good morning and I go to take a shower, everything is fine except when I finish I hear water pouring out somewhere. I check out the window, no. I check the hallway, no. I hear it coming from down the laundry shot, I run downstairs and there is water all over the floor from the half bath, going on the landing and down the steps. I continue to run downstairs and water is coming down everywhere from the pipes by the washer.

Luckily one of the blessing of my tuesday morning bible study is LaKeesha's husband is a plummer, I called her up and he is coimg over this afternoon, the water has stopped for now, i just can't go to the bathroom. It seems as if our line is clogged (Joe) :) JK Just thought I would give you all a laugh.

Also here is a picture from Noah's Graduation. Levi Couldn't stay away.

To Late to Apologize

Ok, so I know I suck and the three people that read this are bugging me to update so I apologize to you and I will try and be better at keeping this current :)

Joe's job is going really well, and God has blessed us immensely and shown us that this is where he want's us right now. I ask for your continued prayers as we following his lead and continue this journey.

It is Noah's last day of school today and he is sad, he thinks that 1st grade could not possibly be better that Kindergarten. I think he is sad because he will not see his Best Friend Aidan every day now. Noah has also been playing Tee ball which has been such a blast to watch him. He is a good player, (besides they playing in the dirt while he is in the outfield)he is bored out there he told me.

This is Noah trying to intimidate the other team, talking some smack :) No, he has done really well and my parents have come to every game so Noah has the biggest cheering section.

We also went to Columbus over spring break, I know that was a long time ago but go along with me. We had a great time making pizza's and just hanging out with Honey and Grandpa. We will be going back the week of the 4th for our annual vacation, we can't wait to swim.

This is Levi's Best Friend!

It fits him well don't you think? Do I see a future here?

Anyway we have had some sleepovers and most recently a field trip to the Dairy Farm, that smelled wonderful let me tell you.

Like three pead in a pod!

They were all more excited to see the few horses than the stinky cows. This is Marah, Alexis, Aidan and Noah.

This is Aidan and Mrs. Haan, one of the great perks to having your kids in the same class is the mom's get to hang out. I feel very blessed to have Michele as a friend.

Last but not least we are enjoying spending time with baby Isaac who is growing like a weed. We just helped them move this past weekend. It is very bazar to me that after growing up on the North end, now all of us are on the South side, and all within 5 miles of eachother. It great though, good friends and family can get you through anything.

Blessing to all, and I hope the summer will be filled with laughs and good times. Until next time, and yes I promise it won't be this long between posts. :)

Love of a Lifetime

June 5th 1999

Consider this a public apology for working too much, being too selfish, not listening, and all the other things I have done to make these last 9 years "eventful".

To think that it all started in a coffee shop...here's to being scruffy with potential!

I love you!