Winter Fun

I enjoy this time of year as there are so many fun things to do and endless activities for the kids.  I don't want to miss a thing, so we use our advent calendar to spread out the fun.  The kids get to open a box each day to see what activity is planned.  A lot of times, it's something simple like make snowflakes or sip warm cocoa with marshmallows.  Other days, it's a family outing.  Whatever it is, the kids eagerly open the box each day. 

 

 

The following are a few of our favorite activities so far.

 

Day 5: Celebrate St. Nicolas Day

A Dutch tradition: the kids put wooden shoes out on the front steps at night, and in the morning they find treats left by "St. Nicolas".

The kids found treats like chocolate letters, oranges,

honey sticks, and a Christmas activity page.

 

Henry shows off his chocolate letter. 

(The Dutch have some great traditions!)

 

Day 6: The Shop Hop 

We braved the crowds in Eastown for our annual Shop Hop outing.

Plenty of good food, and the kids enjoyed singing songs for the shoppers.

 

Day 7: Buy and Decorate our Christmas Tree

It was a chilly night, but we walked to

Kingma's Market and found our happy tree. 

 

Claire was very "hands on" with the decorating this year.

 

Day 8: Christmas for the Animals

We helped the animals at the zoo celebrate Christmas by bringing them a couple treats from their Christmas list: noodles and molasses.

Sitting in "Santa's Sleigh" at the zoo.

 

Day 10: Family Christmas Movie Night 

The kids cozied up for Charlie Brown's Christmas Special.

 

Well, that's it for now; I'll try to be back with more as December rolls on. 

 

Grace and peace to each of you as you celebrate the birth

 of Jesus this Christmas season with family and friends.

November Recap

It's been awhile since I've last updated our blog,

so here's a brief recap for November. 

 

Saying good-bye to our friend Don was sad, but we were honored to have known and loved him these past few years.

The service was beautiful.  It was just what he would have wanted - a testimony of God's grace in his life.  The kids did great as they came up with Joe and me while we shared during the service. 

 

 

I wouldn't say Henry likes the cold weather, 

but he's getting used to it.

Our happy boy.

On Joe's day off of work, he was able to volunteer in

Claire's class for a bit.  He did an excellent job coloring.

The kids and I made a "Welcome" sign for Uncle Paul

and Aleta who were visiting from Colorado. 

Getting the old gang together:

John Youngs, Casey Koopmans, Paul Wagner and Joe

Starting to accept the cold weather.

Claire tries to make a snowball from snow that is far too fluffy.

Paul and Aleta reading books to the kids.

The kids took an immediate liking to Aleta.  She's a keeper! 

October 23, 1944 - November 4, 2013

 

  

63 days after Don's diagnosis, he passed away peacefully.

A good-bye that is sad, but not forever.

 

The day he was diagnosed, he claimed this verse:

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phil 1:20-21)

Halloween 2013

Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween. 

It was a good, but a very full day, for us.

 

Halloween doesn't officially begin until the first spoonful

of Count Chocula cereal hits our taste buds.

 

We then went to our Thursday morning Bible Study Fellowship.

After BSF, the kids and I visited Joe at work. 

Everyone loved seeing the kids in their costumes.

The next thing on our agenda was to head over to the

Children's Hospital.  Henry had a follow-up appointment

 with the surgeon.  Another good report!

Our little fireman.

 

Proud of her poodle skirt.

 

Listening to the siren of a fire truck in

the distance, Henry says, "I hear it."

In the evening, Joe and I took the kids around

our neighborhood for a bit of trick-or-treating.

Both kids loved it and didn't even seem to mind a bit of wet weather.

 

Friday we visited my Grandma Sternberg.

 

Henry holds my Grandpa's fireman hat.

He would have loved to see Henry all dressed up.

 

The kids cuddled up with Great Grandma to read some books.

 

A Night on the Farm

This past weekend, our friends Don and Lynn had invited us to a harvest party at a local farm.  Unfortunately, Don wasn't able to make it.  As his cancer spreads quickly, his health is failing.  We were still happy to spend the evening with Lynn, their daughter, and their grandchildren.

 

Fresh air + Fun activities = Happy kids

 

And it's good to see Lynn laugh.

 

As always, Henry loved the animals. 

 

Claire and the calf stick out their tongues for the picture.

 

A giant fort made of hay barrels. 

So much fun for the kids.

Settling in for a hay ride.

Lyndon eating his extraordinary s'more.

 

Picking out pumpkins with Lynn.

That's a keeper!

 

As I post these pictures, it's with mixed emotions.  Don't health has deteriorated far more quickly than anyone could have imagined.  It seems he may be nearing the end of his life.  However, today is a day to celebrate.  Don is turning 69 years old, and it's also Don and Lynn's 42nd wedding anniversary.  So while there will be tears of sadness, I'm sure, today is also a day for rejoicing.  We celebrate Don's life and his faith.  And we celebrate the remarkable marriage Don and Lynn have built together.  We love you both! 

Good Days, Good Nights

Well, I did it.  I broke down and got myself a big girl camera.  It's something I've wanted for a while, and I had enough money saved in our credit card rewards program to buy a nice, slightly used, one.  I wanted something that took better quality pictures.  But I'm not a fancy photographer, so I need something simple. 

I had fun this week trying it out. 

 

Beautiful fall weather feels more like summer.

Henry enjoying a little Dr. Seuss.

My little card shark.

Look who got stuck with the Old Maid.

Henry finds H's everywhere and says, "H for Henry". 

He even found this H in his breakfast waffle.

Trying to get into the spirit of Art Prize.

 

Last week was exciting for Claire as she had Grandparents Day(s) at Preschool.  And she is so fortunate to have such loving, involved grandparents.  She had fun showing them around her school and introducing them to her teachers and classmates.

 

Showing off her class

 

 

The corn table - a class favorite.

 

Walking to school.

This picture of Henry cracks me up.  Front and center!

Another big event in our home this week was the decision we made to finally pull the plug...that is Henry's pacifier. 

 

Henry has loved his "paci" ever since he was born.  But we had always said when he was done with his scheduled surgeries we would take it away.  Truthfully, I was dreading this day.  Henry loves his naps and heads right to bed when he's tired, in large part because of his love for paci.  Joe and I talked, though, and knew it was time.  It's not going to get any easier.  After doing a bit of research, we decided the best way was to cut off the tip of the pacifier.  I expected major meltdowns.  Naptime came, though, and actually his reaction was more of confusion than anger.  He tried his paci, realized it was "broken" and set it on the nightstand next to him.  It took him awhile to fall asleep, but he did so without any real tears.  I was shocked!  At night, it was a bit harder for him.  He cried some, and after awhile he kept saying, "I'm ready to be nice.  I'm ready to be nice."  That broke my heart.  I tried to explain that he was a good boy, not being punished.  Even amidst the tears, he eventually fell asleep.  Well, the next couple nights were even harder for Henry as he seemed to go through all the stages of grieving, but now we feel we've turned a corner.  It is getting easier again, and I can finally envision Henry's life without a paci.  No going back now!  My baby boy is growing up.