Short But Sweet

Again, we have had a busy week! Angie came home to visit for a very short time and we had to get in as much time with her as possible. The kids just love spending time with her and seemed to pick up right where they left off. Gigi (as Olivia and Ethan call her) came home Wednesday and was here when the kids woke up from their naps. What a great surprise! It was raining for a few minutes so Olivia and Ethan wanted to use their umbrellas (or not) and play in the rain. I just love the rain boots Sasha got for Olivia. Ethan so enjoyed feeling the raindrops on his head.










Wednesday evening we went to Grandpa and Mary's for a cook out...









Thursday Angie took the kids to see cousin Karen and her two children, Kyle and Ella, while I went to school to set up my classroom. Karen and Angie said the kids played so well together and Ethan just adored Ella! Here are some pictures from their visit...





Friday we spent another gorgeous day at Aunt Deb's house. The kids just can't get enough of that pond! As you can see Ethan is not so fond of the life jacket. Olivia loves to be pushed around on the big tube and go out to the raft in the middle of the pond. While there, she usually is directing anyone with her how to appropriately act out their role in The Little Mermaid.











Friday night we went to Fricano's on Muskegon Lake for dinner and then to Grand Haven for ice cream. We also stopped into Earth's Edge where Olivia found a lot of camping gear that she just loved. Notice the perfect pencil grasp that Ethan has - at 2 years old!!!

We just can't wait to visit with Aunt Gigi again soon!

Summerfest & More

Well August is half way over and we have been very busy! Last week was Coopersville's Summerfest (or Harvest Fest for any old time farmers reading this) and on Thursday we had a garage sale, along with 3/4 of our community. Anyone who has had a garage sale knows how much time and energy go into organizing and preparing for the actual day. I sure was dreading it, I mean what was I going to do with Olivia and Ethan and all of these people in our yard...then an angel appeared out of the morning mist and scooped up my kids and was gone for the morning! Elly, I can't thank you enough! It was so wonderful (and brave) of Elly to come and take my kids with her 3 boys to the festivities downtown. They came back talking about tractor rides and the park and carrying a bag full of candy. What a great time! While they were gone I was selling like crazy and we ended up making in one day more than Scott or I hoped to make in two! So we had our one day sale then loaded what was left in the truck and headed for Goodwill. I am so glad that is over...

Olivia and Ethan earned some money from the sale and so I took them garage saling the next day so that they could experience spending their own money for the first time! You're never too young to learn. They were so adorable with their little bags of quarters! And conservative too! They never bought anything until about the 5th sale! I was very proud of them - they even had money left over!

Saturday night we went to the wedding of Phil Klein and Jessica Homrich. We all know the Kleins are, shall we say, a little wild and it turns out so is Jes' family! Here we go now, Here we go now...Let me clear my throat... That made for one of the funnest receptions we have ever been to! The food was excellent (Noto's) and the entertainment, I mean speeches, were hilarious. Scott and I also appreciated having the best table we've ever had at a wedding reception. I could kick myself for not bringing the camera, but I'm sure someone out there has some incriminating photos. We have never been to a reception (actually I don't think anyone has) where the groom had the mic so much! I think even the DJs were impressed with Phil's rendition of "The Humpty Dance"! It was great to see everyone and catch up, especially since no one knows when the next wedding will be...Mark???

Sunday, after church, we spent a couple hours at my dad's house for brunch. Trying to get a picture of the grandkids that were there was crazy...





I just love this picture of my dad and Ethan!

And then some of the crew went on a lion hunt...

Sunday afternoon was spent napping. Ahhhhh...


I can feel the pace of life quickening. Fall and school are fast approaching and with it a whole new schedule for our family. We are looking forward to the new adventure we are about to embark on.

A Day at the Stevens'

Saturday we went to visit Scott's mom's side of the family at his Aunt Deb's house (and to celebrate the fact that Aunt Deb just got a teaching job!). Olivia had been asking to go there for a while so the kids were very excited...they knew what fun we would have and they were right! The weather was perfectly beautiful. We played in the pool some but spent most of the day in the pond paddle boating, floating on tubes, scaring Mommy and Daddy on the raft, attempting the slip-n-slide (with and without tubes), eating and just enjoying spending time with each other. Olivia and Ethan looked adorable in their life jackets. Ethan loved to just walk right in the pond and keep walking regardless of how deep the water was getting, while Olivia was a little more cautious. It was really a fantastic time, especially having Daddy there. We are looking forward to going there again with Gigi!

Here are some pictures of our fun family day...
(notice my hair CUT)

You are the words, I am the tune...

Friday night Scott and I had the fantastic opportunity to see Neil Diamond (for the 2nd time) for FREE! After all of the these years (he's like 67), the man still has it. The stage is completely dark - black - then one spotlight goes to him, standing there with acoustic guitar. I tell you there is nothing like a Neil Diamond concert. There were people there from 2 years old to 80. It is such a joyful atmosphere, you get this perma-grin watching him and listening to him. Although, I have to admit that several times I had to swallow hard to keep the tears from flowing because a lot of the songs were ones that I remember my mom singing to ("Love on the Rocks", "Play Me", "Blue Jeans Forever", "You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore", "I Am...I Said"). She sure did love music. But the rest of the time sheer fun and perma-grin! I almost think any ticket is worth it's price just to sing "Sweet Caroline" with 10,000+ people (Sweet Caroline BA,BA,BA Good times never seem so good SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD! I've been inclined...) Are you smiling yet? So fun!! (I just love that scene in Beautiful Girls but it is 100 times better in concert!) Did you know he wrote that song in one hour?! And he is truly one of the greatest storytellers of our time. I just love listening to his childhood stories. Neil Diamond rocks!