Coopersville Christmas Parade

Every year we go to the Christmas parade in town. It is usually bitter cold. We were so thankful that this year it was pleasant out and not unbearable. Olivia's Girl Scout Troop had a float in the parade! It was so fun! While waiting they danced around on the trailer and ate donuts and drank chocolate milk. Scott, Ethan and Nana stopped by the float to say hi before heading down to Main Street to see the reindeer. Myself and a few other moms walked along the side of the float. Main Street was absolutely packed! The girls did a fantastic job waving and smiling as they looked for their friends and family in the crowds. Ethan saw Santa as he was walking back home with Nana and Daddy! Santa called out "Well, who do we have here?" and Ethan was so surprised he hid his face in Scott's coat - not hearing Nana say his name was Ethan. Ethan came out of hiding and was shocked when Santa told him to have a Merry Christmas by name!! The Girl Scout troop's float won 1st place!!


Olivia with good friend and classmate Jocelyn Bajema...




Katie Klein, Olivia, Taylor Lamsma, Ellie Benson...

Peter Pan

As part of a school program we were all able to go see the Civic Theater production of "Peter Pan." This was the kick off to all fo our many Holiday festivities. I especially enjoyed the play and I think the kids got a kick out of the fact that the actor playing Peter was a girl. We sat next to our friends the Bensons - Ellie, Natalie, Melissa and Josh.

November

In Novemeber we were hit again with illness. Unfortunately Olivia had the worst of it - the Great Stomach Virus of 2010. None of us had a regular 24 hour flu bug, instead we were down and out for days, especially Olivia. On her 3rd day of vomiting and not an iota of improvement we took her to the doctor. After a quick look over he sent us to the emergency room because she was so dehydrated (white, chapped lips and all) and needed an iv of fluids. While in the emergency room a blood draw was taken and iv started with fluids. Poor Liv. She was obviously very scared, afterall she had only been to the emergency room twice - once for stitches and once 3 days after she was born for jaundice. After the bood work results came back, the doctor said she would need to stay over night to get a continuous iv of fluids through the night (her hydration number was 13 and normal is 20). Nana had already picked up Ethan and Daddy went home to take care of him. Mommy stayed in the hospital with Olivia. She did a great job being brave for her stomach xrays and all the poking and prodding they needed to do throughout the night. Daddy came back the next morning as soon as he could, anxious to see his sweetheart. We made a fun time of playing hangman on the nurse's white board while waiting for the okay to go home. Little girl lost 4 pounds while being sick and none of her pants would stay up properly. This was just before Thanksgiving. Daddy and Olivia styed home for Thanksgiving and Ethan didn't want to go either because, "I don't like turkey and tomatoes. Hmph." So I just went and enjoyed seeing everyone and ate a delicious meal.

Halloween 2010

What a great Halloween! I was so happy to be able to attend both Olivia and Ethan's school Halloween parties. Olivia was a beautiful ballerina and Ethan was Anakin Skywalker at school and part of the evening trick or treating, the other part of the time he was Darth Vader. Not too many pics with mom this year as I had just had the flu and and had the onset of pink eye at the school parties. Ocotber was filled with illness in our home so we were all lucky to be able to have some fun on Halloween night. After making our usual rounds to Papa and Grammy's and Great Grandma Laug's, Nana came along as we went door to door. So much fun! The kids ran most of the time and I think Ethan only fell 4 times.

Ethan's school Halloween party:


With his wonderful teacher Mrs. Jessica Buist...


With his other wonderful teacher Mrs. Carey Taylor...








Olivia's school Halloween party:


With her wonderful teacher, Mrs. Amie Van Amberg...


Cobie, as an adorable bumblebee, was there...




A beautiful fairy ballerina...


Waiting for the parade to start with Ellie Matzat...

GR Half Marathon 2010

When we weren't battling illness in our home during the month of October...
Mommy walked the Grand Rapids Half Marathon (with Ellen and Amy) and was so happy to see my dad, Joyce, Scott, kids, and Angie cheering us on at about mile 8 - I think. Really needed it then!






Near the finish line I was so incredibly happy to see Scott and Olivia & Ethan! I took my kids along with me for the last few yards. They were my strength - I honestly don't know if I would have crossed the finish line without them. It was so encouraging to hear "Way to go Mom!" from strangers as we walked. I was proud of myself and I think my kids were proud of me too - Scott was that is for sure.

Bronco Homecoming

Okay, so the homecoming game was last month but I'm a little behind with my blogging at the moment. Olivia had a friend spend the night for the first time, Ellie Molewyk. The kids had so much fun at the parade. We walked down to Main Street and met up with Taylor and Rylee Lamsma (and their parents of course). The screaming these kids did was unreal! You'd think Justin Bieber was in the parade - or more to their interest would be a Disney Princess or, for Ethan, a Star Wars character. I enjoyed catching up with my Cooperating Teacher from my Student Teaching days. We went home, ate pizza, then headed up to school for the game. As all Coopersville parents know, the best part of football games for the kids is "the hill." We met up witht eh Lamsma's again and also Molly Potts and family. Of course the kids didn't watch one iota of football but they had a great time!








The girls-Taylor, Olivia and Ellie...


Ethan and Rylee...


Playing duck, duck, goose to pass the time...



The girls all ready for bed...