A great weekend leading in to a SNOW DAY!

Snow day: Abby and Noah reading together.
Snow Day: Ernie waiting for me to come back to my reading spot.

Snow Day: Noah building Legos
Snow Day: Sophie and Abby reading together

Weekend: Abby's new bike (she thought it was Spring on Saturday...but not Sunday!!)

Weekend: Rosy cheeks after about 6 hours playing outside on Saturday

So blessed!

#100

Some of you know that I am embarking on a life changing process of counting 1000 gifts. I read this blog http://www.aholyexperience.com/ and in her blog and book she asserts that counting every single beautiful blessing in life is the surest way to 'slow' time. To savor moments that I feel pass way to quickly. Sometimes the speed at which my kids are growing causes me to lose my breath, and some days even weep. BUT, in counting all the beautiful moments it helps me to pause, smile and enjoy each one.

Today #100: A sweet boy whose first words of the day are "how are you feeling mom?" (i'm fighting a cold)

#105: A speedy runner! (and the same sweet boy)

#104: basketballs bouncing outside in hats, coats and mittens

Happy Valentine's Day!

To see the kids at the Hope Girls Basketball Game "pink out for cancer" click here: http://www.hope.edu/pr/athletics/wbb/1011wbbfans.html


Sophie's heart shaped pizza we made for dinner!
Writing what we love about everyone on a heart before dinner

Sophie and Abby showing Valentine's Day love at school

Noah and Sophie at their school party

Yummy fruit tray I brought for the school party (their teacher did a great job requesting fruit and veggies..and a little candy for the party!)

I hope you had a Valentine's Day full of love. We did!!

Shining our Light

Today in church we heard about the verse, "Don't hide your light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise our heavenly father." -Matthew 5:15-16
"Shine" is a word that we keep close to our hearts for the past year because of the way Grandma Bonnema lived her life. It was our "word" for last year. It was the perfect verse for our day. Today we took our kids to DeVos Children's Hospital to donate all of the gifts that were brought to their class birthday party yesterday. We put this on the invitation and our kids were fine with it the entire time. Not to say they didn't think about the concept of giving away all those toys! We were so incredibly proud of their enthusiasm for the donation. They did not complain. They did not ask to keep even one toy. Their class very generously donated.
Today a woman from the Children's Hospital came down to the lobby to meet us and was so excited to see the wonderful, enthusiastic 'success story' that our kids are returning to give back.
Today my amazing 7 year olds cheerfully 'shined'. We couldn't be more proud.

Happy 7th Birthday my Angels!

We are having an amazing 7th birthday! It started with a party at Hope College with their entire class entitled, "The Physics of Intergalactic Flight" (we are VERY in to Star Wars these days!). Grandma and Grandpa Bonnema, Grandma and Grandpa Mosher, Tom and myself were the 'assistants' and a Hope student taught our class. They built paper airplanes, learned about birds, launched alka-seltzer rockets, and built hover crafts. 22 VERY excited first graders...nothing better than that!! We ended the party with homemade vanilla cupcakes! Then we were off to 'Froggy's' where Aunt Lynn, Uncle Steve, Deven, and Tori joined us. After a great lunch we went back to our house for presents and homemade chocolate cake! We've had a wonderful afternoon relaxing, enjoying new toys, and celebrating our miracles.

Snow Day!

The view from the front...

Even Tom is at home...but working very hard

Not us, we are not working we are snuggling and relaxing!!

The view from the back

The blizzard 2011!! We love snow days!!

Sweet Adelee, we are snowed in our house but we are watching cartoons, snuggling, and staying in our jammies :) (she was a little concerned after watching the weather channel with Martha yesterday!)