The past two weeks have past in a blur of happiness.....
A change of travel plans and last minute flight to Los Angeles
A couple of days to relax and play with my beautiful sister Martha.
Being present for the birth of my new niece Chessa Noelle. Words cannot explain: beauty, peace, miracle.....
"Girls Night" at the hospital (Chuck and the kids had 'movie night' at home, so I was on hospital duty for a few hours). We chatted, stared in awe at Chessa, shared sprite and jello...it was perfect.
Special time with Adelee and Gordie while their mommy and daddy were in the hospital. Including baseball and frisbee, a trip to make fossils, a walk to Whole Foods for flowers, and making welcome home signs! 
Wonderful time playing, eating (amazing restaraunt) and exploring Santa Monica with Laura, Ben, Amelia, and Annemieke!
After the fun in LA, I sure missed my kids. I was happy to get home to celebrate 'hot chocolate Friday' with them!
And to attend Noah's 2nd flag football game on Saturday (Coach Tom!)Whew! For as much as I dread the start of the first week of school, I am very happy to have it behind us. The kids had a great week with exciting things to report each day including the use of their new planner, caterpillars on recess, the new tricks they learned on the parallel bars, soccer games with friends on recess, art class, and tons of new Spanish words and phrases. But, it was exhausting! The kids come home tired and very hungry. It's hard to do homework when it's 75 degrees out and there is fun to be had! And honestly, mommy is working hard to get used to her new schedule and classes at Hope too (I come home tired and hungry and not really wanting to do homework!!). We were so excited for Friday and decided to reinstate a tradition from their Kindergarten year, 'Hot Chocolate Fridays' (it does sound much better when the temps dip!). Each week that the kids stay on 'green light' all week in school (no warnings...or worse!) we go for hot chocolate on Friday. We search high and low for new places and new things to try!
Over the weekend we attended Hope College's 'Community Day' picnic and football game.
We also enjoyed time with my parents at their new house!
It was really the first year we talked much to the kids about September 11. I particularly liked this cartoon from Sunday morning: http://www.gocomics.com/grand-avenue/2011/09/11
I spent time Sunday holding my kids close. We put out the flag together. We discussed heroes. We talked about service. We prayed. We heard a message of forgiveness at church (the readings in the Catholic church are pre set for the year, it happened that the readings for Sunday September 11 discussed forgiveness.) We remembered.
The kids woke up excited and ready to go this morning. 2nd grade was calling! They couldn't wait to see their friends, their teacher, and start the new adventure.
On the way to the bus stop I asked Noah (who was walking next to me) to walk up ahead with his sisters for a picture. He did. A minute later he said, "Mom, are you done taking the picture?" I responded, "yes". He said, "Good, because I'm going to walk back by you so I can spend every minute next to you before school" 
We went to the cottage with the whole Bonnema and Lappenga family. I took this picture from the window of the adults talking on the deck.
Me holding Annemieke.
While on vacation in Maryland we were able to spend a day in Baltimore. It was the first time the kids had visited that city. We visited and toured Camden yards (awesome!) and the Inner Harbor (where we hunkered down during an hour plus thunder storm). It was amazing!! What a perfect trip with wonderful friends! Summer Memories!
