Girls Basketball 2014

Better late than never....here are some shots from the girls basketball season!  Their coach was Tom, and they had a blast, played hard, and learned so much!!

Abby in black w/pink shorts

Sophie in blue shorts

Sophie in blue shorts

Abby in black/pink shorts

Sophie had scored all 6 points that their team had at this point!!  They won the game!

Abby's amazing smile

Silly!!

Elf on the Shelf 2013

Christmas Day 2013

Christmas Eve 2013

Snow Day 2013!!

November 19, 2013

Even though Noah was home today with a bad cold, he and Tom still got to giggling at dinner.  Giggling about a line from a movie if I recall correctly.  Noah could not be any more like his dad, and I love it!  In the midst of the laughter Noah said, "I love my life!" 
It doesn't get much better than that. 

November 17, 2013

Happy Birthday Mom!!!  We love you!!!

November 16, 2013

Saturday morning I drove Noah and his buddy Brandon to Grand Haven to a bacon cooking class.  Recall Noah's Halloween costume, and his life mantra, "Everything is better with bacon."  The boys had a blast preparing everything from mini egg/muffin/bacon casseroles to tater tots wrapped in bacon, to milk chocolate dipped bacon strips.   Yes, you read that right.  They learned so much and brought the recipes home to share!  If you attend any holiday gatherings with us this year, don't be surprised if one or two of these items appear on the table!  I loved sitting back in this beautiful professional kitchen, sipping my tea, watching them cook!

November 14, 2013

This morning was a planned 'late start' for the kids.  We adore these mornings where we have just a little more time to relax and eat pancakes before school.  Love.

November 11, 2013

The girls played their first basketball game tonight!  Tom is their coach and they have so much fun!  Go Panthers!!  Actually, even though it is a West Ottawa team, their actual team name is Clemson!  I thought Laura M. would love that!  (Sophie is in blue shorts, Abby in black/pink)

The week of November 4

This week I took time to notice and enjoy a few small moments.  They seemed insignificant at the time, but I know that they are treasures. 
One night Tom worked late and the rest of us were a little 'off'.  To fend off the evening crabbies we decided we needed to create.  Noah thought we should "finger paint like when we were little" and I loved that idea.  We wondered what would happen if we finger painted with our special water color paints.  We added in some drawings with oil pastels.  We were creative and we made a mess and we weren't crabby any more. 
Noah and I enjoyed some quiet reading time together one evening while the girls and Tom were at basketball practice.
We picked up our first CSA share this week.  The first night we roasted a big batch of the veggies and the next night I made it in to a wonderful soup.  Noah loves adding the oil and salt to the vegetables before roasting. 
Beautiful moments. 

November 1-2, 2013

Sights of the weekend so far.....

A beautiful leaf on the driveway Friday afterschool.

Carrot pancakes with a cream cheese 'frosting'  made by Anna, Tom and Noah for breakfast Saturday.

Abby and I running errands Saturday afternoon. 

A happy family after a Spartan Victory!!  Go State!!

October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!!

October 26, 2013

A beautiful fall day full of fun.  Girls Basketball.  Pancakes for Noah at Hope.  An estate sale on Lake Mac.  Post Family Farm.  Church.  A slumber party for the girls.
The kids are growing so fast.  Their interests and plans for the days are changing.  I find myself treasuring the snuggles and kisses even more than ever. 

October 15, 2013

Things that make me go hmmmmm....
One of the things I pride myself on is removing grass stains from Noah's clothes.  I have perfected a system, and it is actually something I find joy in.  I am thankful that he plays hard enough to get grass stains every day.  He is active and energetic, and that is perfect.  However, sometimes, he does cause me to wonder....
How does one get a grass stain inside of the waistband of his baseball pants?
How does one get a grass stain in the armpit of his football jersey? 
How does one get a grass stain on top of the shoulder of his school shirt? (pictured today)

That's my boy!

October 24, 2013

Tonight my super girls and I ran a Halloween 5K to benefit the Holland Free Health Clinic.  It was Sophie's very first one!  We braved 39 degree temps, hail, and a little snow but with our super powers we didn't notice a thing!  They blew my mind with their super speed.  I admit to begging them to slow down several times.  We finished in an amazing 27:30.  I am so proud of them.  And, I am exhausted.  :)