June 13, 2013

          I chose this photo because I love hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa Mosher. In this photo we are at the baseball diamond by the fire station. Noah plays baseball and Abby and I play softball so we wanted to go to the baseball diamond to practice with Grandma and Grandpa. We practiced catching and practiced hitting the ball. After we finished we went to play for, like, 10 min. After that we went to Orange Leaf for frozen yogurt. We carried our fro yo downtown to see street performers. We saw acrobats and people playing guitar and violin. I dropped my spoon and I used Abby's when she was done. I love hanging out with Grandma and Grandpa!!!!!      -Photograph and paragraph by Sophie Bonnema

June 12, 2013

There is nothing that says summer like warm from the sun Michigan strawberries.  Today we were thrilled to find this treasure at our first Wednesday farmers market of summer vacation.  We snatched two baskets and proceeded to eat several before getting back to the car.  The smell is the sweetest on earth.  After the market we went to the library and met my parents in the parking lot (love having them in Holland!), they came to the car and took a strawberry or two from the basket.  After dinner we savored the first strawberry shortcake of the summer.  Now summer can begin!

June 11, 2013

One of our goals for summer vacation is to do our best to capture a photo a day.  We will miss some days (in fact, we already missed the 'first day' June 10) but we will do our best.  Our hope is to capture a picture that represents something special about each day of our vacation.  It will help us "look" for blessings, capture the "wonder", and "be present" everyday. 
I chose this picture because it was a busy day, we were taking care of a dear little one year old and spent the morning at the zoo.  This picture was taken while the little one napped.  We moved to the back patio (so as to not wake the baby!) to enjoy the ice cream that Abby was ecstatic to find again after a few years 'off' (Hudsonville Orange Cream Swirl...amazing).  We were all wearing socks and no shoes so we sat down right on the steps and the best part about this picture is that we did not squeeze together to take the shot, we were actually sitting this close together.  Abby was actually sitting on my lap, and the other two were very close at my side.  Early in summer vacation we are treasuring the togetherness, loving the fact that at 2 in the afternoon we were able to sit and savor an ice cream cone...just because. 

In the blink of an eye

I have 4th graders!

1st day of 3rd Grade.

Last day of 3rd Grade.

It has been a wonderful year full of excitement, new experiences, and fun.  The kids learned a lot, and I learned a lot as well.  It was a busy year full of activities and homework.  We are so thankful for the teacher, the school and the friends that the kids have.  We are so very ready for summer.  We have started our summer list.  We are packed and ready for a weekend at the cottage.  We can't wait to slow down and play.  Summer vacation, here we come!

A 'Wonder-full' Week

A beautiful week full of new pottery (Abby etched the owl in to a mug I 'threw' and my first tea kettle), elephant ears at tulip time, a baby bird spotted by Abby, the kids at a Hope baseball game, and a waiting mother's day gift from Noah. 

 We are in a busy sports season of life.  I'm not an over-scheduler but these are busy days full of baseball practice for Noah, TTQ for Noah (a 5K training program after school), and soccer for the girls.  It makes meal planning a challenge, homework time difficult, and down time almost non existent.  But, we love it.  The kids love playing, and we love watching them.  Such fun! (all of these pictures are not from this week!)

Noah gets a hit.  Note the 3rd base coach!

Sophie played goalie in their game today. 

Noah almost to the finish line of the Tulip Time 5K.

The cheering squad!

The girls!

Sophie

Abby

Sophie

Sophie

Abby

Noah scores!

I am blessed. 

Dutch Day!

In their Dutch Costumes before school.

Marching in the Kinderparade with their classmates!

Tired kids enjoying a Captain Sundae after the parade!

Wonder-full weeks

A fun 'tulip time' day with good friends!

Kids dressed for 'Cinco de Mayo' on grandpa M.'s birthday.  A tiny tea kettle charm I made in pottery class.  Sunshine at soccer practice.  My big kids at their 9 year doctor appt.  Sweet note in my office.  Noah enjoying a treat at the 'Queen's Day Abdication Party'. 

A wonderful weekend in Detroit with two amazing girlfriends.  Great food, great shopping, great sights, and great conversation!

I am blessed.