hmm..

I was looking thru some old pics of Jaedon... and now that I'm looking at Owen's picture right next to these I think Owen has his own look about him. Altho I think you could say they pass as brothers ;)

Food Faces

Thank you, Grandma!!!!!

Several months ago I asked my knit-witty mother-in-law (said with upmost respect! ;) if she thought she could make the boys matching sweaters for Christmas. Before you think I'm the rudest daughter in law ever let me just say (maybe I am?!) she LoVeS to knit and she is VERY talented at it. It amazes me what she keeps coming up with!! So she said she was up to the challenge and we decided to create our own sweater. I chose a piece of one sweater in one book, another in another book, a sleeve here and cuff there... I have NO idea how she did it- but this is how they turned out. I think they are ALMOST as cute as the boys wearing them ;) And the hats... it just doesn't get too much better than that.

PS- Mom, I had TONS of comments today at church too ;) Thank you SOOO much!!!

More birthday pictures

so HEY! I've lived one whole week in my thirty's and no wrinkles....yet. =P
no really...I'm over it...I just thought I'd post some more bday pics. We went out to Great Lakes chinese in Hudsonville with Brads family (missed you Andy =( . It was really enjoyable (altho SOOOOOoooo not diet friendly!) My sister in law and I are thinking of establishing going out for bday meals more regularly...whatchya think, Mom?! ;) tehee...

Cutie Patootie Katelyn Rose -

Kids- do not attempt this at home- ;)

This picture just cracks me up. Little chunky monkey himself...

Three- OOOOoooh

Today is a tombstone...I mean milestone for me- I turn 30. Ok- to some it may not be a BIG deal (it is just another birthday afterall)...and to some it's a HUGE deal- no more Twentysomething...
I'm rather- eh about it. It seems like such an "adult age" and I really don't feel mature enough to sport it. I think there must be some unwritten universal rules of turning 30... I suddenly feel the urge to wear SPF in my moisturizer (note the first urge to even WEAR moisturizer), feel the need to schedule a mammogram (jk!), am seriously considering an aerobics class (and not caring how riduculous I look) and think carpools are the greatest invention on earth. OK- so maybe I will be able to "sport" the 30's ... I seem to be on my way to 50 at this rate. (no offense to the...uh... more- experienced -at- life readers).


30 days ago my inlaws showed up at my door bearing two laundry baskets full of gifts. My mom decided to give me 30 gifts (1 each day) for 30 days until my 30th birthday. It has been a lot of fun to have a gift to open each day- anything from toilet paper and toothpaste, to pillowcases (embroidered by my mom) and a garlic press! Thanks, mom, it was very thoughtful of you and fun too!
Brad (semi) surprised me with a birthday party too - very unlike him mind you (which makes it even better! ;) Of course, it's all but impossible to throw a complete surprise party when the person you're surprising is in the house all day long... so I knew SOMETHING was up. He told me "some people" were coming over. 31 people to be exact (a lot of them were under 4 feet tall too! ;) It was crowded, noisy, messy and perfect. I didn't know I had that many friends ;) Thanks, sweetheart- your time is coming!! ;)
Here's to 30- mammograms and all !!

Jaedon's music program

Brad has been working at Vanguard for 7 years now and I have enjoyed being able to go to all of his concerts. (Mainly because I think he looks really hot in a suit ;)

Well, Jaedon had his very first music program this past week. I was looking forward to seeing Jaedon do his thing- and was joined by Brad's mom. Well, my "naps are optional" 2 year old decided that it would be a good time to pitch a fit (complete with yelling) during the (all of 5 minute) kindergarten portion of the concert! UGH! How frustrating to miss most of it! Oh- and thank you, Mom, for man-handling Seth all the way out to the car. Oh yes- it was a superb display of two year old tantrums! (I secretly think Brad was pretending he didn't know us ;) However- Jaedon did have fun and did a good job too.

Pavement and Picnics

Well, we took the plunge and decided to spend our economic stimulus money. I know I know...what's the rush ;-) We have been wanting to have a "real" driveway (as in not gravel which translates mud and muck from about November to April) since we moved here 6 years ago. Sooo.... here's the newest addition....

We had SUCH amazing weather this past week- 70's in November!! I did not get my trying-to-become-typical cleaning schedule done much b/c I just wanted to be outside. We took LOTS of walks, enjoyed the swings and actually had a picnic lunch too.
I won't mention the fact that we saw snow flurries this morning. Yeah...picnic season is offically over until next year ;)

What a chore

I'm starting to see why firstborns are so weird. (sorry, honey...and, well, a lot of other people I know...) They are our test drive- poor kid. He didn't ask to be born first!
Well, anyway, in hindsight I have come to realize that I don't think I did a very good job of giving Jaedon more and more responsibility (ie chores and jobs around the house). It's not that he didn't have things to do but it honestly didn't even cross my mind to start handing him more "jobs" with things to do. I think I missed my "window" when young kids are THRILLED to help out (I'm working on that with Seth...). So now Brad and I came up with ideas of chores for Jaedon to do and ...well, let's just say it was NOT met with very much enthusiasm. We, as paitently as possible, explain that everyone has to do jobs. That it's part of living in a family...yada yada... but we're still met with "No. I don't think I'll do that right now." or "No thanks. I don't want to do that."
So- now what? Fortunately, he has still done the chores we've asked of him- I just need some different ideas on the approach I need to be taking. The whole "I have jobs that I don't WANT to do but I do them because I love my family" speech works okay....but really - don't want to have to give a speech all the time ya know? So... here ya go... you're chance to shine and tell me what I SHOULD'VE done when he was 3 - and now what I could do now. Any thoughts?

Some more firsts

We enjoyed a high 60's weather day on Nov. 3! We took advantage of it and had a great time introducing Owen to the swing. He LOVED it. (ps - isn't that Grandma-made sweater TOO cute?!)
Goodnight Night Moon- a favorite (altho I still have yet to discover WHY).

MMm...Carrots!

Buzz, Bob and Tigger too

Here's a few pictures of our sugar-induced fun last night-

Does anyone else find the whole trick or treating thing a bit odd? We spend hours everyday trying to teach our kids how to share, give to others, think of others first, teach them to be thankful for what they have, point out how blessed we are with what we do have and that whole "there are kids in other parts of the world..." speech has surfaced at our house more than once already. There is the whole "be careful of strangers", "don't take things from strangers" mantra that we give.

We try to eat well balanced meals- sugar is WAAY limited at our house although not totally banned.

BUT!! For some odd reason- one day a year we let it all fly in the fan. "Stuff yourself silly with teeth rotting foods given to us by complete strangers and make sure you yell for them to give it to you as loud as possible!" Am I the only one that sees a bit of insanity in it all?

Then again, we find out that our neighbors are quite friendly, we smile when our kids remember to say 'thank you' on their own, we have fun seeing everyone else dressed in their costumes (even when we meet someone who has the exact costume on!) and of course- candy overload once and awhile is NOT the true cause of childhood obesity!

So okay, perhaps it's a bit strange - but we had a good time.