What will our Christmas card look like this year?

This is a version of the one sent out to our family and friends.

I love to make our holiday cards digitally, but this year my creative juices weren't quite flowing. After a LOT of procrastinating I finally came up with our Christmas card 2 days ago.  Copies were made today and are ready to be mailed next week.  Better late than never!

What were you for Halloween?

This post is weeks old, but still worth posting.  We did our traditional patience pinata this October and attempted a trendy fall owl.  While the owl was in construction Tim and I wondered if our design would turn out.  Thankfully when we put the final touches on it actually looked alright.  The girls had a blast hitting the owl and discoving the "goods" inside.  This year both of them got slipper socks, Leah got a Halloween shirt, and Elizabeth got a soft sweatshirt (just because I didn't like any of the Halloween shirts in her size). 

On Halloween they had a 1/2 day of school while I held parent-teacher conferences.  Tim made the trip to pick them up and get them ready for trick-or-treating.  Leah dressed up as Minnie Mouse and Elizabeth was a red crayon.  After a few photos we all drove downtown to Grand Haven.  The girls had a fun time seeing all the different costumes and collecting candy from the local stores.  After our time downtown the girls were able to hit a few neighborhood houses.  All in all it was a fun night!

How much does your pumpkin weigh?

Earlier this month we met my sister and her 3 kids at Klackle in Greenville.  It was a SUPER windy and chilly Saturday so we bundled up in winter gear.  We paid the unusually high fee to get into the orchard, but once we were in the cousins all had a blast.  They enjoyed playing on the wooden playground, petting the animals in the barn (especially the bunnies), and driving the different pedal bikes.  There was also a self-spinning apple, a rope ladder, and a maze to maneuver through.  Leah attempted to stick herself on a Velcro wall while Elizabeth rode in a barrel train pulled by a tractor.  We all took a ride out to the pumpkin patch to choose our pumpkins and as an added bonus took a different train to pick some Jonagold and Ida red apples.  Of course we could not leave until we bought 2 dozen donuts and apple cider.  After 4 hours we were whipped, windburned, and ready to leave.

What kind of apples did you pick?

To celebrate the start of fall, my favorite season, we made a trip to Crane's Apple Orchard.  When we were there we picked mostly Honey Crisp, a personal favorite, but we also picked some Cortland and Golden Delicious.  The place was packed so we basically drove in, picked apples, paid for them, and then drove out.  Our adventure took less than an hour.  While the trip was short, the delicious taste and smell of autumn's apples will linger for awhile.

Did you have a good first day of school?

Every year after taking their pictures on the first day of school.  I ask the girls about their dreams for their lives.  The questions are always the same, but their answers change as they grow and mature.  This is what they each said this year.

What would you like to learn this year?
E:  How to talk to animals
L:  Cursive

What job would you like to have when you are older?
E:  Coach
L:  Work at a zoo

Will you get married?  If so, how many children will you have?
E:  Yes, 2 (twins)
L:  Yes, 4

If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go?
E: Where kangaroos live
L: Scuba diving in the ocean

What's one thing you wish you could do?
E:  Fly
L:  Whatever I want

Did you enjoy your party?

Last week Sunday was Elizabeth's 6th birthday (I'm only a week late posting this).  She had to have a dog themed party complete with stuffed dogs all over the house.  My mom wondered if having a dog party meant we were getting another dog.  To Elizabeth's dismay we did NOT get another dog.  However, she had a tail wagging good time celebrating and everyone enjoyed chowing down on her dog shaped cupcake cake! 

Could this picture be any more adorable?

Obviously I am biased when it comes to my children, but I absolutely LOVE this picture of Leah and Elizabeth.  I can't wait to get it printed in a 12 X 12 and frame it so I can look at it all the time!

How was the trip west?

For 10 days Tim and I had the chance to explore and enjoy nature in Seattle and the surrounding area.  We took in the sights of downtown including Pike's Place Market where the fish are famously thrown around.  We also watched the Blue Angels perform over Lake Washington, observed the ships go in and out of the locks between that lake and Puget Sound, and went up 520 feet to the top of the Space Needle.  The main part of our journey was spent backpacking near Mt. Rainier.  For 6 days we hiked up and down trails with gear strapped to our backs.  While many of the paths were covered in snow pack which resulted in alternate routes, we still enjoyed all the beauty.  I took literally hundreds of pictures, but these are some of my favorites.

Kerry Park - overlooking downtown Seattle

Near Glacier Basin - the location of our first campground

Crossing the waterfall on a day hike to Sunset

Close to the river on the way to Summerland

Mt. Rainier at Relflection Lakes

The view from our tent at Snow Lake

After finishing the last hike from Camp Paradise

High above Seattle from the top of the Space Needle

What was your favorite part of the zoo?

Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day and Leah, Elizabeth, and I took full advantage of it.  We made the trip to John Ball Zoo and enjoyed every minute! Leah was a risk-taker and helped pay the extra cost to do the ropes course.  That was her first time and her favorite part.  Elizabeth's favorite part was looking at the monkeys.  I enjoyed watching my daughters walk around the zoo taking pictures of all the animals with their own cameras!

Did you pass your swimming level?

Leah and Elizabeth finished 2 weeks of swimming lessons at Camp Geneva last week.  Both girls really enjoyed their time in the water.  By the end of the lessons I could see improvement in their swimming which made me proud.  Elizabeth focused on working on her front crawl and is starting to get the breathing down.   Leah spent most of her lessons learning all the different strokes.  She glides through the water and picked up on all of the strokes quite easily, even the butterfly!  Each of them passed their individual levels and are looking forward to next summer's lessons already. 

What have you done so far this summer?

Summer is half over (sigh) and we've done a lot.  Check out the list:

*Go to Crazy Bounce  We made it there this week to beat the excessive heat!

*Get a library card This was the first thing we did on the list.  Both girls now have their own card.  : )

*Skate at the roller rink Skating is FREE every Tuesday/Wednesday from 12-2 at the Home Roller Rink. 

*Ice skate at the ice rink

*Watch a movie in the theater The girls and I saw Mr. Popper's Penguins and Zookeeper.

*Beach it   Our first trip was near the end of June and it was a perfect day!

*Spend a few nights at a hotel How about a couple nights in Eagle River?

*See fireworks Yep!  courtesy of the neighbors in our cul de sac.

*Have a play date with a classmate

*Sleepover at someone’s house  Yes, if grandma's house counts.

*Go to Sandy Pines

*Drive to Meijer Garden

*Go to the zoo

*Eat ice cream  We finally made it downtown Grand Haven to our favorite ice cream spot, the Dairy Treat.  Vanilla is now the flavor of choice because of the girls' GERD.

*Shop Probably too much of this!  We even hit the outlet mall in Michigan City.

*Participate in the library reading program Leah finished all 5 sheets in lightning speed.  Elizabeth is still working on her 2nd sheet.

*Have a garage sale

*Save money

*Go to camp Leah had a great experience at HoneyRock.

*Do gymnastics Almost every Monday and Wednesday...

*Take tennis lessons Elizabeth is loving her tennis time!

*Take swimming lessons Both girls had 2 weeks (last week and this week) of lessons at Camp Geneva.

*Hike the trails at Rosy Mound

*Sleep in a tent

*Go for a bike ride  The girls ride their bikes while I run.  It's actually pretty fun!

*Ride the swings at Dutch Village  They did ride the swings, but the main attraction was the animals. 

*Swim at the neighbor’s pool  4th of July weekend we were invited over for the first time and have been there several times since.

*Rock climb Leah did this at camp.

*Play games at Chuck E. Cheese Elizabeth attended a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese.

*Read We try to read every day!

Are the lockers finally done?

YAHOO!  Our family finally has a place to keep all of the backpacks, coats, shoes, etc. that have been treking through our house for years. When we built our house prior to having children 10 years ago Tim and I neglected to create a "mudroom".  For years after moving in I realized we had made a mistake by not including one.  Once Leah was born and old enough to attend preschool I asked Tim if we could buy one.  At that point he told me he could make one.  It sounded like a great idea to me and he promised it would be built before Leah went to kindergarten which was my ideal deadline.  Now that Leah is starting 3rd grade the dream has become a reality.  It was a LONG wait, but worth it!  We had one of Tim's friends do the construction part and the actual unit was designed and installed by ORG.  I am really looking forward to this fall when the girls can use it more!

How did you swallow a penny?

Yesterday I was startled by the words, "Mommy, Elizabeth swallowed a penny!"  When I looked at Elizabeth's distressed face I knew Leah wasn't joking around with me.  Elizabeth had been balancing the penny on her nose and she somehow accidentally swallowed it!  The doctor confirmed what I had already told her...we'll just have to wait until it comes out.  So, we've been waiting.  This morning the girls and I took advantage of the air conditioning at Crazy Bounce.  I'm pretty sure that bouncing doesn't help with penny removal, but it seemed like a good enough reason.  The girls had a great time bouncing from one blow up to another and are at the perfect age where I can just sit and watch (or in my case take pictures too!).  I think they're filled with enough bouncing for the summer that we won't need to return.  For now, we just wait for the penny...

How was the birthday party?

Elizabeth had a fun time going to her friend Avery's birthday party this past Saturday.  She had lunch and played games at Chuck E. Cheese before heading to a pool party.  There she had a good time swimming, diving into the water, and munching on snacks.  As a party favor Elizabeth was given her very own guppy whom she affectionately named Sparkles.  So far the fish has lived for 2 extra days at our house.  We'll see how long it survives!

Where were you when the lights went out?

It's more than a fear, for Leah it is a phobia.  Thunderstorms are, in her mind, an indication of an approaching tornado.  I'm not sure why, but she is petrified of them.  She's never really been near a tornado or experienced anything even close to one.  It doesn't matter how much Tim and I talk to her to convince her that she is safe.  In Leah's mind, death is quickly coming...literally. 

So it is no surprise that when Leah woke up yesterday morning to the low rumble of thunder panic started to arise within her.  Suddenly she wasn't hungry and had a stomachache.  She also couldn't possibly go to gymnastics due to her sickened state.  I told her in so many words that she would be going to practice and to get dressed.  As the sky darkened and the rumble grew louder, Leah's distress increased.  I guess I did what any mother would do...seriously, I did quite the opposite.  I shoved her out on the deck in the middle of the storm.  How horrible am I?  Her big brown eyes and pounding hands on the door still haunt me as I can hear her in my mind screaming, "let me in!"  I refused.  Then the most amazing thing happened.  I watched her walk into the middle of the deck in the pouring rain and roaring wind and relax while looking up at the sky.  She repeated the mantra, "it's only rain.  It's only rain."  Amazed at the breakthrough I had witnessed I thrust open the door and let her in.  We hugged.  Then she very calmly got dressed and we drove to the gym in the storm. 

As I was driving south I wanted to talk about the storm and tell her how safe she would be in a building with no windows, but something stopped me.  When we got to the gym Leah got out of the car and went inside.  Then Elizabeth and I did some errands.  About an hour later I heard the radio DJ say that another line of storms was approaching the area within a half hour and that people should drive to a safe place.  So we drove home and had just closed the garage door when it started to rain.  The two of us had fun painting and cleaning the house while waiting out the second storm.  Then it was time to pick up Leah.  When I got to the gym door I saw her waiting in a dark room.  They had lost power while she was on the high bar and it had been out for over an hour and a half.  I was informed that Leah had shed some tears, but she appeared to be coping well.  I just hope the progress she made today will have an impact when the next one rolls through town!

Does anyone care for some tea?

The girls and I had an extended weekend in Illinois at my mom and dad's house.  Our main reason for going was a baby shower on Saturday for my cousin's wife.  However, we were lucky enough to stay for a few extra days.  On our way to Illinois we stopped at the outlet mall in Michigan City, Indiana.  I really was hoping to get some clothes for me while the girls tagged along, but at the end of the afternoon they were the ones with all the loot.  How does that happen?  I arrived at my childhood home to find many decorating changes.  My favorite room in the house is now the dining room.  I love the simple black and white design that my parents chose.  So of course when the cousins (my kids and my sister's kids) decided to have tea on Sunday after church I couldn't pass up the photo op.  The weekend was busy and tiring.  Aside from the baby shower, which was more adult centered, the highlight was definitely the multiple trips to the swimming pool/water park where I was a lifeguard in high school.  I bribed both girls with money to jump off the 3 m. high dive and now I'm out $10.  Ah, it was worth every cent!

How was your holiday weekend?

We had a very busy, but fun holiday weekend.  First of all the weather was gorgeous and secondly Tim had the whole weekend off!  Our family spent most of Saturday hanging out at our house.  Sunday we went to church and then traveled to Howard City to spend the day at Tim's sister's cottage.  Elizabeth spent most of the day fishing while Leah skied and tubed.  On the 4th we had breakfast at Tim's great aunts' house and then made our way to the Grandville parade.  After the parade we went to our neighbor's pool party.  We ended the day with banana splits in the cul de sac while watching fireworks.  The girls and I were so tired that we slept in until 10:00 this morning. 

Are you ready for a lifestyle change?

Both girls had their 6 month check up with the dentist today.  Upon hearing the news about their appointment their individual reactions couldn't have been more opposite. Elizabeth jumped up and shouted "Wahoo!" while Leah just moaned.  I wasn't surprised.  Elizabeth tends to be very concerned about her oral hygiene whereas Leah could care less.  It has been difficult getting Leah to just brush her teeth every day and then when she does the job isn't done very well.  So, I wasn't too surprised when the dentist informed me that she needed two silver caps to be put on her teeth with another possibly in the next 6 months.  Caps, not just fillings, on each tooth. Although it would be easy to blame Leah's behavior as the reason for the decay of her teeth, the main reason is due to GERD.  Leah was diagnosed back in June of 2009.  At that time we got her a prescription for Prevacid and thought that was enough.  After having her tonsils and adenoids out last summer she didn't complain about a bad taste of vomit in her mouth and we figured her condition had improved.  Unfortunately, we were wrong and the erosion had worsened.

Elizabeth's report was a bit more promising.  As the first patient of the day she was cavity free, but she too was starting to show signs of reflux.  This was noted by the erosion of the enamel on her baby molars.  I was shocked.  Elizabeth is about the same age that Leah was when we first found out about GERD.  Apparently it can be hereditary, but neither Tim nor I experience any symptoms. 

Needless to say I have spent many hours today searching the Internet for information on how to help my children.  The biggest change we are going to make is with our diet.  I was amazed to find out that many of the foods the girls love (like chocolate) are on the list of foods to avoid.  We also need to move our dinner time up about an hour so that their food can be digested completely.  Their snack just before bed (a huge contributor to the reflux) is being eliminated as well. A few other things like drinking lots of water and chewing gum are suppose to help with the acid buildup.  It will be a change, but one that I hope makes a difference!

How was camp?

Leah spent the last 6 days at a camp in the northern woods of Wisconsin called HoneyRock.  While she was excited to go, she was also quite nervous.  Days before her departure she had lots of questions and energy.  She was dropped off Monday morning at Wheaton College to get on a large bus driven by a very old man full of strangers in a thunderstorm.  That wasn't quite the start I had hoped she would get, but she was able to find a bus buddy and only cried for the first five minutes of the 7 hour ride.  Unfortunately the weather remained rainy and chilly for most of the week.  However, she was still able to experience all the fun that goes along with camp life.  According to her counselors Leah was the life of the cabin, the confident risk-taker, and encouraging cabin mate.  It was a week of exploring the great outdoors, learning to trust God, and serving others. 

Would you like to take more tennis lessons?

Elizabeth took tennis lessons this week Wednesday and Thursday for the first time.  She really enjoyed herself and did great!  I was impressed with how quickly she learned and the power in her volleys (I think she takes after her mother).  It helped that there were only 3 other kids in her class and her gym teacher is her coach.  Since I wasn't sure she would like the lessons I only signed her up for 1 week.  However, knowing how much fun she had I will be signing her up for more lessons this summer! 

Are you going to get a new pet?

Jazmin and Scout Staying Cool
Summer 2001

For awhile Tim and I have been tossing around the idea of getting another dog after Jazmin. After all, the majority of our marriage we've had a dog and not having one around would seem abnormal.  Although we could come up with many reasons to get another one there were always more reasons not to.  So today our decision became more than just talk.  I packed up all of Jazmin's things: her kennel, dog bed, leashes, food and treats and brought them to the Harbor Humane Society.  They were more than pleased to get all of Jazmin's old things.  Even though it was difficult to get rid of everything it felt good knowing that another animal will benefit from them.

Did Jazmin die?

Yesterday was a very sad day at the Hopkins home.  Jazmin took a turn for the worse and our pet for almost 11 years died in the early evening.  She was an amazing pet for our family.  Gentle and loving, almost perfect.  She captured my heart when I first saw her in August, 2000.  Tim and I "rescued" her from a beagle farm in Marne where she was full of worms in her stomach and yeast in her ears.  Little did we know how much medical attention Jazmin would require.  The first indication of her list of health problems came when she was around 2 years old.  It was then that we discovered Jazmin was born with a degenerative eye disease.  This disease led to surgery to remove her left eye and replace it with a fake one.  I think people who heard our story thought we were silly to spend so much time and effort on "just a dog".  To us, she wasn't just a dog.  Jazmin had become an important part of our lives and she was too young to suffer.  I'm convinced that she knew we loved her and would do what it took to keep her healthy.  That was definitely true when two summers ago a cancerous tumor was found on the outside of her body.  Tim and I had to decide whether or not to proceed with yet another surgery.  At that time Jazmin was 9 and the procedure was costly, but effective.  The decision was quite easy for us.  We went ahead and had the tumor removed from above her hind leg.  However, at that time we were told it was highly likely more tumors would develop and eventually form inside her body.  Looking back, the surgery was well worth the expense. Our family was given 2 more years with our sweet dog.  Unfortunately, the vet was right.  The tumors did form inside Jazmin's lungs and stomach and they became too overwhelming for us to do anything more for her.  There is a vacancy in our house right now and a big hole in my heart that will take time to heal. 

What would you like to do this summer?

Now that summer has officially started for our family it's time to have some fun!  I asked Leah and Elizabeth what they wanted to do this summer and this is their list:

*Go to Crazy Bounce

*Get a library card

*Skate at the roller rink

*Ice skate at the ice rink

*Watch a movie in the theater

*Beach it

*Spend a few nights at a hotel

*See fireworks

*Have a play date with a classmate

*Sleepover at someone’s house

*Go to Sandy Pines

*Drive to Meijer Garden

*Go to the zoo

*Eat ice cream

*Shop

*Participate in the library reading program

*Have a garage sale

*Save money

*Go to camp

*Do gymnastics

*Take tennis lessons

*Take swimming lessons

*Hike the trails at Rosy Mound

*Sleep in a tent

*Go for a bike ride

*Ride the swings at Dutch Village

*Swim at the neighbor’s pool

*Rock climb

*Play games at Chuck E. Cheese

*Read

What did you learn this year?

Although today was the official end to the 2010-2011 school year the big year end celebration took place yesterday at our annual field day called Anchors Away.  The biggest event is always the dunk tank and this year was no exception.  Leah and her friend participated together while I was "dunked" all alone in front of the school.  It is hard to believe that another year has come and gone.  Both girls had a GREAT year!  When I asked them to reflect on what they learned this is what each one said... (slightly paraphrased)

Leah: I learned multiplication and fractions and how to tell time on the clock. I also didn't know what the attitudes were before this year. 

Elizabeth: I learned about animals and songs.

What animals did you see at the zoo?

I spent most of today with Elizabeth and her class at the zoo.  I was the leader of a small group of 3 girls.  We traveled around the zoo on a scavenger hunt looking for different animals and then crossing them off the list.  Usually my favorite exhibit is the one with the brown bear and grizzly bear (whom we found out were named Boo Boo and Yogi).  However, today my favorite exhibit by far was the lion's den.  There were two lionesses very close to us and we got to watch one of them open and close its mouth several times.  I am amazed at how long the tongue is!  Overall the kids did great despite the VERY hot and humid weather. 

How was the graduation?

Elizabeth officially graduated from kindergarten today.  She dressed up in her "Class of 2023" shirt and wore a homemade cap complete with tassel.  The afternoon kindergartners from both classes sang 2 songs and then were awarded their certificate of completion.  Tim, his mom, Leah, and I were all able to watch the ceremony.  Afterwards there were refreshments available for all the graduates and their guests.  I am very proud of the progress Elizabeth has made this year.  Pretty soon she'll be in 1st grade and in school all day!

Did the balloons launch?

Leah, Elizabeth and I had a fun experience visiting my sister and her kids for Frontier Days.  We battled the heat and humidity by playing on inflatables, cooling off in the slip and slide, and shopping the local craft fair.  Thankfully the weather conditions were right so we were able to witness 16 balloons launch into the early evening sky. We left before the night parade, the balloon glow, and the fireworks, but those are events we are looking forward to attending next year. 

Why are you sad?

Yesterday was a day I had been dreading.  We got the news that Jazmin's health has deteriorated and it is estimated that she has 2-3 weeks left to live.  While we knew this day would eventually arrive, it still doesn't make it any easier to hear.  We feared something was amiss when Jazmin's breathing pattern changed significantly and her appetite decreased.  The vet was able to take some x-rays of Jazmin which indicated she has a large tumor in her lungs and another mass in her stomach.  She also has an enlarged heart.  Right now she isn't in any pain, but is growing fatigued since her body is working overtime to overcome what is inside.  She is still a happy, loving dog.  We're tyring to make the most out of the days we have left together... 

Pictures by Leah

Did you make it to the beach this weekend?

I drove past the entrance to the county park near us yesterday afternoon and the line to enter was super long.  It would have been the perfect beach day!  However, instead of going to the beach on a hot sunny 80 plus degree day our family went on a cold, windy 58 degree day.  Along with Leah's birthday we celebrated my mom's 60th birthday which is actually 3 days before Leah's.  My mom wanted our whole family in a photo for her birthday.  My neigbhor Heather took over 180 pictures of the family.  The ones above are 3 of my favorites. 

Why haven't you posted lately?

I wish that I could say I've been taking lots of pictures to post on this blog, but I haven't lately.  Last weekend Leah and Elizabeth had their end of the year gymnastics performance and I did bring my camera.  Unfortunately not many of the images turned out because of the lighting in the gym, but I did manage to get a few.

Then this weekend we celebrated Leah's 8th birthday.  She wanted a tie dye themed party so I bought bandanas and we had fun tie dying them.  It was a lot cheaper than shirts and I think they turned out really cute.

It is great to be 8!



Was your Easter "hoppy"?

Easter Sunday was a great day! Leah and Elizabeth woke up at the crack of dawn, like clockwork, and went on a scavenger hunt throughout the house in search of their Easter baskets. After an amazing church service we went home and the girls and I dyed eggs while Tim made a vegetable dish for lunch with his parents. We had a great meal and enjoyed the sunshine on the deck during dessert.

Did you enjoy your Spring Break?

Our trip to Florida was jam packed with activities, but we were also able to relax in between all of the fun events.  We started our trip in Orlando at the Magic Kingdom.  From there we drove south 3 hours to Boynton Beach to spend time with my grandmother.  There we enjoyed the beautiful pools at the country club and the local beaches.  We also had fun on a nature walk looking for alligators and a round of mini golf (I won with 2 holes in one!).  To end our trip we drove back to Orlando for a day at Sea World. While the majority of my family managed to get a cold and the days traveling were long, we all enjoyed the time together.  Now I just need a vacation from my vacation to catch up on all the things I neglected while I was gone!  

What did you do this March?

March came in like a lamb and went out like a lion for our family.  Typically this is one of the longest months of the year for me, but it also tends to be one of the busiest.  Here are some of the highlights:

• March is Reading month started at school and Leah dressed up as the Cat in the Hat.
• We had parent-teacher conferences at school and both girls led their conferences.
• Sickness took over our family and Elizabeth was the sickest. 
• I took my last tennis lesson at Hope College, but am looking forward to starting them again in April.
• I attended a technology conference in Detroit with 4 other teachers from my building.
• Leah and Elizabeth went to Meijer Gardens to see the butterflies with their grandparents.
• Our school celebrated the learning process with an event that included singing and visiting classrooms.
• Elizabeth fell chasing a boy at school and chipped her tooth.
• Leah competed in her 2nd gymnastics meet in Kalamazoo.
• Tim worked the cottage show downtown GR where Leah learned to rock climb.
• Tim and I celebrated 13 years of marriage with dinner out and an iPad 2 purchase.
• We visited the Holland Area Arts Council to see Leah's artwork on display.
• Jazmin turned 11 years old.

What's new with you?

It's been a bit hectic around our house this week.  The middle of February for our family means one BIG thing...Boat Show Week.  I've become what my friend Katie referred to as a "Boat Show Widow".  I appreciate Tim's involvement in our family a LOT more during this time of year.  We've managed to keep our regular schedule quite easily and even squeezed in a few fun activities.  We all miss seeing Tim (which is usually about only an hour each morning) however, I think Elizabeth misses him the most.  Before going to bed each night I hear her whimpering, "I miss Daddy." We are all looking forward to a more normal week next week!


Leah earned money doing book reports and bought some fish.



Swimming at Spring Lake Aquatic Center for family night with our church



Valentine's Day



What is your color personality?

I was recently given a subscription to Better Homes & Garden (thanks to my Gram) and I have found it very interesting to read.  In their latest issue I came across an article about color.  By clicking on their site I was able to take a short quiz and find out what my "color personality" is.  I'm not at all surprised to find out that I am FIERY RED.  That means I am decisive and result-oriented, a take-charge person with a flair for the dramatic.  I'm not afraid to take a risk and show my passion.  I was so intrigued by the results that I decided to take their organization personality quiz too.  I found those results to be even more exact.  I am considered a librarian.  That means I like everthing in its place. I am detailed and a taskmasker.  It also says that I am energetic and a perfectionist, sometimes to a fault.  Wow!  I wonder what your color and organization personalities are?

Will we have school tomorrow?

It's always a nice surprise to get a phone call early morning to be told that school is closed, but getting a phone call the night before is even better!  With the "Blizzard of 2011" school was canceled and by 9:00 Leah and Elizabeth were outside in more than waist deep snow.  They had a blast playing with neighbors making forts, sledding, and much more.  Tim spent the majority of the day plowing our road, the parking lot at his work, and his boss' new subdivision.  I took the opportunity to do some Valentine decorating, a little bit of crafting, and some school work.  What a day!

Were you nervous for the fun meet?

Last Saturday Leah competed in her first "fun meet" with her gymnastics team.  The meet was hosted by her club and took place at West Ottawa High School.  I'm not sure she realized how large the meet would be or how many people would be there to watch, but that didn't really faze her.  She was up and ready to go well ahead of time and didn't really mention that she was nervous...I suspect she was at least a little bit.  Before the meet started she volunteered to be the first gymnast on each apparatus for her team.  Tim and I were very proud of her.  Leah's favorite event is the beam which was her best performance.  After 4 events (and almost 4 hours later) she left with 3 blue ribbons and 1 red ribbon.  Performing for others is definitely for her!

How did you spend the snow day?

Imagine being startled out of bed by the phone just minutes before your alarm goes off to be told there was no school.  That is exactly what happened this morning and it was a phone call I've been waiting to get for months!  My list of snow day tasks was put on hold today.  Instead I chose to spend some time doing some winter snow creating.  For over a month Leah and Elizabeth have both been asking when we were going to make a snowman.  My response has been the same, "when the snow is good for packing."  So today when I stepped outside to let our dog out I checked the snow and it was perfect!  For almost 2 hours we created our very first snow dog.  It was a lot of work, but SO much fun.

What did you get for Christmas?

Since the Christmas holiday I've heard people ask Leah and Elizabeth what they got for Christmas.  It may seem like a simple question, but I started thinking about it and wondered what did they get for Christmas?  Our family did get a lot of nice presents.  For example, both girls got Zoobles, Squinkies, Webkinz, and Zhu Zhu Pets.  Tim got some hunting gear and a new drill and I got luggage, crafting supplies, and an ipod shuffle.  Along with the great gifts we got time together as a family.  We spent the majority of 2 weekends traveling to Illinois and back for multiple Christmas parties and we also attended several different parties in Michigan.  Being able to celebrate with our families this Christmas season was what we all got!