So what is new with you?

WOW, it has been over 3 months since my last post!  I honestly thought I might just be done with this blog, but I couldn't get myself to stop.  A lot has been going on with my family since the beginning of 2012. 

Tim continues to get accustomed to working for Serv-U-Success while Leah, Elizabeth, and I continue the normal school grind.  We had the strangest winter that I have ever experienced in West Michigan.  I was so proud of the fact that I had all of the girls' snow gear ready before the first snow fell.  That is a first since I am usually scrambling to get something that they needed.  Nope, not this year.  By the middle of December they were ready and then it hardly snowed!  In fact, I took a total of zero pictures of them in their snow gear that they will no doubt outgrow by next winter.  Thankfully we did have our annual sledding event which doubled as my niece's birthday.  We all bundled up and had a blast and my dad was there to take some photos! 

I thought for sure we were going to go the whole winter without a snow day, but we managed to squeak one in toward the end of February.  I think we probably could have made it to school, but no one complained when we had a surprise 3 day weekend!

Here are a few other highlights from the winter:

Our family managed to spend some time creating our annual February Love bugs. 

Leah  had her 3rd piece of artwork on display at the Holland Arts Council.  

She also competed in 2 gymnastics meets. 

We were no means prepared for the week of 80 degree weather that arrived in the middle of March.  The girls were in their suits playing with the neighbor's hose...so strange.  It was also 70 plus degrees when we celebrated Beach Day at our school.  I thought the committee members for March is Reading month were crazy to put that on the calendar, but it was so beautiful!  Now all the buds are in full bloom for tulips and the local crops are in jeopardy.  The early summer weather put all of the kids in spring fever and became prepared for summer break, not spring break.

This year for spring break we decided to stay in town for the week.  It has been totally relaxing.  There were a couple of days when the girls and I never left home.  The weather has been a bit chilly, but overall sunny.  I even took the opportunity to bask in the sun and got a little bit too much color on my face.  The freckles that were hiding all fall and winter jumped out.  The girls and I did manage to hit the local ice rink, well actually Elizabeth is the only one who did indeed hit the ice rink, and they both enjoyed open gym with their neighbor girls just this afternoon.  I also managed to put in some leisure time at school with a couple hours on a few days.  It was quite enjoyable being in the building alone and I got a lot done. 

Yesterday marked a milestone for Tim.  He is now the big 4-0!  We didn't create any major plans per his wishes, but the girls spent the night at  his parents' house while we were "living it up" downtown with some friends.

We are all looking forward to an eventful spring!

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!