Time To Say GoodBye....

It was Field Day today for AnnaJoy's Pre-K class, along with the other 2 Kindergarten classes the kids had a blast. It was WAY colder than it was supposed to be, so one of the mothers donated her coat for AnnaJoy. (I felt like a terrible mom at that point! I checked the weather and everything!) They played all kinds of games outdoors, but before all that started, I walked in to Mrs. Estefan reading the white board (the kids all helping) and had to take a photo of what they read. The last photo, I just felt like being sentimental...it's like saying goodbye to another chapter in my daughter's life. I feel like it goes by so fast that I am missing it! All the children got little medals for doing a good job and watched a video too. Then it was off for a few more school activities before we closed our chapter to Pre-K. Thank you Mrs. Estefan, I hope I can keep up with what you have taught our daughter!!! We miss you already!

A Sign...or just bad timing????

This is an insanely busy week for us, as the school year is wrapping up Wednesday for Anna and Friday for Mike. As some of you know, we are throwing a rather large "kid" birthday party for AnnaJoy, which I invited her entire class to...and we are blessed that most everyone is coming. (A nice way to start the summer...I may end up in the looney bin, but that's not the point). Well, also as everyone knows, Michigan weather doesn't always cooperate when we want it to. I am praying for a great day for the entire Wednesday, as there is Field Day for Anna in the morning and her party in the evening...my point???? This evening after Anna's bath she was doing her usual get ready for bed routine when I heard a very LOUD crash of the towel bar and knew exactly what had happened. Anna was very frightened and apologetic...not helpful at the time!! To my horror the towel bar is no longer in the wall and there is a nice looking hole...in the dry wall...in the "public" bathroom of my house. Did I mention that the party is this Wednesday...like in less than 2 days? Is this a sign from God saying, "Bad idea Holly...I tried to tell you?" Or am I just already going crazy and it is just Anna being a kid (naughty) but a kid? Maybe this means we should get her back in gymnastics??? Maybe the circus? (sigh)

The Final Pre-K Field Trip

I was able to attend AnnaJoy's final class trip today. They went to the Grand Rapids Children's Museum, and my goodness, I didn't know I could be so tired afterwards! It was a lot of fun. Anna was paired up with one of the girls in the class (there are only 3 others besides herself). While we were waiting for the bus I took a photo of Anna and her teacher Mrs. Estefan (who by the way, set the bar real high for future teachers!) We are sad that our time with her as Anna's teacher is drawing to a close, but thank her SO MUCH for all that she has taught her in just one school year!

It's always my daughter!!!

Move over worms, it's toads now! Actually I am the one that spotted the "frog" and wanted to use this as education for the children...Jake and Luke reacted the way I expected them to react...cautiously inquisitive...but don't you even expect me to touch that thing. Anna, are we shocked? Wanted to catch it and hold it and discover all there is about toads! Move over Bindi, here comes AnnaJoy!

Happy Memorial Day!

The big kids went to Lowell for the parade (aparently not what it used to be!) then the Rottier clan came here for the afternoon to play and eat a great dinner! Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day.

Another Day

Well, all the wormies are dead...I said "Good" Anna then said, "Why mommy? Why can that possibly be good?" Wow, how do you answer that? Here she is in all her beauty!

Whose Kid Is This!?

This posting is for my sister-in-law Heidi, who thought dirt was bad!!!
So, Anna comes over to me, elated to show me what she has in her hand...always nervous when she is like this, I cautiously say, "what ya got honey?" She says, "Worms!" "I love worms, I am going to name them all Wormy. They are my best friends" "Ya know mommy I didn't hold them when they were babies" I then say, "Well, what are they now?" "They are mommies, daddies, and aunts. The aunts that talk to you...and Aunt Katie" (Whatever that meant!) Well, here you go, my only girl...being.....a girl??

The Driveway Day 2

Can you guess who is who from their hand print? (Luke, Jake, Anna) I would have etched their names, but the cement guy said it wouldn't turn out well, so I hope I remember in 40 years!!

The New Driveway Day 1

Our cement guy came today and started the excavating for our new driveway. Of course with "tractors" comes HUGE excitement from Jake, who was just dying to be outside watching every minute!! Thursday we get the cement poured! Yeah!!!

Thanks Mommy!

O.K. I admit it, I had not given Lucas any form of silverware until today!!!!! At least he isn't 2 yet, right? To my surprise, he knew just what to do with it, and did it well, and was proud of it! (Sorry for the delay Luke!)

I'm back from my scrapbook weekend away. The kids (and Mike) were happy to see me. When Jake and Luke woke up they didn't want to let me go! I guess next time I should leave when they are awake!!! I finished 34 pages which makes me completely caught up on 4 albums for the first time in over 2 years! (really over 3 years). I am so excited! When I got home, we needed to move a tree from our front yard to our backyard...we are getting a third stall driveway put in this week hopefully!

AWANA Awards Night

We had a very busy Mother's Day today. This morning we went to Calli Jo's dedication and this evening was Anna's awards ceremony for Sparks. Thank you to Uncle Danny for taking these photos. There was a bit of a accident with a piece of candy during the part when Anna was on stage, so Mike and I missed the whole thing! At any rate, it ended with our family prayers tonight (as we do every night) with Jake saying, "Thank you God that I am not dead". Of course he heard this from me first. Jakey choked on a piece of candy to the point of vomiting in the middle of church! Always entertainment when we are around! Long story short, we had a great day, and no one was hurt! :-)

Jacob gettin' down!!!

I couldn't resist doing a video of Jakey dancin' like a fool to the music. He did this the other week on our way to Cabella's and boy did we laugh a lot!! He was totally getting into the music!

Tulip Time 2008

We met Uncle Danny, Aunt Noelle and Calli Jo at the park in Holland this evening to look at the tulips. The kids were HYPER! I pretty much was ready to sell them within 5 minutes of being there!!! It was a bit chillier than it is more inland, oops!!! Didn't bring coats either!!! Yeah, finally I got all the kids looking at me for a photo...mostly! It was fun and I am glad we were able to meet Dan and Noelle there.

Just Hangin' Out!

This afternoon we enjoyed hanging out as a family. We have been trying really hard to get Anna to ride her bike without training wheels, HOWEVER, she was getting so scared that we were worried she would completely quit riding her bike. So, we put them back on. Then, Mike decided we should let her ride around our block by herself...alone! Anna was so excited, and off she went! She was so proud...of course we were watching as much as we could and Mike did actually venture out to check on her, but by the time he got his bike ready and was on his way, she was already coming up the home stretch! She had a blast! When she came home the sprinklers were on...what could be more fun than riding through the sprinklers? Not much for Anna! Luke also was trying his hand at "riding" a bike, and Jake was enjoying giving me a "sunflower"!!!

Ahhh, MAN! It's raining!

Anna went to the High School today with all the Pre-K and Kindergarten classes to see Rapunzel the play. I don't know how it went yet (she's still at school), but daddy saw her run by on her way back to the bus...sigh, such a big girl already! So, while my 2 of my "kids" are busy at school, I have the job of trying to entertain the preschool and toddler boys that live in my house. They LOVE being outside and had just gotten into a good "play" groove...when God opened the skies and made it rain. They both looked a little shocked but finally once they started getting really wet decided to retreat to the dry indoors. (bummer for me!) I still have to entertain for another 30 minutes before we can do lunch and nap time!!