Decorating Christmas Cookies

Yesterday we made Christmas cookies, just the mixing,rolling, cutting and baking. It took about 1.5 hours to do just that and it was getting to be dinner time and I was tired, so today after 12 hours of sleep, I was ready to make the frosting and the kids were excited to decorate them. After awhile they were sick of it, so they choose a cookie to eat and then I finished up the cookies. He are a few picture of the mess we made.

Snow Fun

Today we had a snow day from school, which also means I had my sisters 3 kids. We had plenty of snow to play in so after lunch they headed out and I caught a few pics of the fun they were having. Enjoy!

Oh Baby!!...#3 is on the way

Well I am excited(and still a little nervous) to announce that after a recent miscarriage at 12 weeks in August we are expecting again with baby #3 due July 2. I am 12 weeks today and have not experienced any of the problems that I did last time. I will probally not be completely comfortable until I have my baby in my arms, but I still have 6 months to go. We got to hear the heartbeat today which was very reassuring and everything seems to be going great so far. This will be our last baby, so I am going to try and enjoy it as much as I can.

Christmas Party

We had our first Chrismas Party this past Saturday, it was on my Moms side (Vork). We had to travel out to Hudsonville in the awful weather, but we made it safely and it was great to see my cousins and all there kids again. We usually only see them once a year. The boys had lots of fun and they really enjoyed the monster trucks that they got as gifts. In fact Riley played with it so much that it was already broke by the next day. But daddy to the rescue, he super glued the wheel back on and it still works. Otherwise our weekend was pretty relaxed. This week/weekend is going to be relaxed as well and then the parties are really going to pick up, we still have 5 to go. No pics to post, but I will next time b/c I will have lots from all out parties. I am also just about done Christmas shopping, one more person to go! YEAH!!

Greeting Card Photo

So I decided to take the boys to Sears and have their pics taken together to hopefully get a nice photo of them to use as a Holiday greeting card. It started out okay, but trying to work with a very stubborn 2 year old does not go so well. I think they ended up wrestling with each other by the end of the session. This first photo is the one we chose to use on the greeting card and then the rest are the other pics that they had taken. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with all the wonderful food and time with friends and family.

Trying to look like a couple of cool dudes

Carter was actually drooling on Riley's face

Tough guys




Carter did not like Riley's arms around his head.

Cute idea, but they had enough by this time and Riley's pants are a little short.

Dinner and Bowling

This past Saturday we got together with my side of the family and went to Braans for dinner and had some fun bowling. We do this at least once a year, without the kids. Its always a guys against girls event. My first game I bowled a 123 and beat all the ladies and 2 of the men. My brother Chad always beats everyone, he had a 168 and my dad is pretty good too. Like I usually do I get worse as I play and the second game I only bowled a 93. I did still beat the ladies, but none of the guys this time.
Otherwise the rest of the weekend was uneventful. We had our usual Sunday night dinner/Desperate Housewives viewing together with a few friends and our children. And now that the snow has begun to fall Riley has been asking to go out, so Im sure I will have pictures soon of there outdoor adventures in the snow.

Just a little update of what our week was like. Nothing to interesting was going on. Riley seems to be enjoying school so far. He is doing really well in his reading and has now started to come home with books that are at his level of reading. He also had grandparents day on Friday and got to show them what he learns in Kindergarten and enjoyed a lunch with them and his cousins in the gym. His real teacher came back this week after having a baby in Aug. so he has had a completely different teacher from the beginning of school. Conferences are coming up at the end of the month, so I will get more info on how hes doing. Then theres my little man Carter who learned on Friday how to climb out of his crib. It was after his nap and I heard this thump..thump... coming down the stairs and it was him! I had him show me how he did it and of course he has continued to do it so we removed the front of his crib to a daybed until we get the boys new twin bed sets b/c they will eventually have to share a room. Hes such a stinker..Riley never learned to climb out of his crib! I really was enjoying the weather this past week too and am sad that it is now raining/snowing. We got in lots of outdoor play time before we end up stuck in the house for the winter and they all drive me crazy :) Oh well we all knew it would eventually get cold and yucky.

Batman and the Pirate

Here are a few pics of the boys in their costumes for Halloween.This year we reused our costumes, Riley was a pirate again and Carter was Batman that was worn by Riley a few years ago. The boys had a blast collecting their loot with their cousins and the weather couldn't be more perfect. Carter as Batman

Riley the Pirate

Sleepy Boys

Tonight I had a bunch of sleepy guys. After story time and prayers (at 8:00) daddy decided to stay in bed with the boys. I thought that they would jump around and not go to sleep, especially Carter since hes used to being in a crib, but I didnt here a sound from them and when I went to check this is what I saw- I could'nt resist taking a pic.

Last Soccer Game

Sorry no pics! Riley just finished his last soccer game today. His team was awesome and Riley himself scored 3 goals!!! Yeah, I am so proud of him. He seems to really understand the game now, he stays open and passes the ball, hes fast and loves to run around. Nobody wins/losses in Kindergarten soccer, but they won all their games, except the first. GO GRAY!! Im so excited for him and we will try it again next year- that is if he doesnt wasnt to try football-YIKES!!

Post Family Farm

Last Saturday we went to the Post Family Farm out in Hudsonville. It was a beautiful day. We have been going since Riley was 2 and we love it!! It has animals to pet and goats to feed, a pumpkin train, horse rides, crafts, playground, corn and straw mazes and of course the hayride to take you to the pumpkin patch for picking your own pumpkins. And if you go you must try their homemade pumpkin donuts, they are to die for!! Here are a few pics of our day. We went with my sister and brother in law and their two kids and best friend and her daughter.
Family Pic: Riley, John, Me, and Carter

Carter on a horse swing

John and his boys

Nataleigh, Logan, Riley, Lexi, and Carter

The boys in the pumpkin patch with the pumpkins they chose.




Riley's horse ride

...and Carter's horse ride

Carter and Riley on the pumkin train

Carter, Lexi, and Nataleigh feeding the goats

Choppin' Corn with Grandpa

Well it was time for cutting down some corn and the boys were so excited to "help" grandpa. They got to ride in the chopper with him. It was Carters 1st time and he really liked it. Its all I heard about for a while from him. Riley has ridden with grandpa before, but he still loves it. They had to take turns. They got to cut the corn down and then help grandpa dump it. This is the same corn that we got from grandpa that Carter stuck up his nose earlier :)

Riley and Grandpa

Carter and Grandpa


Riley, Carter, and Grandpa

Soccer Time

This is the first year Riley has been on a soccer team and he loves it. He is doing really well and has even scored a few goals- although they do not keep score in Kindergaten soccer. My favorite part is watching this herd of boys all chase the ball trying to kick it and they end up tripping over each other. They have a few more things to learn, but in the meantime it gets out some of that energy they have.

Corn + Nose = Trip to the E.R.

We have just returned from a trip to the E.R. Carter, our 2 year old decided to place a kernel of corn in his nostril!! and its not a peice of corn you eat, its crop corn. We got it from my dad to use as play in their wagons to be just like grandpa on the farm. I never expected to have it shoved up his nose. Anyway it came out after much screaming and having 3 people hold him down, but hes happy now and I think he has learned his lesson. We all got a good chuckle out of it even the ladies at the E.R. He sure is creating some good memories for us to laugh at when hes older.

1st Day of Kindergarden

Well, I can't believe it has happend, my oldest child is off to Kindergarden. Here is a photo of his first day, hes so excited- we will see how he feels about his first day of school after hes been going for several years. I hope he will continue to like school and do well. He attends Zeeland Christian 2 full days and a 1/2 day. Secretly I am excited too. Some more mommy time, it's quieter and there is less fighting during the day between him and his brother. Is that bad that I enjoy him going to school and have been waiting for this moment for awhile? Most moms are sad and crying. Of course I miss him at the end of the day and Im glad to pick him up from school and hear about his day and what he has learned and the friends he has made. He's growing up so fast!

Hungry Horse Campground

Every year in August my side of the family, which includes my parents, 3 siblings and there spouses, 8 nieces and nephews, and our family of 4 go camping. Its a tradition we started about 5 years ago and its a lot of fun. This year we went to Hungry Horse in Dorr. Its very nice, it has a kiddie pool and regular pool, playgrounds, game and candy shop, bike trails and every Sat. they have a hay ride(minus the hay) and drive youaround the campground and over to their horse farm so the kids can feed the horses and then have ice cream afterwards. Its nice to that the boys are a little older and I dont have to keep a constant eye on them. They had tons of fun with their cousins, got very dirty and crashed each night in bed from playing so hard, and then they were up early(too early for mom) to do it all over again. We can't wait to go back next year!

Dumont Lake

We decided to visit Dumont Lake for the day with all the cousins, it was a beautiful day and the kids had a great time together. I think hes well protected in the water with all that stuff on

Carter is keeping mama cool by watering her feet Riley, Carter and Sophia all floating in the water with their tubes on. Carters version of surf boarding

Riley, Carter and cousin Sophia had there own private mud hole by the lake

Wicked Witch of the West

Its the middle of summer and he wants these socks on and with a two year old you pick your battles, so I let him wear them. Only in the house b/c they are totally mismatched and they look quite silly.He looks like the wicked witch is the Wizard of Oz.

Future Underwear Model!

Striking a pose
He even had his hand on his hip
Muscle man!

Well I had the camera taking pics of our younger son and Riley starts "modeling" I have never seen him do this or encouraged him to do so, so I have no idea where he got it from. Someday he will hate me for posting these, but they were cute and hes pretty good at it.