InterGenerational VBS and Canning Peaches

We had a really special week this week as the girls chose to attend a VBS at the retirement home where my Grandpa lives. They were actually the only kids there with a great-grandparent as the rest of the kids seemed to be the children or grandchildren of staff members but it was really special for them to spend the time with Great-Grandpa. Several of the residents joined in on the fun and just enjoyed watching the children.

Great Grandpa and the girls.


Canning season is here and for those of you who know me, you know that my canner is about to be used overtime. A friend once offered to get me an apron that said "Talk to me in October. I'm canning." (I don't think I'm really that bad :-)) I had already done some beans, sweet pickles and dill pickles, but we added peaches and some tomatoes from the garden this week. I found out this week why God gave me girls first.

Ashlynn was an incredible peach peeler. It seemed I would look away and she would have a jar half full.

Elizabeth was also a great peeler. She was a huge help with washing the peaches, laying them out under newspaper, dropping them in the boiling water and fishing them back out. They both lasted about an hour and decided it was time to play so I got to finish, but we got a lot done in that hour.

70 quarts of peaches canned. Aren't they beautiful? Pears are next...

Summer's here!

So after a couple of months of colder than average temperatures, summer is finally here. It's in the high 80's and HUMID. Eric's brother had an unfortunate biking accident this week and walked away with a broken collarbone. Because of this our niece and nephew joined us for a morning this week and we headed off to find some water.

One of the boys playing at the park with his grandma had brought a bottle of bubbles which quickly attracted 3 of our 5 charges. They had a great time racing to pop the bubbles.

Elizabeth posing for a picture.

Our girls are forever attracted to the hand over hand bars at any park we visit. It amazes me that they can do it so well. I tried but was sure my shoulders would be dislocated and gave up. It may have something to do with weighing about 50 pounds vs. ??? :-)





My niece just enjoying the day.

Another posed picture. This girl is growing up too quickly. About once a day, something happens to make my mind fast-forward to the teenage years. If only I could slow time.

We are all gearing up for school. The school supply bags are packed, backpacks are ready and Daddy's already been back to school getting a few things ready. We have a couple more weeks of freedom before all four of my little/big ones head off to school. It's always a little sad to see summer come to an end but I also get a bit excited about the prospect of having a little more structure in our schedule. It also helps that the kids love school.

Soccer, Birthday and Friends

Ashlynn enjoyed a week at soccer camp last week. She had a great time and learned some good skills. We were blessed with a cloudy, but dry week so were spared any serious sunburn.

Practicing stopping the ball.

Making the best of sitting on the sidelines, Elizabeth and Bryan entertained themselves with games of hide and seek.


You'd never guess he was under there, would you?

Oh, Grandma, you're sooooo close!

I'm here, I'm here!!!!!

Scrimmaging against the other first graders. It was a fun week!

Finally the day arrived! It still doesn't seem possible that I could have an 8 year old.

On Monday this week, we headed down to Coldwater, MI, to visit some good friends. Eric used to work with Mike at Grandville but they moved out to Seattle for several years and have been back in Michigan for a year and we just hadn't found a time to connect. Our kids were immediately taken with their two boys and all five kids had a wonderful time together. In the afternoon we headed over to their parents' condo to enjoy an afternoon in the pool .

It was a beautiful heated pool and the kids had a ball for a good part of the afternoon.

Ashlynn with one of the kittens who has not yet been named. Our children thought they were in heaven with two dogs, two cats, 10 chickens and a rooster.

Bryan taking his turn holding one of the kittens. Thanks Mike and Jenn for an awesome day!! We had some pretty tired kids but they were excited enough to stay awake for the entire 2 hour ride home.

We're realizing that school is approaching very soon. The girls are up at Kairos with Grandma for the rest of the week so Eric and I are enjoying being down to just one child. We'll bring Bryan up on Friday and then have a couple of child-free days to celebrate our 11th anniversary this weekend.