Haircut day!

BEFORE:


AFTER:

Crane's Orchards

Every year we have a tradition of going apple picking with my dad. This year we decided we would try for the honeycrisp apples. So, last saturday, my dad, Sam and I got to Crane's orchard about an hour before they opened. We were definatly not the first ones! We waited in a long line of cars. Once it opened we had a really fun time picking apples. Sam loves picking apples! the workers there told us that in about 2 hours all the Honeycrisp apples would be picked!!! Anyway, we went home with a total of 3 huge bags and have been really enjoying them- I think Sam eats like 3 a day! So if you have never tasted a Honeycrisp apples- stop on by our house, they are great!

Kitchen Counter - Sink Side

Who knew a cast iron sink was heavy? Last night I got the sink back in and tonight I painted a bit to clean it up. We were only without a sink for 1 day!

Pray Please

It has been a week of joy, stress and tears. Please pray for our friends the Vedra family. To read what is going on with their new baby girl please go to their webpage:(also listed to the left of the page)http://www.vedrafamily.com/

New Kitchen Project

As of Wednesday:


As of Sunday:

backpack

Thanks B for the comments about backpacks! I went to Children's PLace right away- good thing- they had two toddler packs left. Very nice for Sam! And it was 50% off...which was the real reason I waited...

ANOTHER update (quick)

So, when we pick them up we sit in the cars and the teachers bring the kids out. First thing I noticed, my poor boy without a backpack is given a Meijer bag to carry his stuff in. Yea...really need a backpack! Also, he had a lot of fun: It was Jack's birthday so snack time was a real treat- candy, and Jack gave everyone a little playdoh. They played playdoh, sang with the puppets, played on the playground (with 100 kids mommy!) And I am sure they did more but that was all he really said for now!! In response to Nicholas's comment (you can read comment by clicking on comments) which made me laugh really hard, but also, my mother informed my that Olivia's grandpa is her cousin, thus making Sam and Olivia related. Who knew!

First Full Morning of Preschool

People keep asking, especially grandparents, and I like to talk about it, so here is an update about Sam and school. First, I remembered my camera so you can see him sitting by his little hook and box. Above it you can see the one of the pictures we decorated on wednesday. You can also see that all the kids bring backpacks. So I want to get Sam a nice, plain backpack (as opposed to a character backpack) and stitch his name on it and he can use it for a few years. But all the plain backpacks at Target were huge, and all the little backpacks were character. So if anyone can tell me where to get a nice size one for Sam...let me know! Oh, and he saw tha CAillou backpack (right next to his space...) and was all, "I want a Caillou backpack!" I said, well you have a Thomas backpack do you want to take that one?" "No, I don't like Thomas. I want CAillou." So, I need to figure out the whole backpack thingy...

So today he seemed really nervous, he kept asking if I would stay with him. I kept explaining that it was sort of like Little stars at church- sing, stories, play, snacks and mommy will be back to get him. I think that helped. I also explained how there were 17 kids in his class, 8 girls and 9 boys. That really helped. You know Sam and numbers. He talked about it the whole way. (9+8 is 17...look mom, I see 17 kids, you're right! and on and on about the numbers.....)

WE get to his classroom and his teacher is all "Look at the long snake going across the floor!" (GREAT) Sam kind of hides behind me- and then I show him that it isn't a real snake but legos. And he could help build it.
S: "No. I want to play trucks."
Me: look, all the kids are building with legos. Do you think you can build a big tower?
S: "Yes, but it might fall over. You have to stay with me.
Me: I think you will have lots of fun. Why don't you go build, and just like little stars I will be back soon.
S: okay.

And he very slowly walks over to the other kids....so that is all I know for now. I am sure he may tell me more when he gets home! (FYI- for those who may not know, if you click on a picture you can see it bigger).





Josh....so this morning, again, he cries when we leave Sam. (It doesn't help that he sees the trains in Sam's classroom.) So I whisper to him. Mommy and Joshy will go to the bookstore and play trains. That makes him happy. He also likes to see the school buses in the parking lot. He LOVES buses. SChoolbus mommy school bus!!! Anyway, we get to the bookstore (see picture) and he is loving playing trains. I asked him to count his long line of trains (probably about 7) and Josh says, "1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11,14,19!!!" ((Okay, so he is no Sam when it comes to numbers. At this age, Sam not only counted to about 13 but he also recognized the numbers. Still, it was so cute!) The only thing that went wrong...was when it was time to go. My eardrums are STILL recovering from his screaming NOOOOOO!! I am surprised someone didn't think I was kidnapping him....

Summers End and First Day of Preschool

Sam's first day of preschool was Wednesday Sept. 5! It was a shortened class time that moms or dad got to go too. Sam and I had a lot of fun- we decorated some pictures of him, played with a lot of the toys and games, and enjoyed circle time. We sang songs, heard a story, and met Mrs. M's puppets. I think he was a little overwhelmed but he seemed really excited and will go back friday all by himself! (Oh, he there is also a snake and a bunny in the room. He didn't like the snake- and last night he woke up crying for me at 3AM saying there was a snake on teddy....greeat....)





Tuesdays in August are free concerts for members of Meijer Gardens. It is a lot of local groups and we enjoyed some really great music!

Garage Doors

What do you think of the garage door color?

Mail and Sam

I don't know if all people are like me, or maybe it is an at home mom sort of thing...but I love getting the mail. Today we went for a long walk at were heading home at like 10:30 AM, and I saw the mailman on our street! My heart soared, and couldn't believe it! Mail is usually here around 3, but has been as late as 5:30. I think in our 4 years here the mail has never beem earlier then 1:00...until today. So first it was early. SEcond, he saw the letter I was mailing (sometimes they miss those) so someone can get their birthday card...well late. AND it was a GREAT mail day. I got Mothering magazine! There was also the normal ads flyer that I always quick glance through but is usually junk. TOday, it had an IKEA flyer in it!!! YEA! It is the little things that are important sometimes!




So, the picture is Sam trying out his new rollerblades. WE hope it will help with his ice skating. Yesterday we went to the doctor, and unlike a year ago, Sam was awesome. He weighs 42 lbs (with clothes) and is 41 inches (he was slouching a bit) his BMI is 17 (I know what it is, but don't really get it) and he is still in the 75th percentile. The doctor was very happy and said he seemed like a healthy normal 4 year old. (Although- Sam did tell him he plays the balloon game on the computer, which the doctor then felt the need to say a little something about too much screen time, thanks Sam!) AND, I am his mom so I have to say this- the nurse thought he seemed very smart for a 4 year old =)

Sammy's Contraption

Does anyone understand this picture? It looks like a pretty silly thing to me--a bike with grocery cart on one wheel and a hockey stick sticking out the back end...kinda wierd...

Sammy's 4th Birthday

Sammy had a great birthday weekend- and so did we! Thanks everyone!

Catch up!

Sorry it has been awhile- we have been really busy and the next several weeks- and month really- are just going to be even busier. Some things that have been happening: The Peter's family visited, and while it can be a little crazy with 8 kids running around, it was a lot of fun. Josh and Isaiah are like a month apart and they were so cute, especially when Josh would say, "No, Saiah". Also, we don't go swimming very much but over the past several weeks Sam has had several opportunities to swim, and he is doing great! It is so much fun now that he swims by himself! What's coming up in our lives: Busy at work, Sam's birthday, Sam starts preschool, and I start teaching ESL every M-TH night for about 6 weeks. BUSY!

great weekend at Kuipers Landing

Here are just a few pics- I hope to get more from some other people too!

Sam and Kara playing catch...(can you spot the ball??)

Kevin taking Josh for a little Kayak ride

Josh eating watermelon- Kara taught him how to spit the 'seeds'/ spit, it was sooo cute.

All the kids really enjoyed jumping/crawling on the mattresses in our room. We actually snapped a picture when all 5 kids were in there.

House looking good

Garage not quite done, but the house looks great. We are really happy with the colors.

In other news....

Bunk beds! We got a really great deal on this twin over full bed. We don't have a full mattress yet so we just have our other single on the floor. Sam loves it- yes that is him under the blankets. He also can't wait till we get a full mattress so he can sleep with Joshy- my boys are big cuddlers. It does make our nursery room a bit crowded...but then again, all our bedrooms are crowded.




We have been working hard with Joshy on his numbers and colors, but he doesn't seem to care whereas Sam loved learning. However, Josh does love to color- sidewalk chalk, crayons, markers....he loves to color and say MAKE! He also has learned the color pink, so I really liked this picture- pink crayon, ballerina picture, and his big truck next to him.


We have had lots of fun times at Meijer gardens, sometimes with other friends and sometimes just us. They really like to watch the fishy swim (which is ironic since Sam is still afraid of the fish STICKERS and now also the fake spiders...) but despite Sammy's fears we always have a lot of fun. Josh loves playing in the sand so it is always a real treat for him!

Ottawa and Chandra's wedding

Here are just a few pictures of Ottawa and Chandra's wedding. We had a great time- the first day we got to see Chandra's house and the rehearsal was a lot of fun....but we forgot our camera! Saturday we saw the changing of the guard and toured the parliament- I put a few pictures of that. Then of course we had the wedding which was also lots of fun and really beautiful. I had quite a few photos but here are a few! Oh- and the kids did great- Aunt Sarah said they were well behaved and it was fun. (She says they were well behaved! But yes, it was our boys she was taking care of....) Grandpa and Grandma also had lots of fun with the boys when they took them to a farm on sunday- that would have been fun to see, MOOO!