Elyse's Birthday Party at McDonalds

A new Addition to our Blog!

I have decided to dedicate a spot on our blog for prayer requests. I will add any requests that you have! Just send them in an email or on the comments and I will post them in our Prayer request section. Take notice of our first request. The Sign Language teacher in our Christian Schools is dying of cancer. We would like you to remember her in your prayers. Her MANY students will be deeply affected. Sydney has only known her for a short time and has already cried when she talked to me about it.

New workspace!

This fall my parents were working on a large undertaking in their house. They tore out the floor in their basement (all 3 or four layers of concrete) to put in sturdy footings and pour a new floor. I worked in the office in their basement and the kids often came with me. Needless to say with the deconstruction going on they could not easily come with me. Well, their hardwork has finally paid off. They have completely finished off the whole basement and created a great new workspace. The office has a new paint job and new carpet. The new portion of the basement has been turned into my mom's sewing room. She has enough space for all of her sewing equipment and materials on one floor. I have been able to work with her many times since they finished it about 2 weeks ago. I have even helped her with some of her drapery projects. Oh yeah, and working in the office is more inviting too! It has also been nice to have a space for the kids to play that is on the same floor that I am working on. Take a look at some of the pictures from beginning to end.

The Three Elves

You have to Check out this link! It is really funny! I Elfed the kids!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9585719710


You can elf yourself after you see our little elves!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, we have had a very busy week. We spent last weekend at the new Splash Universe in Shipshewana. We surprised my mom for her birthday celebration. She was especially surprised when my sister and her family showed up at the hotel later on Friday night. They flew in from Lynden earlier in the evening. The kids had a blast. Elyse loved the waterslides. She even went down some of the larger ones with me. They can't wait to go back some day. We also went to the Children's Museum here in town with the Magic School Bus exhibit. That was pretty neat too. Today, we had dinner at my parents house and then ventured to the bowling alley for our Thanksgiving tradition. However, before it even got to my turn, Tom and I had to take Reid to the Emergency Room. He was carrying his ball to take his second turn and he tripped on the little step and hit his chin right on the bowling ball and split his chin open. Luckily, after some X-rays and some close inspections we were able to have glue instead of stitches. Now, thanks to the triage nurse, he is telling people that he was bitten by a turkey!

Syndey's School Pictures

Here is Sydney's Kindergarten Picture!

Last week we had her parent-teacher conferences. (It still feels strange for me to be on the other side of the table) She had a GREAT report. She is in the top half of her class academically. The teacher did comment that she is sooo quiet that she often wondered if she is listening or daydreaming. However, she quickly figured out that she is actually paying very close attention. She does need some practice with her handwriting, but I know how common that is at this age. Sydney loves school and can't wait to do her homework! We are very proud of her!

Reid's Pictures

Reid's preschool pictures came home today. They are so cute, I am having a hard time deciding which one I like the best. What do you think?

The close up shot won in our Poll!

This is Reid's whole class. Look at all those girls. We thought he would have more opportunities to play with boys in preschool.

Great Grandma's 80th Birthday Party!

This morning the kids were all ready for church. Tom and I were getting ready in our bedroom. Meanwhile, Elyse was helping herself to more breakfast from the fridge.

And this is what we found!

She found a tomato in the fridge and ate almost the whole thing. At least she picked something healthy! Needless to say we had to find her some clean Sunday clothes!

Sydney's Field Trip

Last week was Sydney's Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch and Apple Orchard. I haven't had much time to add it to the blog.

We went on a wagon through the orchard to pick apples. We had donuts and cider. Lastly, we went through the pumpkin fun area and picked out our pumpkins.

Friends Mikayla, Corissa and Sydney on the wagon ride.

Picking apples in the orchard!

Zoey and her mom are finding just the right apple.
Sydney's class!
Enjoying some yummy treats.

Corissa and Sydney are driving the bus.
Rub A Dub Dub three pumpkins in a Tub.

Notice the Pumpkin in the outhouse right next door.
Picking Pumpkins

Happy Halloween

Well we had fun trick-or-treating. It was fun to watch Elyse as she went from watching the other kids, to joining in with them. Once she understood the process she really got into it. She did get destracted by homeowners animals and their stone landscaping. At times, she would run right past the candy bowl to greet a pet or collect her stones.

We have a cowgirl and cowboy. I guess we should have had a cow instead of a ladybug. They still had quite a job wrangling up that ladybug.

Looking for stones! Elyse looks for stones every time she is outside. It is so hard to leave anywhere, especially when they have a rock garden in sight.

Elyse tried to walk right in this house. She must have seen something interesting inside.

The kids love going to Perkins on Tuesday night kids night because they get to have their face painted. Check out our little lady bug, our ferocious lion, and cousin Brooklyn the beautiful blue bird. All three children had their own ideas of how they wanted to be painted. Brooklyn told her dad on the way, "I want Aunt Renee to be painted like an owl." I have seen this clown paint the kids faces before and said, "No Way!"

Elyse's First Official Haircut!

We finally had a chance to get Elyse's haircut. She did not really enjoy it too much. She wanted to get out of the chair almost immediately. We had to hold her down. I intened to take more pictures, but I had to focus on keeping her in the chair instead. So here is one from the very end. She was trying to get away from the hair dryer. I think I will go back to cutting her bangs myself for a while. If I do it when she is in the bathtub, she doesn't really notice too much.

Sydney's 5th Birthday!

Wow! I can't believe that it has been 5 years already. She started out so small. (She is still so small)

Look at how she changed in just five short years!

Reading to Aunt Nikki and Grandpa S.

Blowing out the candles on her very crazy teapot cake.

The purple frosting did come out of her clothes. I thought it would leave stains for sure.

Sydney loved her twilling dress from Grandpa and Grandma S.

Opening a special gift all the way from Washington State.

Three very busy children!

Even Reid couldn't wait for the tea party to begin.

Don't let that sweet smile fool you. She can run circles around all of us.

Farm Fun

Last week I took Sydney and Reid to a farming day at Michigan State Farm property. We went with cousin Ben and Uncle Wayne and Aunt Michelle. We had a great time feeding cows, watching the milking process, checking out farming equipment, hayrides and picking out free pumpkins. Check out the pictures from that trip.

I never realized how big a combine really was until I saw my kids standing next to the tire.


Petting the pigmy goats.

Reid loved trying out the tractors on the inside. Towering above the rest of us.



Reid was exhausted from al the activity!