Fall at the Zoo!

Since the kids didn't have school last week Thursday of Friday, we decided to spend some time at the zoo. It was a beautiful fall day and we pretty much at the whole zoo to ourselves!
The kids even got to climb on John Ball without waiting!

Aren't they cute hanging all over the place?

Watching the penguins.

They are redoing "redoing" monkey island so all of the monkeys were inside. I think that they monkeys were just as interested in the kids as the kids in the monkeys.

Climbing on the wooden train. Again, no wait!
(The thing behind Ian is a mummy that they zoo put there for their "zoo goes boo" night.)

Fall Fun!

Fall fun is what the boys had after school today! The boys all wanted to play outside, Kendra didn't. So, I walked to where they were playing and this is what I found. Gavin in the pile of leaves being made by his 2 older brothers.

Lucas cleaning off his rake!

Ian raking up the leaves.

Jumping in the pile.

One less tooth!

Well, today Lucas lost a tooth....actually he had it pulled by the dentist. Lucas' front teeth have not had a very good life....he first fell on the driveway and bunged them up pretty good, then fell and hit his sisters head with them. Anyway, the left front one abscessed about a year ago and has since turned a lovely shade of brown. So, at this last dentists appointment they recommended that it be pulled. So, that is what we did this morning. Lucas was very brave and didn't even flinch...now he is the proud owner of a gap in his smile that the dentist says will probably be there for at least a year...oh well he is already thinking of all kinds of fun things that he can do without a front tooth...he is eager to try drinking with a straw! Here are the before and after pics!

Before...see that kinda brown tooth?

And the after shot....he looks pretty happy! Oh, he also got to turn the train on at the dentist. (The dentist has a train that runs around on a track near the ceiling...the hygenist said it is pretty rare for the dentist to let anyone turn it on except himself....it must be Lucas' great blue eyes!)

Apple Picking!

Last Saturday we went apple picking. We went to the Dutch Market which is just north of South Haven. We had a great time....we took grandma and grandpa Feenstra along as well as Aunt Jennie. We picked a HUGE bag of apples and now are working on eating them...maybe some apple pie too:)

4 kids ready to pick apples!

Grandpa found the tall ladders and everyone had to try!

Kendra asking if she can pick that apple!

Me and Jennie!

Lucas hiding in the apple tree.

Gavin's first day of school!

Today Gavin had his first day of 3-school. Each child brought a parent along and because Beth is also starting school today, I (Matt) got to go. Gavin had a good time and I think I was probably the biggest distraction for him. This post is mostly about the pictures, so here they are!

Back to School!

Can you believe that we started school today...yep, August 26 and we are back to school. This morning went smoothly...no major clothes arguments and making lunches I think will easier than making the one I did last year. And now, 2 are at school, Lucas will go after lunch!

In 3rd grade already!

Kendra is now in 1st grade....so excited to be going ALL day!

Lucas is in kindergarten...I think he has mixed feeling about going but over all loves the idea....he even took his backpack along this morning:)

A week at the lake!

A beautiful week at Englewright lake was had by all! We spent the past week up at Grandma & Grandpa Wiersma's cottage. It was lots of fun to play in the water, run in the lawn, ride the seadoo and just do nothing....for a whole week! Here are some pictures of our relaxing week.

Ian...deciding that it was cold.

Lucas in the air jumping off of the dock!

Gavin being a cute little boy playing the water.

Kendra coloring on the deck.

Summer is....

Playing outside in the sun and water!


Running in the sprinkler in the back yard!

Playing with the turtles...even though you are not supposed to.

Being a lazy cat...who knew they slept on their backs!

Enjoying the front porch after a long day of work!

And lots and lots of other fun things....too many to count!

Hmmmm....

Does Gavin have a sense of style or what??? Yep, he picked that outfit out all by himself. Including the long sleeve shirt when it is going to be 90 today!!

Tubing time!

This 4th of July was spent on the water! First we went to where Grandma and Grandpa Feenstra were camping and rode in Jack's boat. Actually behind Jack's boat. Then, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Wiersma's cottage for the night and played all day in the water. Unfortunately my camera batteries died so I only have pictures of a little bit of tubing! But we all had fun both days!

Lucas and Kendra skimming along the water!

Lucas and Ian....it's a little blurry because we were going so fast!:)

Kendra and Ian heading for the wake!

Gavin did tube for a short distance but then decided he didn't like it. The most amazing part of the day was the fact that Lucas loved it! Last year he wouldn't but his bathing suit on because that meant he had to go in Jack's boat....this year he can't get enough of it!

How many kids can you fit in a wheel barrow full of water?

Three

OR

Four

Ouch!!!

We have had the first emergency room type injury already this summer! Lucas fell while playing at the park and split his chin wide open. He required a total of 10 stitches...2 inside and 8 outside! He was a very brave boy and didn't cry at all while they put them in. It has been a week since he got them out and here is a before and after picture!!

With the stitches!

Without!!!

A really handsome blue eyed boy!

Lucas turns 5!!!!

I can barely believe that it has been 5 years since Lucas was born. It was such a busy time in life with moving, Matt finishing school and having a baby it seems like it was just yesterday. But, it has really been 5 years since this beautiful, full of life, blue eyed boy came to stay!

Lucas had very specific instructions for his cake this year. He wanted a police car chasing another car...this is what he told me to make, I did, and he said it was perfect. Oh, the cake was chocolate because that is what color it is under the dirt:) Yep, that was all Lucas!

Lucas received many great gifts...this is the best picture of him with one of his gifts....those blue eyes are sparkling!

Yep, the boys all had to see what Lucas had received...the Hummer and motor cycle were a huge hit!

Blowing out the candles...the candles were placed along the road as street lights....what an amazing imagination!

He is the pirate that doesn't do anything!

Lucas has a birthday party to attend this afternoon...a Pirate Party! He was asked to dress the part...so here what mom came up with!!

It's amazing was a party store, Grandma, dad's closet and the Salvation Army thrift store can provide!!!!

















Argh... Swab the deck! Could you say no to this pirate???

Memorial Day 2008!

Another beautiful day in Zeeland!!

Today was Memorial Day and what a sunny and warm day it was. We headed for the parade about 8:30 and were very happy in our shorts and tshirts! Ian and Kendra had to be in the parade, so Matt brought them away and then we waited. Zeeland is lots of fun to "wait" in because you seem to know most people, or at least know of them:)

Waiting can be so hard...But Lucas, Gavin and Jennie were patient and they were rewarded well with plenty of tractors, old cars, Vetereans and of course lots of school kids.

Gavin informed us all that he like parades and was all smiles...his foot was tapping most of the time to the drumbeats that he heard!

Lucas sat by his friend Will and they had fun catching the candy that was thrown out during the parade. Candy at 9am??? Who's kid is that anyway:)

Kendra rode on a wagon with her El Puente Kindergarten class. They sang the whole way...when Kendra got off she informed me that she had the microphone almost the whole time.

Ian walked with his 2nd grade El Puente class....I think he had lots of fun waving at all the people he knew.

It was a great day...we finished it off by pulling out the rest of the stumps infront of the house the going to friends for some swiming and burgers on the grill! Summer here we come!!!