June 14 - Kuiper Coffee @ Dad & Mom's

On Sunday Mom rolled out an amazing assortment of desserts, including a chocolate and peanut butter cheese cake loaf that was almost illegal, it was soooooo good! We sat in the back while the kids played and a very sprite-like Auntie Dana took pics of all of the kids running around. I'm not sure how this happened, but I have some cuuuute nieces and nephews!!! Check out Oliver! Uncle Rod was staying at Dad and Mom's too (for Synod) so we really enjoyed our time with him. Much coffee was inhaled and Lois and Jason stayed for Sunday dinner (that's Annika smashing the buns). We heard Rev. Richard Smit at SE in the morning, which was fun because he went to school with Calvin. It was the first time ever Calvin wasn't trying to corral me into the van - he was one of the last ones talking! And at night we went to Grace for the first time other and enjoyed hearing Dad for the first time in awhile.

June 13

On Saturday we drove over to Grandma Schellenboom's off of Cottonwood in Jenison. After visiting awhile in her apartment, she took the boys on their annual walk to go feed the goldfish. We found out the black fish on the opposite side are actually a whole lot more fun to feed - they actually thrash the water and swim like lightning to get the bread - John was really giggling. Afterwards, Grandma offered John a ride on her walker and of course, Thomas wanted in also. She zipped them around the flagpole - twice! It is pretty amazing, how healthy and active Grandma is in her early nineties! It was the first visit where it didn't seem so odd that Grandpa wasn't there...

June 11

Our day started off a little shaky when Thomas started throwing up at breakfast. He was down for most of the day, so I stuck close and did a lot of ironing. I never did get to dance down the aisles of Meijers with Mom! In the evening, Jason and Lois threw a pool party at their new house to welcome us to MI. The weather was horrible, but it was wonderful to be together. We are so happy for Jason and Lois, the house is cute and huge, the plot is deep with beautiful trees, and they have a fabulous shop where Jay can spray a lot of his trim jobs. Lois had fun showing me where she had transplanted all her perenials. And Lois and Lynn both made cheese dip...how could it get any better?!!

June 10

After a long day of flying, we relaxed and unpacked. Lois and Lynn came over for the afternoon with their kids. The kids played as if they had never been apart, and we all took turn snuggling beautiful new Cassidy Joy. Auntie Dana did our fingers and toes, and much coffee was consumed. I'm pretty sure Calvin was...somewhere with Kuip :)!

June 9

After months and months of waiting, John finally got to fly to Michigan! Thomas was a little unsure at takeoff, but both boys fly fantastically. After tagging along with daddy and getting some practice at the playground, John got to do the real thing with Captain Olaf from Norway!

June 1-6

The first week of June was fun and busy. And a little sad too, as we had a class party to say goodbye to John's beloved Miss (Rosanna) Hanko. She married Scott Fergusen and moved to Edmonton, AB a few weeks later...John enjoyed his first Field Day, Aunt Hulda was here on a visit, and John graduated from Kindergarten. Please note the very handsome Secretary of the Board handing out Bibles! On Saturday, our school held our first ever festival food booth - we sold banket and coffee and dressed up Dutch. I was very tired at the end of the day, but it was a lot of fun, and the kids were so cute! After they were done "peddling" to the parade crowd, Leshia and girls rode with Dwight in the recycle truck and got their picture in the paper (see D's blog)! John loved his wooden shoes so much, he didn't want to give them up!

May 23 - John's Birthday Party

John turned six while we were gone, so we had a little party with Grandma DH after we got home. Thomas looooves blowing out birthday candles, so we re-lit and re-blew many times over, which John didn't mind either! John's big present this year was a tee, ball, bat and glove, so the boys have been having a great time with their daddy in the back yard.