Lake Michigan

On Saturday we took the kids out to Holland State Park to see the ice. They were all pretty amazed at how the waves could freeze and that the ice could be hard enough to walk on. I had a few nervous moments when they knelt too close to an ice cave that we couldn't see the bottom in but over all they did very well. It was pretty cold but they didn't seem to mind it too bad. Here are a few snapshots.


What a great opportunity for us to talk to our kids about God too. They all wanted to know how the ice could be that way and we just kept saying, "It's all because of God".

Meet Mallory

Last but certainly not least, we have Mallory. By far she is our most obstinate, funny, dramatic, stubborn child yet. I don't think her interview reveals the real her quite enough but it gives you an idea. Just for a visual, when I was interviewing her she was standing with one hand on her hip, sort of tipped to the side.

1. What is your favorite color? um...6 (okay so she doesn't quite understand this question. She's only 2 after all).

2. What is your favorite toy? um...baby one (an answer that could be all sorts of toys).

3. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? um...Doodlebops (she listens to the Doodlebops while I am on the computer. It keeps her occupied while I blog).

4. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? um...ride bikes (okay so she does understand this interview thing! Jason pulls her in the burly behind his bike all the time in the summer).

5. What do you want to be when you grow up? um...6 (yes, eventually she should be able to accomplish that).

6. Who do you want to marry? um...um... (at least she didn't name one of her siblings like the other kids).

7. How many kids do you want to have? um...6A (okay...maybe that will be some sort of popular name in the year 2025 when she's allowed to pro-create).

8. Where do you want to live? um...new neighby's house (she is obsessed with our new neighbors who aren't really new neighbors anymore because they've lived there a year now).

9. What is your favorite thing to do at school? um...color and write my name (wow! She's ambitious).

10. What is your favorite food? ceral (she means cereal).

11. What is your favorite thing to play? um...toys (yeah...she's definitely 2).

At this point in our little interview process she decided she was done. After three adamant rounds of "Stop it Mommy!" I gave up. I'll add a picture of her escapades this week. I found her hidden under my desk a couple of days ago looking like she does in the picture below. She had gotten into my make-up and smeared my lipstick ALL over. She has a fascination with "yipdick" right now.

Meet Logyn

I have to continue on now that I've started with two of the kids. I hope you all are not too bored by the mundane answers my kids have. I tend to think my kids are funnier than they really are. Aren't I supposed to think my children are funny? And cute? And silly? And better looking than anyone else's?

1. What is your favorite color? black and blue.

2. What is your favorite toy? my boat (He got an Imaginext Pirate ship for Christmas and just LOVES it!)

3. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? go to the beach (we don't go to the beach so I'm not sure where he got this answer).

4. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? spray water (I assume he means when they are washing cars together).

5. What do you want to be when you grow up? a cowboy rider (Do I sense a trend with my children? They all seem to like "country" things. Maybe it's a good thing we live in Dorr).

6. Who do you want to marry? uhhh... Maddy (again with the sibling marriage! I've got to explain this to them).

7. How many kids do you want to have? 4 (he's actually showing me 5 fingers. Must be he's hoping for a two-for-one like we had).

8. Where do you want to live when you grow up? way far away with my favorite house is black (a little confusing I know but I get the feeling he's not going to be a homebody).

9. What is your favorite food? uhhh...bread and pudding (not really...that was just what he was eating for lunch).

10. What is your favorite thing to do at school? play outside on the park (he's not in school yet but sometimes we've gone to pick Maddy up early and play on the playground before school is dismissed).

11. What is your favorite thing to play? uuhhh...play with my truck

12. When is your birthday? uuhhh...3 (hmmm....)

13. How old are you? uuhhhh...3 (he got that one right!)

14. What are your favorite clothes? uuhhh...my jammies, my pants, and my shirt (that about sums up his whole wardrobe).

15. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer? uuhhh...go in the water (at least he got the right season!)

16. What is your favorite TV show? uuhhh...kid doggie show (not sure what that show is. It could be a number of shows).

17. If you could drive anything what would it be? a monster truck I could drive out of the ditch (Daddy would be so proud of that answer!).

18. How much money will you make? 4, 5, 9 (I'm not sure if that is some type of retirement account or what).

19. How many bedrooms will your house have? 4

And there you have Logyn.

Meet Loryn

1. What is your favorite color? uhh...green, white, black, and green, and blue, and then red, then gray. That's all the colors I like. (Hmmm...must be I need to teach her about specificity).

2. What is your favorite toy? my doll and my bear and my toy dog and my book. (once again specificity is a problem).

3. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? play my cherry game (as in play Hi-Ho Cherry-O).

4. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? ride in his van. (of course she doesn't get the privelage of riding in front like Maddy).

5. What do you want to be when you grow up? a princess and a cowgirl (can you combine the two???).

6. Who do you want to marry? uhhh...Mallory (I'm not going to even touch that one).

7. How many kids to do want to have? 3 (she is showing me by holding up three of her fingers).

8. Where do you want to live? white house (now I'm not sure if that means the actual White House or just a white house somewhere).

9. What is your favorite food? grapes, bread, and pudding (that just happened to be her lunch at the time).

10. What is your favorite thing to do in school? uhh...color and then I don't know (she doesn't even go to school yet).

11. What is your favorite thing to do? cherry (I believe she means play Hi-Ho Cherry-O).

12. When is your birthday? this many (she shows me 4 of her fingers. It's actually March 27 but that's probably a mouthful for her).

13. How old are you? 3.

14. What is your favorite thing to wear? this clothes and jeans and shirts. That's all I want to wear (which is totally NOT true. She is in a skirt anytime we are home).

15. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer? Make a snow angel! (Obviously we haven't gone over the seasons yet).

16. What is your favorite TV show? uhh...I don't know my teacher's name (I have no idea what that is supposed to mean).

17. If you could drive anything what would it be? a van (I wish for that too!)

18. How much money will you make when you're older? this is how many money (she is showing me 5 with her fingers. I don't know if that will be enough!).

19. How many bedrooms will your house have? this one, this one, and this one (she is counting on her fingers, so 3). And this is how many stairs (she is showing me 5. Random thing to comment about).

And now you know the inner workings of Loryn.

Meet Maddy

I had to take this idea from Tina because it's hilarious to see just what our kids are thinking. I've interviewed each of my kids with the same questions. Below are Maddy's answers. You'll have to wait to hear the rest.

1. What is your favorite color? purple and pink. (Must be she didn't understand I wanted 1 color).

2. What is your favorite toy? my horses and Barbies

3. What is your favorite thing to do with Mommy? Go out to lunch (something that I do WAY too much of).

4. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? ride in Daddy's work van with everyone (I think that's because she gets to ride in the front).

5. What do you want to be when you grow up? A mom (Aww...).

6. Who do you want to marry? I don't know (that's right...wait until you meet the right man).

7. How many kids do you want to have? 3 (she's smart!).

8. Where do you want to live? in Dorr (Aww...she wants to stay close!).

9. How many bedrooms will your house have? 3 for the kids (must be she's going to sacrifice her own comfort so her kids can each have their own room).

10. What is your favorite food? Grapes (not really but that was what she was eating at the time).

11. What is your favorite thing to do in school? I like Mrs. Clousing the best. (Brownie points?)

12. What is your favorite thing to play? Duck, Duck, Goose (her newest discovery).

13. When is your birthday? In the summer (It's actually July 31st).

14. How old are you? 5 (but I think she acts WAY older).

15. What is your favorite outfit to wear? Dress-up clothes

16. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer? go to the beach and swim

17. What is your favorite TV show? Arthur!

18. If you could drive anything what would it be? A Jeep (so she can ride the dunes at Silver Lake).

19. How much money will you make when you're older? 1,000 (now whether that's an hour or over a year I don't know. Hopefully it's an hour).

20. What's your favorite movie? Ummm...this little light of mine...you know the one with the rainbow movie (uhhh...Wizard of Oz?) Yeah, that one.

And now you've met Maddy.

Ode To Mother Nature

Oh Mother Nature what a wonder you create.
The beauty outside is incredibly great.
The snow on the ground and the chill in the air
Keeps my kids home from school and it just isn't fair!

The wintery white blanket that covers my lawn,
I really wish that it would be gone.
I am sick of the snow. I can't take anymore.
I don't want to take all my kids to the store.

We've been cooped up inside with the kids for days.
We've had to occupy ourselves in all sorts of ways.
But I am sick of the boredom, the mess, and the tears.
I can't believe I have to do this for 18 more years!

We've gone to McDonald's and to the mall.
They've played on the toys until my skin started to crawl.
We've baked cookies, watched movies, and played games.
But all that does is make them call each other names.

So please melt the snow and make it go away.
My kids want to go outside and play.
It takes too long to get them all dressed.
And once they're outside all they do is get stressed.

My mitten fell off! My feet are cold!
They just complain and it gets really old.
So from this mother that stays home each day
Please, please make the snow go away!

I'm Celebrating!

Celebrating what you may ask? Maddy is finally back in school after being home for almost ten days. Last week she had two snow days and this past Monday I kept her home because she was sick. So Hallelujah!! she's back in school today. Not willingly I will admit but she's there.

I should really start counting how many times my kids ask when winter is going to be over. And again today the snow - and rain!- is coming down. How do you explain to two three year olds and a two year old that the snow is not done yet? Will it ever be done? I hope so. I know I am sick of being cooped up in my house with my kids. Granted we are healthy and all but I can only take so much! We've baked, we've watched movies, we've played games. What more is there to do?! I've even tried potty training!