Creatures of Chaos

A Long Week So Far

2009-09-02T22:03:00.003-04:00

The drama in our life just never ends! It's nothing tragic mind you, just annoying. On Monday the kids started school again. I'm forced to give up my relaxing, lazy mornings for absolute craziness. Tuesday our washing machine pukes on us and I'm left to hand wring out a full load of clothes. We have an "accident" during the night as well so the need of a washing machine is very important. Wednesday is terrible. Logyn and Loryn started school today and I got to be the really cool Mom with the kid screaming his head off and yelling "I don't want to go to school!" After leaving him in the van he finally comes streaking across the parking lot (and doesn't watch for cars). I lead Loryn into school, show her where her backpack goes, get her settled in her chair all while Logyn is wailing at the top of his lungs. I felt terrible for Loryn because I couldn't celebrate with her this HUGE step in her life. After trying to calmly talk to Logyn, his teacher came over to help out and I managed to escape. I make my escape only to come out and find my van dead. Nothing. It won't turn over, it won't start. So there I sit. Luckily my girlfriend is still at school and I hitch a ride to my parents house. Oh what will tomorrow bring?

Way Behind Again

2009-08-31T11:08:00.003-04:00

Once again I am behind on blogging. Life right now just doesn't allow for this! But I do have an excuse. On August 14 I had a partial hysterectomy done to relieve some pain I had been having for almost a year. I am feeling better now, still tired but overall doing good. The kids have been great during this process since Mommy has an "owie tummy". I mean really, how descriptive do you get? But before the surgery we hung out in Grand Haven on Lake Michigan and enjoyed the awesome water. The kids swam and swam to their hearts content.

Mallory was taking a rest from swimming.
Logyn's working hard at filling the bucket with sand.
The kids enjoy going to Chinook pier and watching the charter boats come in with their catch of the morning. Surprisingly they are not disgusted by watching the salmon get cleaned.

Fourth of July

2009-07-27T15:52:00.004-04:00

Shortly after getting settled in at my parents house we headed up to Silver Lake for the 4th of July holiday. The weather was cooler but we did manage to get to the beach one day while we were there. Loryn made big strides on this trip by learning how to ride a bike WITHOUT training wheels.

Fireworks are a big thing there. It's a beautiful thing to see all the trucks parked on the dunes at sunset. They shoot the fireworks off over the dunes and they reflect on Silver Lake below. Just one of the things that makes life a little bit nicer.

Swimming Lessons

2009-07-24T16:08:00.004-04:00

This year we were graciously asked by a fellow mom from school whether the kids wanted to do lessons at her house. I was grateful for the chance since I missed sign-ups with Miss Rita. The week was stressful, hot, and seemed longer than it actually was. The star turned out to be Loryn this time. Logyn developed a MASSIVE fear of drowning for some reason and panicked every time someone went over to the deep end of the pool. Mallory pulled her weight and did what she was told even if she didn't like it. And Maddy decided that her new special talent was swimming.

Mallory cried even though she accomplished everything Mrs. Helms asked her to do. She was cute to watch. After it was done she would say, "That wasn't so bad".
Loryn waited patiently for her turn. By the third morning she was asking why she always had to go first. I thought she meant in her group but she really wanted to know why her and Mallory were the first group to go. They were always cold!
Maddy took her swimming very seriously.

Logyn actually taking off and swimming! I knew he could do it. He just needed to stop panicking.

Days Gone By

2009-07-16T10:08:00.003-04:00

Wow, it's been awhile, huh? Our life has turned upside down in the last month and a half. We have sold our house, moved into my parents house for three weeks, and now moved into a rental house for who knows how long. Not only that but we've been on two vacations as well. And two days after I unpacked at our rental house, I am packing and vacationing at Mullet Lake. Life just doesn't get any busier. So...I am WAY behind on my posting and wanted to start at our first vacation.

For the past several years my dad's side of the family meets up in Davenport, IA. the second weekend of June. We went again this year and had a great time. The kids like it because they can swim in the pool as much as they want. The adults enjoy the time to see each other and get in some hiking. Enjoy the slide show I put together of the trip.

The Emergency Room

2009-06-01T00:22:00.002-04:00

I need a few moments of your time to rant and rave for awhile. I am sitting here sleepless in a house that is crawling with illness. Thus the issue of my rant.

Last Monday I noticed that Loryn had a fever. Per the doctor's policies I waited until Thursday to bring her in (based on the theory of a fever needs to run for 3 days before being seen). They checked her over and found nothing wrong with her. So we left the office.

Later that afternoon I happened to pick up Mallory and found her to be burning with fever as well. So now I am nursing two sick children. By Saturday Mallory was covered in a rash and her fever had not disappeared and neither had Loryn's. I took them both to the ER to have them checked out.

I should have known better. Deep down I knew I should have just gone to the Urgent Care center. But I tried to be practical in my thinking. I had to get on another highway to get to the Urgent Care facility and the hospital ER was right here.

We follow all procedures by registering, waiting to be called to Triage, and then waiting some more to be called back to a room. I walked into the ER at 7:15pm and was called into a room just before 10. Now mind you, I am not ranting or raving. Just simply biding my time as best I can with two children. Meanwhile it provides a great source of entertainment for them. As long as Mallory wasn't touching Loryn (Loryn was convinced that whenever she brushed up against Mallory, Mallory was "burning" her) we were good.

Once in the room our nurse comes in promptly to check us on. The doctor was not far behind her. He checked over both girls within 5 minutes tops and diagnoses Mallory with Roseola and ordered an X-ray for Loryn. So we wait again. Pretty soon we get the X-ray completed and wait again. By now it is 10:30pm. The doctor comes in to say that Loryn's X-ray is clear and she is good to go home. Diagnosis: nothing wrong with her.

Our nurse comes back in (a blessed part of this whole trip and an SCHS alumni) to discharge us. Upon handing us the papers she brushes up against Loryn to find her fever back. So we wait again for her to administer Tylenol and Motrin to her before we leave.

Finally at 10:50pm I am walking out of the ER $200 poorer because I'm too stupid to look at the co-pay on our insurance card and utterly exhausted.

Why do I hate the ER? I hate that there is no reasonable way to handle children in the ER. There were tons of people in there with broken arms or legs or sprained wrists. Why can't they be ushered into another area while they wait for their X-rays? I know my thinking is not logical at this point but now I am ravaged with fever and here I sit. Waiting again for this to go away.

Random Photos

2009-05-29T16:57:00.003-04:00

We got a new camera a few months ago and I have not had the time to really check it out. So this morning I pulled up a web-site about how to photograph your kids. I don't think I totally grasped what the guy was saying but I gave a good effort. Here are the results.

The sun was too bright for him to look directly at me. I thought it was still a cute shot.

Same scenario for Mallory.

A New Addition

2009-05-26T21:17:00.002-04:00

We have a new addition to the family and NO it's not ours! Jason's brother and his wife had their first child a week ago. Evelyn Grace is a new niece that we are blessed to have in our lives. I'm already looking forward to babysitting this coming weekend. Enjoy the precious pictures!

Tulip Festival 2009

2009-05-03T21:36:00.003-04:00

A great West Michigan tradition. Tulip Time. We enjoyed our late Sunday afternoon walking the downtown streets of Holland, taking in the different colors, sizes, and even shapes of Tulips. Did you know that some tulips grow outward instead of curving in? The kids loved all the colors but not all the walking. Although we promised them a park at the end of the road, it turned out to be a carnival. They weren't so happy when we didn't pay for admittance. Jason and I were wondering with the cost of food at these events, how can this be a "Dutch" thing to do?

A rare picture of all of us together.
A one man band. The girls "donated" to him but Logyn kept his distance.
Loryn made sure to eat every morsel that was on the table.
This was the only patch of tulips I could find without other people surrounding them.

Field Trip Day

2009-04-28T22:28:00.003-04:00

Today I went on a field trip with Loryn and Logyn. We had the pleasure of visiting the local zoo with their preschool class. First, we attended a class where four animal friends were presented to the kids. It was great to see their interest in mammals, reptiles, birds, fish, and the amphibians. And they even understood all those words! After the display of animals, we got to wander around the zoo and check out the bears, penqins, Kamono dragon, etc. They could hardly stand in one spot long enough!

Me with Logyn and Loryn at the Lion exhibit.

Lexi Burgess, Loryn, and Logyn.
Loryn was waitng excitedly for the next animal to be brought out.
Here they are petting a rooster. This thing was huge!

A Day Away

2009-04-07T12:47:00.002-04:00

This past weekend I got the opportunity to visit a friend out of town. Lindsay lives in Phoenix, AZ and Kim, Tami, and myself all headed out to visit for a little R & R. The weather was better than we could have asked for and it was great to sit and catch up with each other. Although we didn't do much sight seeing, we did discover the fun of shopping at Nordstrom Rack.

Dining at the Kona Grill.

Tami and Kim all tucked into the back of Lindsay's jeep. Headin' to the store.

Turning The Big 3-0

2009-03-05T13:33:00.006-05:00

This past weekend I reached a milestone in my life. I turned 30. My birthday fell on a Saturday and it started out as a really great day. My husband let me remain in bed while he got up with the kids and fed them breakfast. I read in bed for awhile and then got a surprise when he brought me breakfast in bed. I finally managed to climb out of bed and spend the day with the kids but in the afternoon my parents came over and picked the kids up for the night. It was so nice to have some quiet time. Jason and I laid on the couches and just talked. There were no interruptions, no crying, fighting, whining, or injuries. It was so nice to just relate to eachother on an adult level for a few hours. And then it was time to get ready. He planned a party for me with friends and family and it turned out to be a great night. He picked up supper for all the people that were involved in the planning and he even arranged for people to help him get a birthday cake (thanks Nikki), decorations and flowers (thanks Mom and Michelle) and other stuff. It was truly a great night.

I got to cut my cake just like at my wedding.

Me and some of my girlfriends. We've been friends since preschool and kindergarten.

A kiss for the birthday girl.

I Thought This Day Would Never Come

2009-02-19T19:00:00.004-05:00

Well, here it is. The day that I thought would never happen in my life. Six and a half years ago it never entered my mind that I wouldn't be celebrating this momentous event until now. People always told me that I'd get to this point in my life someday but it always seemed so far away. And now I am living proof that it does happen. There is an end in sight. There is a day when you will no longer have a crib in your house. Yes, that's right we are officially crib free. Our youngest has "graduated" and moved into a "big girl" bed. I must admit that I shed no tears the night Jason took apart this piece of history. I thought it would be tough, emotional, and sad to watch. But I was impatiently waiting for him to get the crib out of the room so the new bed could make it's debut. Maybe it hasn't hit me yet. Maybe I wasn't as attached to it as I thought I was. Whatever the case may be, after setting our crib up over 6 years it has never come apart. Even when we moved it stayed intact and readily available to whatever child needed it. Now it is disassembled and resting in our storage room. But Mallory is happily enjoying her new bed and that's what matters most.

This Past Weekend

2009-01-27T12:01:00.004-05:00

This past weekend we headed out to Grand Haven with my family. We spent one night at a hotel where the kids could swim and get rid of some of their "cabin fever". Of course with our family there is no trip complete unless something happens. First we started off our morning late. Then we arrived at the lake and tried to get all 6 of us dressed in snow gear in our mini-van. Needless to say there was a lot of whining and arguing about space and who's glove was who's. Once we all mastered that, we stepped out, ready to walk out on the ice. Then came the complaints of being cold and two (Loryn and Mallory) headed back to the van to wait with Grandma. We managed to stay out for awhile and when we got back to the hotel we geared up for swimming. Swimming went well until Loryn pulled herself up on the edge of the pool spitting and sputtering because she got caught in the "deep". Then a few minutes later she proceeded to puke in the pool after a coughing spell. There I sat, scooping puke out of a public pool. Nothing like a grand way to spend my night. And as we all headed up to bed Mallory starts running a fever. It was a great weekend!

Year in Review

2009-01-13T14:30:00.002-05:00

Where oh where have I been? My newest addiction is Facebook. I apologize to loyal bloggers for my indiscretion. As the past couple of years have gone by I've loaded up all the photos from the previous year for everyone to enjoy. I hope this year does not disappoint.

Snow Fun

2008-12-22T14:08:00.004-05:00

The snow has come and come and come. It just doesn't stop. On Saturday we had a Christmas party at my mom and dad's. We packed up all the winter gear for the kids and had a great time out in the snow. Or should I say, Jason had a good time out in the snow.

It looked like so much fun my dad had to get in on the action.

Believe it or not, Mallory is squished in the middle there too. You can't see her but she's there!

Saying Good-Bye

2008-12-11T14:13:00.004-05:00

I have finally reached a point in my life where I need to say thank-you to a dear, dear friend. It's always a hard thing to do when it's someone you've depended on for so long, someone who's gotten you through many tough times, minor emergencies, night duty, etc. I'm writing today to say good-bye and good luck to my companion of the past 6 1/2 years, The Diaper. We've traveled quite a road together, spent a lot of time together and bonded well over the years. But I've managed to grow out of the need now. Yes, my children are all FINALLY potty trained. Even though this moment is bittersweet, I am rejoicing on the inside. I am happy to have no more soggy diapers around my house, no more smelly children sneaking up on me after they've deposited their "gift" into the diaper. Now I enter a new phase of my life; wiping little butts as they deposit their "gift" into the toilet. The need for me never seems to cease. Enjoy the pictures of my latest "big girl"!

Tooth Fairy

2008-12-09T13:16:00.005-05:00

Well, the tooth fairy has finally made a visit to our house. On Friday night Maddy pulled out her first tooth. The tooth has been hanging by a thread for days and I finally convinced her that the Tooth Fairy would deliver extra cash if she would just yank it out. So after a few unsuccessful pulls (I think she whimped out on the first try) the tooth came out! She is now the proud owner of a gap in her teeth which she will display for anyone who asks.

Sorry about the blood. It was a momentous occassion and I didn't want to miss anything!

Hide and Seek

2008-11-23T20:55:00.003-05:00

Three nights ago I was folding laundry when Mallory comes running into the laundry room. She throws the clothes out of the dryer (I had the door open and was just grabbing stuff to fold) and proceeds to climb in. Then she notices me and says, "Mommy, shut the door! Mommy, shut the door!" So I naturally comply. What mother woulnd't shut their child in a dryer? Then when things went completely black, she yelled for me to open it back up again. I could hear her muttering, "Dey won't fine me in here". And nope, she was not found by the other kids. The ultimate hiding spot has been found.

Beautiful Day

2008-11-03T17:38:00.003-05:00

Today turned out to be gorgeous here. After school I headed out into the woods with Maddy to take some pictures of her. We cut her hair about 3 weeks ago and I wanted to update some of her pictures. Enjoy!

Teacher's Convention

2008-10-29T10:16:00.006-04:00

This past weekend was Teacher's Convention for Christian Schools. We took the opportunity to head up to Silver Lake for a few days. We brought along my family since they've never been there before. Although it rained and it was cold we still had a great time. We managed to hike in the dunes Friday. And on Saturday we drove to Ludington. We visited the State Park, The Badger (the ferry boat), and then went to Pentwater to eat dinner. It was a good weekend all around.

Dentist Appointment

2008-10-28T12:47:00.006-04:00

Last week Thursday I headed to the dentist office with all 4 kids. Three of them were pro's at this. But 1 of them was new. Enter Mallory. She was not a willing participant once they called her name.
Dr. Chris is simply trying to show her how gentle the toothbrush is. Look at the big tear rolling down her cheek!
Now I'm restraining her so he can brush her teeth. I believe I was sweating by this time.
The tears are gone and her smile is back. She's picking out her wonderful (albeit cheap) prizes. Job well done, Mallory! Although they informed me as we left that next time she would need x-rays...

Politically One-Sided

2008-10-27T20:24:00.002-04:00

I received the following link in an e-mail today. Although I am not one to spout political facts and issues like some, I do feel that this article has some good points. It's very obvious that the media is one-sided in it's view of our presidential candidates and the artile calls them on that. Enjoy the read. It's very interesting.
http://www.ldsmag.com/ideas/081017light.html

Happy Fall Y'All

2008-10-17T10:10:00.006-04:00

Okay, here it is. Pictures of my favorite time of year. Last night the kids headed outside with Jason to start blowing the leaves. Now mind you, they don't exactly help. Oh they try all right, but it usually ends up causing Jason more work. Enjoy the pictures.

Maddy and Loryn were trying to build up their pile. Little did they realize they were dropping leaves where Jason had just blown them into the woods.

No words are really needed for this one. I love it!

Can you believe it?! I even got in a picture. This one was taken by Logyn. Not too bad, huh?

She just kills me. I had to put this one in.

Looks like they're really helping with the clean-up.

Success!!

2008-09-24T20:45:00.003-04:00

We are two nights into the "no pipe" life and it's been going good. She's only asked for it once. This morning we opened the front door to a gift bag from the Pacifier fairy with twinkle shoes and a magic wand. The shoes have hardly left her feet and her wand had to come with us where ever we went. Now if we could only get the Potty Fairy to show her face...

The Pacifier Fairy

2008-09-23T13:15:00.006-04:00

As many of you know, Mallory is three years old and still takes a pipe. Now mind you, she didn't start taking a pipe until about this time last year when we were through with all her surgeries. We've tried the whole "it stays in your bed" thing or the "only at bedtime" thing and it doesn't seem to matter. Somehow we (I should probably say more along the lines of me) always let it slide. But, thanks to Super Nanny I've convinced her to give up her pipes once and for all. We are sending them to the Pacifier Fairy so she can deliver them to new babies who need a pipe. I told her that some of her pipes came from the Paci Fairy when she was in the hospital.

This was the first step. Decorating the envelope that would hold all her pipes.

Next we had to put the pipes in the envelope. She had about 6 I think.

This is her proudly displaying her envelope. We are on our way to the mailbox at this point. Yeah!

And finally, placing the envelope in the mailbox. Mission complete.

Of course the results of this "idea" are yet to be seen. Stay tuned....

Preschool Pictures

2008-09-09T10:01:00.003-04:00

Today was the first day of preschool for Loryn and Logyn. They were so excited to be there and to play on the playground. I'm glad that all the money I pay counts for something! Anyway, enjoy the pictures. Apparently they were so excited that neither one of them could look at me.

Here Loryn and Logyn are finding their name tags with one of their teachers, Mrs. Sheryl.

Every morning when they come into the room they have to find their name on a board and give it to Mrs. Pat, their teacher. After they completed that this morning I took their picture.

Happy Belated Birthday Mallory!

2008-09-04T16:43:00.003-04:00

I am ashamed to be writing this 3 days after the fact, but Happy Birthday to the baby of our family! Mallory turned 3 on September 1st. It seems weird to me that I now have a 3 year old because I still look at her as the youngest little munchkin in our family. I know she's still the youngest, but I guess she seems to be the neediest yet and that makes me feel good. When we found out we were pregnant with her I was devestated. I had thought that I was complete in the family way and didn't need another one around. I can't believe how much we would have missed out on had she not been in our family. It just goes to show that God knows what He's doing. She's been such a delight to us. No matter how naughty she is it's hard to not laugh at her as you're trying to reprimand her. She's a blessing in every way.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

2008-08-26T09:40:00.002-04:00

Today is my anniversary with Jason. 8 years ago we were 21 and 24 years of age tying the knot. I am constantly amazed at all that has happened in our marriage. Although each day is new and brings with it new challenges we've survived many struggles already. And I hope that we have many more years to look back on.

Back to Reality

2008-08-25T14:45:00.005-04:00

We're back! Yes, we are finally home and getting settled again. The summer has been busy and now it's back to reality.

Today was Maddy's first day back to school. Unfortunately she wasn't too excited to go. She was nervous that no one would want to play with her on the playground. I helped her load up her new desk and see who was sitting around her that she knew. Luckily there was one friend in there that she was familiar with. As I left her this morning I had to hold back my tears as I walked out of the school. She look at me as if I was abandoning her.

I didn't have to wait long to see her again because at 10:30am I got a phone call from the school secretary. I thought she was going to tell me that Maddy was so incredibly upset about me leaving that I had to come and get her. Instead she starts out with "Are you close to school? Maddy had a little accident on the playground and Mrs. Coffey feels you should come and check her out." Just what every mother wants to hear! So I sped to school the whole time rehearsing in my head what I would say if I got pulled over. I ran into the office and found her sitting in a chair looking scared. And that's when the strong, tough mommy that I am lost it! I couldn't even talk to her. I just started bawling and so did she. We sat and hugged each other and cried while her teacher, the school secretary, and a nurse looked on. Then I looked and saw the gash on her forehead. Mrs. Coffey advised us to take her in and have it looked at. So away we went to Metro Hospital's emergency room. By 11:45am she was getting 4 stitches in her forehead, violently screaming at the top of her lungs and trying to kick the doctor in the head. What a GREAT first day of school!

I'm Over It!

2008-08-11T11:07:00.001-04:00

I am so over this tonsil thing. When does the pain go away? The wonderful drugs that they told me about are not helping! So far I'm taking Tylenol every 4 hours because the stuff they sent home with me is awful! I puked three times the first night I was home and now I'm managing to eat about 2 pieces of toast a day. Great diet plan but not so good when I'm trying to regain strength. Arghhh!!!

They're Coming Out!

2008-08-06T15:56:00.003-04:00

My tonsils are finally coming out. I'm almost 30 and it's taken this long to realize that I'm sick of dealing with sore throats and little white things in the back of my throat. So think of me tomorrow around 9 am. I'll be going under the knife.

Happy Birthday Madelynn!

2008-07-31T09:16:00.002-04:00

Happy Birthday Madelynn! Man, where does the time go? My firstborn is 6 today! I can clearly remember the morning she was born. I woke up when Jason left for work and realized I was having contractions. I let him drive all the way to Kalamazoo before calling him and telling him to come back home. We went to the hospital, I got some good drugs, watched the Price Is Right for a while and then pushed out this beautiful baby girl. My first child. I remember crying while I held onto her. I was so happy when we brought her home too. She was a perfect baby. She slept through the night at 3 1/2 weeks, hardly fussed, and was so enjoyable. As she's grown up she has remained that way. She's very calm and willing to help out any way she can. She's beautiful, caring, compassionate, etc. And the very best part is, she's mine. I love her to death and every day I look at her I love her a little more for the young girl she is turning out to be. Thanks be to God for giving me this child!

Splash Pad

2008-07-24T14:56:00.002-04:00

Today we ventured out to the local sprinkler park. Now mind you I am cheap, so this was free and it's worth every penny of gas that it cost to get there. The kids loved it! They ran under and over the sprinklers, played on the playground near by, and ate a picnic lunch. It's priceless. Enjoy the pictures!

Here It Is

2008-07-22T15:10:00.004-04:00

Well, here is the post. We have been at Mullet Lake. Those of you that know us well probably figured that out already. And now it's time to share the experience. We had a great trip this year. The weather was cool but it was nice. Not as many sunny days but still enough to get the kids out in the water. I learned a lot about my kids this trip too. Here's what I learned:
1. Logyn really does like to swim even though he pretends he doesn't. I couldn't keep him OUT of the water.
2. Kids are resilient. Even though the temperature was only 70 degrees they still swam. Their lips were blue and they were shivering but they still swam.
3. Diarrhea can last a LONG time. Mallory had it from the time we arrived until the day we left. I'm still not sure if it's better.
4. Kids really have no concept of money. I emptied out all their piggy banks and told them they could purchase whatever they like with their money. Little did they comprehend how much money they actually had.
5. My parents are awesome! They allow us to come on this vacation for free and they never stop taking care of our kids the whole time we're there. My mother is dishing out breakfast if I didn't get out of bed on time or they're putting my kids down for naps so I can sit in the sun. How blessed I am.
6. Coming back from vacation sucks! I drove 4 hours home with all 4 kids and never stopped. I couldn't bear the thought of unloading them all and then re-loading when they kept asking me how much further we had to go.
I couldn't resist this picture. I love how Mallory is "looking up to" her sisters.
And this one is great too. Don't they look like they could start synchronize swimming? I can picture them each just tipping off the dock and into the water.

And I can't forget Logyn. Here's video of him jumping off the dock. He would not stop jumping, then climbing the ladder, then jumping off again. In some of the pictures in the montage you can see how he's trying to do a cannonball. Sorry that it's not rotated. I couldn't get it to save on my computer.

And here is the montage. Sorry for the long, extended post. And whether you believe it or not I didn't fit it all in. There's one more post I'll do tomorrow.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

No Worries!

2008-07-22T10:37:00.001-04:00

Yes, we are still alive and well. I'm sorry we have been absent from the blogging world but we will update you soon on our where abouts.

Silver Lake

2008-07-06T17:52:00.006-04:00

The sun, the sand, and the sounds of summer are where we've been hiding. Silver Lake took up a week of our lives this year as we celebrated the 4th of July there. It was great to have time with the kids and no obligations to distract us from them. Although we sold the suburban we had nothing to ride in the dunes with but we managed to get lots of exercise climbing up the dunes the old fashioned way. We ventured into the tourist district and took a ride with Mac Woods too. Enjoy some of the pictures from our great week.

Okay, our tour guide on Mac Wood's asked us if we could "see" some images in this piece of driftwood. "See" if you can find a sailfish, a ghost, and an alligator with it's mouth open.

Going Green

2008-06-25T16:00:00.003-04:00

We're going green...and yellow that is. Grandpa added a few green tractors to the red ones already collected in his barn. Logyn got to drive for a while and thoroughly enjoyed himself.

One Fish...Two Fish

2008-06-20T19:46:00.004-04:00

I am once again very proud of my children. Earlier this week I posted about Mallory learning to swim in two days. I have another child who accomplished that task as well (whether he really wanted to or not).

On Monday, Logyn started swimming lessons at the local high school with Maddy and Loryn. Monday he climbed in and proceeded to scream the whole time. Tuesday he wouldn't even touch the edge. So on Wednesday he started lessons with Miss Rita. Wednesday he wouldn't even open his eyes and he even called Miss Rita "stupid". So we got goggles and came back on Thursday. He opened his eyes for two seconds but at least it was progress. And today after we spent fifteen minutes bribing him to get out of the truck...(drum roll please)he was swimming on his own!! He proceeded to jump into the pool with no one telling him so and swimming to the steps. Amazing! I cried! I hope you enjoy the video as much as I did. Notice Mallory bawling in the background. She still swims though!

Tooth Envy

2008-06-20T09:00:00.003-04:00

Logyn is trying to loose his teeth before Maddy. Two days ago he came into the house just bawling like crazy with Mallory trailing behind. They apparently bumped heads somehow. I saw blood dripping from his mouth and just assumed it was his lip. I told him he'd be alright and to just sit down because I was getting supper ready. Two minutes later he let out a huge scream followed by, "My tooth is loose!". Sure enough, I could put my finger on it and wiggle it. I panicked! He's only 4 years old I thought. He can't walk around with a huge gap in his mouth for the next two years! So I called the dentist and he said that the ligament probably tore and that's where the blood was coming from. He said rarely does the root of the tooth fracture. He said he could look at it the next day. Yesterday afternoon I took him in for an x-ray and wouldn't you know it...the root of his tooth is fractured! What does that mean? Well, nothing really. It will hopefully "fuse" itself back together but only time will tell. As long as it doesn't get infected his permanent teeth shouldn't be affected. Just another day at our house I guess.

Swim Lessons

2008-06-18T15:13:00.003-04:00

Due to many near drownings with Mallory she was enrolled in swim lessons this week. I am utterly amazed at the progress she has made. She started these lessons on Monday and already by Tuesday she was swimming on her own. Today I took video footage just to prove that I am not a liar. She may not be enjoying herself tremendously (as you can see in the pictures) but at least she knows what to do if she falls in a pool.

Here We Go!

2008-06-16T19:10:00.006-04:00

It is that time of year again. Vacation time! This weekend we headed up to Silver Lake to start our summer. We were orginally supposed to be in Iowa at a family reunion but Maddy's surgery kept us closer to home. Even though we missed out on tons of fun with our extended family we still had a great time on our own. We walked the dunes, played in the icy cold waters of Lake Michigan, built sand castles, roasted marshmallows, etc. It was great! Despite the thunderstorms we survived well.

The kids loved the beach and riding in the dunes. We even got a little carried away this year and pushed the old suburban up some steep hills.

Taking A Dip

2008-06-09T08:34:00.005-04:00

As many know we got a lot of rain over the last couple of days. When we woke up Sunday morning our street was completely flooded over and the end of the street was about the size of a pool. After naps yesterday the kids and I walked down there to check it out. Of course with 4 kids and a street full of water you can imagine what happened. Yup...they got wet. At first it was all fun and games and then I noticed Logyn just diving right in and going completely under.

This is looking towards our house.

As you notice Mallory has her bathing suit on now. I did eventually go get them since my kids all started to strip down to nothing after their clothes got wet.

And this is looking down at Loryn. I cannot get over how deep the water got.

Active 2 Year Old

2008-06-04T15:02:00.005-04:00

No, this is not a picture of what child abuse would look like. This is a picture of what a very active 2 year old will look like at the beginning of summer. No matter how cautious we are she still finds branches to get scratched on, bugs to feast on her skin, and a close-up view of the cement driveway. Can you guess who this is? Yup...it's Mallory.

We've Been Busy

2008-06-03T22:17:00.004-04:00

Yes, yes we are still alive and actually well. I know I've been bad about keeping everyone updated but things have been busy. Maddy has completed Kindergarten and we just celebrated her graduation last week. No open house or anything, just a simple hour long ceremony in a stuffy, hot gymnasium. It was all the pomp and circumstance you could expect from Kindergarten. The kids really did great. They sang many songs robustly and completed a play about The Little School Bus with broadway fashion.

Maddy's teacher had asked each student what they wanted to be when they grew up. Maddy's response was a "mom and a farmer". She thought it would be great to be a mom with lots of kids because a mom can stay up as late as she wants.

Maddy and her teacher, Mrs. Clousing

Bad Parents?

2008-05-20T19:23:00.003-04:00

I don't know if it's necessarily a bad thing or not. Mallory seems to have a fondness for "dad's pop".

Sickness again!

2008-05-14T18:25:00.002-04:00

Yes the sickness has descended upon our house again and this time it's ME! On Mother's Day I woke up with a sore throat. Thought nothing of it until around 6pm that night I couldn't even manage to swallow. So right away Monday morning I called and went to the doctor. Sure enough, strep throat. So since then I have not gotten an ounce better. But...I have lost 12 pounds. Now that's a diet plan for you. Just get a viscous virus and you'll be sure to loose weight. I have not had one ounce of food since my lunch on Mother's Day. I think my insides are slowing eating themselves to keep me nourished. Not only that, my tonsils are so large I can barely manage to swallow enough liquid to keep myself hydrated. It's been a grand week so far. So if any of you wondering where the heck I am, I'm here at home. I've already decided that the first sign that the pain has subsided I am hitting every single fast food restaurant. I can't believe how much I'm craving a salad from Wendy's and a double cheeseburger from Mc Donalds. Then I'm going to top it off with a smoothie from Spoons. I'm going to binge like crazy!!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T23:18:00.002-04:00

To every mother out there, Happy Mother's Day. As many know the task of being a mother is incredibly tasking. The moments can be joyous, emotional, nerve-racking, and totally rewarding. I consider myself a mother who is rewarded. Even though some days are not as "rewarding" as others there are moments of pure joy. As follows:

* Obviously giving birth to each of my children. The memories are ingrained in my head so vividly even now.
* The laughter I can get my children to display when we are cooking, riding around, or just playing.
* The feel of my children in my arms. My kids were not cuddler's from the beginning but have grown to be over the years.
* The struggles over discipline, eating, and bed time that make my marriage to Jason stronger.
* And finally, just simply being able to be called a "mother".

Frederick Meijer Gardens

2008-05-01T10:05:00.003-04:00

On Tuesday I had the privelage of accompanying 2 teachers, 12 mothers, and 51 kindergarten students to the Frederick Meijer Gardens in Grand Rapids. I have never been there before so I was excited to see the Butterflies Blooming. It turned out to be a chilly day but the kids didn't seem to mind in the least. We started our trip with a bus ride and when we arrived we walked through a desert setting and then wandered into the butterfly exhibit. It was spectacular to see all the butterflies just flitting about like they didn't have a care in the world. Despite the warm temperatures in the butterfly sanctuary, it was awesome to just look at the different flowering plants and butterflies. The kids patience level was nothing like mine. Of course they would flit from one spot to the next and were ready to go after about 5 minutes. Here is a slideshow of some snapshots we took throughout the day.

Why Me?

2008-04-30T15:32:00.003-04:00

I need a moment to whine and whimper for myself. As you may remember, we welcomed all sorts of sickness into our house a few weeks ago. And guess what? It's still not over! What have I done to deserve this? I ask you, am I a terrible person? Have I committed some horrific sin against someone and this is my penance? Over the weekend Logyn walked around with a rash that looked like sunburn and a fever of 102 degrees. Now this morning Maddy woke up with both eyes swollen and bloodshot. Yes, the nurses said it was pink-eye. Why is this happening to me? Why can't I have one normal day? I tell you it's just not fair! Okay, I'm done now.

Kudos to you!

2008-04-21T21:18:00.002-04:00

I must give a huge "Kudos" to the working moms out there. I have struggled for the last few weeks to maintain some sense of control over my household when I'm only working one day a week. My whole system of functioning has gone by the wayside. I applaud those out there who can maintain their households as well as their work lifes. Congratulations on a job well done!

2008-04-15T14:42:00.002-04:00

I caved in today and finally took the kids to the park. I say "caved in" because every morning that the sun is shining they tend to think that it's 70 degrees outside and a great day for the park. I was aiming for a photo shoot of Loryn and Logyn but didn't get much help there. Loryn looks constipated and Logyn just had no desire to look at the camera.

So I scrapped the photo shoot and just let them be kids for the day. Here are some pictures.

Sickness Is Upon Us!

2008-04-12T19:46:00.004-04:00

WARNING: This post may contain some vulgar descriptions.

The sickness has descended upon our household. It infects mostly the children but we adults are in the beginning stages. The following is a description of symptoms. The whines lead way into a fit of coughing so hard vomit spews forth. Then paranoia sets in for fear of puking again. Boogers are a permanent fixture on their cheeks since they are unaware of the invention of the kleenex. Carpet cleaner is on patrol to ward off the stains left behind by phlegm when a sneeze sneaks up on them. I believe the CDC will be making a visit sometime next week.

What's that famous phrase everyone says to me? Oh right, "This too shall pass".

WARNING: The following pictures are intended for adult viewing only.

No vomit was spewed forth in this picture.

Rough shape wouldn't you say?

Spring Break or Bust?

2008-04-07T09:46:00.002-04:00

It was a bust. We tried to take the kids to Silver Lake yesterday to stay for a few days but it fell through. We were planning on opening up the cottage for Jason's mom but couldn't get any water. So with no water and no heat we loaded the kids up again and drove home to much whining and crying. The beginning of our day should have been a premonition. Logyn woke up with croup and when we brought him into the doctor's office they sent us on to the hospital because they didn't feel comfortable sending him home. He had 104 degree fever and was coughing really bad. So we hung out in the ER for 3 hours before they sent us on our way. Next time I'll take heed of any forwarning that is looking me right in the face. I guess we weren't meant to travel on Spring Break like 75 % of the nation. Enjoy yours!

Happy Birthday Loryn and Logyn!

2008-03-25T23:22:00.003-04:00

I will never forget the day I found out I was having twins. It will forever be imprinted on my mind and the many days that followed as we told people our news. But what comes after those days will be a treasure in my heart. I never knew such love existed until I had Maddy and then to realize that my love could be shared between two babies was hard to imagine.

But the fateful night came on March 27. I had begged Jason to take me out for dinner and we did so even though I was not technically off bedrest. As we sat in 44th Street Bistro enjoying our salads I was trying to ignore the contractions that were growing closer together. I was out for a night of freedom, not to give birth. But as I gripped the table and my knuckles turned white Jason finally figured it out. I let him eat his dinner (albeit very fast) and I boxed mine up. We headed out and called the doctor. "Come on in" they said. We arrived at the hospital at 8 pm to discover I was dilated to a 5. They told me there was no way I was going home since my contractions were less than 2 minutes apart. By 10:01 pm Loryn was born. And as I watched her get cleaned up and held her momentarily, Logyn was born at 10:19 pm. And there I had it, two babies who were being whisked away from me. And the saga continues...

What an amazing God we serve when I look back on those days. The pictures cannot even begin to show just how tiny and delicate they were. But they were strong too. 14 days later they came home to live with us and our live grew busier from then on.

And here they are now, 4 years old. Take a look back with me.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Easter

2008-03-24T09:38:00.003-04:00

As I'm sure many of you did, we celebrated the Easter holiday yesterday. Although I kind of lost sight of the real meaning of Easter (getting the frilly dresses and new clothes, egg hunts, easter baskets, etc.) I was reminded during church just how far off base I was. Our message was about looking for life in other places. I guess you could say I qualified for that category. So often people are looking for happiness in new vehicles or new homes instead of focusing on where our life comes from. It's not in wealth and material possessions; it's through Jesus Christ who made a HUGE sacrifice so that I can be who I am today. That's a great thing to celebrate don't you think?

Even though I got a little materialistic on this holiday I'd still like to share a few pictures of the kids in their Easter outfits.

Angry

2008-03-19T11:25:00.002-04:00

I need an audience for a venting session and you guys are the lucky ones. I am so sick of people looking at me like I am a freakshow! So what if I have 4 children. Just because the average family stops at two kids does not mean that my family needs to be gawked at or receive comments of other people's sympathy. We are happy being a family of 6. Why do people feel the need to be so rude about it? For example, here are some of the more popular comments we receive:
* "Better you than me" in reference to me having 4 kids and a stranger having 2 or 3.
* "Are those all yours?" the common question in the grocery store when I actually have all 4 kids with me by myself.
* "Were you trying for 4 kids?" A little personal don't you think?
* "I'm glad I don't have kids" is said a lot when my kids are acting up in the store. My bagger at Family Fare actually said this one to me.
* "How would you like spoiled kids like that?" Again from someone at Family Fare in reference to my kids who were running all over while I was trying to check-out.

I will admit my kids are rambunctious, a little spoiled, and loud. But YOU trying taking care of 4 kids in the age range of 5 and 2 years old. Maybe we did do this to ourselves, but it's our life. Why do people feel the need to criticize it?

Mini Spring Break

2008-03-14T15:15:00.006-04:00

I know I haven't been great about keeping up with the blog and I apologize. We have been busy although with what, I can't recall. It must be life in general.

Last weekend we took the kids to Grand Haven for a mini spring break. We are not regular spring breakers but we knew the kids needed some time outside the walls of our house. We drove to a hotel and stayed there for one night so the kids could swim and get rid of some excess energy they've been building all winter. It turned out to be a great night for them. We had a few close calls but luckily no hospital visits! Here are a few pictures of the festivities.

Maddy and Loryn

All the kids sitting out on a wave on the lake.

Loryn looking like she belongs anywhere else other than in our family.

Maddy showing me how she swims.

Lake Michigan

2008-02-19T09:17:00.003-05:00

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

2008-02-15T10:09:00.004-05:00

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

2008-02-14T14:30:00.003-05:00

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

2008-02-13T13:58:00.002-05:00

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

2008-02-12T12:16:00.001-05:00

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

2008-02-07T23:48:00.000-05:00

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!

2008-02-06T09:18:00.000-05:00

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!

Peace and Quiet

2008-01-30T18:35:00.000-05:00

We were hit by another snow storm during the night and it cancelled school for the day. It was quite a doozy because colleges, places of employment, and schools were closed. So I got the day home with all 4 of the kids. Not that I'm complaining but I was looking forward to Maddy being in school for a full day today since she only started that schedule this week. Needless to say we had to find things to occupy ourselves since I was NOT going to drive anywhere! After tearing the basement apart, getting dressed finally around 11am, and then deciding to bake cookies to pass the time, my favorite time of day came around. Nap time! It was time for MY peace and quiet.

Get Hoppin'

2008-01-29T10:27:00.001-05:00

Last night we had our first musical for Byron Christian. The theme this year was bunnies. All the students, K-2, dressed up as bunnies and told the story of a little bunny (Bunny Sue) that couldn't/wouldn't hop. It was a very cute story. Maddy was a bunny along with all the other kids and she had a great time. Here are a few pictures of the night.

How Will We Go To The Bathroom?

2008-01-24T13:11:00.000-05:00

Today on my drive back from school Maddy and her car pool buddy were discussing their upcoming musical 'Get Hoppin'. I had just picked up Maddy's bunny ears and tail that she has to wear for her costume and the girls were commenting on how to attach the tail. Here is their conversation:

Maddy: "How do we get the tail to stay on?"

Elli: "You just pin it on."

M: "Did teacher tell you what we're supposed to do when we have to go to the bathroom?"

E: "No."

This is where I question them, "What do you mean, "what you have to do when you go to the bathroom?""

M: "Well, how do we go to the bathroom with our tail on?"

E: "Yeah, how do we take it off?"

At this point I realized that the girls thought you pinned the tail to your actual body and in that case you wouldn't be able to pull your pants down when you had to go potty. As I figured this out Maddy started doing the potty dance in her seat and said, "Maybe we'll have to just hold it real long."

I left them to their own imaginations on how to go potty. I didn't feel like explaining that they'll be able to pull their pants down and their tail will still be attached to their pants, not their bodies.

My Hopes Were Dashed

2008-01-22T09:28:00.000-05:00

Okay, I am really going to sound like a novice. I am starting to potty train Mallory. The other night we tempted her to "be a big girl" with brand new undies. She had My Little Pony and Tinkerbell to choose from. She selected which ones she wanted to wear (after trying on 4 of the 6 pairs of underwear) and within 5 minutes she had peed on the couch next to me. Now mind you, she had gone to the bathroom right before the undies were put on. Fortunately it was bath time when her little accident happened. This morning she wanted to go potty when we changed her diaper and guess what?! She pooped all by herself! Yeah, right? She thought she needed undies after we shared a private celebration in the bathroom once I confirmed she did indeed poop. Needless to say my hopes were dashed when not even five minutes later she was standing next to me with a wet skirt and undies. Now I may sound cruel but I know it's going to take a lot more to potty train her. I just thought that maybe I had a gifted child in that department. After all she's watching 3 older sibling go to the bathroom all the time. And what I'd like to know is when the potty break became a family affair?

A Brilliant Idea

2008-01-16T10:12:00.000-05:00

I was riding home from picking Maddy up at school the other day and endured this conversation;

Maddy-"Mom, I'm sick of winter. I wish it was warm out. When can we go swimming?"

Me- "Hmmm. When it gets warm out."

Of course this starts a whole round of whining about the snow and the cold and how they ALL want to go swimming.

Logyn- "Can we put our bathing suits on when we get home? We can swim inside."

Me- "You can put your suits on but you are not swimming in the house."

Logyn- "Can we put the pool in the garage and swim in there? Daddy can turn his heat thing on"

And once again a round of whining about "yeah mom, come on" and "we'll be plenty warm" starts.

I told them they'd have to discuss it with their dad. Good answer, right?

New Years Resolutions

2008-01-04T10:04:00.000-05:00

Okay I'll admit I did the cliche resolution of trying to get back into shape. But what I get so frustrated with is how do you stay motivated?! Ususally I can work out for about 2 weeks and then it's right back into my bad habits. Any tips for motivation? I also have other resolutions such as:
* spend more time with my kids and less time worrying about my house (I used to be an anal neat freak and that's gone out the window)
* focus more on my marriage (it's hard to stay 100% focused when they kids are always underfoot)
* spend more time in devotions and prayer. I know that my kids are usually my excuse but when is the time for me and God? I often beseech Him during the day but when is a good time to just soley concentrate on Him?

Share some of your resolutions!

A New Year Has Begun

2008-01-01T21:20:00.000-05:00

Another year has passed and with it many, many memories. I've included in this post a slide show of our past year. While I was putting all the pictures together I was reminded of so many moments, so many yesterdays. I know I'm getting pretty philosophical right now but I do think this is a great time to reminisce. In case some of you have missed out on our last year here are a few of the memories I saw most:
* Mallory's hospital visits
* Potty training twins (hence the pictures of underwear on their heads)
* Maddy completing her first year of school (preschool)
* Maddy starting her second year of school (kindergarten)
* 2 trips to the ER for stitches (Loryn and Mallory)
* Great vacations (Iowa, Mullet Lake, Silver Lake, Grand Haven)
* My kids enjoying the weather outside whether it was spring, summer, fall, or winter
* Birthdays (Logyn and Loryn-3, Maddy-5, Mallory-2)
* Constant amazement watching my kids grow, learn, and discover God's awesome world

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Walking In A Winter Wonderland

2007-12-29T17:16:00.001-05:00

Last night Jason and I tromped through our woods with the kids. It was an awesome time. To see the kids curiosity and wonder was great. They loved catching the snowflakes on their tongues and marveling at the snow caught on the trees. We even managed to stay outside for an hour!

John Deere Green

2007-12-28T09:03:00.001-05:00

Our family loves John Deere. Especially Logyn. This Christmas we received a package containing John Deere t-shirts for everyone. We tried to get all the kids to put their shirts on but we had a few that resisted (go figure!). Here are the ones that were willing. And our thanks goes to Aunt Beth for the great box of John Deere goodies!!

In case you can't read the shirts it says "You've never even thought of being this cool".

This Christmas

2007-12-27T20:03:00.001-05:00

So the Christmas season has come and gone. And now the toys are flooding every room in the house. What I want to know is why each toy has to be tied, taped, and sometimes screwed into each box? What gives!? It takes longer to open the dumb gift than to unwrap it. After many boxes were opened the kids are joyfully enjoying their gifts. We were blessed with many Barbie and Imaginext toys this year. What I want to know is, was there every a prehistoric Barbie?

It's Beginning to Look a lot like...SNOW!

2007-12-17T22:11:00.001-05:00

Today we took our first trip outside. The kids were going stir crazy so we geared up (took about 15 minutes) and went out. I am surprised at how well they did. Last year Logyn wanted nothing to do with snow and this year he was flipping off his sled on purpose. Mallory was enamored with it. She couldn't get enough of going down the hill on the sled. Of course she didn't want to walk back up it herself, but who does? And to top it off they all got hot chocolate and marshmellows when they came in.

My Little Elves!

2007-12-13T16:42:00.000-05:00

Check out my elves at this link.
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1368558738

My First Haircut..By myself

2007-12-12T13:12:00.000-05:00

So...the other day I discovered a dirty little secret stuck under my couch. Gross, right? Well, it turns out it was a large amount of Mallory's hair. I had been downstairs surfing the internet during naps when she came downstairs to find me. I noticed that she had a piece of hair on her shoulder but thought nothing of it. Then I went upstairs and was sitting on the floor with Mallory and Maddy. That's when I saw it. The huge chunk of hair. I examined Mallory's head extensively to find she had meticulously cut a chunk out of her bangs (whether she cut it or not is yet to be determined. Maddy says Mallory did it herself, but Mallory tells me Maddy did it). Luckily her hair surrounding the area covers it most of the time. So much for the bob style haircut I've been waiting to get done. Here are some before and afters. Enjoy the hilarity of it.

This is a picture taken a few days before the "haircut".

This is a close-up of the bangs.

Did I cover it good enough????

I am Thankful...

2007-11-21T13:08:00.000-05:00

At this time of year it seems obvious to give you my list of thanks. But especially today I feel the need. My mom's friend just (literally like 4 hours ago) found out she has breast cancer. As I think about her, I think about all the changes that will happen in her life in the months to come and it makes me realize how mundane my life really is and I am thankful for that. I am also thankful for:
-My daughter's prayers at night when she thanks God for her mommy's hard work and that her daddy came home safely.
-My children's hugs.
-My husband's hard work so I can stay at home.
-My family's patience with me as a mother (some days more so than others).
-My children's health.
-Mine and Jason's health.
-My parents: I don't know where I'd be without them.
-My children's laughs.
-My children's imagination (even if it does totally destroy my house).
-My God who provides so generously for me even though there are times I don't deserve His grace.
-The ability to afford my house, groceries, gas (somedays), and to spoil my kids once in a while.

May you all enjoy your Thanksgiving and count the blessings that are right in front of you.

Jason's version

2007-11-18T17:56:00.000-05:00

This would probably be Jason's song when it comes time for our girls to date as I wish for the fairytale.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jjO9kX4npVY&feature=related

Stealing Cinderella

2007-11-13T21:39:00.000-05:00

I heard a song today called "Stealing Cinderella". I must admit that it really got to me. I was driving down the road after dropping off my kids at my mom's because I "couldn't stand them any longer". The song is about a man asking for his girlfriend's hand in marriage. It goes on to tell how the father lets him sit for a while in their living room looking at pictures of the daughter dressed up as Cinderella, running through a sprinkler, riding her first bike, having pillow fights, etc. And it mentions that he is seen as just a "fella stealing Cinderella". It really got to me and I immediately thought of my girls. My mother instinct kicked into overdrive and I vowed to myself then and there that no man is going to marry my daughters without being totally, utterly, and hopelessly in love with them. I want the guys to know about every little thing that my girls did. The way that they laughed as a child, the naughty things they did. I want someone that is amazed at the person that they will have become. I guess I want my girls to really have the fairytale. I know I'm talking about things that are very far off in my future but being a parent I can't imagine what my parents thought when I started dating Jason seriously. If you haven't heard the song take a peak at the video attached.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=HtOy8R01fTA

Pillow Fight

2007-11-12T20:01:00.000-05:00

I can't say that this little episode is our nightly ritual but it does happen often at our house before bedtime. After wrestling, we decided to have a little pillow fight. I would say the teams were a little unfair but the kids didn't seem to mind it was us against them. Jason and I perched on the couch and pegged them off whenever they ran in front of us. Then Loryn decided to get daring and taunt us from across the living room. The real good blows weren't caught on tape but you can get the gist of it. Mental note to self: do not buy pillows that are removable from the couch again.

Happy Halloween

2007-11-02T13:11:00.000-04:00

Trick-or-treat! The night is always interesting and this year was no less. Jason took the kids trick-or-treating with our neighbors. They got a hayride to a nearby development and filled their buckets and bags until they burst while strolling in the rain. It was a great night by all and I give major points to my husband who did it without me. Although it probably helped that Mallory was overnight at Grandma's. Here are pictures of our little trick-or-treaters.

Maddy dressed up as Aurora from Sleeping Beauty (I think that's the movie). It took over a half hour to curl her hair!

Here are the four munchkins. Mallory is the poodle, Loryn is a unicorn, Logyn is a dinosaur, and Maddy.

These were shots from the hayride.

Harvest Party

2007-10-29T16:23:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we invited friends and family to our house to have a "Harvest Party". Although there was not much "harvesting" we all got a good kick out of watching our kids participate in sack races. We had other activities planned but the weather was not cooperating. Here is a snapshot of the kids races.

My neighbor helped line the kids up. This was the 2-4 year age range even though I am just realizing Adrianna is in there and she's 5. Whoops!

Mal has been attached to the little Bible (the one that contains the New Testament and Psalms) and was intent on reading it at the party. Maybe she thought we were behaving badly or she was repenting early for all the mischief she was going to incur.

I Love This Time of Year!

2007-10-25T18:50:00.001-04:00

I love this time of year! Tonight we started a little bit of our own "Fall Clean-up". I will call this phase one because I guarentee we'll have lots more pictures of the kids playing in the leaves. Enjoy!

Carving Pumpkins

2007-10-21T14:34:00.001-04:00

On Friday we went out and purchased some pumpkins. Maddy was dying to carve one. So during naps Jason and Maddy had a grand ole time out in the garage carving their masterpieces. Enjoy the pictures.

Later that night we played outside for a while and I couldn't resist posting this picture of Mallory.

No Cavities!

2007-10-15T13:24:00.001-04:00

I must commend myself on a job well done. I took all four of my kids to the dentist this morning. And when I thought I had my children figured out they reminded me that they can change in the blink of an eye. Most of you know Logyn and how stubborn he can be and Loryn is known to be very laid back. Well today Logyn was laid back and Loryn was stubborn. Maddy accomplished her visit with no problems. Loryn was another story. I had to hold her down in the chair along with help from the hygienist and the dentist. The receptionist came in the back to see if she could hold Mallory for me because she was screaming her head off too. She wasn't even there for a check-up! Surprisingly Logyn climbed into the chair with no problems at all, did everything the dentist asked of him and jumped back down to pick out his prize. And there are no cavities among any of them. Now orthodontics...

Pumpkin Patch

2007-10-12T22:20:00.000-04:00

Tonight Jason and I took the kids to a pumpkin patch/corn maze by our house. They loved it! We started out petting the animals around the farm. There was an area where they had a donkey, goats, two baby cows, and pigs. Then we went out to the maze where the kids led us through to the end. Our reward was a 4 acre pumpkin patch. It was a lot of indecision to decide what ones we wanted but we made it back to the barn in good spirits and bearing pumpkins.

Why do I bother????

2007-10-09T12:05:00.000-04:00

Why do I do this to myself?! I always seem to think that whenever I take my kids out to run errands they'll behave. Have I not learned my lesson? Obviously not. Today was one of those days. I thought I would quick return a few things while Maddy was in school. Only none of the places I needed opened until 10am. So...to pass the time we wandered around Target. My kids gathered plenty of attention as they pushed the cart down the aisles with Mallory hanging out the back. She was screaming at the top of her lungs, "I wanna ride! I wanna ride!" So after that store I decided to head to the mall. As if that would go any better. I seem to think that if I tell them they have to behave they will. But they don't. We went into Kohl's and of course Loryn has to pee. So off we troup to the bathroom where Loryn and Logyn argue over who's going to flush the toliet. Meanwhile Mallory wants to get out of the stroller to join in the debate too. Then it's time to wash hands and Logyn runs down the entire counter and turns on every sink. We finally got out of the bathroom and returned our items. Next stop, Old Navy. I had stuff to return there as well. The cashier was sure to assure me that I am a saint for handling my children. Is she crazy!? Didn't she hear Mallory screaming to get out. I mean, she was SCREAMING! Logyn and Loryn are throwing the balls around that are in the bins by the check-out area while I'm trying to bribe Mallory to shut her mouth with some fruit snacks. Once we were done in there they have the audacity to ask if we can play on the playground. Are they nuts?! By then Loryn has to go to the bathroom again so off we head to Kohl's. Once we all got to watch her go number 2 we finally packed up and left. And then I thought I'd add insult to injury and drag them into Costco. They promised to stay by me...

Isn't it precious?

2007-09-25T13:21:00.000-04:00

Isn't it the most wonderful thing to hear your children pray? At our dinner table Maddy likes to take over that area for Jason and I. I can honestly say I don't mind. I get tears in my eyes each time she prays whether it's the Lord's prayer or her own. It really makes you think about their innocence. Enjoy this clip that I snuck last night during dinner.

I've been tagged!

2007-09-24T13:46:00.000-04:00

I've been tagged by TINA. Here's the deal; I have to list something for every letter in my middle name. Luckily it is a short one, Joy. This might not be as easy as I think. Here goes:

J: My husband is Jason. Easy enough but there is so much more that could be said about him. He is my strength in the years that we have been together. During all the hard times he lets me fall on him. I wish he would lean on me more often but maybe he feels that would not be true to his nature.

O: What do I say about this?! Let's see...I am officially done having children. Maybe that sounds crass to some of you but 7 years ago I was told I would most likely not have children on my own. I went on to have 4 in three very short years. I am blessed beyond words no matter how stressful my life may be at the moment.

Y: Yikes! My youngest is running naked in my basement right now. That is a sure sign I have been blogging too long today.

I will tag Kim D, Stacey, and anyone else. I don't know that many bloggers yet. But I leave you these images of my JOY.

BBQ & Apple Fest

2007-09-17T09:59:00.000-04:00

This past weekend we headed up to Silver Lake again for their 2nd Annual BBQ & Apple Fest. They have BBQ pork cook-offs, craft booths, and an antique car show. It was pretty chilly this year but the kids loved walking around and checking out all the goodies.

Jellystone park had face painting and a moonwalk that the kids got a kick out of.

We took a ride up in the dunes on Friday night because the wind was blowing like crazy. The waves were pretty big and the kids got a kick out of seeing them crash on the shore.

Happy Birthday Mal!

2007-09-06T08:58:00.000-04:00

Over the holiday weekend we celebrated Mallory's birthday. She turned into the terrible two's but we gave her two parties anyway. Here are a few of the highlights of the parties.

Everyone deserves a little solitude on their birthday.

For some reason she was scared of the candle but...

that fear didn't last too long.

2 Years Old

2007-08-31T09:20:00.000-04:00

Mallory seems to be the main topic of a lot of my blogs. She is a very interesting child to care for as some of you can see. But she turns 2 tomorrow and I had a friend of mine take some pictures of her. They turned out great! Tina did an excellent job. You can check out her pictures at http://tinavinkportraits.smugmug.com/.

She's a Maniac

2007-08-30T17:13:00.001-04:00

Mallory never seems to surprise me lately. Maybe it's because she's the baby of the family, I'm not sure. Today I was standing in my sister's doorway watching my kids play nicely outside when I see this:

For those of you that know Mallory this is right up her alley. She simply found the skateboard and decided to hop on it and take a ride down the driveway. Will she never cease to amaze me??

A Good Reminder

2007-08-29T20:45:00.000-04:00

Today was one of those days when it seemed like I couldn't accomlish anything and nothing I did accomplish went right. I would dare say that most of my days repeat this pattern. And at night while I'm rocking Mallory I finally get a minute to reflect on my day. It was tonight that I started to think of each little mishap as a reminder of what life is like for my children. Here's what I think they are wondering throughout our days together:
-Who cares if I spill milk all over the dining room chair? It'll dry.
-What's the big deal if I want some candy at 9:00 in the morning? I'm still hungry.
-Why should I get wiped up after dinner? I don't care if I have ice cream sandwich all over my face.
-Why can't we run naked around the house after bathtime? It feels good.

It's at these moments when I try and recall what it was like to be young and I can't. Now I know that some of you may be thinking, "My word, it wasn't that long ago" but in truth it was. I have grown into a mother, a wife, and an example for my children. But when I look at my kids I cannot get over the overwhelming love that fills me. No matter how bad my day, no matter how messy my house is or how messy my kids are I love them. It's nice to be reminded of that once in a while. If you know me well you know that I can talk about my kids for hours upon end. I can tell you bad stories or funny stories but I could talk about my kids all day. I wonder what they'd say about me?

First Day of School

2007-08-28T12:58:00.001-04:00

I can't believe it but Maddy started her first day of Kindergarten this morning. I don't know if she's ready to have a schedule after the way our summer has been but she popped right out of bed when I woke her up this morning. Here are a few snapshots of the first day.

Each Kindergartener has their own frog nameplate outside the classroom so they know where to hang their backpacks and coats.

This is where Maddy will sit. There are 4 kids at each little table.

Mallory

2007-08-19T21:54:00.001-04:00

There isn't much to say about these photos. I just thought they were cute.

Grand Haven

2007-08-09T11:33:00.000-04:00

Every August my grandparents stay at a cottage on Lake Michigan that has been in my grandma's family for years. This past Monday I packed up the kids and headed out for a short visit. We stayed for two great nights. It was awesome to watch my kids interact with my grandparents, their great-grandparents. I'm not sure how many people can say they remember their great-grandparents so I'm trying to make sure that my kids can. I took lots of pictures of them together. We went for ice-cream, got a visit to the candy store (Fortino's in downtown Grand Haven), went to Chinook Pier and saw the charter boats come in with their catch of the day, and even had the excitement of cutting down a tree that fell over the driveway. The kids thoroughly enjoyed the time there and keep asking when we are headed back. I guess that's the best outcome I could hope for.

The kids are enjoying their ice cream.

Hanging out on the channel watching the boats pass by.

Rolling "Hearts" with Great-Grandma

GM Employee?

2007-08-05T13:30:00.000-04:00

I think we just discovered Mallory's future occupation. Seems to me she's a little interested in the inner-workings of vehicles. The day before these pictures were taken I missed the opportunity to take her picture lying next to Jason while both of them were under the truck. It would have been a priceless picture but I was not fast enough. However I caught these great ones last night while she helped Daddy rotate the tires on the Suburban. She's a quick learner.